Can The Arms Of A Solera XL Powered Awning Be Butted up To The Extrusion Rail During Installation

Question:

Is it ok to install the solera XL arm brackets all the way snug to the awning fabric channel as in this picture? I would need to install it this way and want to be sure.

asked by: Anthony O

Expert Reply:

Lippert shows the arms of the # LCV000334926-362243 being butted up against the c-channel railing (extrusion rail) and it's technically not wrong but I find that placing the arms this way can end up giving you wrinkles in the fabric as you retract it. I usually try to get about a 3" gap between the center of the c-channel and the center of the roller tube to provide enough of an angle to prevent water from pooling in the rain and to keep tension as the arms retract. While retracting the awning arms tend to bounce a bit and you end up losing tension for a split second and causing a wrinkle in the fabric.

It will technically work how you're needing to do it, I just personally prefer to have a bit more of a gap because the wrinkles drive me crazy.

expert reply by: Kevin C