awning problems and smeared silicone on new coach

[RoadWarriors]

All, Our 36RL is about a month old. All seems to be in pretty good shape but our first real trip is next week so we'll see. One of then concerns the additional awning that is available as an option. It will not go out on its own. It gets hung up on the metal cover we ordered with it as an option. I have to manually pull out one of the arms while my wife controls the switch. I read where the switch needs to be "bumped" off and on but that does not work either. My dealer is prepared to order a new one but it seems like a design problem and I don't think a new awning is a sure thing. Anybody else experience this problem?
Finally, is there a safe way to clean smeared silicone around some of the lights and fixtures installed on the external walls?
Thanks,
Craig

[atom ant]

Sounds like the awning might be out of alignment a tad. Even if the fabric shifts a little in the track the arms get out of alignment and stick. That arm has to drop by gravity when it opens, as it is at the weakest point on the gas shock to push it out. If the arm is out of whack even a bit, it will not open. Every once in a while the wind will slide my fabric down the tube a bit, and then the two awnings collide when they pass and they wont close up against the coach because the center of the arm doesn't align with the arm on the wall. I just give it a few tugs in the opposite way the wind blew it and it works fine.

I'm with you, sounds like the awning just needs fixed, not replaced.

PS my paint will last forever, its all covered in silicone!

[Tobys Home]

Ours has always stated to unfurl while holding on to the metal wrap. After about a foot to a foot and a half it has enough spring power in the arms to bring it out. I did find that when you have it in a full tilt position on the arms the resistance seems to be greater. Have had the unit for almost two years and nothing has changed. We pull it in and out a lot. Our site is in a cross wind area which causes it to flap at night. Good luck!

[travelin' texans]

Grab a tape measure & check if it's mounted squarely, mine was mounted 2&1/2" lower on the rear arms. Leveled everything & works much smoother without hanging up.

[0nTheRoad]

I too have the uniguard on my main awning. Like TobysHome, ours will unfurl for a foot or two before releasing from the uniguard.

[johnboytoo]

I suspect the motors in these are SO weak that they just have enough power to do their job...

They are the slowest going in and out as any rv I have ever owned, so think it has to be perfect for it to work correctly.

[atom ant]

Carefree has always been slow compared to my buddies A&E, (but I still like Carefree better), and I think the Redwood issue is compounded a lot to do with voltage drop through lengthy undersized wiring. Our awning is the slide is much slower than the standard one, telling me that the wiring to the slide probably has a much more torturous path to get to the awning.

[rcflame]

I redid the connections on the switches both in the cabinet and basement. Was having trouble and pulled the switches. Found the connections at both places weren't crimped tight. Replaced with new wire connectors and worked better.