Planning a coach face lift including fresh awning fabric all over.. Don't have a clue of a fair price to pay.. All aluminum needs no attention.. Has anyone had it done that's willing to say what you spent? Thanks...
Should have been in renovation my bad.
Fabric is sunbrella.
Certainly check with Zip Dee.
Last year I replaced all of my awning fabrics I used umbrella plus which I had laying around from a previous planned Bimini and Dodge are on my sailboat. It was white so I made all of the small awnings out of it. I then ordered from sailrite sunbrella for the main awning and that is a striped red gray and some other color I forget now. It was a job. First I had to learn how to sew. I used to sailrire ultrafeed sewing machine and a special thread that resists UV. They came out pretty good not perfect but good. I saved a lot of money. But if you have the zip dee awnings zip dee will sell you the completed awning fabrics. They use cotton thread or some type of it so the thread will degrade over time but you'll get a good 10 to 20 years out of it assuming you take care of it.
Also had to replace some of the hardware while I was at it. And of course the rivets. Zip dee use a special type of rivets that you have to buy from them and they aren't cheap.
As to how much I spent it was probably about 1100 or $1,200 all in and that's with the sewing machine and the thread. and I still have the sewing machine for other uses. Probably took a week or two total plus waiting for parts.
That's good but I want it installed.. We don't sew.
Laugh out loud Dub. Neither did I. I watched some YouTube videos and learned on the job. but I agree it's not for everybody. And if you want the best-looking job get it from zip dee. You'll just pay more.
We do quiet a bit of bus work in my shop Bob but this is one thing I plan to farm out.. Hell of a lot better with a wrench and hammer than a needle. Appreciate you.
We replaced ours with the items from Zip Dee. Contact them and they will give you a quote on exactly what you need. Great people who make great products!
Nachogdoches may have someone who will put this together for me, I just wonder how many cb's to expect. I just am not ever going to be a hand at sewing enough to satisfy myself. You can look at some of my britches and tell that.
Another option is to order the completed fabric from Zip Dee and install it locally. Not much to that and no sewing.
10/4.... May be the best and least expensive option.
Would agree, if you don't want to get into seamstress duties-- reasonable price, excellent quality.
That's what we did. I ordered the new fabric with one aluminum slat attached. It was easy to slide the old out of the "case" and the new into it. The fabric was straightforward to slide on to the roller tube and rivet in place.
Were you able to do this alone or does it take two or three guys?
jk
It takes more than one person to do this job. The top of the awning slides into a fixture on the top of the RV, I forget what it's called it needs to be cleaned out really well first and then a dried lubricant sprayed in there. At the same time you're sliding it onto the bottom roller where it has to be riveted in in multiple places. When you take the old one out it's a bit of a hassle there's some screws to take out and then you have to uncrimp the slat on top because it's basically held in by them crimping it in it's not incredibly difficult but it's time consuming. It's soft aluminum you just have to have the right tool. Zipp Dee sells a type of grip pliers that's made for it. The small awnings are easy, it's the big one that's a little bit harder. It took me and my two sons to do the big one because one person has to be supporting the end while another one holding up the middle while a third person is feeding it into the slot. There are YouTube videos on how to do this and that would be the first place to look at to see if it's something that you're even interested in doing yourself. But you can save some coach box by doing it yourself if you have help.
Anyone ever replace the fabric strip that goes between the coach and the aluminum cover on the 18' patio awning?
Ours is coming apart from rot/age/decay/moisture.
Replaced all of mine.. some I ordered from zipdee and most of the coach to louver pieces I had made.. when I did the bedroom and main awning I had zipdee make the 1" wide one already crimped on a louver and for the main awning ordered the lower louver that connects to the mainawning as mine was pretty beat up from me trying to get the crimping undone.
Seen a tool (pic) floating on the forum that would have made the uncrimping easier but I suggest getting a new louver.
nitehawk,
Our strip was frayed and torn when we purchased our coach. I was concerned and checked into getting the cloth strip from Zipdee. We used the awning with care and it did OK. Our last long trip we were camped on Old Hickory outside of Nashville when we were broadsided with about a 50 mph wind. It got ripped a good bit more and bent all of the aluminum cover slats about 45 degrees on the aft end of the awning. I got it rolled up and home. I have a new complete cover including the cloth strip, a uncrimping tool and a NX upgrade kit taking up driveway space. I have to go get my gooseneck flatbed trailer so I can get the 24 foot tube of slats to the coach and then Miss M and I will start a grand adventure as awning repair persons...
Awnings by Zipdee has a video explaining how to replace the strip. Bob is right about it taking a few people and I believe it would take some planning, due the replacement being done with the mounting slat still attached to the top of the coach. Hopefully, if the weather cooperates I will know more about this in the coming weeks.
Good luck with yours and I hope you don't put it off and have a real learning experience like me.
Glen
Edit: After reading David's answer, I agree that a new louver would be a better way to go.
Flex Key is the strip holding awning to coach. I replaced my big Zip Dee awning flex key on my previous coach.
OK Dan, enlighten us. How did you do it? Or did you have Zip Dee do it?
When you order it from zip dee they send you 2 short pieces of the metal slat with a short piece of flex key and the instructions to do it. It is easier with 2 people but I have done it by myself.
I did it by myself at Sigsbee Naval Air Station Key West, on my 1994 Bluebird BMC 37. This was back in August 2015, and a sudden storm ripped about 1/4 length of the old sun and weather damaged flex key.
I ordered the flex key, rivets and "special" vice grips tool from Zip Dee. I have a little giant extension ladder.
The way I managed by myself was tying off the two ends of large awning to points on my roof - to keep the awning from collapsing down to the ground when the old flex key was removed. This was a older totally manual large Zip Dee patio awning.
My first problem was a old dull drill bit to remove rivets. A trip to the store for a new drill bit solved that. I used either WD40 or Windex to lube the track to slide the new flex key in (can't remember which).
Working by myself was a bit of a pain "un clamping" the dents in the channel that keep the flex key from sliding. Besides the special tool (form of vice grips) I used a flat head screwdriver.
Sliding the new flex key in requires getting the awning just the right distance away from the coach. After that a couple f new "dents" in the aluminum channel, and a couple of rivets.
My records show $101 for flex key, shipping, and tools. (2015 cost)
The more I age, the more I consider hiring jobs out. That is for both safety when needing ladders, and body issues (bad ankle, shoulder issues). If I needed to do it again I might consider either hiring it out, or just hiring a helper with a 2nd ladder.
Found my post on it
Awning replacment (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=34799.msg322128#msg322128)
To add, the short pieces of flex key are a temporary tool to keep the awning attached to the coach as you remove the old key and install the new one. As you slide the new flex key in, the short piece(s) are then removed.
At least that is how it was on my then 1994 Blue Bird coach.
I'm waiting on a shoulder replacement so work where I have to raise my arm is out.. To get this done this year I will to have it done as our full time mechanic and jack of different trades is out until may with wrist surgery. I fired our mechanic assistant so we are handicapped here.. Looking to hire a new mechanic helper but that takes time it seems.. Had 2 real mechanics fired one and 1 fell off 12 ft ladder breaking both arms. Everyone I fired needed it but leaves me with no help until some people heal up..Been a long time since I've been so helpless and I am not used to it... Thanks for all the input.
Sounds like if you didnt have any bad luck you wouldnt have any luck at all..
Actually have been quiet blessed.. Just had a couple of characters that didn't fit in here, the medical issues are things that come with time and activity.. Having the time of my life truth be told.. Blasted awning fabric is powder blue and fading.. Not torn up but needs replacing to look top notch.. It will happen in 2020.
Old saying (I'm old): Some people make things better by coming and others make things better by leaving. ^.^d
We just replaced our Air Awning with the manual ZipDee. 2 people are necessary to slide the metal flex from the top part that is in the seam track. 3 would be easier. Zip Dee uses stainless steel pop rivets. There was a private vendor that ZipDee recommend, so we used him, but I would have been better to just do it with some great friends! Not rocket science, but work. Lot's of over your head pulling on the awning, etc. Our ZipDee was 21 foot 2.5 inches long. 2 sturdy ladders are needed. I had a Little Giant ladder and would only work off of it. The tube came in at 24 feet and it's heavy. You have to have some way to load it, another challenge. Biggest challenge is the removal and re adjustment of the large spring in the awning tube, but again, doable. ZipDee supplies instructions with the package. I dealt with Linda at ZipDee and she will answer all your questions and give you prices plus shipping. You won't need all the hardware I received, since I was needing the new structs, etc.
We need to replace our awning over the slide and will do this myself and a friend. Much easier to handle since it is much smaller.
You might contact Trina @ MOT re: awning replacement. She can sew and MOT techs. can install.
My wife and I replaced the window awning fabric A straightforward process.
The windows are easy. The big awning not so easy. But not that hard either with the proper supplies and help.
The roller tube on our patio awning got bent (due to my stupidity). Due to its age and our decision to change fabric color we bought a complete new patio awning assembly from Zip Dee. I installed it (with our son and son-in-law) and the installation was painless and straightforward. I highly recommend th NX upgrade and the center rafter arm.
and the center rafter arm....Tell us more David
Our roller just got bent in a big storm a couple of days ago. When I called Zip Dee, he didn't mention upgrades. I just went to their website to see what an NX upgrade was. They mention reversing the rafter supports ( a very good idea, but does it involve patching screw holes?) but little else. Nothing about a center support ( another good idea ) and nothing about cost. So how did you learn about the upgrade, and what did it cost?
It would be best to call Zip Dee on Monday & discuss things with a representative. They can give full details and a quote on whatever you would like. I think I first learned about the NX upgrade here. It doesn't require any hole patching. I would need to check my paperwork (not close at hand right now) concerning the cost. Zip Dee personnel are great to work with. I believe I worked with Linda Johnson.
I think there are pictures at Zip Dee's Website. It provides significant added strength at the center of the patio awning long roller tube. Easy to install & use.
I have looked at their website again and searched the internet. There is little info about the upgrade and NO pictures of the center support. They could sure do a better job regarding this upgrade.
Glenn
Center Rafter
Center Rafter (http://www.awningsbyzipdee.com/center-rafter.html)
NX Upgrade
NX Hardware Upgrade Kit (http://www.awningsbyzipdee.com/nx-hardware-upgrade-kit.html)
John M
Thanks
Got it!
I made a simple totally adjustable centre support for the main awning years ago and it has saved that roller tube a few times. Takes 1minute to put in place when awning out and works slick. I will post pics in the morning if anyone interested.
JohnH
I'm interested John.
I just was trying to come up with my own design. I want a center support,also. The middle rafter mentioned above supports the fabric. I want to support the ROLLER. Looking forward to your post. We took the bent tube out today and rather than pay a small fortune to get a new one sent down to Mexico, we cut the pipe at the break and will rework it to be good as new. My canvass is in great shape for its age. Will now have center support.
Ok simple design made out of aluminum square tubing the short piece with holes in it slides inside the long tube and the holes make it adjustable. Another piece sits in the top and I cut a 4" sewer pipe about 6"long then ran it thru the table saw to give a cradle for awning tube to sit in. 4x4"alum plate welded to bottom of long one makes a foot to stand on ground. If anyone wants to know sizes etc I will post. This unit works like a charm and I store it in pieces in basement.
JohnH
Glen, I can bring it with me next week end if you want to try it and see if you like it.
By the way that tube can be straightened in place unless it was kinked in the middle bad.
JohnH
The center rafter from Zip Dee actually does supprt the roller tube. If the fabric becomes overloaded with water it will bend the roller tube toward the coach. The center rafter strengthens the tube at the center and will help prevent bending it toward the coach. A support going straight down to the ground may provide some help but will be of very little assistance in preventing the roller tube from bending toward the coach.
Combine them. Use both supports.
David, actually the support does a great job of stopping the weight of rain water that pools up causing the tube to not bend. The whole reason I made it was because of the weight load and it did exactly what I wanted in the next downpour, prevent any damage to tube. I cannot recall seeing any problem with the awning moving toward the coach but it must have a little. I am happy with the job it did and do not put the awning up overnight without it. We try not to leave it out anyway.
JohnH
Mine has the grommets in to act as drain's too
Don't all our awnings have the grommeted drain holes to let the water out?
No, our '92 didn't have them but our '97 does. I know of a '99 that don't have them and the awnings on that coach are original. Don't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to who has them and who don't.
Mike
Our 99 built in November has the gromet drain holes in the original awning
John,
That looks like what I had in mind. Would love to see it when we meet up. The tube was flattened in the middle. We cut it at the bend and will remake it to original length. It has the spring stop and some other stuff on it. Zip Dee told me it was 3" 18 ga gal steel and a hard to get diameter pipe. I thought I would. have to order a new one, but feel confident this will work out fine. Safe travels.
Mine has the grommets also but in a real heavy rain the grommets wont drain fast enough. I keep my awning tilted on one end all the time and if it is going to rain I tilt it as fare as I can and still open the door without rubbing the awning. I also stake the ends down with ropes. I leave slack in the ropes so they will hopefully keep the awning from blowing over the roof. I am not sure this is necessary but I makes me feel better.
Just my two cents.
The original awning on our 1995 U320 had them and they aren't effective in a heavy rain. Our new Zip Dee awning doesn't have them and I'm glad it doesn't since they are ineffective and it looks better without them.
Just checked with Zip Dee on a new flex key for our 36' 1989 GV with the 18' awning.
Awning cover is actually 17'8".
Cost, not including tax and shipping is $66.60
Not bad at all. ^.^d
The cost to have Zip Dee ship a new tube down to us here in Mexico was extreme. Fortunately, we have a great RV repairman here who cut out the bad section and welded in a new piece with a support sleeve. It's not "perfect" but I believe it will work out fine. Installation to follow. He's VERY busy. I will use a center support and will probably add the center rafter when we get home.
Cost to ship our new ZipDee awning was $228. Of course price depends on where it is shipped, but I can tell you, that tube the awning and struts was enclosed in was heavy in of itself. Truck lines are the only shipment methods to handle length and weight.