| Author | Message | ||
| Jim Wilkerson (Wagwar)
Registered Member Username: Wagwar Post Number: 40 Registered: 12-2009 Posted From: 12.158.159.58 Rating: N/A |
I'm trying to decide if awnings on a bus are a good idea. I really like the idea of a patio awning for a shady spot to sit and bedroom window awnings for privacy and sun shade. However, I have had several coach builders and coach owners say that a strong gust of wind or bad storm on the road can cause a rolled up awning to 'unfurl' and be torn from the coach. Has anyone had this experience? Is there a type of awning that this cannot happen to? Thanks | ||
| Jim and Myrna Lawrence (Daffycanuck)
Registered Member Username: Daffycanuck Post Number: 65 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 69.19.14.16  Rating: N/A |
Yes this has happened to me.....the fix is a locking device that prevents the awning from unrolling. Mine is a large stainless steel Hose clamp fastened to the roller at the front next to the unlock lever. The Hose clamp has a clevis pin fastened to it in which I hook a rubber coated chain with an S hook. This chain is in turn fastened to the arm mount (in the hole) in which the awning arm is resting. The lower S hook is cushioned by a gate spring.    | ||
| Jim and Myrna Lawrence (Daffycanuck)
Registered Member Username: Daffycanuck Post Number: 66 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 69.19.14.16 Rating: N/A |
Forgot to mention, a similar device is available for about $75.00. Also we have no window awnings, but friends do. They say their window awnings have unrolled in very strong winds, but there was no damage. I think there must also be a way to lock them to prevent that happening. | ||
| Wec4104 (Wec4104)
Registered Member Username: Wec4104 Post Number: 74 Registered: 7-2008 Posted From: 71.59.85.113 Rating: N/A |
Many folks have had experience with wind damage to awnings, but this generally happens to awnings that were left in the extended position when a storm hit. I haven't heard too much about damage occuring to a properly stowed awning. I have heard of people sustaining awning damage when they drove close to something, and the protruding awning becomes the first thing to catch on the tree branch, road sign, building overhang, etc. I have also hear that some designs latch in a more secure fashion than others. I remember somebody posting details on how they added a secondary latching piece that was more secure. Personally, I would not hesitate to add awnings to a bus if it is in your budget. I find that extending the awning makes a huge difference in the load placed on my air conditioning inside. | ||
| Luvrbus (Luvrbus)
Registered Member Username: Luvrbus Post Number: 871 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 74.32.83.4 Rating: N/A |
I have Zip Dee on my Eagle and if adjusted right they won't come loose, my window awnings don't even have locks, the patio awning does but only on one end at the head and I forget to lock it 1/2 the time | ||
| Paul Lawry (Dreamscape)
Registered Member Username: Dreamscape Post Number: 645 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 64.40.216.39  Rating: N/A |
I have a Zip Dee patio and really like it. Hasn't come unfurled yet. Just don't leave it open if the wind is over 20mph. It's a PITA to roll up when it's windy! (Message edited by dreamscape on April 02, 2010) | ||
| ED Hackenbruch (Shadowman)
Registered Member Username: Shadowman Post Number: 267 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 75.243.227.216 Rating: N/A |
From what i have heard, the no. 1 claim on insurance companies is damage to, and from awnings, to rv's and people. We had damage to a large window awning going down the road in NE. in a wind storm. Just glad the wind was on that side of the bus and not on the patio awning side. I ended up getting rid of the patio awning and am going to replace it with a window awning....they can handle a lot more wind than a patio awning can and are much easier/quicker to take down if the wind does come up. | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 1111 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 74.162.78.89  Rating: N/A |
If you cruise thru the RV forums, you'll find plenty of info regarding the awnings and how that "unfurling" problem has been resolved. The easiest way, is the way Jim and Myrna did it, but there are other simple ways as well. If it doesn't unfurl at highway speeds, a strong wind ain't gonna' do it either, so keep that in mind. I had a ZipDee with the aluminum covers unfurl while enroute over a local causeway here in Melbourne, Fl. I'll tell you first hand, that you do not want to climb on the roof and fight with a %$^%@ sail on a windy day. The gusts were rocking the RV so bad, that it damn near tossed me off. And winding that thing back up was a joy and a half. The locking mechanism had worn out, and the small pin that anchored the awning shaft fell out. I replaced it all, and added a clamp similar to the one pictured on Jim's post. So add awnings. you won't regret it, but add some extra anchors to the ends, so you won't have to worry about becoming airborne. | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 1143 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 173.202.24.84  Rating: N/A |
My bus came with a free uninstalled awning. After seeing all the different gadgets in RV catalogs which are supposed to "secure" awnings I decided it must be a lost cause. My solution was to buy from Sam's Club a fully portable, folding, square, pole supported canopy and keep it in the baggage. It folds up into one bundle, no separate poles & etc. If it blows away I don't really care, it was not expensive and the bus won't get banged up. Personally I think rolled up awnings look like hell on a bus. Just my opinion, not known to be all that important! (Message edited by gusc on April 02, 2010) | ||
| JC Alacoque (Jc_alacoque)
Registered Member Username: Jc_alacoque Post Number: 88 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 207.34.166.7 Rating: N/A |
I'm with Gus on this one. Our bus came with an awning that we hardly ever use. It doesn't look good on the side of the bus, and partially blocks the view in the rear view mirror. I might remove it someday. JC | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 1129 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 66.82.9.15  Rating: N/A |
I really like the idea of a patio awning for a shady spot to sit and bedroom window awnings for privacy and sun shade. A far more important use for the awning is shading the sides of the camper , esp those large windows from adding to the heat load. Awnings , both sides, can mean the difference between sitting locked inside breathing canned air , or open windows , no noisemaker, & happy neighbors. FF | ||
| Glenn Williams (Glenn)
Registered Member Username: Glenn Post Number: 266 Registered: 6-2006 Posted From: 216.163.57.219  Rating: N/A |
I have 2 full size A@E awnings on my bus and they are great! They lock down very well. They can drop the temp inside the bus by 5 to 10 degrees. They really help out if you don't have good insulation. Good luck! | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 1259 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 174.144.17.199  Rating: N/A |
As Fred mentioned, awnings greatly reduce radiant heat entering the coach through the windows. The downside is that it will be darker inside the coach. Living in the SE, we prefer cooler and put up with darker. YMMV Jack PS: We have awnings on all windows and screens on the windshields, door, D window and Driver's side window. Jack | ||
| Jack Hart (Jackhartjr)
Registered Member Username: Jackhartjr Post Number: 61 Registered: 8-2007 Posted From: 205.188.116.203 Rating: N/A |
In trying to keep the classic look of the bus we are planning to put an umbrella in the bay with a heavy base and table that I can just move into position when camped. As for the heat from all of those windows I HOPE to find some sort of reflective tinting to help with that problem. I am loking at some lexan right now that reflects a lot of the heat as well as cuts out on UV rays. Jack | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 1200 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.243.151.126 Rating: N/A |
FWIW... IMHO...Glass is Glass, Thin, easily sun and heat penetrated.... and film (I have it- 80%) is only a small factor. I kept a rear window for many reasons....filmed it, put a solar protector there for time we do not want to "look at the sunset- or whatever) and the cotton-pickin' window cracked due to the solar heat build up as I can reconcile (angle and huge size). Glass is a real factor in temp control....in buses, houses and buildings. BTDT..   After years of trying many things, we are going to use PolyCB2...a NASA Thing...(inside the window as a "screen) on all windows. Awnings...nice, but just not for us. Too much trouble for a stop and go, which we mostly do. RCB RCB | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 1132 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 66.82.9.92 Rating: N/A |
I am loking at some lexan right now that reflects a lot of the heat as well as cuts out on UV rays. WE installed a MCI dark lexan window in our boat. IT ADDS a huge amount of heat as the dark color absorbs the heat and passes it straight into the pilot house. Dark lexan is far hotter than simple glass , as what may be behind the glass is probably not as dark as the lexan , so absorbes less sun and radiates less heat. FF | ||
| L James Jones Jr (Jamo)
Registered Member Username: Jamo Post Number: 139 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 24.59.114.207  Rating: N/A |
Doesn't Lexan go bad after a couple years of sunlight exposure? Maybe this is something completely different?? I have Lexan in the destination window on our '04 and it's all crumbly looking...kinda like shattered safety glass. Hope to replace it this summer, not sure with what... | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 1261 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 70.0.62.231 Rating: N/A |
Not sure about life of Lexan, but it does scratch much more easliy than glass. Jack | ||
| Patrick levenson (Zubzub)
Registered Member Username: Zubzub Post Number: 202 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 174.91.225.235  Rating: N/A |
here's something I have been considering. Seems to me a huge tarp installed lie an inverted "v" over the the bus.supported by a pole at each end would really keep the bus cool and shady. I know this may sound stupid to many but I was wondering if anyone had done this. The basic idea is to create a shade and resulting air flow in the area. I first thouht of this when I read about the Saudi MCI's with the double roof for cooling. | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 1262 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 70.6.171.39 Rating: N/A |
Patrick, I think that would work, but in our case to cover the width as our bus and patio awning, it would take a 20 X 40 tarp and poles that were at least 10' tall to clear the bus. Not sure how to easily install or anchor against wind. Jack | ||
| David Evans (Dmd)
Registered Member Username: Dmd Post Number: 441 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 173.77.207.138  Rating: N/A |
Patrick, thats a great idea and a bad idea depending on the location and weather. When i lived on my boat a tarp made a huge difference in below deck temps but it took some effort to make sure it was secured and sometimes furled before the afternoon breezes picked up. Many nites running around in my skivies, batten down the hatches, dropping poles. A tarp that big will be pretty heavy in a good wind and you wouldent want to leave a sail like that unattended. I hate the look of an awning as we have really old classic looking (in our opinion lol) buses. I am thinking of the aluiminum track to slide a hemmed awning into maybe 10-12 foot width max X 4-8'long into and use beefy telescoping aluim poles into reinforced grommets and stakes with tension ropes. This way there wont be the arms attached to the coach full time. This will shield the windows in the front of the coach and give a little rain protection. A good canvas store or awning place can give you some good ideas. On my way to Bussin 10 in late Dec, I saw a RV limping down the road near Harrisburg with half the awning gone and the rest whipping the crap out of the roof. | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 1146 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 173.202.45.124 Rating: N/A |
As I remember Lexan is not good in direct sunlight. I once started to install it in an aircraft until I discovered this. What I would like is some good sun reflecting exterior film. Film inside is too late, the heat is already inside the glass. I once started to install some interior silver film on the outside of my windows but decided it would look like hell. It probably wouldn't last very long anyway. | ||
| joe padberg (Joemc7ab)
Registered Member Username: Joemc7ab Post Number: 395 Registered: 6-2004 Posted From: 66.38.159.33 Rating: N/A |
Patrick It must be the northern lites and all that geomagnetic energy that is doing it. I have thought about a similar set up, and in fact had one of those eureka moments waking up in the middle of the night. The way I was going to do it was by having 3 or 4 four inch pipe stubbs mounted permanently on the center rib of the roof and have those accept 2 foot long pieces which would slide on to pipe the lenght or longer of the bus. This would be the main support, and I would use four 10x20 tarps to make it more manageable. Access to the roof would be through escape hatch or ladder from outside. This way it could provide total shading using a tarp or or one of the coolroo sp? products used by awning manufacturers. We had one made,ordered, but it has not arrived for our sunroom at home when we were in Mesa a few weeks ago. This would only be practical if you remained in one spot for some time. Joe. | ||
| Jim Wilkerson (Wagwar)
Registered Member Username: Wagwar Post Number: 44 Registered: 12-2009 Posted From: 12.158.159.60 Rating: N/A |
Daffycanuck wrote: Mine is a large stainless steel Hose clamp fastened to the roller at the front next to the unlock lever. The Hose clamp has a clevis pin fastened to it in which I hook a rubber coated chain with an S hook. This chain is in turn fastened to the arm mount (in the hole) in which the awning arm is resting. The lower S hook is cushioned by a gate spring. I looked at the pics (and thank you very much for that), but I'm having difficulty understanding how this prevents the awning from unfurling? Wouldn't you need something that ties the top part of the awning (rolled up) directly to the bus? Maybe this does that, but sorry I don't see it. Thanks in advance. | ||
| Patrick levenson (Zubzub)
Registered Member Username: Zubzub Post Number: 204 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 174.91.225.235 Rating: N/A |
Well this is a fine mess...I thought I would get shut down on the tent idea. Now maybe I'll have to do it. Thta's what I was thinking as well Joe. A few anchor spots along the roof, a few tarps, ....might really look like crap.but this would be for boondocking and my experience with shade roofs it hot climes is that the air flow they create really cools things. | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 1208 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.242.78.3 Rating: N/A |
Patrick...I understand your concept...no reason to shut it down.... a question; .....would it be worth the hassle and, forbid, in the event of a quick, big blow (wind) would it do more harm than good during quiet time. Just food for thought... RCB | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 1112 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 74.162.78.89 Rating: N/A |
Wow. Tarps and snaps. I remember putting the sunscreen on our Winnebago windshield, having to snap the ^%$^#@ thing to the top of the windshield, and unsnap it when we wanted to go someplace else. I decided back then, that I really, really hated snaps. And while doing that trick to the windshield took about a half hour of climbing up and across the front of the motorhome, snapping each of the two-dozen snaps and making sure they were secure...... ...rolling down the 20' side awning took about 35 seconds, and when it was time to leave, or during a sudden storm, about 35 seconds to get rolled back up. That was "my way", of cuz.... everyone's entitled to do it "their way". | ||
| Jim and Myrna Lawrence (Daffycanuck)
Registered Member Username: Daffycanuck Post Number: 68 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 69.19.14.26 Rating: N/A |
Wagwar, the hose clamp is fastened to the roller, then the chain is hooked into the clevis pin and then the bottom mount. It prevents the awning from unravelling... | ||
| ED Hackenbruch (Shadowman)
Registered Member Username: Shadowman Post Number: 269 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 75.215.20.94 Rating: N/A |
Funny how in a high wind situation 35 seconds can seem like forever. I can put up or take down a window awning in 2 seconds....wind or no wind. | ||
| H3-40 (Ace)
Registered Member Username: Ace Post Number: 1024 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 206.53.147.114  Rating: N/A |
I have a Zip-Dee patio awning and it has to be the worst money ever spent! Now if I can ever get the bow out to where it will roll in or out like its supposed to, I might think differently! I have an A&E on my trailer and it works like a champ! IMHO, Zip-Dee's are WAY over rated! | ||
| Van (Van)
Registered Member Username: Van Post Number: 106 Registered: 7-2008 Posted From: 68.108.81.25  Rating: N/A |
Just put one on our eagle, and love it, cuts the heat considerably | ||
| Van (Van)
Registered Member Username: Van Post Number: 107 Registered: 7-2008 Posted From: 68.108.81.25 Rating: N/A |
Just put one on our eagle, and love it, cuts the heat considerably |