Girard automatic patio awning

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Girard automatic patio awning

October 29, 2010, 08:40:00 am

Last night I let too much water accumulate on my Girard patio awning. Disaster, heard a loud "crack" and the front end of the awning had collapsed. Inspection this AM in the daylight reveals both the front and middle arms broken at the hinge. The front break managed to puncture the fabric.
How do I get the awning closed to travel? I do have the manual crank.

Re: Girard automatic patio awning

Reply #1 – October 29, 2010, 10:20:39 am

Quote

Last night I let too much water accumulate on my Girard patio awning.
Disaster, heard a loud "crack" and the front end of the awning had collapsed.
I do have the manual crank.

Horace, there is a manual crank to bring awning in and out.
See photos

Re: Girard automatic patio awning

Reply #2 – October 29, 2010, 11:17:23 am

Barry! Thank you. I do have the manual crank and am familiar with it's use at least in theory. The problem is more basic, how do I get the distal outer edge up and how do I get the broken arms folded. Seems best bet is to find a helper with a tall step ladder to raise and hold up the outer end while cranking and see what the arms do. I suspect I will have to somehow nudge them into the housing. Any better, or other, ideas? Has anyone done this? (or am I the only one dumb enough to let this happen)

Re: Girard automatic patio awning

Reply #3 – October 29, 2010, 11:36:40 am

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The problem is more basic, how do I get the distal outer edge up and how do I get the broken arms folded.

It is hard to determine the extent of the damage without a photo.
But I think the arms have adjustments for the angle.
You might look at the hinge area of the arms and look for the adjusting screws that allow the arms to come up or down.
Thats where they adjust one side down to allow water to flow off the awning and not accumulate on top.

Re: Girard automatic patio awning

Reply #4 – October 29, 2010, 05:12:53 pm

Well! I have with the help of a mobile RV tech secured the awning ALMOST snug in it's mount, all rolled up. The front two arms are broken at the hinge, therefore the housing is NOT flush against the mount. The outside cap, the piece with the Girard logo on the rear end, is about an inch or do forward and a inch or so below it's normal seat. We can not get it any tighter. Suspect the broken arms do not seat properly. but with the powerful springs in them doubt we can get any different result.
Question, now, is can I safely drive this down the interstate? Will tension on the rolled up awning keep it from blowing loose?

Re: Girard automatic patio awning

Reply #5 – October 29, 2010, 05:21:15 pm

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Question, now, is can I safely drive this down the interstate? Will tension on the rolled up awning keep it from blowing loose?

I have driven from Montana to Calif in that same situation and it was not a problem.

Re: Girard automatic patio awning

Reply #6 – October 29, 2010, 05:24:29 pm

I would never think of challenging Barry's expertise, but it sounds like your situation is exactly what bailing wire and duct tape was designed for.

As a point of interest, our Zip Dee 22' patio awning came open in a huge wind storm in Texas last spring while driving down the highway at 65 mph. Surprisingly, no damage to awning hardware that was 17 years old. There is something to be said for the old manual systems. I'm sure that it was quite a sight for the other motorists in the area. Jeff and Carol S. who were traveling with us got a great laugh after they found out there was no damage. I had the locks repaired shortly thereafter and used auxiliary lock straps from that point forward.

Re: Girard automatic patio awning

Reply #7 – October 29, 2010, 05:50:39 pm

Try Mike at MOT for that answer - do you have his after hours number? Or call now.

Tim

Re: Girard automatic patio awning

Reply #8 – October 29, 2010, 05:58:45 pm

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It sounds like your situation is exactly what bailing wire and duct tape was designed for.

Duct tape cannot hurt but I dont think driving will overcome the awning motor and let it come out.
Try pulling the awning out manually to see how much resistance it takes.
Girard had told me at the time it would be fine to drive until I got to "Civilization"

where there was a Girard repair facility.

Re: Girard automatic patio awning

Reply #9 – October 29, 2010, 06:45:00 pm

OK! I am presently at Pelican Lake, near Naples, FL. I plan to have the awning repaired at TN RV and have had them order the parts. I plan stops at Cedar Key FL and at Fernandina Beach before heading to Strawberry Plains, TN for service.
We managed to get the awning wound very tight with the crank and then snugged with the motor.
Thank you, again, Barry!

Re: Girard automatic patio awning

Reply #10 – October 29, 2010, 07:22:47 pm

Quote from: Kent Speers – October 29, 2010, 05:24:29 pm

As a point of interest, our Zip Dee 22' patio awning came open in a huge wind storm in Texas last spring while driving down the highway at 65 mph.

Wondered if that could happen to the Zip Dee awning too. Now I know and will have to take approperate measures. Which lock did you have to repair?

And Horace, good luck in keeping it rolled up!!!

Re: Girard automatic patio awning

Reply #11 – October 29, 2010, 08:26:10 pm

I can testify to what happens to a ZIP DEE in a microburst. It ended up on top of the coach with arms on both ends either broken off or badly bent. I wired and cable tied it to the upper rail til I could get parts. ZIP DEE shipped the parts and 450 bucks later it was like new. I was really surprised that the fabric was not damaged and there was no damage to the side of the coach. Tough stuff.

Re: Girard automatic patio awning

Reply #12 – October 30, 2010, 12:21:53 am

By the way, that purple/maroon H3 Prevost that pulled in today used to drive a Foretravel. Spoke to him at the GA Flying J when we were both filling up - saw he had a Pelican Lake plate surround.

Re: Girard automatic patio awning

Reply #13 – October 30, 2010, 09:09:22 am

Pat, the locks were the curved latches at the end of the roller. One latch seemed to be OK but the other did not snap into place when the awning was rolled up. I always thought the spring tension would keep the awning closed so I was not very judicious about double checking the latches but I was wrong. I was traveling about 65 mph with a crosswind gusting around 50 mph. Somehow the crosswind got up under the awning and completely extended it. I'm sure we only traveled seconds at 65 but it was probably 1/2 mile before we got pulled off of the pavement. I expected to see a tangle of aluminum and awning cloth but it looked perfectly normal as though I had been traveling with the awning extended. Later, we found a couple of feet of the 17 year old stitching had failed but it was easily repaired.

I have learned a couple of tricks to reduce the chance of wind or rain damage. The best course of action is to always roll up the patio awning before leaving the coach or going to bed. Second best is tether the outside corners of the awning to the ground with nylon straps and a spring. If its supposed to rain, lower one corner of the awning to insure good runoff.

I have had one experience in Corpus Christie when a gust of wind lifted the awning and broke off the upper arm bracket. Nothing that a little bailing wire couldn't fix at the time and when I got home I ordered a new bracket from Zip Dee for $29. It installed with rivets. I was going to through bolt it but decided I would rather the rivets pull out than one of the arms breaking.

Zip Dee's tech service and customer service has been outstanding. They came to my camp site at the FMCA in Albuquerque and rebuilt the roller locks for a few bucks and anything I have ordered was shipped immediately at a reasonable price. My new U300 does not have a patio awning so I will put a new Zip Dee on it whenever we get to Chicago or NAC. I had considered automatic awnings like the Girard but I am into low maintenance, high reliability more than ease of use and not hitting my head on the side bars.

Re: Girard automatic patio awning

Reply #14 – October 30, 2010, 09:39:49 am

Horace,
Safe travels on your trip to TN.

Kent,
I also had a awning (AE) deploy while driving down I 40 during a thunderstorm in my SOB.

It was quite a feat to get it down from the coach and rewound in the storm all the while the DW was screaming to get off the coach. I now always strap the awning supports to the adjustable support on the coach. I figure a little more safety cannot hurt.

Brad

Re: Girard automatic patio awning

Reply #15 – October 30, 2010, 11:44:50 am

Kent,

On a side entry coach, I would look at other powered options - the biggest issue with the Girard is that there is no vertical support running down the side of the coach. Other powered awnings have vertical supports (you see these commonly on high end travel trailers). These don't work on the bus FT's because there is not enough space on the side of the coach for the wider vertical supports on these coach's, but on a mid entry like yours they might work well.

Carefree makes this model, it might offer the ease of an automatic awning in a more rugged form factor than a Girard.

http://www.carefreeofcolorado.com/carefree/products?action=product&productid=31&categoryid=28

I love the ruggedness and simplicity of the Zip-Dee (there early automatic awning notwithstanding) and the convenience of my Girard.) Hell my Zip Dee may still be at NAC that I took off two years ago for the Girard.

Dave Head, I would check with James at Xtreme, Mike at MOT, and the paint shop at FT, they both might have good used units that they have taken off other coaches.

To clarify - these vertical supports are about 3 inches wide on this style of awning - and on the bus models there isn't enough room between the entry door and the first window aft of the entry door for these vertical supports.

Re: Girard automatic patio awning

Reply #16 – October 30, 2010, 05:43:20 pm

Tim, there are probably great alternatives out there and I appreciate the link but I am sold on Zip Dee. I talked with Justin and Dave Flannigan at FOT two weeks ago. They have no used complete patio awnings or even the complete hardware set. I did not check with MOT but I think I did ask James at Xtreme, but that was two weeks or was it three weeks ago. Who can remember that far back?

If anyone is thinking of having their Zip Dee patio awning removed, I would be very interested in purchasing one if the price is right. It must be at least 18 feet in length. I currently have burgundy awnings but would consider buying just the hardware and having new cloth installed. I am not sure if the hardware on the Unicoaches is the same as on the Unihomes. Does anyone know for sure?

Re: Girard automatic patio awning

Reply #17 – October 30, 2010, 06:03:38 pm

Kent,
I will check with Xtreme and MOT for you on Tuesday, unless Mr. Stoltz beats me two it.

Re: Girard automatic patio awning

Reply #18 – October 30, 2010, 06:14:49 pm

That would be great. I really miss my patio awning.

Re: Girard automatic patio awning

Reply #19 – October 31, 2010, 08:49:34 am

I always put mine up at night and tie down the edges to the ground tether. It is a pain but it works. I did have my slide awning get caught in a gust in the middle of the day and it caused the strap to break and the awning snap closed so fast it broke the extruded aluminum end part and the spring unwound. I had to take it off and put it in the coach to get it home. So, I feel your pain. Oh well, such is life in a motorhome.

Re: Girard automatic patio awning

Reply #20 – October 31, 2010, 04:59:40 pm

I have a friend with a bus-style DP from another manufacturer. One of the many features of my FT he is envious of is the Girard awning that covers the door. He has an awning with the vertical arms, but it ends aft of the doorway. No reason you could not go this route on a FT, and even add an additional awning just for the door (perhaps a small Girard)

Re: Girard automatic patio awning

Reply #21 – November 01, 2010, 12:22:30 pm

Horace, sorry to hear about your awning. We had water pooling on our Girard this summer while in Oregon. Fortunately we were able to 'dump' it using a broom before it caused any damage.
I called Girard and got good instructions on how to prevent water from pooling. I am attaching my experience with this. Maybe it will help someone.

Re: Girard automatic patio awning

Reply #22 – November 15, 2010, 04:57:56 pm

My Girard Patio Awning has been successfully repaired and readjusted as suggested by Dick so that rain will not accumulate so easily. Thanks everyone. I drove the coach with the awning partially closed (within a couple of inches of locked) from Naples to Cedar Key, to Fernandina Beach and on to Knoxville at highway speeds without any mishap. Repairs required replacing the front and middle arms and he fabric, then carefully readjusting the slope and the tilt.
I appreciate all of the very helpful replies. There is lots of praise here for FOT, for MOT, and for Xtreme, all of which are wonderful facilities, I've used each. Let's not forget Tennessee RV, formerly Foretravel of Tennessee. They have done wonderfully for me, and they do honor the Motorcade discount.

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