[A/S] streetside awnings

[Terry Tyler <tylerbears@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hey Jack, 

Before you decide on a full length streetside awning the same length as your
full length curbside awning, why don't you do a survey among owners who have
each of the configurations (12 owners with full length and 12 owners with
two short lengths)? In that way, you'd get a feel for the advantages and
disadvantages of each configuration.

Why do I suggest this? Simple. When it was my turn to make a choice, the
service manager told me that the full length streetside awning had a
tendency to bow. I'd never thought about that and because this particular
service department has always done right by me, I blindly opted for the two
short ones. Since then, I find myself using the two short streetside awnings
more often. They are obviously easier to extend and retract than the full
length curbside awning. But, on hindsight, there are other benefits.

2 - Perhaps I use the two short streetside awnings more because they shade
the table where we eat and the kitchen counter where meals are prepared.
Sometimes, I even use them at Interstate Rest Areas or McDonald's parking
lots when there's grass or a concrete curbing on the streetside.

3 - I rarely retract the two short streetside awnings on rainy days. Because
they are short, rain doesn't fill them like rain fills a long awning. With
my full length curbside awning, I can tilt it so rain water drains off, but
you know a full length streetside awning won't have that option.

Two short streetside awnings don't have anywhere near the capacity for
accumulating water (weight) because without a big belly, water readily
drains off (no belly, no water weight, no bowing).

4 - I rarely retract the two short streetside awnings on windy, rainy,
sweltering hot days, which means the windows can be left ajar without rain
being blown in onto our table.  This is also helpful with midnight storms.
On more than one occasion, I've worried about my full length curbside awning
and ran outside to make the "pajama clad bare feet" inspection and anchoring
adjustment.  
 
5 - With two short streetside awnings, there are two springs and each awning
has its own strap to keep it extended. In contrast, the full length awning
has one spring and one strap. This one strap pulls down at the center of a
long tube. Unless I slept through my high school physics class when this
principle as discussed, I suspect the sheer length of the long tube has more
chance of bowing than two short tubes with a cumulatively similar length.

6 - Several years ago, when one of our springs to a streetside awning broke,
I was able to detach the entire awning housing ALL BY MYSELF, put it into my
Van and go to a service department where they replaced the spring for me.
Likewise, I was able to bring it back, reattach the awning to my Airstream
and establish tension on the spring ALL BY MYSELF. That would not have been
possible with the full length awning. I love the feeling of solving my own
problems. It helps make up for times when I can't.

Food for thought, that's all. Your call, your choice.

Terry
mailto:tylerbears@airstream.net