I intensely dislike our burgundy awnings on our coach. P
Radiates heat under it enough I have to run the a/c if the windows are open. Stupid.
When I ordered customers coaches long ago there was not much of an option as the zip dees were Brown Fancy.
Striped. Also hot,
Thinking of changing them all to a tan color. Or natural.
Anyone have any feedback?
Or materials?
Try camping in the woods. How do you run your AC while boondocking w/o the hated power post or the noisy generator? Nice and cool in the forest.
Suggestion: A) Move north out of the heat, B) Zip Dee sent us a color chart when we replaced ours, I don't recall a reflective surface, though a great idea, C) Don't try to replace the awnings on your own, and D) Don't replace the awnings with any brand other than Zip- Dee! ^.^d
We were in the forest. 81 degrees and a bit of humidity. 30 amp power pedestal.
Rear air through the ducts after adjustment kept the coach pleasant with fan on low.
Penguins are somewhat noisy although.
Yes I am a Zip Dee fan
HI Mike -
Zip Dee will make for you any awning you need, any color that Sunbrella has. All they need are specific dimensions or the attached Work Order Number on the tag attached to the awning.
We just completed sewing and installing our first awning over the LR slide. It is not perfect and we learned alot. It works and looks OK. They are not hard to make but much easier to purchase and then install your self - if you are able. They have lots of options. We will continue to remake all of our awnings - Not sure about the big one yet. For the cost of the used Sailrite LS-1 sewing machine and the cost of material and thread we were able to successfully produce and install the first one under the Zip Dee charge for the single awning. If I recall Zip Dee wanted about $650.00 for the living room awning. Self install. Must admit it took us almost a year as the process intimidated us after we tried to use the "wrong thread" which was a Teflon based thread as opposed to a polyester V92 thread that would normally be used. Once need driven we had the job completed in two short days with lots of beaks. The bottom line is that we will replace the BR slide topper and awning, the driver's window awning and the small LR awning on the passenger side for the cost of material. We used a Taupe color that matched the color that FT used in 2002.
We had originally started this project when we noticed that the seam thread was deteriorating and the seams were opening. We used awning tape from CW to temporarily join the seams until we could get the new one made. That worked OK for a short term repair.
Zip Dee has a web site that has all kinds of instructions on how to remove and replace the awnings.Awnings By Zip Dee (http://awningsbyzipdee.com/index2.html)
What finally pushed us into finishing the first one was a storm came through and created about a 4 foot tear in the Spline material that is between the coach and the aluminum cover - It was pretty rotted and tore off completely with little effort.
If you decide that you wish to remove and replace with new I would be pleased to share our experiences with you. Removing them and replacing them is not hard if you take your time and be careful. I would guess, for the first replacement awning, if you bought from Zip Dee and self installed, would take about three hours to remove the old and install the new. After you knew the angle of the dangle you could easily swap them out in two or less.
The easy way if you don't mind spending the money is to go to a local Zip Dee authorized distributor and have them do everything. The web site also lists authorized distributors.
Good luck.
Call if you want to chat about this. :D
Our coach originally had dark green awnings, with the same effect - lots of re-radiated heat under them when out. When we had the coach repainted at Xtreme, we replaced with light tan awning cloth from ZipDee, and it made all the difference. Now it's cooler under the awnings!
What exact color did you choose?
Agree 100% about radiant heat with dark awnings- mine are a dark brown. Downside to light awnings is susceptibility to stains and showing dirt. Tan or other light colors seems like a nice solution.
I'd like to get my awnings redone with sunscreen material, don't really need the protection from rain (definitely not on the slide & Windows) but allowing some air to circulate would keep them from trapping heat & wind.
I used to order customers coaches with lighter awning but most wanted the brown fancy striped ones and matching zip Dee chairs.
I know that replacing the awning fabrics is expensive just unknown exactly how expensive it will be?
Also, note that Zip Dee sells the tape/fabric "joint" material that joins the metal awning cover to the coach awning mounted track. It is sold by the foot, you measure the number of feet of awning. Cut tape off the roll they send. The tape materials were failing at the stitching on the more sunny side of the coach's past storage and use. The tape box kit, included 2 parts or tools that will hold the awning on the coach as you remove the metal cover from the awning. With the metal cover on a work bench or picnic table you install the new tape joints. I was able to do this in the warehouse with smooth concrete floors, and a rolling work platform. A thanks to Bill Chaplin, who has every tool known to Bill. It can be done with a helper and two ladders, per the video.
I'm surprised some enterprising company hasn't developed a special space-age material specifically for RV awnings. I would envision something very light and flexible, similar to Mylar, with a reflective silver surface on the top side, and white on the underside. It could be micro perforated to provide ventilation while repelling most moisture. it would be mildew retardant, UV resistant, and non-combustible. Also self-hemming, so no edge tape required - just cut to size and install.
Not asking for much, am I? 8)
Chuck,
You could have added solar cells to generate power, while you are at the wishing well.
Pamela & Mike
Colors.
Way back in the 70's we were living on our tiny 20' double ender sailboat. To double our living space, Dolly made our cockpit awning out of some left over Sunbrella sail cover materials. She had only enough white for two lengths, but was clever to use some dark blue for the center length. There was a very noticeable difference in the radiated heat on the undersides of the two different colors. The dark blue was much hotter.
Thinking back, we had everything we needed in those 20' with pointed ends. Our 36' U295 box's amount of storage and living space is huge!!!!!!
My guru buddy mentioned both linen and tweed as the sunbrella material colors he see's used.
The linen shows dirt more and any fading.
The darker tweed does not but radiates a bit of heat.
Any experience with either here?
We had the awning fabric replaced last year, chose linen. This replaced amedium brown fabric. The linen does show the dirt more but does seem cooler.
Hard to quantify, but we are pleased overall with the color.
Not at home right now but believe the fabric was about 2500. The install about 2k. This was at MOT. Will check this weekend and post. FOT quoted 7800. Should have asked FOT for details but was tooshocked.
If we were doing it now would order the fabric with insert metal strips attached. Costs more from Zipdee but think the labor savings would more than pay the extra and think the final product would be smoother.
Moderators please delete this if talking prices is inappropriate. I'll use PM In future.
THANKS
Gasp! Was that $$$$ to replace all of the small & large all the way around? ::) Three coaches later, I'll take the old "tried and true" heavy-duty versions that came with our rigs, never felt anything but relief under the awnings, though we had (have) darker colors, I never thought about it until this thread. :-\
The Sunbrella awning material is not difficult to run in the channel on the coach or the metal channel cover. There is a plastic flexible rod in the awning pocket that actually holds the awning in the channel. Just takes a little time and patience. When we replaced ours I considered how much easier it would be to also purchase the metal cover already attached to the awning material but once we slid the material into the channels I decided that it would be a waste of money. The metal cover channels are crimped numerous times along the length of the cover and the material in the coach groove is held in place by a screw on each end of the channel.
I would guess that you could purchase all of the awnings made from Zip Dee for $3500/$4500 and labor to install - $1600 to $2600 would equal $5100 to $7100 installed - that would include removing the old from the coach. Alot of the cost will be markup from
Zip Dee and the amount of labor they would charge to remove and replace the awnings.
It took Carol and I about 2 hours to install the LR awning and we didn't know what we were doing. I think we could cut our time in half.
The awnings are not difficult to make but you must have the right machine, table and thread. Many boaters make their own covers, dodgers, bimini's, and stuff. It's not as easy as frying bacon and eggs but once you do it a couple of times it's not too bad.
Just my 2cents. We will make the rest of ours in the near future. (Yours too Bill.)
PS - I am not soliciting business from FoFum members. When we are done I am selling the machine and everything that goes with it.
Ok, I'll start thinking about a snazzy color!
The actual numbers
12-14 ordered fabric total $2400 plus $100 shipping
2-15 install $1955
MOT applied 10% discount, then added sales tax
Net about $4300 out the door.
DIY would save a bunch, but still not cheap. Since the slide topper seams had completely failed and had several holes in patio awning, seemed like a good time to switch colors.
Sorry Bob - missed your question (we've been travelling).
The ZipDee color code is 3633 - just looked at the production tag code on one of the awnings. It's a light tan color. And yes, you can see dirt spots when you have to wash them, but they are really much much cooler than our old dark green ones.
Is there a advantage/disadvantage to either the 12 volt or 110v on a girard awning.
Where did you source the power