Tilting Awning

[bevedfelker]

I noticed recently several posts from new Axis/Vegas owners with pictures of their new RV. Almost everyone of them were doing what I did when I first bought my 2015 Vegas. When they deploy their awning, they leave it flat -- that is the length of both support arms are equal so the awning material lies completely flat.

Leaving an awning flat increases the risk that rain will pool in the center of the awning. This increases the weight the arms have to support. It also increases the stress on the hardware that hold the fabric to the roller tube.

I didn't know that the arms could be adjusted so that one end of the awning would be lower than the other so that rain, A/C condensation, or other sources of water could run off the awning. JamieGeek on this forum told me how to adjust the tilt.

Both arms have a series of holes with a round latch that allows you adjust the arm up or down to tilt the awning. I have my rear arm in the next to last hole at the top so that any water runs off the rear corner of the awning. The picture shows the holes in the support arm. The silver dot in the sixth hole down is the push latch you depress to adjust the support arm length.

[Marine By Choice]

Do you leave it in that position when you close the awning?

[Paul_Leslie]

Just made the adjustment, and cycled the awning in and out. No problem.

The salesman told me that out and flat was the way Thor made them! A Axisis across the campground from us, and I was going to ask him how they adjusted theirs. Thanks again Ed.

[bevedfelker]

I leave mine set that way. Stows with no problem at all. A couple of weeks ago we were at Fort Wilderness when Orlando had that hellacious rain storm -- had about 4 or 6 inches. I was able to get the awning retracted before the worst of the storm.

When I redeployed the awning, I readjusted the tilt -- full down on rear support arm, full up on front -- stowed the awning that way and drove home to Tampa with no problems. I have since readjusted to the way I normally have it tilted.

I have seen no limitations in how the awning retracts regardless of how the support arms are adjusted.

By the way -- when I was talking to salesmen at the Axis/Vegas exhibit during the Tampa RV show this spring, I did not find a single salesperson who knew the awning tilted. Several were surprised when I demonstrated on their exhibits how it worked. Also, when you look at your build sheet, you'll find that the tilt support arms are an option from the awning manufacturer.

[JamieGeek]

Originally Posted by bevedfelker

By the way -- when I was talking to salesmen at the Axis/Vegas exhibit during the Tampa RV show this spring, I did not find a single salesperson who knew the awning tilted. Several were surprised when I demonstrated on their exhibits how it worked. Also, when you look at your build sheet, you'll find that the tilt support arms are an option from the awning manufacturer.

LOL!
I think I figured ours out because we were camping and it started to rain...

If you look at geometry of the arms they should fold up without issue regardless of what setting either side is on since you don't adjust the two arms that control the folding, you're adjusting the one arm that determines height when extended (and when folded up that position is reflected in that arm's position against the camper).

[WillowRun]

we used to tilt ours...now we just "level" the RV 1 to 2 inches or so higher in the front and allow all the waters to run back and away....that slight of not level does not hurt a thing and the water runs away from the roof,the slides and the awning pretty darn good!!

[Hugh.vines@att.net]

Mine lowers itself when water gets enough and then goes back up. Is this not the way it's supposed to work?

[WillowRun]

Yes they will tilt But if you leave it u to the awning it will tilt whenever and which ever way it wants to! Just pull down a titch on the smaller arm to tilt whichever side you want it to go!

[Scott]

We finally tilted our awning down from the flat/level position. When the awning is straight out like that you don't get much usable shade. Also in the position one would need a ladder to attach lights (I know...old fashion by not using a string of LED lights). When tilted down we could sit out underneath it more comfortably than before. We were not shown how to lower it when we picked our unit up. Got love "new" technology.

[bevedfelker]

Hugh -- even though it tilts itself you are relying on the extra weight of the water to tip it to drain. You would be far better adjusting the rear arm in the next to last hole on the top and the water will drain off the rear corner as it comes down rather than waiting for it to build up.

And yes it does provide more shade when the front edge where the roller tube is lower. It both arms are in the last top hole of the adjustment you can touch the edge of the awning fr the ground without a stool.

[Hugh.vines@att.net]

How are yall doing this. Do you unbolt it or just pull down

[JamieGeek]

Originally Posted by Hugh.vines@att.net

How are yall doing this. Do you unbolt it or just pull down

The how to is in the first post:

Both arms have a series of holes with a round latch that allows you adjust the arm up or down to tilt the awning. I have my rear arm in the next to last hole at the top so that any water runs off the rear corner of the awning. The picture shows the holes in the support arm. The silver dot in the sixth hole down is the push latch you depress to adjust the support arm length.

The round latch looks like a button sticking out the side of the arm. On my 24.1 the bottons stick out on the front side of each arm (e.g. towards the front of the coach).
Here is an image of ours with it tilted:

[bevedfelker]

Hugh - the he's and release button on both arms remind me of the legs on folding tables. You know, the ones with the ball sticking out that you depress so you can slide the leg up and down to adjust its length. You are doing the same thing on the awning. You shorten the support arm to lower the front edge of the awning. And lengthen it to raise the awning.

Go back up to the pix I posted. Notice the widest support arm. Go to where that support arm is attached to the wall of the coach. That round silver circle is the hinge pin. Go up the arm to the next silver dot. That is the release pin we have been talking g about the you push in and secure in a different hole further up the arm to tip the awning down.

[Hugh.vines@att.net]

Got ya thanks you guys are great

[scrubjaysnest]

We've always tilted ours since the class C we bought in 89. This is more convenient since it can be set and forget.

[EA37TS]

Folks, FYSA

From the Travel'r Awning owner's manual.

WARNING DO NOT SET THE INDIVIDUAL ARM PITCH AT MORE THAN THREE (3) POSITIONS DIFFERENT BETWEEN THE LEFT AND RIGHT ARM. DAMAGE TO THE ARMS AND CANOPY CAN OCCUR IF THE AWNING IS RETRACTED WHEN THE ARMS ARE SET AT MORE THAN 3 POSITIONS DIFFERENCE.


WARNING FOR AWNINGS UNDER 12': THE ARMS MUST BE SET AT AN EQUAL
PITCH. DAMAGE TO THE ARMS AND CANOPY CAN OCCUR IF THE AWNING IS RETRACTED WITH THE ARMS UNEVEN.

[shspector]

This is the 2nd year we've sweltered in SW Florida with the awing straight out.
All the techs & salespeople told me that's the way they were built.
I just came across this thread & tilted both sides to their lowest position.
What a difference!
I then retracted the awning completely & it rolled up & closed with no issues.
Thanks guys!

[SuperD]

Originally Posted by Hugh.vines@att.net

Mine lowers itself when water gets enough and then goes back up. Is this not the way it's supposed to work?

Sometimes the awning won't tilt due to corrosion or dirt. I was at a campground several years ago, heavy storms, lots of rain. The couple across from us left their awning open, mechanism did not tilt, ripped the awning loose about three feet at the roof. Do not depend on the awning tilting like it is supposed to.

[blw2]

My C has a different type of awning mechanism, a Dometic 9100 series
but hummm, I had to wonder if I could leave mine tilted and retract like that?
Seem to recall reading that it could not, so I double checked in the manual and sadly it says to not fold it while tilted. Bummer.

[Laco]

Our Gemini came with the awning adjusted so it tilts when deployed. When I first saw that, having never noticed that before, I thought it was a problem and needed to be reset. It opens and closes just fine, so I guess it really is a feature not a problem. Just looks kind of weird when open.