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Topic: Slide topper awning issues! (Read 835 times) previous topic - next topic

Slide topper awning issues!

I want to throw this out there and see if anyone else has issues with this.  We had straight line winds last night and have been having some pretty gusty winds here in TN lately.  Well, the head casting on the right side of the awning broke and the topper came down on one side of the slide.  I called ZipDee this morning and ordered 2 more head casts, just in case.  The person I spoke with also was concerned with the spring in the tube being one of the older ones and they now have a new spring that is longer and will solve some windy issues.  They are sending me the new spring as well.  My question here is, has anyone replaced their slide topper spring that is inside of the tube?  On a side note;  I would have put the slide in with the weather they were calling for, but am in the process of replacing our engine start batteries and so no power with ignition to activate the slide.
Always something for sure in the daily life of a coach owner!  Guess it could have been worse, since we had 70 plus mph straight winds here!
Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus

Re: Slide topper awning issues!

Reply #1 –
So, nobody has gone to the larger spring?
Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus

Re: Slide topper awning issues!

Reply #2 –
Joe, I have not had any issues on the slide but I have had my large awning come out on 2 occasions driving and I now zip tie it shut while driving.  I still need to replace both locking ends on the big slide because they now won't lock.

2000 GV320 4010 build #5712  2019-?
1999 Bounder 2000-2008
Bardstown, KY
🥃The Bourbon Capital of the World🥃

Re: Slide topper awning issues!

Reply #3 –
Joe Jim's coach had the slide awning open up during hi winds. We put a couple more turns on his stock spring and it has worked fine since. You may recall I still have the safety zip ties threw my latches but have removed some of them and nothing has caught on fire yet. I was with Jim on two occasions with this happening, once with his prior coach. No fun at all. I'm getting more comfortable every time we use the coach. Possibly eventually I'll be able to remove the rest of the tyraps as it was intended.
Scott

Re: Slide topper awning issues!

Reply #4 –
First Time Posting a Question on the Forum. We just had 4 Girard Room Toppers installed by FOT.
The Canister "COVERS" are not staying CLOSED while driving, their Clanking, Clangin and Flopping in the wind. They are held shut by "2" small magnets, clearly this IS NOT enough to hold them shut while driving 65mph down the road. Anyone experience this? I am now 1000 miles from FOT and had to Climb a Ladder and "TAPE" the two ends of 4 toppers which of course means we cannot extend the rooms without removing the tape. I have sent a note to FOT Service this morning awaiting a reply. Someone must have experienced this? TIA

Re: Slide topper awning issues!

Reply #5 –

I have had both our slide topper awning and the big patio awning blow open in very strong winds while driving.  And the slide topper awning corners blow up in strong winds while parked.

I replaced the nuts on the upper ends of the topper awning arns with ring nuts. You may need longer flat head bollts to fully engage the threads in the nuts.  A 1/4" rope with a carabiner clip on one end to a stake in the ground and the awning is secure in strong winds.
Amazon.com: 4 Pieces Stainless Steel 316 Lifting Eye Nut 1/4" UNC Marine...

Most of my other awnings have the same nuts or eyebolts in the same location.  It makes an easy place to hook a rope on the patio awning to secure it or a place to hand a wind sock or something similar on one of the small awnings.

I have added four ZipDee awning strap hooks on the roof near the ends of the slide and patio awnings. If strong winds are expected I will hook a bunge cord to the eye and the hooh to secure the end of the awning.  Adjust the length of the bungee cord by putting in a knot on the cord at the appropriate place. 

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Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Slide topper awning issues!

Reply #6 –
NOTE: Willie Lass's question on his Girard slide toppers has been moved, as it is unrelated to the older discussion of Zip Dee awnings.

Please respond to him on the new thread.

Thanks.

Brett/moderator

Girard Slide topper awning issues!
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: Slide topper awning issues!

Reply #7 –
Quote from: juicesqueezer –
I want to throw this out there and see if anyone else has issues with this.  We had straight line winds last night and have been having some pretty gusty winds here in TN lately.  Well, the head casting on the right side of the awning broke and the topper came down on one side of the slide.  I called ZipDee this morning and ordered 2 more head casts, just in case.  The person I spoke with also was concerned with the spring in the tube being one of the older ones and they now have a new spring that is longer and will solve some windy issues.  They are sending me the new spring as well.  My question here is, has anyone replaced their slide topper spring that is inside of the tube?  On a side note;  I would have put the slide in with the weather they were calling for, but am in the process of replacing our engine start batteries and so no power with ignition to activate the slide.
Always something for sure in the daily life of a coach owner!  Guess it could have been worse, since we had 70 plus mph straight winds here!
Joe
I have not replaced the spring on a slideout ( I don't have a slide) but I have replaced two window awnings. Looking at the the window the spring is on the left side. I removed the left arm (it has tension and tries to spin) need extra person to help hold the tube, unwind till no tension, there is three pop rivets in the end of the tube, drill them out. Then end will come off the spring and cap is one piece. Install new spring and rivet it back (be sure it slides in all the way) Check on Zip Dee web site they have instructions and video I think. Wind up per instructions with spring, reattach to wall. Contact me if you need more details.
I hope this helps
Ron
Ron Clark
Sherwood,Arkansas
1999 U 295 40 foot Build # 5550
2020 Jeep Gladiator
Motorcade # 18173
FMCA # F485593

Re: Slide topper awning issues!

Reply #8 –
Quote from: rclark –
Looking at the the window the spring is on the left side. I removed the left arm (it has tension and tries to spin) need extra person to help hold the tube, unwind till no tension, there is three pop rivets in the end of the tube, drill them out.
Ron

Ron, am I reading that correctly that only one end has a spring and the other end just "freewheels" with no tension/spring?  I'm hoping that's the case as I pulled my slide topper arms off my slide to clean the tops today and found this...hoping it's nothing I need to fix.
Keith
2003 U320 38' #6197

Re: Slide topper awning issues!

Reply #9 –
Quote from: WS6_Keith –
Ron, am I reading that correctly that only one end has a spring and the other end just "freewheels" with no tension/spring?  I'm hoping that's the case as I pulled my slide topper arms off my slide to clean the tops today and found this...hoping it's nothing I need to fix.

One end only

Re: Slide topper awning issues!

Reply #10 –
Quote from: WS6_Keith –
Ron, am I reading that correctly that only one end has a spring and the other end just "freewheels" with no tension/spring?  I'm hoping that's the case as I pulled my slide topper arms off my slide to clean the tops today and found this...hoping it's nothing I need to fix.

Correct, one end only.
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide
 

Re: Slide topper awning issues!

Reply #11 –
Replaced my driver's side bedroom ZipDee awning spring for the original broke in the center in the middle of the night with no wind.  Easy job but best to have a helper to hold the awning while you spin the awning  leg to put tension on the spring.  I did it by myself and it got a bit tricky holding the awning and turning the leg towards the last few turns as the tension was getting pretty tight.  The instructions come with the spring.  Be sure to get all the pieces of the old spring out before installing the new one.  And yes the spring is only on one end as stated by others here.

Good luck!
Oscar
Oscar & Janet Valent
2023 Coach House 261XLQD
Former 2004 U320 3820 PBBS
Former 2007 Newell Coach #815
2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit