Awning spring broke

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Awning spring broke

May 11, 2018, 10:51:19 pm

Between Tatum, NM and Roswell, NM the port side awning spring decided to break. With a 25+ quartering headwind and 70mph coach, the awning tried to unfurl even though arms were locked down. No place to pull over till the rest area west of Caprock, NM. I was able to fabricate retainer to get me to the house in Ruidoso. Hope to improve the retainer setup to last till we get home in 30 days.

Re: Awning spring broke

Reply #1 – May 12, 2018, 10:14:01 am

Sedelange, the spring may be broken but more likely, it has slipped off of the retaining lug on the spool. You need to have a look and call Zip Dee customer service, they can be very helpful. When this happened on my coach, I put a small bolt thru the spool to reinforce the lug on the spool. Another time the spring was indeed broken, old rust, and Zip Dee sent me a new one for a nominal charge. Replacing the spring is simple but very labor intensive, two people, two ladders and lots of muscle.

Re: Awning spring broke

Reply #2 – May 12, 2018, 10:14:40 am

I put two zip ties around it. Loosened two of the bolts up top and fedit thru. Just dot put out the slide till you release it.

Re: Awning spring broke

Reply #3 – May 12, 2018, 10:22:54 am

Can be a dangerous procedure. If the spring is broken loose inside a long rod will be needed to remove it. Mine broke in the DOWN position and was a bearcat to get back up and wired for travel. Airstream uses Zip Dee, as well. We had a dealer in Tuscon do it, they made it look easy! Make sure they have the spring in stock. Luck

Re: Awning spring broke

Reply #4 – May 14, 2018, 04:03:14 pm

Zipp Dee 800 338 2378. ask for Nate...good man to deal with and is very helpful. Act like he wants to help even with free advice.

Re: Awning spring broke

Reply #5 – May 15, 2018, 02:54:03 pm

Just had my ZipDee come unwound a few weeks ago. Once I had the awning off I found the the spring was not broken. My issue was there is an indentation on the tube that holds the internal end and keeps it from rotating. The literature I have showed some used blind (pop) rivets to serve the same function.
Two screws held the coach end of the awning in place so removing the screws and the outboard support lower bolts allows the whole unit to be slid out of the track. Definitely a two person job. After drilling out about 20 rivets I could deepen the intention with a punch and the put everything back together. Make sure you use the correct size pop rivets! Next was reinstalling the awning into the track and cranking the spring end arm to the proper preload which in my case was 30 revs. You need someone with strong hands to hold the tube while doing this!
Call ZipDee for the instruction info if you don't already have this.
Thanks to Jack Bradshaw for making this pretty easy.

Re: Awning spring broke

Reply #6 – May 25, 2018, 05:17:34 pm

Anyone know a ZipDee repair facility in the Houston area that they have used before successfully? I want to schedule a repair visit while I am home for a week. I have no desire to fight the awning while standing on a ladder. Did stuff like that for a living. I can afford to pay someone else to do it now.

Re: Awning spring broke

Reply #7 – May 25, 2018, 07:23:44 pm

Quote from: sedelange – May 25, 2018, 05:17:34 pm

Anyone know a ZipDee repair facility in the Houston area that they have used before successfully? I want to schedule a repair visit while I am home for a week. I have no desire to fight the awning while standing on a ladder. Did stuff like that for a living. I can afford to pay someone else to do it now.

Airstream uses Zip Dee awnings, as well, maybe there is a outlet near you. Is it the big awning? It will take a different spring than the rest. Good luck, smart move not fooling with it (I know).

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Re: Awning spring broke

Reply #8 – May 25, 2018, 08:44:23 pm

Sedelange, someone recommended cutting edge rv service in Baytown on I10 at exit 800...... haven't used them yet but I'm on the waiting list to get in for service on an air leak and 2 zip dee bedroom awnings repaired.....

Re: Awning spring broke

Reply #9 – May 26, 2018, 01:18:22 am

Kieth, how long is the waiting list?

Re: Awning spring broke

Reply #10 – July 01, 2018, 10:30:43 pm

I have been religiously safetying the awning each time I closed it so I could use coach until a repair opening could be scheduled. Until today. This morning I closed awning in Eastland, Texas and drove home to Houston area. I was halfway home before I remembered. The awning didn't try to unfurl once and it wasn't because I drove slowly. Did the awning try to unfurl before because we were driving in high winds? Did opening and closing the slide "reset" the awning? Suggestions?

Re: Awning spring broke

Reply #11 – July 02, 2018, 12:49:40 am

Waiting list was Over a month to start and I think it's been 3 weeks since I dropped it off. They said the parts came in Friday and hopefully I can pick it up tomorrow.

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Awning spring broke

May 11, 2018, 10:51:19 pm

Re: Awning spring broke

Reply #1 – May 12, 2018, 10:14:01 am

Re: Awning spring broke

Reply #2 – May 12, 2018, 10:14:40 am

Re: Awning spring broke

Reply #3 – May 12, 2018, 10:22:54 am

Re: Awning spring broke

Reply #4 – May 14, 2018, 04:03:14 pm

Re: Awning spring broke

Reply #5 – May 15, 2018, 02:54:03 pm

Re: Awning spring broke

Reply #6 – May 25, 2018, 05:17:34 pm

Re: Awning spring broke

Reply #7 – May 25, 2018, 07:23:44 pm

Re: Awning spring broke

Reply #8 – May 25, 2018, 08:44:23 pm

Re: Awning spring broke

Reply #9 – May 26, 2018, 01:18:22 am

Re: Awning spring broke

Reply #10 – July 01, 2018, 10:30:43 pm

Re: Awning spring broke

Reply #11 – July 02, 2018, 12:49:40 am

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