I’ve seen rvers in campgrounds use rope or ratchet cords attached to stakes in the ground, picnic table, or filled water jugs to fasten down the ends of their awning arms presumably to prevent the awning from moving in the wind. Is this a good idea? - Jim Mac via email
Thanks Jim! Moonmullins1 below answered this question well. Carefree of Colorado makes a tiedown kit for some of their new awnings. But the extending or folding arms are quite weak in some directions of force, and while their higher end Ascent awning a=may handle it OK, I would suggest that any of the newer awnings not be tied down. I used to install tons of the old style awnings on seasonal RVs and we'd set them up with screen rooms on decks and tie them down for the season. While the newer models are mostly electrically operated and lighter weight, they are flimsy. I just saw one in January get destroyed down south in strong but not over the top winds. -CD
I'm sure many modern RVers would like more information about LiFePO4 batteries, their connections to the RV and inverters based on intended loads plus solar charging. Ground based portable solar power plugging into the factory installed Solar Inlet would help owners understand how the panels will be controlled.
When compared to the old style of awnings, the idea of holding down the extended flimsy arms of the modern power retractable awnings miss the point that made the older last so long... support from wind trying to fold the awning back and lateral forces. Bars from the RV to the roller will keep the awning from folding back and straps from the roller end to the ground will strengthen the effort. Crisscrossing straps from the roller to the RV will keep lateral forces at bay but... that's a lot of work and equipment to replace retracting the awning when in doubt.
Would you address carcamping? I have been reading about sleeping in your hybrid vehicle leaving it on at night. It sleeps but comes on during the night to run the heat or a/c with little fuel usage. Is that accurate?
I’ve done a little testing and a lot of thinking about car-camping in a Plug-In Hybrid. Do you have a specific brand and model PHEV in mind?
Also, some of the higher end EVs have a heat pump rather than resistance heating, but I’m not sure about PHEVs which probable rely on hot water heating from the ICE.
I was not thinking plugin hybrid, but those owners would appreciate your research. I currently own a Ford Fusion Hybrid. I am thinking of getting a larger SUV hybrid in the future for carcamping.
I’ve seen rvers in campgrounds use rope or ratchet cords attached to stakes in the ground, picnic table, or filled water jugs to fasten down the ends of their awning arms presumably to prevent the awning from moving in the wind. Is this a good idea? - Jim Mac via email
Thanks Jim! Moonmullins1 below answered this question well. Carefree of Colorado makes a tiedown kit for some of their new awnings. But the extending or folding arms are quite weak in some directions of force, and while their higher end Ascent awning a=may handle it OK, I would suggest that any of the newer awnings not be tied down. I used to install tons of the old style awnings on seasonal RVs and we'd set them up with screen rooms on decks and tie them down for the season. While the newer models are mostly electrically operated and lighter weight, they are flimsy. I just saw one in January get destroyed down south in strong but not over the top winds. -CD
I'm sure many modern RVers would like more information about LiFePO4 batteries, their connections to the RV and inverters based on intended loads plus solar charging. Ground based portable solar power plugging into the factory installed Solar Inlet would help owners understand how the panels will be controlled.
When compared to the old style of awnings, the idea of holding down the extended flimsy arms of the modern power retractable awnings miss the point that made the older last so long... support from wind trying to fold the awning back and lateral forces. Bars from the RV to the roller will keep the awning from folding back and straps from the roller end to the ground will strengthen the effort. Crisscrossing straps from the roller to the RV will keep lateral forces at bay but... that's a lot of work and equipment to replace retracting the awning when in doubt.
Would you address carcamping? I have been reading about sleeping in your hybrid vehicle leaving it on at night. It sleeps but comes on during the night to run the heat or a/c with little fuel usage. Is that accurate?
I’ve done a little testing and a lot of thinking about car-camping in a Plug-In Hybrid. Do you have a specific brand and model PHEV in mind?
Also, some of the higher end EVs have a heat pump rather than resistance heating, but I’m not sure about PHEVs which probable rely on hot water heating from the ICE.
I’ll post a full article on this topic next week on RVelectricity.SubStack.com and cross post it here.
I was not thinking plugin hybrid, but those owners would appreciate your research. I currently own a Ford Fusion Hybrid. I am thinking of getting a larger SUV hybrid in the future for carcamping.
I’ll also ask my Kia/Hyundai contact about overnight heat in an EV.