Thule awning won’t lock in.

[Casper46]

We are at Soubise, lovely day.
We have just tried to roll the Thule awning away. It wont lock in place, one end of it has a gap of about 1”. We have rolled it completely out and tried again. its still the same.
It’s the first time it’s been used except for a practice at home.
any thoughts please.

 

[62272]

Just check none of the plastic brackets (which are used to locate the ridge storm extending pole) hasnt slipped and causing a blockage

 

[AndyPK]

I suspect that it will not lock because the clips at each end are too low - distorted? - try retracting it to nearly in, and then one of you pushes up at each end whilst the other winds the handle - it should then lock in place…….I hope

 

[berni109]

Assume the legs store away inside the leading edge. Are they correctly folded in and not fouling anything. Just a thought.

 

[AndyPK]

Good point - look for the obvious first berni109 !

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[Granjan]

Years ago one of the arms on our thule awning was damaged by a freak storm, it wouldn't lock back into the cassette like yours. My husband used several large cable ties to secure it as tightly as possible and prevented it rolling out in transit.

 

[Casper46]

We have checked that the legs are stored correctly. We will check the plastic brackets in the morning. If that doesn’t work we will need to find something to get us high enough to try to push it in. Hopefully someone in the boatyard can lend us some steps, or I will have to stand on himselfs shoulders.

 

[AndyPK]

Let us know how you get on………

 

[Casper46]

Let us know how you get on………

Of course I will. We have lots of duck tape if all else fails.

 

[62272]

That’s a fair point regarding the legs. when we started out I put the legs away with the little feet toggles (the ones you hammer the pegs through) facing outwards and not inwards, that caused it to foul and not close.

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[Gellyneck]

Can remember where I read it so no link, unfortunately but I'm sure I read there is an adjustment screw within the Thule mechanism to fixed an issue where the retraction mechanism get out of alignment. Might be worth a look.


Edit: just found this again but it's for a Fiamma awning.

Does your Thule have similar?

 

[Casper46]

Thanks all it’s ok. It had been windy and we think that it had rolled up incorrectly. We tried a couple of times next morning to no avail.
Himself then held it back whilst I rolled it in the tension whilst rolling it seems have worked, its a very big awning not by choice it was factory fitted. Again thanks.

 

[poppycamper]

Thanks Casper46 for update...
IMV too many on here omit to inform Funsters who have time and effort to help that they have found the solution..

 

[L' Hobo]

Thanks all it’s ok. It had been windy and we think that it had rolled up incorrectly. We tried a couple of times next morning to no avail.
Himself then held it back whilst I rolled it in the tension whilst rolling it seems have worked, its a very big awning not by choice it was factory fitted. Again thanks.

On my Fiamma awning, it has adjusters on the 2 main fold out arms, one of these have not come loose has it?
Maybe when himself held it back it returned in place?

Perhaps worth checking if all adjusters are tight now it is back again?

 

[Casper46]

It wouldn't lock in again last night. We had only rolled it out a couple of foot. We will have another look at it this morning including the adjusters. Problem is reaching it to check things or even to tape it up. We were due to move on this morning but it looks like that could be delayed.

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[AndyPK]

Have you tried pushing up at either end using the awning ‘arms’ to press up against for the last couple of inches - using a broom handle or similar to extend your reach…… it may help to get the retaining clips up enough to lock in place……?

 

[Casper46]

Thanks for the suggestion it's the rear end that's not in. We have a had a French camper roll it in and out a couple of times, he then told us it was because of its size ( which is probably correct, it was already fitted) and we needed a specialist. A Dutch gentleman then offered to help, he rolled it whilst out we hung onto the opposite corner to straighten it and it's nearly worked, it looks secure but not 100% correct. It's not only long but it's very deep as well. I'm going to ring Thule on Monday to see what they suggest as it's 3m off the ground it difficult to put any pressure on it to help it on its way.

 

[L' Hobo]

Thanks for the suggestion it's the rear end that's not in. We have a had a French camper roll it in and out a couple of times, he then told us it was because of its size ( which is probably correct, it was already fitted) and we needed a specialist. A Dutch gentleman then offered to help, he rolled it whilst out we hung onto the opposite corner to straighten it and it's nearly worked, it looks secure but not 100% correct. It's not only long but it's very deep as well. I'm going to ring Thule on Monday to see what they suggest as it's 3m off the ground it difficult to put any pressure on it to help it on its way.

Don't any of these other campers, (or wardens) have something you can stand on to wrap some gaffer tape around it?

 

[Casper46]

We were contemplating getting as close as possible to the dividing wall on the dump so we could climb onto it. When we got closer it wasn’t tall enough. As we are on Aires there is no one in charge.
We have moved on this morning, only 20 miles to a lovely CCP at Taillebourg . We are about 40 miles from our old house and neighbours, if needs be we will have a steady drive to Les Eduts and borrow a ladder and a tall man, fasten it securely and do without an awning for our journey home in 10 days.
Once again thanks for all your suggestions.

 

[Casper46]

I contacted Thule to ask for advice. They sent me this photo, then closed the case as they say that’s the solution. now we are back home we are going to roll the awning out and see what’s what. I can’t say that I understand which end of the awning that we should adjust so we might make it worse. I guess that the screw is accessible behind the end cap.

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[MichaelT]

I contacted Thule to ask for advice. They sent me this photo, then closed the case as they say that’s the solution. now we are back home we are going to roll the awning out and see what’s what. I can’t say that I understand which end of the awning that we should adjust so we might make it worse. I guess that the screw is accessible behind the end cap.View attachment 623022

We had a similar issue last week after van came back from hab check. I rolled out then fast as I could back in and it worked after 3 attempts.

Picture is clear as mud but it looks like its the cassette housing and aligns the roller with the blind on in/out so will take a look on mine at some point.

We rarely use it so not too much of a problem until we do.

 

[Gellyneck]

I contacted Thule to ask for advice. They sent me this photo, then closed the case as they say that’s the solution. now we are back home we are going to roll the awning out and see what’s what. I can’t say that I understand which end of the awning that we should adjust so we might make it worse. I guess that the screw is accessible behind the end cap.

I believe it is in behind the end cap and the bolt turns clockwise to pull the fabric \ roller in so you would tighten the end that is projecting.
This is from memory (about 5-6 years ago) when I asked a local caravan repair guy when we had a slight gap in ours. Didn't need to do anything though as it seemed to fix itself.

 

[Sapper520]

Did it work Casper46 ?

The front end of ours won’t lock into the flush position, it protrudes out 5mm to 10mm.

It seems secure, be when I look up at it, it’s like an hitch I can’t scratch.

 

[Sapper520]

Many thanks. on the ‘jobs to do list’….once it stops raining.

 

[Casper46]

Did it work Casper46 ?

The front end of ours won’t lock into the flush position, it protrudes out 5mm to 10mm.

It seems secure, be when I look up at it, it’s like an hitch I can’t scratch.

We ended up taking it to Camper U.K. as it’s still under warranty and we had other bits that needed doing. If we understood them correctly the hook that is part of the clip needed adjusting, we have tried it at home and it’s ok….we will find out when we manage enough sunshine to use it.

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