You have to remove the ropes before you retract it. But the point is that you don't have to retract it. We generally have a lot of stuff set up under the awning and the only time we bring it in is if they are talking really severe weather. Because then we put everything else away too. We have been Rv'ing for 17 years without a problem with them, as long as you put enough tilt on it the rain will come off without a problem. My father in law did bend his outer pole during a heavy rain once but he said he forgot to tilt the awning, cause the way his camper was he couldn't leave it tilted all the time. Ours is up high enough that I can leave it on full tilt all the time.
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