I have been kicking and screaming ALL DAY trying to fix my awning and your video had it fixed in UNDER 5 MINUTES!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH for posting this! You just saved me a bunch of time and money.
Holy cow! Like many before I'm sitting there look at my awning thinking how much is this going to cost me! After coming back 8n from boondocks I serch awning misalignment and bam first video up that actually work perfect! Thanks for posting.
Great information, Fixed my awning following your instructions and it worked out perfectly. "Thank You!!" The only challenge I had was there was only one screw holding one side of the fabric and the screw was hidden on the underside, covered by the fabric. Just a heads up to others.. Thank you!
I noticed last weekend when we broke camp that my awning arms did the same thing - didn't store properly. After watching the video, I went out and moved my awning about 1/2" and BINGO... now everything lines up as it should. I did notice there was no screw at the back of the channel, so I installed one. Thanks for the video!
Thank you sir for this video! I just looked up at my awning arms and noticed that they were cady wompus and found your video in less than two. Awning lined up in less than 10!
Thanks this will save me a lot of heartache when i head bsck down to our camper Just like you said we thought something had gotten bent from wind or rain Thanks for a great video
Thanks I was trying to figure out why there was a gap in the awning when closed at the front. RV dealer had replaced the front arm under warranty and it hadn’t closed fully since. Will be out at the RV tomorrow adjusting. 😊
Lou, thanks for the alignment awning trick. I had to take the tension off my 21 foot awning before I could slide it. It work great after that. Thanks again.
I think the heat of the sun can tweak the canvass also. It was particularly hot today and I had the awning open. The afternoon sun is coming from the hitch end of the camper. Anyway, it got cool out very quickly and the clouds rolled in and looked like a storm. Soni went to roll the awning up and that's exactly what happened. Both sides were tweaked over to the left preventing the awning from closing all the way. I came inside to watch a video, the rep outside cooled down 10-15 degrees and I was able to close the awning as usual. I do remember having this problem once like two years ago and it mysteriously cleared itself up. My awning is pretty wide like yours to.
Absolutely, vinyl expands and contracts with the temperature. Adjusting the awning just slightly may correct your awning alignment due to the expansion and contraction.
Was just looking at my awning tonight and noticed this problem. I thought i was going to have to loosen the bolts on the RV arm to correct it. Thanks for the tip. cheers.
Great tip lou I'm going to remember this. Hey my residential fridge died in my motorhome. I'm in Monmouth County NJ. I should have you come over and videotape the install. It should be interesting. Going to have to pass it through a window. Keeping my fingers crossed everything goes well.
Your method worked the last time it happened. This time the fabric wont budge. I wonder why? Any ideas? I removed both screws as both sides were off enough to not allow it to close properly and lock.
Sounds like the awning may be stuck in the track. Try a little silicone lubricant-type spray on the track. Slow and easy, you don't want to tear the awning if it is stuck somewhere.
Its actually the roller side that has moved No screw removal The roller fabric can slide just like accessories being hung from roller Just extend climb on ladder push or pull roller back or forth to align I figured this out on my older fifth wheel with manual awning because it goes down Alot further before you have to roll it up (no ladder ) USE A SHARPIE TO MARK LOCATION OF FABRIC TO KNOW IF IT HAS SLIPPED before rolling up Screw method can work but some awning tracks get full of alot of dust and may not pull And LESS HOLES IN FABRIC
I put a low profile panhead just past each end of fabric on roller and usually remove the ones thru fabric on the track to same spots...just past on each end. This minimizes chances of tearing as fabric ages. Also I deburr the misplaced factory screw holes by sliding fabric past the hole then using locking forceps or bent nose needle nose pliers. Always check roller and track for cut hazards as well as screw type and position. I've seen sheet metal screws used by lazy factory worker eat holes in a nearly new rig just outside warranty. Buying Copart a few late model salvage units has taught a guy like me volumes about these rigs and how things end up not great whether by wreck, natural disaster, poor design, faulty materials, or bad assembly.
I tried that but the fabric would not budge on the roller tube and I was applying so much force I was worried it would rip. However removing the screw no force was needed.
@@RVHabit mine has been sitting at the dealership for over 2 weeks. they claim the delay is getting warranty work approval not sure about that I had a water leak at my water filter and they claim they have to wait for Forest River to approve the claim. The quick fixx would be to bypass the filter and pick up the part at any hardware store. This is a brand new unit and the summer isn't getting any longer here in Minnesota!
I know your pain. Dealer service can be somewhat slow especially the summer months. It is pretty typical for them to have the RV for a month or two. I always say if it is something minor try to fix it yourself and save the frustration of not having the RV during the camping season. Hopefully you will get it back soon and save some of the season.
Yep very common! This happened on our sunseeker class c about 3 times a season but the funny thing is the same awning on our Georgetown class A has never needed a single adjustment! Both coaches where purchased brand new and have the same awning... can’t figure out why the class C need an adjustment so frequently
That is funny I have a Forester, the sister RV to the Sunseeker and have to do it at least once a season. Perhaps the thickness of the actual canvas? Thanks for watching and taking time to comment.
Wow, thanks Lou!!!! Exactly what I need to know. I would not have figured this out. I was thinking I had to adjust the width on the roller Liked and subscribed, thanks again!!!!!
Sometimes it's the roller, sometimes the track. Observation of details will reveal the issue, but I would minimize unnecessary holes in fabric. Don't replace screw until after several test rolls in new position. It's not gonna slide unless real windy
Well isn't that interesting. I'm so glad RU-vid's algorithm brought me your video. I was looking to fix a pitch arm, but I also have alignment problems so you've just saved me a whole bunch of time, and I didn't have to yell at the kids once.
Looks like a great idea, but my awning won't budge. Can't make any progress. Carefully ran a putty knife along the seam and dislodged the bead. Then everything worked fine.
Hey I know this vid is quite old but I’m only seeing it for the first time. Thx for posting it, as I’m getting some binding of my support arms too. Quick question… assume there is another set screw on the other end of the awning too. Must you loosen/remove that screw too in order to slide the awning over a bit?? It seems that if the awning fabric is attached to the drip rail on both ends you’d need to remove both to slide it…correct?
Are there two screw? Yes generally. If both arms are not lining up then yes remove both screws and get the awning centered. If only one arm is not lining up then try to only remove the screw on the side of the misaligned arm. Typically the awning will stretch enough to realign the arm.
@@RVHabit…so I just had a better look and now I’m even more confused as my awning doesn’t appear to have any screws as mentioned in your (and other) vids. I checked the top of the gutter rail AND the bottom…there are zero screws or screw holes on my RV. No idea how the the awning fabric is fixated to the rail but it is and is quite tightly. I can’t jimmy it in either fore or aft direction
Anything is possible the way these RVs come off the line. Check the entire rail. The awning slides into that rail from the end. In order to stop the sliding it needs a screw. perhaps the screw was driven into the awning too far and its covered up. If it has no screws it may be tight but it will move. Some lubricant spray may help. Not having a screw may also be the reason the awning moved. I personally don't know of other methods that are used to secure the awning in the rail.
My front arm (right arm) needs to move back ( to the left) a little bit. I just take the left screw out (screw furthest to the back of the rv) and pull the awning to the left? Will this make my left arm go out of alignment?
I have that same issue and I also noticed that the round rubber tube insert in the front bar has also moved so now it has about 3” inches of tubing sticking out and how would I feed it back into the bar
Lou, I scrolled down to look for the question I wanted to ask but didn't see it. I was just wondering if you put the screw back in the same hole or tapped a new one for the awning adjustments?
@RV Habit I went outside and Got r Done 👍🏼 It aligned exactly the way it's designed. Then we gave it a bath top to bottom so we're ready for another Mn. summer. Thank you!
Hi. My bottom rail on my power awning is not completely folding in. In stays out about 3 inches. Can’t find a Video on this problem. What do you think?
Great, question for you, there is a warning label that the awning needs to be secured before travel, but there is no means to do this, have you added anything to lock it down for traveling?
Hi Terry, I have never seen that warning label on a Dometic electric awning, maybe its something recent. As far as I understand it cannot move because the motor locks in place. My awning switch is also disabled when the ignition is on.
Hi Lou! Here's a question I hope you can answer! I have a brand new 2021 Salem Forest River, R27. When I try to fully extend thr awning so that it's taught, it gets to juuuuuust about the end, and begins coming back in?! Is this normal? I've put it out many times & don't remember this ever happening! Help! lol Great videos BTW!
Hi Jenndron, yes that is totally normal and the way the awning operates. The motor just moves the awning tube and will continue rolling till you release button. So yes it would keep rolling back onto itself. You should release the button as soon as the tube is fully extended and the small flap from the awning hangs straight down. Happy camping.
My awning arms stick shut. The awning unrolls and I have to give a tug on each arm for them to release and for the awning to work properly. Could this be caused by a misaligned awning as well? It did get caught in one wind gust a couple years back but still worked but has progressively reached this point over time. Thank you!
Ok I understand what you are saying but there are two screws on each end of the awning. Are you suppose two take both of them out ? My left arm needs to move to the right and my right arm needs to move to the left. If I adjust one the other gets worst. Please advise
Usually, there will be enough stretch in the fabric to remove one screw at a time. Move that side to the correct position, reinstall the screw, then repeat for the other side.
Hi Renee, There are typically two screws, one on each side. If only one side is out of alignment you should only need to remove the one screw on the side you are correcting. If both arms are out of alignment then yes remove both screws. When you are done put the screws back in the same holes.
This is not the same issue I am having, my awning arms are lined up but one side will not pull all the way in, it's like the awning is longer on one side. That may not be the case but it seems that way. Could it be that the extended part of the awning needs to be adjusted?
Is it weird if both sides are going opposite directions? My arms are both out toward the front and back respectively. I moved both of mine a little bit and didn't help. Please help.
I am not exactly sure what exactly you mean. You may have a broken spring inside of tube but that is a guess since i can't actually see what is happening.
Try a little silicone spray lubricant along the track where the awning connects to trailer. Also check to make sure someone previously did not add an extra screw somewhere. Good luck.
Hi. I have a 2018 dometic 9100 power awning. The left side moving arm closes properly over its fixed support, but the right side moving arm bends to the right in the last two feet of travel. As a result the last two feet do not fit over the right fixed support leaving a 3/8 in gap between the top of the right moving arm and its fixed support. There is no visible impact marks on the right moving arm that would indicate a cause for the right leaning bend. Assuming this is a matter of fabric alignment with the left side aligned and the right side out of alignment to the right of the fixed channel how would you approach adjustment?
Hi Chris, There should be a holding screw at each end of the awning. Only remove the screw on the side where the correction is needed and give that a try.
Hi my awning arm i think is leaking water on my retractable awning arm how can i fix and when it rains really hard, thunder, water comes into the bedroom under the carpet what can i fix it with? the roof has been checked and is sound and the window has been fixed i think the screw you mentioned might have a leak into the wall of the caravan thanks for any suggestions you can offer me
You need to have a certified RV technician examine your RV to find the leak. This can do serious damage in short time. Hopefully it will be something simple and just require some sealant.
@@RVHabit Thanks yes i think its simple enough the cottage roof has been inspected and seems sound. Will get someone to have a look next week carpet had a tiny bit of water but now dry
If it only needs to move a little bit (which is typical) you can usually just remove the screw on the side you are pulling. If the awning needs to move more than a half inch, removing both screws is best.
No reinstall the screw in the same hole in the awning track. The screw will enter the awning in the new position preventing it from moving. The screw does not penetrate the RV in any way and no caulking is necessary.
