Gerard Awning ??

BCRoamer · #1 05-18-2008

Has anyone mounted a Gerard awning on an older Bird? Or any of the other powered awnings with wind sensors?

Randy Dupree · #2 05-18-2008

i have not used or mounted a gerard awning,but i did see one on an SOB one time that almost blew off in a wind storm.
if i understand it correctly it a 120VAC powered unit,you have to be hooked to shore line power,have the gennie runnng or have an inverter thats operating (turned on).
The owner of this coach didnt have the inverter on and the awning did not retract automaticly.
correct me if i'm wrong.
Randy

iamflagman · #3 05-19-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy Dupree

i have not used or mounted a gerard awning,but i did see one on an SOB one time that almost blew off in a wind storm.
if i understand it correctly it a 120VAC powered unit,you have to be hooked to shore line power,have the gennie runnng or have an inverter thats operating (turned on).
The owner of this coach didnt have the inverter on and the awning did not retract automaticly.
correct me if i'm wrong.
Randy

A few years back while we were having one of our first mini-rallies at Maxton, I believe it was Scott Williams hads one of those awnings mounted on his SOB and the wind was gusting, causing the awning to go in and then out, then in and then out, before he finally just moved the awning to the stored position.

peteaeonix · #4 05-19-2008

I think Tom "two shoes" McCarthy has some on his 'bird. They're mounted to the goat rails (after strengthening them) and it's a pretty clean installation (but it was pretty expensive). He'd have to tell you more 'cause that's about all I know.

tcandt · #5 05-20-2008

Pete is correct. I have Girard awnings all around. The patio has the automatic retract anemometer that can be set to retract between 17 mph and 25 mph.

It sounds like the Maxton owner had his set to a too sensitive threshold allowing frequest retraction. However, better to retract than never to retract at all (Shakespeare?).

I saw a Prevost with Girards that did not retract fast enough in a sudden wind gust that had two patio awnings twisted and draped alongside.

Remarkably, Girard had them back in place within 18 hours.

They are expensive but I was facing replacement of my ZipDees anyway. The Girards need to be reinforced as a retrofit. We fabicated steel plates to which to fasten the awnings. At the goats rails, we further strengthened the mounts by stretching a steel rod from the top of the plate to the roof of the Bird. All was painted to blend in.

The advantage is ease of deployment, no head banger supports, comments from everyone in the park and a cool remote control that you can hide in you pocket and convince people that "awning open" and awning close" voice commands really work (priceless).

JackandLiz · #6 06-03-2008

Howdy, Tommy.
We are very interested in your installation of the automatic awning for the patio awning. Would you please post some photos of the strengthened goat rail?

TIA,
Jack Pearce

Randy Dupree · #7 06-03-2008

so Tom,when the coach speed gets up to 17MPH the awnings close?
Randy

iamflagman · #8 06-03-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy Dupree

so Tom,when the coach speed gets up to 17MPH the awnings close?
Randy

Only when TTS is driving his 'Bird in a DRIFTING competition

tcandt · #9 06-22-2008

I will try to get a nimble person to climb up and take photos this week. Theoretically, driving down the road with awnings out, they should retract at 17 MPH.

The patio awning is the only one mounted to the goat rails. All the windows are mounted where the Zip Dees were mounted but look much better when retracted. It is nice to pull into a spot, dump air and level as all the awnings automatically go out. Step out of the coach with a glass of wine and see how many onlookers have been watching. Nonchanantly I saunter to hook up electrical. Done!

Lonewolf · #10 07-13-2008

"The patio has the automatic retract anemometer that can be set to retract between 17 mph and 25 mph."

Our 2000 Lxi has a Girard supposedly with auto retract. There is an anometer on the roof, but no gauge inside to tell you what the wind speed is. I can't find anything that looks like it can set the wind speed rate for retraction and the only manual I can find is for the B-25 Awning. It has no reference to the auto retraction feature. We had a thunderstorm the other night, not knowing how fast the winds where blowing, I chickened out and retracted the awning manually. Does anyone have more information?