Hi fellas!<br>I must say; I've slacked off posting on this forum since I got my truck and 5th wheel. The wife and I are having fun with the rig. I'm learning by experience though. It seems each time I take it out (the rig) we break something. On one trip, a hidden cut-off limb punched a hole in the 5th wheel door and broke a window. I got that fixed. The next time out we went to the desert. If anyone is familiar with the Mojave Desert in the Antelope Valley in southern California, you can appreciate what happened next. We got set up at the campsite and settled in to enjoy a weekend at Red Rock Canyon in the Mojave Desert. I got the rig set up and pulled out the awning. I remembered what the fella who I bought the 5th wheel from said about putting up the awning in a windy area. He said to be sure to tie some rope from the awning roller to stakes in the ground for some added stability. So, I tied some 1/4&quot; nylon rope from the awing roller on both sides to a metall stake in the ground. Good enough, I thought. Later on that afternoon the wind really started to gust. I could see the support arms starting to flex so I told my wife we'd better roll up the awning. We went outside and I had her hold the pull strap while I collapsed the telescopic arms. Problem: The arm had bent from flexing in the wind and I couldn't get them to slide into one another. While I was fighting that, my wife was struggling to hold the awning down by the pull strap....the wind was probably gusting 40-60 mph.<br>Now with each gust she was darn near lifted off her feet with me still trying to get the arms to telescope into the down position. Well, you can guess what happened next. I let go of the support arm to relieve my wife, who was about to get airlifted to parts unknown, when a terrible gust grabbed the awning and inflated it like a parachute ripping it from the 5th wheel! Needless to say, I was P.O.ed!! Down it came! &gt;<br><br>Next week I'm having new fabric installed. At least I was able to straighten out all the hardware. <br><br>Like I said, we're learning as we go! This weekend we went to Pismo Beach, Ca. for the weekend...didn't break anything this time. <br>FUN, FUN, FUN!<br>Buzz<br><br><br><br><br>

 

Sorry to hear that. I know how you feel. It seems every time you get a chance to take a break thats when everything seem to let loose. Then you need a vacation from the vacation to fix all the problems.

 

[quote author=Buzz link=board=11;threadid=14910;start=0#139716 date=1053316932]<br>Hi fellas!<br>Like I said, we're learning as we go! This weekend we went to Pismo Beach, Ca. for the weekend...didn't break anything this time. <br>FUN, FUN, FUN!<br>Buzz<br>[/quote]<br><br>I heard those seals at Pismo hate fivers. They hold parties on the patio awnings. <br><br>Ain't this fun. Hope you know about leaving one side of the awning lower than the other for the rain. :P :P

 

Bob:<br> I don't think he need to worry bout the rain. Sounds like he just takes it off and gives it a good shake.<br><br> LMTO

 

I did know about leaving one side lower for the rain...believe me, from now on, if there's any chance of the slightest wind, the awning is staying rolled up!!

 

Good show!! My son did not know about the trick of leaving one side lower and blew out my struts once when using the motorhome. Was he ever a surprised puppy - - and came whimpering home to daddy with tail between legs. It was really cute. <br><br>BigDaddyBob