Fleetwood/Coleman Awning setup

[tknick]

I have a 2002 Coleman Bayside with the factory installed awning.  We bought the trailer used and I'm starting to think we didn't get everything we should have with the awning.  :confused:  I don't have any instructions for it's setup.

I understand the three poles and how they fit into the bar at the end of the awning.  I am guessing I should have some stakes or screws to go into the ground because there are some ropes with wooded handles on the ends that I don't know what to do with.

I remember seeing some people that made flower pots or other things to put the poles in.  Any links to those mods would be appreciated as well.

thanks

[ecricky]

I have a 2002 Coleman Bayside with the factory installed awning.  We bought the trailer used and I'm starting to think we didn't get everything we should have with the awning.  :confused:  I don't have any instructions for it's setup.

I understand the three poles and how they fit into the bar at the end of the awning.  I am guessing I should have some stakes or screws to go into the ground because there are some ropes with wooded handles on the ends that I don't know what to do with.

I remember seeing some people that made flower pots or other things to put the poles in.  Any links to those mods would be appreciated as well.

thanks

your right, the awning is needs to be staked down,I just picked up some cheap stakes for that and you use that wooden part to tighten up the rope after you have it staked out. I can't remember wich way it goes on but I believe you loop the rope around and then pull on that thing,

[SpeakEasy]

I'm a little confused by what you have said. (Actually it's what you haven't said.) Were you able to find the vertical legs for the awning? They are folded up into that bar on the outside edge of the awning. Sometimes they get a little bit stuck in there. They swing out from the corners and down onto the ground. They also extend in height.

The little wooden thing that you are talking about has two holes in it. Run your rope through one hole and then back through the other one. Tie a knot in the rope end to keep it from slipping back through. This creates a length of doubled-rope beyond the wood. It is in this doubled-rope that you place your stake. When there is tension on this setup, the wooden piece keeps the rope from slipping. It allows you to adjust the tension on your stake line.

[tknick]

Yes, I have the three vertical legs that go into the bar at the end of the awning and run to the ground.  I assumed there had to be some sort of stake system to keep the tension on the awning.  I will pick up some a wally world the next time I am there.  

Thanks for the help!

[tlhdoc]

All you are missing are the tent stakes.  Put the loop of rope around the stakes (angel the stakes away from the awning) and then adjust the ropes using the wood.

[rccs]

Besides the three poles that are in the bar and go to the ground you should have three more loose poles that go from the awning bar to the roof of the popup to keep tension on the awning. The ropes and wooden pieces are used to anchor the awining to the ground so the wind does not pick it up and put it on top of your roof.

[dthurk]

Yes, I have the three vertical legs that go into the bar at the end of the awning and run to the ground.  I assumed there had to be some sort of stake system to keep the tension on the awning.  I will pick up some a wally world the next time I am there.  

Thanks for the help!

It sounds like you are missing something here, not mentally but as in pieces and parts of the awning.  How long is your awning?  I believe we have a 9' awning, yours may differ slightly if it is significantly longer, but it should still operate in the same manner.

I'll describe our awning with the thought that you should have something similar.  The awning itself is attached to the camper at the storage bag.  The opposite side of the awning cloth is attached to a U shaped metal track, with the U being about 2" deep.  At either end of the track is a large bolt or rivet of sorts that acts as a hinge for metal tubes that are stored up inside the U of the track.  These are the legs of the awning.  They are always attached to the U track at the outside ends of the track.  They will pivot out of the track and down 90 degrees to form short, stubby legs as they are stored.  They are adjustable and need to be lengthened to become usable.

We also have 3 separate tubes, not attached to anything.  They are simply stored loose in the bag with the rolled up awning.  These are the rafter bars for the awning.  They are also adjustable for length, although we have never had a need to change the adjustment.  One end has a small black nub that fits into a hole in the U shaped track, one each on the outside ends and the third in the middle.  The other end has a large white bumper that fits against the wall of the roof against the lower part of the bag under the awning.  There might be cloth loops there at the roof just below the awning cloth to help keep them from slipping down and falling out.  These bars will run from the U track to the roof of the camper just under the awning cloth.  These bars are not legs.  Don't use them as such, or you may break of the little black nubs, rendering them useless as rafter bars.  

The ropes should be attached to the U track at the pivot point of the legs.  You may need to buy a couple of tent stakes to be able to use them.  They simply give you a bit more wind protection for the awning.  They do not provide tension to keep the awning taut from the side of the camper, the rafter bars do that.  You should not leave the awning up during high wind situations anyway.  Heavy damage to your camper could result from the awning "getting away" during high winds.

I would suspect that you have not yet found the legs, and rather you think the rafter bars are the legs.  Check inside the U track, see if you find 2 bars that look similar to the rafter bars tucked up inside.  The ends of the leg bars should be somewhere towards the middle of the U track.

Hope this helps.


Post edit:  Just read rccs's post.  He (apologies if he's a she) and I are saying the same thing, I'm just a bit more descriptive.

[tlhdoc]

I really think the only thing missing are tent stakes. Here is why I think that.

I understand the three poles and how they fit into the bar at the end of the awning.

Here they are talking about the "rafters".
 

Yes, I have the three vertical legs that go into the bar at the end of the awning and run to the ground.

Here they are talking about the upright poles.
 

I am guessing I should have some stakes or screws to go into the ground because there are some ropes with wooded handles on the ends that I don't know what to do with.

The ropes are attached to the awning and all they need are tent stakes to hold the awning in place when the wind blows.
 
The one of the simplest way to make awning hold downs, it to get cast iron teke torch lamp holders.  Just put the end of the awning pole into the torch base and tighten the screw to the pole.

[dthurk]

I really think the only thing missing are tent stakes. Here is why I think that.
Here they are talking about the "rafters".
 
Here they are talking about the upright poles.
 
 
The ropes are attached to the awning and all they need are tent stakes to hold the awning in place when the wind blows.
 
The one of the simplest way to make awning hold downs, it to get cast iron teke torch lamp holders.  Just put the end of the awning pole into the torch base and tighten the screw to the pole.

Your right, all he's missing are the tent stakes.  However, I don't think he's found the upright leg supports yet.  From what I read into his original message, he's found 3 poles.  Tlhdoc, from what you're writing, he had to have found six poles, 3 upright supports and 3 rafters.  I would suspect not, since he's indicating he has no support of the awning from the camper roof to the U track and is looking to use the guy ropes to hold the awning out taut from the camper.  I suspect he's using the rafter poles as uprights, twisting the U channel out so that it works.  He needs to find the leg supports tucked up inside the U channel so that it all works properly.  You're right, all he's missing are the stakes, as the upright supports are there, but still hidden in storage in the U channel.  

Did Fleetwood/Coleman use awnings from manufacturers that had detachable leg supports?  I am working from the design of our own awning and haven't really looked at that many others.  Ours is a 2004 factory (would suspect dealer) installed, as is OP's on a 2002.  I'd suspect that the two awnings are going to be very similar, if not identical.  What is the Bayside, a 12' box?  If so, it would have about a 10' or 11' awning.  Would that awning have 3 upright supports, as OP has claimed to have found?

[tknick]

Most of you were correct.  I had found the rafters but not the actual awning supports.  Putting that up makes me miss the awning on our travel trailer.  Flip a switch, and it rolled up like a window shade.  Of course we got 7 mpg towing that thing, but I digress.....

I did manage to get the thing set up.  Eventually.  What is the best method for set up (and take down)?  I realize you better open it up before putting the roof up.  After that, do most people wait until the PU is completely up and then put in the rafters and legs or can you install the rafters, then crank up the roof.

When I was taking it down, I lowered the legs to the bottom hole.  I was concerned about the angle of the rafters and the little plastic nipple going into the u-track.  I was afraid the nipple might break off.  

Getting it back into the bag was another story.  It would be nice if there were some velcro straps that could be attached after the thing was rolled up so it didn't flop out while walking to the other end.  I didn't see any way of attaching the straps on the top side of the awning without compromising the waterproof outer bag.  Also, fitting the rafters back into the bag was no picnic.  I saw where someone had attached some clips to the roof of the storage locker for the rafters.  I will definitely be doing that mod.

Thanks again for all the advice and help!

[tlhdoc]

I roll the rafters up in the awning as soon as I start rolling the awning up.  I put one in one way, do one roll of the awning and then the second pole goes in the opposite direction.  Another roll and the third rafter goes in the same way the first one did.  I roll the awning by myself standing in the middle.  I find it easier to roll it that way, rather than 2 of us rolling it.  If you add the poles at the end and just stick them in the bag they like to fall out and hit you in the head.   I take a couple of Crocodile clips and clip the bag to itself so that I can let go and go zip the zipper.  I am thinking of using Gorilla Glue and gluing velcro straps to the awning bag.  I am not sure if it will hold, but I will try after it warms up.

[tampajim]

Wow....I just learned that I was using the wrong poles to hold my awning up and now I know what the three extra poles are for! Too bad I didn't know that yesterday, we were camping at got considerable water build up on the awning since I wasn't using the awning to camper poles.

[tlhdoc]

Wow....I just learned that I was using the wrong poles to hold my awning up and now I know what the three extra poles are for! Too bad I didn't know that yesterday, we were camping at got considerable water build up on the awning since I wasn't using the awning to camper poles.

Glad we could help.

[dthurk]

Glad to see you got it all worked out!

[abbear]

I just went to the local hardware store and got 2 nails that are about 8-9" long to use for tent stakes.  When the ground is rock hard they work where the plastic stakes won't.  If the ground won't hold the nails it probably won't hold the stakes anyway.

And that part about those plastic stakes being unbreakeable?  Don't you believe it.  I've broken several.

Of course you can always dig a hole, tie the line off to one of your kids, and bury them.  Awning will stay in place and you'll know where your kids are all the time:D