20 foot Awning

[Moog24]

Hello, My wife and I just bought our 1st new camper. 2014 Prowler 26PBH. it has a 14 ft awning now. We want to swap it out with a 20 ft. has anyone done this and or know of any reason why it can't be done?

Dan

 

[jimtoo]

HI Dan,

Welcome to the Heartland Owners Forum and to the family. We have a great bunch of folks here with lots of information and all willing to share their knowledge when needed.

I would think that it could be done, as long as you can find the backers necessary to support the awning. That is a long awning.

I'm sure some of our other members will jump in soon with some more information.

Enjoy the forum and keep us informed.

Jim M

 

[Ray LeTourneau]

The only thing you need to be concerned about are the mounting brackets and insuring they are mounted where there is good support. I think you have a manual awning so that should be no problem. The other thing to consider is obstructing any doors or windows with the left side awning arm. I assume the right arm will be in the same spot. Make sure the old mounting holes are well caulked.

 

[Bob&Patty]

As Jim stated, if there is not any "backer lumber" for the left end (looking at the trailer), it will be very difficult to mount securely. I guess you could drill holes through the wall and install bolts all the way through to the inside. How well you could tighten them and not crack or crush the inside and outside walls, I dont know. If your coach has fiberglass outside walls, they are very thin and only have hard foam and 1/8" plywood inside. Before you do anything, I would call HL, have your VIN# handy and ask if they think its possible to do.

 

[Ray LeTourneau]

As Jim stated, if there is not any "backer lumber" for the left end (looking at the trailer), it will be very difficult to mount securely. I guess you could drill holes through the wall and install bolts all the way through to the inside. How well you could tighten them and not crack or crush the inside and outside walls, I dont know. If your coach has fiberglass outside walls, they are very thin and only have hard foam and 1/8" plywood inside. Before you do anything, I would call HL, have your VIN# handy and ask if they think its possible to do.

Bob, Heartlands pictures indicate a manual awning. If that's the case, the brackets mount against the upper and lower side wall frame. Hopefully the OP will keep us up to date.

 

[Moog24]

Thanks for the info, Yes it is a manual awning and everything looks like I can move the leftand right mounted arms to new locations that don't interfere with any windows,doors or hatches. and turn my 14 foot awning into a 21 ft. awning then I willpurchase a center support as added protection in the center. It appears thatthere is the same material behind everything to remount the same way. Our old camper has a 20 ft. so now we feel confined under a 14 ft.

Thanks Dan

- anyone know how to put images into a post?

 

[Bob&Patty]

Ray, we have a manual awning on the Horn. BUT, there is a wood backing at the upper mounts. I know this for a fact, as gust of wind almost pulled out the upper screws. I could see the wood and had to install larger lag screws to re-secure the bracket as it pull out the wood and some of the fiberglass. Just saying.

 

[Ray LeTourneau]

Ray, we have a manual awning on the Horn. BUT, there is a wood backing at the upper mounts. I know this for a fact, as gust of wind almost pulled out the upper screws. I could see the wood and had to install larger lag screws to re-secure the bracket as it pull out the wood and some of the fiberglass. Just saying.

I hear ya Bob. Ours has aluminum backers. The first time I had the awning out, when I retracted it I didn't fully lower the left support arm and when it rolled up, the upper bracket screws pulled out. I had to use those big screw in anchors with epoxy to make it better.
The Prowler has corrugated aluminum sides so hopefully he'll be able to tell what's under the skin for backers.