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Zip Dee Awning Motorized Retrofit

August 31, 2014, 07:00:55 pm

In reviewing the Zip Dee awning Website, they show a retrofit for their large awnings that provides for 12-volt electric opening and closing. Does anyone have any additional information or experience with this? Thanks!

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Re: Zip Dee Awning Motorized Retrofit

Reply #1 – September 01, 2014, 08:05:24 am

Most of the posts regarding the Zip Dee Automatic awning I have seen have been negative. PM Jeff and Carol Savournin. They will share their experience, I'm sure.

I just put on a brand new manual patio awning last year. It came with a new pole that makes it much easier to put up the awning. These poles and new reversed upper arms are available for retro fit from Zip Dee. They make putting the awning up pretty easy if you are Vertically Challenged. They are a lot cheaper than a new awning.

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Re: Zip Dee Awning Motorized Retrofit

Reply #2 – September 01, 2014, 10:21:05 am

I was at Zip Dee this July to have my main awning serviced.  They reversed my stretcher arms which made a tremendous difference in how easy the big awning is to use.  I would almost never put it out and now it is out almost every day.  Out when I am there and back in when I leave.

My manual awning is simple as per the KISS principle which works for me.  If I were building new, Zip Dee manual awnings on every window and patio would be specified.

Jeff and Carol's awning is air pressure powered.  I ask one of the owners of Zip Dee about that awning type and he said it needs 110 psi to operate properly.  They had told Foretravel to add a dedicated air compressor system just for the awning to make it work every time.  But Foretravel choose not to do so and those owners are enjoying the result.

David, I was not interested in the 12 vdc powered awning so I did not inquire about them, sorry.  They had one on display in the lobby.  But I did talk to Jim, one of the owners.  You might call them and ask to speak to him as he was most helpful and straight forward with me.

Zip Dee is very busy shipping large numbers of awnings (window and patio) to Airstream trailers every week.  Stopped my service briefly as they needed the worker back on the regular job to get an Airstream shipment ready.  Manufacturing (where the money is) takes priority over service but was only a short delay so no problem for me.  And I am very happy to see them to be very successful.

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Re: Zip Dee Awning Motorized Retrofit

Reply #3 – September 01, 2014, 12:21:56 pm

It is not just Zip Dee that has problems with power Awnings. As I posted a year ago about Girard after taking apart one of their large patio ones that the motor had rusted up and seized on friends C Coach. I had never worked on one before but took me all of a few minutes to figure out the design fault that caused the problem. They are heavy units to move around for replacing motor drive. Now granted this was on a 2006 CC and hope they too figured out the mistakes in later ones. The price of them (expensive) should mean quality build. It would be pretty difficult to have a manual unit that high up, so a word of caution to anyone that has an electric one. If you are not able to check end caps and any other place that will allow water in have someone do it. It may save you a pile of cash later on and also mean your awning can be used as it was designed for.
I know some are going to say " mine is working fine" etc but it is best to be safe.
JohnH

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Re: Zip Dee Awning Motorized Retrofit

Reply #4 – September 01, 2014, 12:23:31 pm

We also, had the NX upgrade to our Zip Dee Awning.. One of the best upgrades we've done to the coach, makes the awning much more user friendly.  Here's a link to our experience:
Zip Dee Awning NX Upgrade
Dave A

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