Thule awning problem.

[Jonquilles]

Hi, Just joined motorhome fun and have had a problem with our Thule awning. After waiting nearly two years for our Autotrail Expedition 68 we took ownership last September. Not having had the opportunity to use the awning very often we opened it for the sixth time last week whilst camping in France. Properly secured and open for the second night it rained a lot so we had it slightly angled to one side for run off of water. During the night there was a loud thump on the camper side and going out to investigate we found the awning collapsed and one leg snapped off at the top. Where the awning arm should be fixed at the top to the rail on the van it had come away because the metal bracket it should be attached to had broken, (looks like metal fatigue to me). There was no wind or adverse circumstances just rain so no outside influence to cause this. Contacted the dealers and sent pictures and they spoke to Thule and was told from seeing the pictures that the guarantee does not cover this !!
Still pursuing it at the moment but has anyone else experienced this problem ? Pictures attached.
Thanks

 

[DavidG58]

That looks like a lot of damage, for two separate components to break would suggest mechanical failure not fatigue

How did you tie it down ? Thule have specific straps with fittings into the top of the legs

Have you strapped it down over the canvas or the arms?

Hope it doesn’t spoil your trip , I don’t think it will cost much to repair so probably not worth falling out with anybody

Good luck getting it fixed , try Rose Awnigs in Poole , John and Dan Rose really know all there is to know about these awnings

 

[stewartwebr]

I would suspect weight created the issue. I would put money on your fabric filled with water creating weight and then failure of components. Same happened to us many years ago in Spain. We never leave our awning out now for that very issue. Being honest I’m not sure why we have one. It is either too windy, too wet or sun is too low for it to provide shade. The good news is all parts are replaceable and easy to obtain.

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[meanders]

Having seen one wrap itself over the roof of one van causing further damage to the van, and another where it had caught a downpour and the centre of the bulge was almost on the floor, I always wind ours in at night or when away from the van. If you release the storm straps and turn the peg heads at the feet through 90 degrees, it' easy to reinstate to the same position.

The hinge bit is only cast alloy which is not renowned for metallurgy toughness.

 

[VXman]

Hope it doesn’t spoil your trip , I don’t think it will cost much to repair so probably not worth falling out with anybody

Been there, done that. It requires a new arm so around £300 from memory. (300 per arm. - not sure If the OP has broken one or two??) If you are not able to fix it yourself (it's not easy and requires 2 people, ladders and removing a lot of parts) ) then it'll cost at least another £100 or so for labour.

So not as expensive as a new awning but not cheap!

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[Jezzerr]

Thank you Stewartwebr. We are in BRDC campsite at Silverstone. Woken at 3.30AM by loud bang. Front awning leg lying on ground - and front of awning no longer supported - so something mechanical has broken. Managed to roll in and already spoken with Rose Awning who inspired confidence it can be fixed. Now if it stops raining there might be some track activity

 

[Jezzerr]

 

[Fdhadi]

I was driving up the M23, M25 & on the M40 at 00.30 hrs this morning after getting off the Dieppe - Newhaven ferry, the rain was horrendous. More than likely the amount of water collected caused the damage.

We were down in the South of France last week, the wind on one of the days was 35mph so although we had the straps and pegged down, I brought the awning in. Not worth the risk. Saw a few damaged on the campsite the next day.

 

[yorkiebar]

For those who this has happened to in rain, are you putting one support leg lower than the other to create a rain runoff ?

 

[dazandandrea]

Even when angled very steeply rain can and does pool. Ive had it happen and only just averted catastrophe by pushing tje material up and so emptying all the water.
Water is heavy .

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