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Garard Awnings

Yahoo Message Number: 2927
Has anyone tried hanging lights or rope light from the rail of the extended Garard awning? Looks like there is a little grove that might hold a clip. Garard did not know of anything.
Of course, how ever lights are attached, they must not interfere with the retraction of the awning, should wind blow while you are not around. And the lights should not be heavy.

Herb

2002 Allure #30690

Re: Garard Awnings

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2928
Given the problems we've had with our Girard awning, I would not think of hanging anything on it. Perhaps ours is not adjusted properly, but twice it has filled with rain water when fully extended. We had to use a couple of brooms to push the water out of the awning before we could even think of retracting it. The book says it should have a 24" drop - but, that will not clear the door on our 2002 Allure. Once it starts holding water, the entire fabric is wet and thus weighs more, holding it down even further. One morning we had to partially open the door just to get out without hitting the awning.

We've heard that there are Girard "factory" people out there who will adjust the awnings properly - if one can be the right place at the right time.

J and MJ Brown
2002 Allure 30778

Re: Garard Awnings

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2933
Certainly the trailing/rear end can be (is) adjusted lower than the front end so that water runs to the rear. I will have to measure the drop from front to rear, and the drop from the mount to the rear.
My guess though is the front drops a foot and the rear drops two feet from the mounting, still putting the awning 7-8 feet above the ground.

Thank you for your comments. Will watch the rain situation.

Herb

Re: Garard Awnings

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2937
There is an adjustment to lower the rear end of the awning to aid drainage. I don't recall how you do it but am sure a call to Girard would get you someone to walk you through it. I attended the ElDerado, Ks prerally and a Girard rep adjusted my awning and explained how to do it.

Walt Rothermel
2003Allure30811

Re: Garard Awnings

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2938
Garard awnings have not done the job since they came out 6 years ago. We had lots of friends who purchased Garards in 97 on new Safaris and we began to call them fair weather awnings. They worked fine in sunshine with no wind.
CCI said they would not use them until they could do it right but I think they gave into pressure from National and the public who thought they were a great idea. And they are if you put them out only when you use them and put them back as soon as you leave the awning area. When we purchased our 2001 Magna we went with the old fashion hand awning and have never regretted that decision. There are still somethings in this world that work better without power.

Bill G. 2001 Magna

Re: Garard Awnings

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2940
Bill, I respectfully disagree. A Girard awning was a prerequisit for me on my latest coach, promarily based on experience a friend had with one on a '99 Patriot. We were parked together while in Michigan this summer and I noted my awning retracted while his stayed out in fairly light wind. I then learned this is adjustable and mine is now set on 28mph. That's a pretty good breeze.
Also, Girard guarantees everything except fabric for life. I've had absolutely no problems with mine, yet the Girard tech checked it out fully at the ElDarado pre-rally. Plus, I can now keep the spouse happy by putting out the awning anytime she wants it without having to put it back in when leaving the coach for fear of strong winds coming up. I think maybe your opinion is based on problems in the very early days of these awnings which have been corrected.

Walt Rothermel
2003Allure30811

Re: Girard Awnings

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2951
I loved the description of Girard awnings in one of the previous messages - "Fair Weather Awning". We just returned from another university football tailgate trip - of five games so far this year the awning has stayed out maybe two hours. We hesitate to adjust the wind sensor, because it already takes enough wind to push the arms in several feet before it begins to retract.
Our biggest problem has been with rain. At the moment, when extended fully the rear of the awning is about a foot lower than the front.
The front clears the top of the open door by about 1/2". The last rain episode was at Outdoor Resorts Blue Ridge a couple of weeks ago - rain in the middle of the night filled the awning with water. And yes, we were perfectly level and the awning tips to the back.
Another problem is with leaves. The only way we have found to clean the awning before retracting it is to climb on the roof of the motorhome with a leaf blower and clear the debris as we retract it.

Here's hoping that we encounter that mythical Girard representative out there somewhere who will adjust it to their specs!!

Jim and Mary Jo Brown
2002 Allure 30778

Re: Garard Awnings

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2953
Walt,

I would agree that Garard has come a long way but what happens when you get 2 inches of rain with no wind. I have seen that awning come down many times that way. I also know people who were in a campground when the power went out and the unit did not come in, in the wind. I don't know whether Garard has put a 12 volt safety on the unit yet but your auto generator switch can handle power outages if you have one or you make sure the invertor is on. If I were buying a 2003 coach I would probably consider a Garard but I'd get all the items needed to make it work under all conditions and I would not leave it out when I sleep or leave the coach.
In my opinion it is still an awning for good weather only. But thats just one man's opinion. good luck with yours

Bill G. 2001 Magna

Re: Garard Awnings

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2954
I had Garard install a 19 foot 12V string lights in the track on the bottom side of the front box. By taking off the end plate, you have access to the track. They also connected the lights to our outdoor lights so when we turn the lights on it also turns on the track lights. The lights are permanent and give you a low level of lighting. The lights work even with the awning in.

Doug Hill

Intrigue 11499

Re: Garard Awnings

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2957
Bill,

I agree with you. it's a "fair weather awning" especially regarding the part about rain problems. I've considered trying to cut some small drain holes in the awning to reduce the problem. Has anyone done this ? There are limits to the front to rear drop. According the rep an excessive drop creates retraction problems. It's too expensive to replace and I've thought about having both !
rob

Re: Garard Awnings

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2959
I've had "regular awnings" and the Garrard and I'd select the Garrard again hands down - because I use it much more because of its ease.
If the wind comes up, or its raining, I simply retract it and when weather permits, simply put it out again.

Tom

2002 Intrigue #11419

Girard Awnings

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 71390
My Girard awnings are AC and have a circuit breaker on the lower secondary c/b panel in the center of the coach.

Roy Simmons

08 Intrigue 12234

Re: Girard Awnings

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 71394
Hmm... never knew I had a "...secondary CB panel? The only AC CB panel I know of for my Allure is in the bedroom. Guess I need to look around closer... Thanks

Larry, 03 Allure, 30856