Consensus on driving with the awning attached.

[Scamper]

I have a '91 Skamper, taking it up to the canyon tonight.  Question is, it has a roll-up awning  that fits into a soft sided case.  This case attaches to the camper by sliding down a slot the length of the camper, and then inserting 3 screws into the slot.  Is it safe to drive with the awning case attached, or should I store it inside while driving.  I'm always afraid it could come off the camper while driving, so I usually store it inside.  But, I see other campers with their rolled up awnings still attached to the side of their camper as they drive down the road.

Thanks.

[AustinBoston]

I have a '91 Skamper, taking it up to the canyon tonight.  Question is, it has a roll-up awning  that fits into a soft sided case.  This case attaches to the camper by sliding down a slot the length of the camper, and then inserting 3 screws into the slot.  Is it safe to drive with the awning case attached, or should I store it inside while driving.  I'm always afraid it could come off the camper while driving, so I usually store it inside.  But, I see other campers with their rolled up awnings still attached to the side of their camper as they drive down the road.

It has never even occured to me to take it off.  We have never had the slightest hint of trouble towing with the awning attached, and our trailer has been towed everywhere in everything.

It's been to 10,000 feet.  It's spent weeks in the desert.  It's been towed in severe thunderstorms, light snow, back roads, major interstates, big cities (we towed it through downtown Chicago - once -), seashores, lakeshores, riverbanks, baked in the sun, rained on, and after 25,000 miles of towing in over five years, the biggest problem is that the cloth around the zipper is starting to dry-rot a little.  That is a problem that would have been helped more by removing it when parked (protection from weather) than when towing.

Austin

[Jeremy]

Leave it on when in transit.  That's what the retaining screws are there for... to keep it retained.. hehe.  Plus it would be a pain in the butt to have to re-thread it into the sleeve everytime you setup camp.

[TheViking]

I think they are meant to be left on.  However, I would strongly recomend not driving with it in the set up position, it could damage the poles.   LOL

[Scamper]

I think they are meant to be left on.  However, I would strongly recomend not driving with it in the set up position, it could damage the poles.   LOL

LOL.  I'll try to remeber that.

[Used 2B PopUPTimes]

I haven't lost one yet

[lushy]

I leave mine on too......and no problems. I do however flip the bag up so it rests on the camper roof rather than hanging along the side of the camper.  :!

[brainpause]

Ours slid out, unbeknownst to us, on the way to a camping rally. When we got there, we set up, but didn't notice the awning was gone, because we rarely use it. The next morning, I got a newspaper with pictures on the front of a 7 car pileup on the interstate. Said the cause was a camper awning.

Don't know whose awning it was, because I'm just joking, and it wasn't mine that slid out!
 

Larry

[tlhdoc]

We have never had any problem with leaving the bag awning on the PU when towing.

[flyfisherman]

The only time I remove the awning bag (w/awning inside it) is for long term winter storage. Otherwise, it rides with the camper on down the pike in it's usual place. But I do like Lushy, flop it over on top of the roof of the camper. And I'm usually carrying one of the canoes (probably 90% of the time), and here just use the foam carrying blocks for the roof of the camper. Tie the canoe down fore & aft, then have a line & strap that goes over the canoe and completely under the body of the camper - which means if the canoe is going to blow off, it will have to take the entire camper with it; and the awning bag does much better rolled up on the roof out of the way of the securing line.


Fly

[hoppy]

No problem..... I have left mine attached during transit for over fifteen years now.

[Buzz]

I'm with Austin...I have never considered taking it off. Pray-tell what advantage do you see in taking it off?

[vjm1639]

Ours slid out, unbeknownst to us, on the way to a camping rally. When we got there, we set up, but didn't notice the awning was gone, because we rarely use it. The next morning, I got a newspaper with pictures on the front of a 7 car pileup on the interstate. Said the cause was a camper awning.
 
Don't know whose awning it was, because I'm just joking, and it wasn't mine that slid out!

 
Larry

Larry...that was just naughty....  I was sitting here reading your story with my eyes wide!...... LOL

[Camping Coxes]

We leave ours on with no problem.  On our old trailer, a small Rockwood, the part of the case that hung out from the front and back seemed to flap a lot in the wind, so we would tape it flat against the trailer to keep it from ripping the bag from the part  you thread into the slot.  With the Coleman we don't have that problem.  We do take it off and store it between trips lest someone decide our awning is in better condition than theirs and decide to take it.  We have those big hooks you use for bicycles up in our garage and the awning sits in those of those just perfect up in the top of the garage, easily accessible and out of the way.

[Scamper]

I'm with Austin...I have never considered taking it off. Pray-tell what advantage do you see in taking it off?

advantage: not losing it on the road.  
I just never knew if it was designed to be attached while driving or not, so I never took the chance.  Thanks all for your comments.  I'll try leaving it on next time, and hopefully I won't cause any traffic pile-ups.  

Thanks.