RE: Fiamma awning, rafters, and water
What Bob says is absolutely correct.  But, if you look at the
directions/instructions that come with the Fiamma awnings they suggest that
the awning be tilted down on ONE corner only to allow water to run off.  If
you do it that way then putting the rafter in makes the problem of trapped
water worse, not better.  Tilted down at one corner, water runs off just
fine without the rafter, as long as that corner is way down.  With the
rafter in a pool is formed on the high side.  The solution is as Bob says,
slope the entire outside edge of the awning, then rain runs off just fine.
The one trouble with this is our vans are low enough that any down slope
leaves you ducking when going or coming, the outer edge of the awning is
going to smack you in the face otherwise.