Awning use in the rain

[bankerhill]

Are the AI awnings designed to be used in the rain? Mine pretty much comes out of the receiver at a 90 degree angle and stays that way level with the ground. Looks like it would hold water...

[Lumatic]

The awnings can be used in the rain, but are mainly for the sun. Yes water has destroyed awnings by pooling in the center. For manual awnings drop one side of the awning so that rain runs off. If you still get pooling lower the angle of the awning.

[Ohiobrits]

Originally Posted by bankerhill

Are the AI awnings designed to be used in the rain? Mine pretty much comes out of the receiver at a 90 degree angle and stays that way level with the ground. Looks like it would hold water...

Yes they can be used in the rain but absolutely have one end a few notches lower than the other. Typically the door end will need to be highest so you can get in and out. The awning WILL fail in heavy rain if you have it flat.

I know.

Upside is Zip Dee have a great website with exploded views of all the parts so you can get the spares you need [emoji848]

[Wingeezer]

Does it not have an option t have one end lower to encourage water runoff?

I would think it should - seems a pretty basic feature for RV'ing!

[bankerhill]

On my 2017 Airstream Interstate, the awning is deployed/ retracted by electric motor. There does not seem to be a way to adjust the pitch in any way unl ess I am missing something.

[Mcrid]

The FIAMMA awning instructions for the Interstate state it should not be used in rain. That said, I use it in the rain all the time provided there is no wind. The are adjustments at each end of the awning housing that control angle. Very easy to adjust and you can tweak it so water runs off the awning.

[bankerhill]

Mine is a 2017 with a Carefree brand.

[InterBlog]

We, too, have a Carefree brand - and ours is manual. What I've found is that, when fully extended, I don't feel comfortable using it in rain OR wind. But if I shorten it, it seems to do fine in both.

When I created our no-see-um surround for it (blog post), I positioned two sets of ties - one to affix in a fully-extended position and one for the more common shortened position that I expect to be using (because I don't have to worry about it if it's shortened).

[Mcrid]

Banker hill. Which model do you have? I didn't know AS had stepped away from FIAMMA.

[bankerhill]

2017 Airstream Interstate Grand Tour

[InterBlog]

Originally Posted by Mcrider

... I didn't know AS had stepped away from FIAMMA.

They may have no choice, at least for awhile. Fiamma was recently the target of a workplace violence incident which claimed 5 lives. And according to anecdotal reports on the internet, they were 5 lives who were key to running the U.S. operations. That's quite a set-back for the company, as well as being a human tragedy.

[Boxster1971]

I don't think any of the newer self-supporting awnings can be used in the rain. There is no way to change the angle of the awning with the support bars to let rain run off. Also they have automatic sensors that retract the awning with any wind.

BTW - Airstream stepped away from Fiamma long before the recent tragic shooting incident. It was likely an economic decision.

[bankerhill]

As I suspected, Mike. Many thanks to you and all who responded.

[graysailor]

If no wind then yes I use my awning in the rain. The next sunny day I make sure and dry it out.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by graysailor

If no wind then yes I use my awning in the rain. The next sunny day I make sure and dry it out.

You realize the OP was asking about an Interstate motor home, with an electric awning, and that one end of the awning cannot be lowered to shed rain and prevent pooling of water on top of the awning, as trailer awnings do?

[Dennisr]

On our AS you just push a button and can adjust the tilt that way.

[TheHoff]

After collapsing an awning in a heavy rainstorm on my AS trailer a few years ago, I am very cautious about the Interstate automatic awning. That being said, I use it all the time in the rain, but I only extend it 1/3-1/2 of the way. This gives the door rain protection, and I don't get an ulcer. Remember , if you have to retract it wet, extend it and fully let it dry as soon as possible. Also, if retracted wet, it might shake itself loose a little when you drive and the extended awning warning buzzer might sound. If so, stop and extend it , check for debris on the awning, and retract. Don't drive with the warning buzzer sounding. It is possible for wind to catch the slightly extended awning and damage it

[knotdonne]

Had mine out 1/2 way through a night of rain and couldn't get it closed all the way. Climbed up on the picnic to take a look and there were small sticks and a coat of pine needles from the surrounding trees. I didn't have a broom or mop so found a long stick and used a rag to push all the debris off. Was very worried about ripping the material.

[xrvr]

Seems like I remember the awning on my early interstate was a sun shade only, not to be used in the rain.

[Protagonist]

One reason why I like my Fiamma F65s awning over the newer F65Eagle awning is that I can set it at any angle from nearly horizontal to about 45°— which is low enough for the door to scrape against the awning arms (and low enough that I have to duck my head to get under it) so I don't let it go quite that low. And I can set one end lower than the other so that rainwater runs off to the low end.

The variable angle not only helps repel rainwater, but lets me optimize afternoon shade if I get a campsite where the van faces south or east so that the curb side gets direct afternoon sun.

It did take some minor wind damage one time when a blue norther blew through unexpectedly and I was in the middle of putting the awning away when a gust hit. Rather than being blown over the top of the van, the awning was flattened against the curb side of the van. When the wind died down enough to physically push the awning away from the van, I was able to retract it. Ever since then, when I first extend it, before I deploy the legs, it droops at a greater angle than it used to. But it's still fully functional otherwise.