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Old 05-06-2014, 04:37 PM   #1
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Zip dee awning

Can anyone tell me just how much wind (mph) is too much before taking down the awning? It seems a whole lot more sturdy than most but I don't want to take any chances...thanks
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Old 05-06-2014, 04:44 PM   #2
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It depends too much on too many variables to give you a straight answer.
Length of awning, wind direction, angle awning is deployed, amount of tilt on the awning, if it's anchored to something, etc.
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Old 05-06-2014, 04:50 PM   #3
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Can anyone tell me just how much wind (mph) is too much before taking down the awning? It seems a whole lot more sturdy than most but I don't want to take any chances...thanks
I never leave the trailer behind with the big awning out. I personally pull it down at any sign of significant gusts or storms. Both speed and direction count. It might survive 25 mph if it were coming over the top of the trailer and down onto the awning, but one real good puff in the wrong direction and snap, crackle, pop. An updraft can rip the awning poles right out, or twist them into the side of the Airstream. Better safe than sorry.

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Old 05-06-2014, 05:33 PM   #4
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Can anyone tell me just how much wind (mph) is too much before taking down the awning? It seems a whole lot more sturdy than most but I don't want to take any chances...thanks
It's like sails on a sailboat… the time to shorten sail is when you first wonder if you need to. The time to take in your awning is when you first wonder if you need to.

Or to put it another way, when you hear the darned thing flapping in the wind, you've waited too long and it will be hard to safely put it away if the wind grabs it while you're trying.
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Old 05-06-2014, 05:46 PM   #5
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I agree with Paula. My street side awning was ripped off the trailer in a tornado. So I know it won't survive that. Mine was rolled up at the time, but the wind got under it and off she went. Also leaving an awning up stresses all the connections to the skin of the trailer which leads to leaks. Awning brackets are notorious leakers as well as the rails at the top.

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Old 05-06-2014, 10:48 PM   #6
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I agree with Paula. My street side awning was ripped off the trailer in a tornado. So I know it won't survive that. Mine was rolled up at the time, but the wind got under it and off she went. Also leaving an awning up stresses all the connections to the skin of the trailer which leads to leaks. Awning brackets are notorious leakers as well as the rails at the top.

Perry
Hmmmmmm...... was just about to pull the trigger on a zip dee for my 67 globetrotter, but after reading that maybe I should do without....
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Old 05-06-2014, 11:05 PM   #7
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I wouldn't not put an awning on your trailer. Their a great feature both aesthetically and functionally. Awnings are easy to deal with, just use some common sense.
Zip dee is the way to go!

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Old 05-07-2014, 04:31 AM   #8
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The main awning is a little more wind resistant in caravan position, but I still would put it away if a big storm is coming.
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Old 05-07-2014, 07:34 AM   #9
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The main awning is a little more wind resistant in caravan position, but I still would put it away if a big storm is coming.
Zip Dee has a "center support" that does help when a gust of wind comes up.

That support should be used on any awning over 12 feet long.

The center support is not a "fix-it-all", but it usually helps.

Plus, they are not expensive, and can be added at any time.

Andy
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Old 05-07-2014, 09:11 AM   #10
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Had my awning out near Little Bighorn siter. Moderate breeze. Odd gust went under the awning and lifted. One huge pop and now the rivets are a little loose for one of the awning support arms. Either tie it well with a strap all the way across it or take it down.
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Old 05-07-2014, 10:31 AM   #11
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My main awning has two locking mechanisms. One is a little lever that locks the rollers to it can't unroll. It also has some thumb wheels that lock it tight to the trailer. My street side awning just has a hook thingy on the front end. If the street side awning had the roller lock, I don't think the wind would have caused it to come open. I have the whole thing on video by the way.

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Old 05-08-2014, 04:32 PM   #12
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Yeah, the street side awnings are just held closed by the roller mechanism. I had the spring break on mine the first time I pulled the trailer and the awning fell open while we were going 60 or so. It all stayed on the trailer though and I got pulled over before it hit anybody.
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Old 05-08-2014, 04:50 PM   #13
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The little locking levers are worth their weight in gold. They can be added to any awning.

Perry
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Old 05-09-2014, 07:55 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by perryg114 View Post
The little locking levers are worth their weight in gold. They can be added to any awning.


Talk about worth their weight in gold! Has anyone priced out a new Zip Dee Patio Awning lately?


I've been running unprotected way too long - this thread has prompted me to order two travel latches for each of the awnings on the '78 Sovereign.


Awning travel latch ZD Part # 299120


Window travel latch ZD Part # 299344


Less than $20 each, priority mail less than $6.


Thanks to the OP for starting this thread.
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Old 05-09-2014, 08:23 AM   #15
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IMO, Terry provided the best answer. We have also use tie downs from time to time which help, but generally, at night or if we leave the trailer, we roll the awning back up, but leave it unsecured. It takes no time at all and I'd rather not take the risk that I guessed incorrectly.
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Old 05-09-2014, 09:07 AM   #16
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We had to replace an awning (not ZipDee) on an SOB trailer because we left it and a wind came up. We make sure to roll the awning up when we leave for anything other than a walk around the park.
After our recent experience with high winds and traveling and almost losing our awning, we are adding a second travel latch to the front part of our trailer. Paranoia can be a good thing.....


Kay
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Old 05-09-2014, 10:56 AM   #17
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Can anyone tell me just how much wind (mph) is too much before taking down the awning? It seems a whole lot more sturdy than most but I don't want to take any chances...thanks

When it starts flapping, I start wrapping.

And for travel I installed hooks at the un hooked ends on both the patio and street side awnings....plus straps at the ends of the street side awning to augment the lone stock center one.

All this because I lost an awning during a thunderstorm many years ago.
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Old 05-09-2014, 11:05 AM   #18
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Wind force in ZipDee awnings

Structural engineers use an equation for the wind force on a building to be q = v^2/383.6 (force equals velocity in MPH squared divided by 383.6) per sqftt of area affected.

For a 25 mph wind that equates to 1.63 lbs per sqft

If your ZipDee was 8x20 or 160 square feet, would you let a 260 pound man hang on it?

If the wind gusted to 50 mph, then the multiplier jumps to 6.52 and now the "hanging man" would weighs over 1000 pounds.

Probably not a good idea to leave it deployed.

Perhaps more importantly, aluminum is not fond of fatigue and the load-cycling of the frame's fixtures would be like bending a metal tab to make it break.

Perhaps a good rule of thumb should be:
If you can hear it flap,
That's a wrap & roll it up.
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Old 05-09-2014, 02:32 PM   #19
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Old 05-09-2014, 07:01 PM   #20
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