chevyman2
missouri
Senior Member
Joined: 08/06/2007
View Profile
 Offline
|
You might be able to straighten it, but when any metal bends, it stretches and therefore weakens. I would replace the tube. and of course to use someone elses quote from a previous similar post. "WHEN IN DOUBT--IT DONT STAY OUT"
Tim-DW(Kathy)-DS(KEN)
04 AVEO-DD, 03 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE, 95 Firebird(da toy)
07 COACHMEN SOA 32FKS(stress relief center)
If Im not at the CG---I'll be somewhere else!
Total nights camped in 08 = 45
|
Tim from Alabama
PERPLEXED
Senior Member
Joined: 04/07/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
I can tell you from experience, no matter what you try, you will not be able to bend it back like it should be, or was originally. And, it now has caused the center of the awning material to stretch, so even IF you were to bend it back close to straight, the center material will sag like crazy...even with a center support arm.
I had this happen to me a couple years ago when I was unaware of a rain coming, and it was sitting in my yard opened to air out. When I realized it was raining, and went outside, the damage had already occurred. So, I did what some suggest, tried to bend it back. I did the center with the bow down and pulled down on the ends...nothing. Used support on each end with the bow up and actually stepped down on it some from a tall step ladder...nothing. All I wound up managing to do was causing it to roll from the position it was in..either up or down...and this caused the lock to strip, so it wouldn't stay in position anymore.
I was lucky, as I got mine replaced under insurance. The new one actually has the spring loaded support arm on one side, so if it loads up, it will automatically drop that arm and dump the water. BUT, you still have to make sure that the side is lowered at least by 2 or 3 holes, and the springs are on the bottom of the arm, so it has to be extended enough that the arms are extended about half way to work. But, it DOES work. The guy who installed it showed me how they worked, and actually opened it and lowered the one end, and used a hose to fill the center. The spring arm dropped it before it allowed the fabric to stretch or bent the tube.
All that being said, the only suggestion I can give you is what I did for a while, and that is open it all the way, make sure the bow is facing outwards, so it stretches the center of the fabric, and then pull and tighten the outside arms against it and live with it. Either that, or if your insurance covers it, you could have it replaced with a new one probably only paying the deductable, if it isn't too high.
Otherwise, you'll do everything you can think of, and it still won't straighten, and you could do like I did and break or strip the lock so that it won't stay open or closed at all. Then, you'd have to tie it against your rv, like I did, or it would want to roll out on it's own and against the arm locks, where the wind would pull it out and break the locks or arms off.
Been there...stupid mistake, but not that uncommon. Learning experiences that make you take extra care in checking things out...and always roll it up at night...or check the weather close.
If I don't meet your expectations
Maybe you should lower your standards.
|
|
|
|
