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Zip Dee awning safety hooks

Traveling from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon we hit some of the worst winds I have been in. The awnings stayed put but 2 of the safety latches came out. Put them back in and no issues coming home. Decided to prevent future issues by relocating the hooks where they should have been to start with. Not wanting to drill and relocate the brackets on the coach I drilled new holes in the aluminum as no water issue with extra holes. The pictures show how far off the original ones were. The one with 2 extra holes was due to me deciding to use a different hook and had to drill accordingly.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Zip Dee awning safety hooks

Reply #1 –
VHB tape.. does wonders!! The best part is no Drilling!!

Re: Zip Dee awning safety hooks

Reply #2 –
Wonder if the awning arms are still exactly perpendicular to the coach.  If the awning skews one way or the other, it will affect lock alignment.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Zip Dee awning safety hooks

Reply #3 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
Wonder if the awning arms are still exactly perpendicular to the coach.  If the awning skews one way or the other, it will affect lock alignment.
Brett I checked that first, as that was the only thing that could have changed the position if they were correct to start with. The roller lines up with the mounting on the coach perfectly. The mount for the hook was also off in depth.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Zip Dee awning safety hooks

Reply #4 –
I had to adjust the position of the loop end for the latch in my patio awning.  It was misplaced by about 3/4".  I don't think there is enough surface area for VHB to work on the loop end.  It wouldn't work at all on the hook end which has to pivot on the bolt.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Zip Dee awning safety hooks

Reply #5 –
My big awning has never been really right, so this time in Nac I asked FOT to check it and tell me what needed to be done (besides just replacing the whole thing). After a bit of head-scratching, the decision was to turn the z-locks around so they were actually in the proper position, remove and replace the rivets so that the fabric was straight, and then adjust the position of everything so that it was unrolling properly. Now I can lock and unlock both ends from the ground, using only the hook, and the center lock actually locks. Now I wish I had asked them to do that years ago.

Unfortunately, this doesn't help when the wind blows too hard, so the awning is now rolled up, even though I could really use it out.

Re: Zip Dee awning safety hooks

Reply #6 –
Quote from: kb0zke –
My big awning has never been really right, so this time in Nac I asked FOT to check it and tell me what needed to be done (besides just replacing the whole thing). After a bit of head-scratching, the decision was to turn the z-locks around so they were actually in the proper position, remove and replace the rivets so that the fabric was straight, and then adjust the position of everything so that it was unrolling properly. Now I can lock and unlock both ends from the ground, using only the hook, and the center lock actually locks. Now I wish I had asked them to do that years ago.

Unfortunately, this doesn't help when the wind blows too hard, so the awning is now rolled up, even though I could really use it out.
The z-locks can't be turned around. There are 2 different hooks one right hand and one left hand.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Zip Dee awning safety hooks

Reply #7 –
They were upside down. There was no way to lock or unlock them while standing on the ground. Alten (sp) turned them around so that they were installed correctly, and now I can easily lock or unlock them while standing on the ground.

Re: Zip Dee awning safety hooks

Reply #8 –
Also check the condition of the flex-key.  Mine are worn and stretched/torn in places so that the hook doesn't stay in.  This will allow the awning cover to sit lower.  They will be replaced this winter.
Forest & Cindy Olivier
1987 log cabin
2011 Roadtrek C210P
no longer 1999 36' U320 build #5522
2013 Rzr 570 & 2018 Ranger XP1000
2006 Lexus GX470
2011 Tahoe LT 4x4
Previous 1998 45' 2 slide Newell, 1993 39' Newell

Re: Zip Dee awning safety hooks

Reply #9 –
Yes, my flex keys were tearing at the ends.  Xtreme replaced them before a disaster happened.
Regards,
Brett

'99 42' Foretravel Xtreme
'14 Brown Motorsports Stacker
'05 Chevy SSR
'02 BMW R1150R

Re: Zip Dee awning safety hooks

Reply #10 –
As added insurance against the awning opening I would use long Velcro hook and loop ties on the support struts to tie them together.

I liked these
Monoprice Hook & Loop Fastening Cable Ties, 6-inch, 10pcs/pack, 5 colors -...
You can choose different lengths and colors
I suggest the 13" ones

I also use then to tie water and power hoses/cables.
Elliott & Mary Bray
ex. 1996 36' U295 - Build 4879
ex. 2018 Coachmen Leprechaun 319MB
 

Re: Zip Dee awning safety hooks

Reply #11 –
We had the arms bound together when our patio awning self deployed in the wind. Didn't stop it.  I added one of the pull strap hooks on the roof in from each end of the patio awning and the slide awing (4 total).  Locate roof framing and mount them into framing.  If we are traveling we loop a bungee cord around the awning arm, over the rolled up awning and to the hooks.  Simple and effective.

Zip Dee Awning Pull Strap Hook | WOODLAND TRAVEL CENTER
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Zip Dee awning safety hooks

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 –
I had to adjust the position of the loop end for the latch in my patio awning.  It was misplaced by about 3/4".  I don't think there is enough surface area for VHB to work on the loop end.  It wouldn't work at all on the hook end which has to pivot on the bolt.

The catch has enough surface I believe. if not a small plate could be made that fits under the catch and then its taped to the side of the coach.. I do not like drilling holes anywhere if at all possible.

Re: Zip Dee awning safety hooks

Reply #13 –
VHB tape has a tensile strength of 91 psi.  The base of the loop end is about 3/8"x1".  Maybe 34 pounds in a perfect world to pull it off.  The pop rivets that come with the hook kit from Zip Dee have legs that flare out for a really strong hold.  Use a good sealant in the holes and under the loop plate. 
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN
 

Re: Zip Dee awning safety hooks

Reply #14 –
Had the same problem Craneman when I replaced the awnings and flexkey with new. The hooks didn't line up. Haven't fixed it yet, but plan on doing as you did and redrilling the hole in the aluminum instead of the coach. Don't think VHB tape would do it.  When I put in the new stuff, I made sure the spring was good and tight and so far that has done the trick.  Fingers crossed....
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired