Hard lesson learned

[Adamsvr]

Pulling out of our RV dealership we hit a dip in the road and our grill propane tank contacted the awning switch in the garage. Two miles away from the dealership on US 95 people started honking at us. Apparently, our awning had extended. Needless to say the entire awning ripped off our RV. Luckily, it landed on the side of the road and didn't impail anyone... ordered a new one in the tune of two grand and will install it when it arrives. In the interim, have installed switch covers over the switches in the garage.

I'm posting this embassing moment, for you all to take note and install covers on your switches too, least you want to experience the same fate too.

Edited by: Adamsvr

[Campers]

I installed a receptacle cover over my switch last year when one of our members said the same thing happened, the out side cover is black and I switched it with a white one and put the black cover in over the awing switch. Sorry about your misfortune, hope your insurance will cover it under wind damage.

[Tall-Pines]

We took a 3 week trip to Florida and back last October and during the first couple of days of the trip we stopped at the Redwood factory and had some work done and new furniture installed.
One of the items initiated by Redwood was to install covers on the awning switches in the basement.
A design flaw that has now been identified and corrected ... at least for us!

[atom ant]

Yes - we were warned by our Dealer so I installed them before we left the Dealer to travel home.

[rcflame]

Thanks adamsvr, I now have a cover over my switch. It's one of those things you just don't think of.

[Buddy]

I have my Redwood in the shop now for maintenance, I told them about the problem of needing a cover on the awning garage switch. They called Redwood and was told they did do it for one customer, but it was not a recall. They are putting them higher up on the new models. I don't have anything that would hit it anyway.

[hoosierguy]

I expressed my concern about the unprotected switches to my dealer's service manager at my first annual inspection. He agreed and made a protective cover for the two switches at no charge.

[piper guy]

Where did you get the frosted ones ~ Home Depot ? I like the looks and size of them

[RollsRoyce]

Brad (AtomAmt) These covers look larger than the ones I saw at Home Depot...Do you have the part number? I wish I could find one that would cover both..Mine are too far apart for just one and appear to be too close together for just one

[RollsRoyce]

Ada,svr, I would think this would be covered under warranty since it is a design flaw and I don't see how they could turn you down...This would not be very good advertisement for them. Call Ron Howard !If it is not a recall it dadburn should be! Rediculous

[Adamsvr]

We have an appointment with the Crossroads Service Center on July 8th to take care of a list of 35 warranty items. Will submit the bill for the awning and repair of our black tank valve. The worst of the warranty items is a rotted subfloor. Water penetrated the wood when it rains. So here is another tip for you all... run a bead of clear caulk along the top edge of the black plastic covering on the bottom of all the slides.

[Adamsvr]

Here is a picture


http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...ps84903602.jpg

[spindrift]

That rot looks a little nasty. On the other hand, that campsite has a look to die for. Where is it?

[Adamsvr]

We are at Candy Hill campground in Winchester, VA. It is nicely landscaped, but the sites are for the most part, fairly tight. On the positive side, their monthly rates fairly good.

[Dave&Ginny]

I just crawled under my trailer and I don't see anywhere where water could get to the floor. AdamSVR, did you notice anywhere where the black covering was loose or missing? Could the water have come in around a window or even higher and leaked down to the floor?

[Adamsvr]

No I didn't. I think what happened after two years of use, was that the black plastic edging worked its way loose from under the white metal strip holding the black plastic edging. Then after washing or raining the water worked its way in and rotted the wood. The way we noticed it, was that a piece of paper slipped down onto the rug inside. When I picked it up, its edge was soaked. Then when trying to dry the rug we discovered mold.

I went looking outside and discovered mushrooms growing from the black edging and opened it to discover the rot.

[Beechguyjim]

Have any of you guy ever had a fiberglass Boat check for rot I can't remember what it was called but they could check all the wood inside the glass I think it was based on sound waves, maybe you can check areas with it.

[Dave&Ginny]

Well, I'm sorry to hear that! I had water getting into my slide under the table when my trailer was only a few months old. They ended up taking the front wall off my slide and replacing it. I guess I'm a nut with as much as I crawl under my trailer, always looking for water problems. To me water is an RV's worst problem.

[Adamsvr]

Yep, water is an RVs worst enemy! This past weekend, I went up on the roof and sealed up all the caulking voids I could find just to be sure.

[piper guy]

Adamsvr ~ we will be in Candy Hill weekend of June 20th, will you still be there ? Coming out Friday after lunch and staying through Sunday. Nothing special, just a place I noticed doing some work in Winchester and thought we'd try it.



PM me if you'd like and we'll exchange phone numbers. I'll also have some Crown with me and always have fixin's for Cosmos for the ladies .......