Center awning brace May 27, 2025, 11:27:30 am The bracket holding the center awning support pole broke a few months back but frankly I haven't missed using it.In fact I've never looked into what it actually does?
Re: Center awning brace Reply #1 – May 27, 2025, 12:02:42 pm We never use our awning g fully extended, so never use that support. It would also seriously slow the rapid retraction should winds pick up, reason #2.Steve 1 Likes
Re: Center awning brace Reply #2 – May 27, 2025, 12:10:18 pm The center brace prevents sagging in the middle of the awning. In the event of sudden strong winds, it prevents the awning from rolling in quickly.Our LD center brace has not been used in over 20 years.Edit: I see Steve beat me to the same answer.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Center awning brace Reply #3 – May 27, 2025, 12:19:30 pm And I can chime in; that my center brace is in the garage next to the cabover (inside) ladder, and that it hasn't been used for over 20 years. Note that Larry and Steve, like I have shorter motorhomes with shorter awnings. The center rafter I think, was mostly intended for rigs with longer awnings that needed more support between the ends. RonB 1 Likes
Re: Center awning brace Reply #4 – May 28, 2025, 07:10:59 am I use mine every time, but figured I could do without it.
Re: Center awning brace Reply #5 – May 28, 2025, 07:18:05 am I stopped using the support when my plastic bracket also snapped. I looked into replacing it, but never did. I have not missed using it at all, and we use the awning a lot. My son offered to 3-D print a replacement, but now I can't find the broken bracket! I also chuckled about not using the overhead ladder. I never used ours. It's somewhere in the garage. 1 Likes
Re: Center awning brace Reply #6 – May 28, 2025, 10:30:37 am Good points with the center brace interfering with bringing the awning in quickly if needed. I've been carry mine around but we really don't use the awning very often (although we did at Borrego). Think I'll do like others and put it in the garage with the bunk ladder that's already there (the cats don't use the ladder and neither do we!). We've also learned that cranking out the awning partially makes is less susceptible to wind gusts so that's now our practice. I did just buy a pop-up canopy on sale at Big5 so will try that out at our next trip (Morro Bay in July). 1 Likes
Re: Center awning brace Reply #7 – May 28, 2025, 02:56:40 pm Quote from: HiLola - May 28, 2025, 10:30:37 amThink I'll do like others and put it in the garage with the bunk ladder that's already there (the cats don't use the ladder and neither do we!). We sleep in the bunk, so not only do we use the ladder, we traded to the one from our '83 which was superior to the '04, AND upgraded that one with more foam and material on the steps to match '04 interior! AND, for our cat, it is a great jungle-gym!Steve 2 Likes
Re: Center awning brace Reply #8 – May 28, 2025, 11:23:56 pm We don't use the awning that much. I worry about the wind. Dead center for the support puts it right over the door. I may attach the support just off the door - on alternate Tuesdays - when the wind is aft of the beam......... 1 Likes
Re: Center awning brace Reply #9 – June 26, 2025, 10:17:43 am We use the center beam all the time....can't imagine not using it as it keeps the door from rubbing against the awning fabric on ours....maybe our awning is longer or the placement is different for a 31' TB (the Fiamma is the 15' version). It was easy to get the bracket replaced after calling Fiamma in Florida