Staking Out Awnings?

[Rounder44]

Howdy,

I've been in mild wind areas with high gusts that kinda raise the awning. Not really bad, I roll up if it gets "violent".

I've seen other brands of awning staked out and wonder if that is advisable with our Zip Dees?

I've not seen a damaged one. How do they usually fail?

I'm being real safe with mine but would really like it out more often.

Thanks,

Rounder44

[daleyocum]

Originally Posted by Rounder44

Howdy,

I've been in mild wind areas with high gusts that kinda raise the awning. Not really bad, I roll up if it gets "violent".

I've seen other brands of awning staked out and wonder if that is advisable with our Zip Dees?

I've not seen a damaged one. How do they usually fail?

I'm being real safe with mine but would really like it out more often.

Thanks,

Rounder44

I always stake mine unless i’m just putting it out for a short time on a calm day. Maybe I’m being too cautious but that awning looks like a dandy sail.

[Too tall]

On one of our first trips we foolishly left the awning deployed and went to dinner. A thunderstorm bent one of the support arms.


I've made two tie downs using 1/4" paracord and some fancy knots. When nothing else is around for the endpoint anchor I use the hitch stinger.


Easypeezey

[Lily&Me]

A heavy duty bungee cord hooked on the lip of the awning, and the other end onto a picnic table, makes an excellent anchor.

I have also seen long bungees used to anchor an awning at each end, hooked on the awning and then to a stake in the ground.

Maggie

[Rich W]

I use 2 of those coiled, screw into the ground dog stakes and a couple of ratcheting web straps from Walmart / Harbor Freight. I also use a couple of short bungee cords on the rafters when we're traveling. PO said the front rafter came loose once and caused some damage to the AS skin near the rafter connections.

[Rocinante]

I've seen an awning separated from the RV, at the RV, in an unfortunate neighbor's campsite. Sheared completely off and flipping around the roller. Stake it all you like, but stakes won't prevent that.

Thus, if we're not actually going to be at the trailer, we always bring in the big awning before we leave. Often we also bring in the other two, especially in places known for windy conditions or sudden storms. In fact, we're so crazy that we generally bring in the big awning before going to bed in case a sudden blow comes up in the middle of the night, which could do damage that wakes us up - just as the damage is done.

That said, as always: it's your awning and your money, so do what seems best to you and share your results.

[pmclemore]

I'm with R. If I felt I needed to stake it, I would take it in.

Pat

[ghaynes755]

I seem to remember that the earlier manuals from ZipDee suggested not strapping it down. That nice steady wind can become a vicious micro burst. One of those better safe than sorry situations.

[Rounder44]

Just as I thought...

Pros and cons

Seems like a good idea up to a certain wind speed but over that you compromise the trailer attachment....

Last week I got stuck with curb side facing west on a hot sunny and windy day. Stuck inside working too!

I at least retracted all the way and it seemed to keep more stable.

It's raining here now and 60mph gusts predicted so rolled up camp and awning. So far zero wind! Not a leaf shaking in a tree!

Airstream life challenges!

Thanks,

R44

[daleyocum]

By the way, I’ve found Ratchet Ropes pretty handy for this, faster and than fancy knots.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Lily&Me

A heavy duty bungee cord hooked on the lip of the awning, and the other end onto a picnic table, makes an excellent anchor.

I have also seen long bungees used to anchor an awning at each end, hooked on the awning and then to a stake in the ground.

Maggie

I do that sometimes. I have a set of 8' bungee cords that I use; they stretch to about 12 feet, and I always set them so there still a bit of stretch in reserve, so that the bungee cords can act not only as tie-downs but also as shock absorbers to minimize the effects of gusts.

[KelloggKid]

Back in our SOB days I used to stake the awning using the screw in dog anchors. This lead to a false sense of security and my leaving the awning deployed when I would not otherwise have done so. One day the winds picked up very quickly, unexpectedly and to a level that even the tie downs seemed like they might be inadequate. I walked over to the trailer to unstake the awning and roll it back up. As I untied one end the awning ripped loose from the trailer, whipped around violently and came within inches of taking my head off. In addition to ruining my shorts the damage to the awning and trailer was several thousand dollars.

Long story short I no longer stake my awnings, never leave a deployed awning unattended, and the minute the wind starts to pick up I roll it up. When my awning is deployed I also check the Dark Sky app 2-3 times a day for wind gust projections. Yes I've become paranoid.

[rmkrum]

Just because you are paranoid does not mean Mother Nature is not out to get you...[emoji39]

[jlandreth]

Also in our SOB days, we were camping at Myrtle Beach and decided to take a walk down the beach one afternoon. We ended up walking a little further than we expected to and while we were out a thunder storm blew in. When we got back to the camp site our awning was flip over the top of our trailer. Did a lot of damage and taught me a lesson. I guess a good education never comes cheap.

[A W Warn]

Staking and strapping will not prevent the fasteners from being pulled out of the aluminum if the wind gets up.
Staking and strapping will not prevent collapse if rain collects on the awning.
Staking and strapping is more work, for little benefit.
If I'm not under or very near the awning, it's rolled up before I leave. I've seen too many torn awnings, bent support arms, and ripped out fasteners.

[majorairhead]

The only steak I'm interested in is filet mignon, no awning stakes for me, too risky. I'm askeerd of zip dee and AWAY!!!

[BigSxyWhtGuy]

Any rain and we put our awning in. Wind is a judgement call, usually if the wind is strong enough to rock the trailer then we have it in. I believe it can stand a nice steady breeze but strong gusts are no good. Better safe than sorry, it’s 10k to fully replace a power awning.

[TouringDan]

I’m just glad I read this thread as a reminder to roll my awning up when we leave the trailer for a significant amount of time, the amount of which is a judgment call.

Dan

[Too tall]

Originally Posted by daleyocum

By the way, I’ve found Ratchet Ropes pretty handy for this, faster and than fancy knots.

Butbutbut than I don't get to tie taut line hitches https://www.animatedknots.com/adjust...rip-hitch-knot or my all time favorite the Alpine Butterfly loop https://www.animatedknots.com/alpine...rfly-loop-knot
I endorse your solution, looks like a nice gizzmodo.

[Rocinante]

Don’t want to hear or see your “butbutbut.” 🤣 (I used to say that to my son when he was little, haha.)

Another downside to staking: all that stuff means it will just take that much longer to get the awning rolled in when the inevitable wind blow occurs.

We’d love to have a permanently weather-protected area outside our trailer when camped, but there is abundant evidence that our deployed ZipaDeeDooDah awnings do not create such an area. Maybe a staked out Easy Up style canopy or a tarp? At least they’re less expensive if they get destroyed. Oh, what about a Clam? Not as cheap, but might survive a bigger wind. When we camped at Jekyll Island, GA, most of the seasonal campers (e.g. snowbirds) had Clams and seemed to love them. We considered one ourselves, until we realized the collapsed product was six feet long. [emoji33]
https://stores.clamoutdoors.com/quick-set-by-clam.html