Awning Problem

[whitestar505]

Hi All,
 
I have an awning that sits outside the popup like most, inside what I thought was a water resistive material to protect and keep the awning dry. After opening it up this weekend it was full of water and lots of mildew. This has been happening ever since we bought the trailer. If I recall correctly, my old Sedona did not have a problem. I guess what I am asking here is if they are all doing this or not? It does smell even when open and setup. Do I need a new awning bag??
 
Thanks

[Old Goat]

Your awning bag should not leak at such a young age.. I would check with your dealer to see if it is covered under warranty. I would think it would be if you are the original owner.........

[SkipP]

Hi All,
 
I have an awing that sits outside the popup like most, inside what I thought was a water resistive material to protect and keep the awing dry. After opening it up this weekend it was full of water and lots of mildew. This has been happening ever since we bought the trailer. If I recall correctly, my old Sedona did not have a problem. I guess what I am asking here is if they are all doing this or not? It does smell even when open and setup. Do I need a new awing bag??
 
Thanks

Ours gets a little moisture in it too. It seems to happen mostly when we have traveled in the rain...I assume it's water getting in through the zipper. I know it happened on our previous camper as well as this one so I just figured (wrongly?) that it's common.
 
One way to help minimize this is to roll the awning under when storing it. Instead of rolling it the easy way, over the top, roll it under...this will help keep the water from getting trapped in the spirals.

[whitestar505]

Old Goat,
 
I agree with you, it should not leak like it is.. I wonder if they would let me just buy the bag?  I am the only ower of this trailer. Going on two years old now. I will have to check with dealer..
 
 
 

Your awning bag should not leak at such a young age.. I would check with your dealer to see if it is covered under warranty. I would think it would be if you are the original owner.........

[whitestar505]

SkipP,
 
You would think with all the technoige out there today they could make the bag water proof.. Ziper or not. Not sure what you mean by under???
 
 

Ours gets a little moisture in it too. It seems to happen mostly when we have traveled in the rain...I assume it's water getting in through the zipper. I know it happened on our previous camper as well as this one so I just figured (wrongly?) that it's common.
 
One way to help minimize this is to roll the awning under when storing it. Instead of rolling it the easy way, over the top, roll it under...this will help keep the water from getting trapped in the spirals.

[CAPEd CODger]

If you look at the edge that goes into the rail on the popup's roof, you'll notice that the plastic piece that holds the awning bag in the track is sewn on. That is where the water gets in. I used tent seam sealer on mine and it cut down the amount of water dramatically.

If you don't cover your camper in the "off-season", take the awning out of the rail and store it indoors.

Best of luck.

[SkipP]

SkipP,
 
You would think with all the technoige out there today they could make the bag water proof.. Ziper or not. Not sure what you mean by under???

It's a lot easier to do than explain!:eyecrazy:  The easy way to roll up the awning is to roll it up overhand with the roll going towards the top of the camper. This will also allow water to get into the "rolls" of the awning. If you roll the awning up with the roll facing the camper (kinda underhand), when it's completly into the bag, the only way water can get in is from the ends. LOL, I need to take pictures!

[tlhdoc]

It's a lot easier to do than explain!:eyecrazy: The easy way to roll up the awning is to roll it up overhand with the roll going towards the top of the camper. This will also allow water to get into the "rolls" of the awning. If you roll the awning up with the roll facing the camper (kinda underhand), when it's completly into the bag, the only way water can get in is from the ends. LOL, I need to take pictures!

I understand what you are saying, and that is how I roll mine up.

[flyfisherman]

I've about concluded they all leak to some degree, at least through the zipper. It's an annual thing for me to do a first class cleaning of the awning and use a product like Tilex or X-14 to kill the mildew (a good rinse is real important).

When the camper is just parked here in the drive waiting between trips, I'll roll the awning bag onto the roof of the camper and un-zip one end at a time and let the awning have some nice sunny air. During the nasty winter months I just remove the awning/bag entirely and store it in the garage for the winter (after it's been de-mildewed). Come springtime I slide it back into the groove and screw it down in place!


Fly

[whitestar505]

Have not taken mine off the trailer. Is it hard to get back on? Is the awning  attached to the bag?
 

I've about concluded they all leak to some degree, at least through the zipper. It's an annual thing for me to do a first class cleaning of the awning and use a product like Tilex or X-14 to kill the mildew (a good rinse is real important).
 
When the camper is just parked here in the drive waiting between trips, I'll roll the awning bag onto the roof of the camper and un-zip one end at a time and let the awning have some nice sunny air. During the nasty winter months I just remove the awning/bag entirely and store it in the garage for the winter (after it's been de-mildewed). Come springtime I slide it back into the groove and screw it down in place!
 
 
Fly

[SkipP]

Have not taken mine off the trailer. Is it hard to get back on? Is the awning attached to the bag?

Whitestar, this is a remarkable simple excercise. One small screw in the end of the rail is all it should take to remove the awning....bag and all. There is a rail that is attached to the roof and runs along the length of it. Removing the small screw will allow you to simply slide the entire bag along the rail. Easier if there are two people but doable with one.

[whitestar505]

Thanks SkipP,
 
 
I hope it is just as easy to put back on. I and going to take it off soon an lay it our on the grass so it can dry out after I clean it
 
Thanks again.
 

Whitestar, this is a remarkable simple excercise. One small screw in the end of the rail is all it should take to remove the awning....bag and all. There is a rail that is attached to the roof and runs along the length of it. Removing the small screw will allow you to simply slide the entire bag along the rail. Easier if there are two people but doable with one.