By Cheri Sicard
Josh the RV Nerd, one of our reader’s favorite RV YouTube channels, says that if you have an RV built after 2011, chances are good you have a power awning. And chances are even better that you are using it incorrectly.
Josh says not a lot of people know this and that even RV dealers don’t know it, but in the video below, he is going to let us in on a secret.
Josh noticed a lot of used RVs coming into his lot with the auto rain dump gas struts on power awnings prematurely worn out. He came to realize this is because people are not taught how to properly use their power awnings.
In theory, using a power awning is simple. Push a button and it unfurls, push again and it retracts. Not so fast, says Josh.
The rain dump gas strut in the awning arm allows the awning to tilt down if there’s rain then straighten back out when there’s not.
In order to not have this part wear out before it should, like so many used RVs Josh sees, you will want to extend your awning in two stages.
Here’s what Josh recommends:
- First, open the awning about two feet, then stop and pause for a few seconds.
- Now fully extend the awning.
It takes just a few seconds but can save you hundreds of dollars in power awning repairs.
Why do you need to open your awning in two stages?
Because of the mechanics of the gas strut that takes time to expand. The reason a gas strut is used in a power awning is that it doesn’t move quickly. It only works when it’s subjected to a certain level of resistance aka water weight.
Forcing this part to open and close too quickly will damage the strut’s seals and result in its wearing out prematurely.
So take your time, give it a few seconds to catch up, and extend the life of your power awning!
##RVDT2389
I’m seeing a lot of repeat articles here on RVT. Not a big deal if you’re a newbie.
The awning manufacturers (at least Dometic) don’t list this procedure in their literature. Other so-called experts have called this “open, pause, continue” process unnecessary. I like Josh’s videos, especially in the Haylett RV days, but I don’t buy into this one.
In an awning tech session at a Lippert rally the LCI representative said this is nonsense. Who do you believe, a influencer or the manufacturer?
I would not believe anything Lippert comes up with.
Question: Why not just lower the strut mechanism on one end of the awning so the rain water rolls off the awning during the rain storm?
On my power awning you can’t lower one end by itself. The awning comes out equally on each end when using the switch. I assume this is to keep the awning rolling up equally.
You lower one end after it is extended.
Something I noticed between the Solera awning on our 2017 TT and the awnings on several other RVs. Our awning opens and closes at about 1/3 the speed of many other awnings. Is this perhaps by design to accommodate those gas struts?
We own two Subaru SUVs. The older does not have a power lift gate, but uses strictly the gas struts once you reach a certain point. The newer has a fully motorized gate, but still has gas struts. The non-motorized gate lifts and closes faster than the motorized gate – once you pass that initial pivot point. Thought it was strictly for safety reasons, but maybe also to accommodate the gas struts?
Thank you, Cheri! 🙂 Good to know. 🙂 Thank you for sharing this! Safe travels! 🙂
Josh’s Theory is correct (rapid extension or compression can cause failure of gas strut seals), just as you can “blow out” a shock or strut on your vehicle by hitting a pothole. But I disagree with the opening technique being the cause of premature awning strut failures. The opening and closing rates of power awnings is well within the operating range of the gas struts. The number one cause of premature gas strut failure is lack of use, which causes the seals to dry out and harden. Exercising the struts lubricates the seals, extending their life span. This is especially true in extremely hot and dry environments (deserts).
Like most things, “use it or lose it”!
Been RVing for 20 plus years and I did not know this.
On a new awning I don’t think it makes any real difference, with that said if you find one side lagging then snapping open its time to use his recommended procedure. I have one side that sticks/lags so I do like was mentioned not to save the strut but to stop the bang when it extends suddenly to catch up with the other side.