I'm an idiot! Help with my awning, pls?

[Kristenamber]

I have an '07 Fleetwood Royale.  It is the lightest folding camper they sold last year...just over 1000 lbs, and for some reason, they didn't continue it.   ANYWAY,
the camper has one of those bag awnings attatched to it, with very vague instructions tucked inside, with no words of course.  There are a few wood blocks with holes drilled into them, and poles and rope.  I don't get it!
Anyone have one of these bag awnings?  And WHAT is the secret here?  I can't find any info on the setup.
TIA:)

[fallsrider]

Kristen, I'll take a stab at helping you. Keep in mind, there are several different bag awnings. Here's how mine works. Maybe it will help you figure yours out. Yours may vary greatly.

Here's a picture of our awning for reference.

Each rafter pole comes in two pieces, and each support pole comes in two pieces. I have three poles of each, so I have a total of 12 pieces. With a shorter pup, you may only have 2 support poles and 2 rafter poles.

My rafter poles fit together and are spring loaded. In other words, when you slide one piece inside the other, you can compress the two sections because there is a spring in there. The support poles have a locking cam. When you slide those two sections together, you twist them and they lock into that position so you can vary the height of the awning.

Start by inserting the center rafter pole between the pup roof and the center hole of the pole at the end of your awning (it stays in the awning all the time). The support rod has to be installed at the same time, since a plastic pin from the  rafter pole goes through a hole in the top of the support pole, then that pin gets inserted into the awning pole.

Then you do the same with the other two rafter poles and support poles. Adjust each support pole for height.

Maybe this post will help you figure yours out. I hope so! But if not, hopefully someone else more familiar with your awning will pitch in.

[He Ruide]

Kristenamber,
                    I agree that better instuctions on awning are needed and NO NO NO you are not an idiot.

Here is a photogallery on setting up, securing and taking down bag awnings.

Hope this helps

Ruide

[ronerjones]

You have been given some very good advice, I wish I had this information prior to the first camp out. Here is something I learned the hard way. When you get out to the camp grounds you will notice most of the campers have their awnings set at an angle to one end not just slanted to the front. Take it from me these awning can hold a lot of water. I am very anal and like everything lined up just right. Well about our third camp out we experienced a bit of rain at night and woke to an awning that held about 50 gallons of water. I do not know how it supported the weight. I am sure we created quite the chuckle for our neighbors who were fortunate enough to watch us get the water out. Both the wife and I ended up drenched with ice cold water at 6am need I say more (still had fun).

You will want to set your awning slanted down so that the front edged is quite a bit lower than the back edge. Then the three poles out front pick a height at one end and the other end should be 4-6 inches lower so that it slants forward and to one end.

[He Ruide]

Ronerjones makes a good point about sloping the awning so that it does not accumulate water.  Another trick I learned from Oz and Us is to twist the canvas loop 180 degrees.  This helps to keep the pole in place during high winds.

Ruide

[Kristenamber]

thank you all so much!  Your references have helped me so much, I really appreciate it.  I am going to unpack and air out the camper tonight, so I'm going to give it another whirl!