Patio Awning Replacement

Topic: Patio Awning Replacement (Read 2326 times) previous topic - next topic

Patio Awning Replacement

June 16, 2012, 10:30:35 am

Well, my Zip Dee bit the dust (or should I say drowned) after a major storm during the middle of the night. Water built up in the fabric and snapped the ends of the awning off of the supports. Supports them selves were badly mangled so I disconnected the lower ends at the coach and used a zip knife to get the rest of the fabric off so I could get her home.
Now I'm researching possible replacements. Got a quote for the Girard Patio awning in the same size at just over $7500.00 installed. After choking on it a little I decided to see what others have done here and if that price is in line with that style of awning since internet searches don't seem to turn up a lot on Girard Awning prices and other comparable awnings are considerably cheaper. that what I was quoted.

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #1 – June 16, 2012, 10:50:22 am

So sorry! I have retracted an awning in the middle of the night in my pajamas, myself. I am the one who wakes up at the sound of a storm, so it falls to me to do the emergency retraction. Leaving the awning tilted to allow for runoff is a help, but I get nervous about wind. On this coach we have a ZipDee automatic awning (but with a broken wind sensor) and I keep the remote handy at all times. We are rarely in an area that I leave it extended for long periods of time. The smaller window awnings seem to do the job well. Have you talked to ZipDee about a rebuilt unit? The automatic awnings are just great ... when they work. I am half convinced that if this one dies, I will go back to a manual awning that I can tie down and tilt.

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #2 – June 16, 2012, 11:52:23 am

FOT is advertising 'obsolete' awnings for sale, you might check out their website under parts.
Mike

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #3 – June 16, 2012, 12:43:05 pm

Just checked, will have to give them a call first thing Monday. Nobody seems to be in today.

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #4 – June 16, 2012, 01:22:10 pm

Quote from: minibeast – June 16, 2012, 10:30:35 am

Got a quote for the Girard Patio awning in the same size at just over $7500.00 installed. After choking on it a little I decided to see what others have done here and if that price is in line with that style of awning since internet searches don't seem to turn up a lot on Girard Awning prices and other comparable awnings are considerably cheaper. that what I was quoted.

$7,500? How much is a zip dee?

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #5 – June 16, 2012, 04:14:12 pm

FOT is showing outdated ZipDee's starting at $250. If they have one like what I just mangled I'll buy one of those and put off the upgrade!

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #6 – June 16, 2012, 04:54:56 pm

Was your awning the zip dee auto or the manual? We replaced our zip dee auto awning with a manual in August last year. I think the cost was like $2000 for the manual awning.

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #7 – June 16, 2012, 04:58:38 pm

Manual.

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #8 – June 16, 2012, 05:03:03 pm

Check with FOT and then a call to zip dee might be in order too!

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #9 – June 16, 2012, 06:00:19 pm

Zip Dee is more functional. Girard is convenient but useless most of the time since you can't adjust the angle. If it rains and water pools it breaks arms at $400 a piece. I'd stick with Zip Dee.

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #10 – June 16, 2012, 09:06:46 pm

Quote from: minibeast – June 16, 2012, 04:14:12 pm

FOT is showing outdated ZipDee's starting at $250. If they have one like what I just mangled I'll buy one of those and put off the upgrade!

Unless you are physically in need of the automation, strongly consider the KISS principle, forget the "upgrade" (DOWNGRADE?) and stick with the manual. The manual Zip Dee's work very well, last a long time and are infinitely more useable, reliable and maintainable. However, with a large patio awning deployed, relieving (lowering) one corner before you leave the coach unattended, MUST be remembered, as you may have experienced.
Just my experience, FWIW,
Neal

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #11 – June 16, 2012, 10:31:15 pm

What parts are you needin g for your awning? I have many parts for a manual awning and am located near Tampa Fl. If you are in Fl pm me and see if I can help you out

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #12 – June 17, 2012, 09:10:47 am

All I have left at this point is the roof mount and the two side support mounts. Fabric, Roller, and supports were destroyed.

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #13 – June 17, 2012, 10:23:21 am

My Girard was $6k installed by MOT 3 years ago plus painting to match. Sounds about right. Challenge on our coaches is limited space for awning support between rear of entry doer and first window. Limits options.

Like my Girard, except closes itself when wind hits 15 mph

Sent from my iPhon

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #14 – June 17, 2012, 10:55:35 am

After all the reviews I'm really moving away from the upgrade right now and just replacing the existing system. Especially since it should be a fairly simple install for myself and a few friends. Thank you for the price comparison though. I really had nothing to go by on the Girard install which seems unusual with the internet these days.

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #15 – June 17, 2012, 11:08:06 am

I would not have anything other than a Zip Dee Manual. FWIW

Last summer I received a quote of $2,750 for a 22' Patio Awning and all of the hardware directly from Zip Dee. That included installation at their facility near Chicago. I am betting that the $250 Patio Awning at FOT is just for the fabric, still a good deal though.

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #16 – June 17, 2012, 02:19:20 pm

Minibeast, Call Zip Dee and give them a list of the parts you need, they have them all. My awning ended up on top of the coach in a storm, I was able to roll it up and save the fabric though. The arms were badly bent but the attachments were still on the coach. If I recall the two arms, and other associated parts were about 450 bucks, that's a lot better than a new awning.
Gary B

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #17 – June 17, 2012, 09:55:13 pm

I have also a complete zip dee awning, don't know what the length of your is and I think the fabric is green, but you can get the correct color from zipdee

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #18 – June 17, 2012, 10:08:18 pm

We too are looking for a manual Zip Dee Patio Awning for our coach. As suggested, the color is not important if the price is right, we can get new fabricbut burgundy is what we now have. I believe we need a 22 footer.

If anyone is planning a full body paint in NAC and doesn't use their patio awning, its a good way to recover some of the cost of the paint job.

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #19 – June 19, 2012, 10:25:11 am

Well, Mike at Foretravel Parts was very helpful in figuring out what to do. He has several possibilities for those of you that are looking but reccomended that you visit the facility if looking to purchase any of his used units. Unfortunately, he didn't have what I needed and several calls to Zip Dee convinced me to just hold off for now. Zip Dee basically talked themselves out of sale on this one.

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #20 – June 19, 2012, 07:53:59 pm

Years of cruising a sailboat in the tropics taught us - very slowly - to take in the awning at night no matter what the weather looks like. More midnight awning drills naked in wind-driven rain trying to wrestle a canvas awning spread over the boom and supported with battens than should have been necessary.

It's a LOT easier to put the awning on our Foretravel away when we go back inside for the evening. If we are tempted to forego it we are reminded by the image of several awnings twisted beyond recognition by late night wind storms in the desert.

Cheap insurance: put your awning away every night and whenever you leave the rig. No matter what the weather person says.

Craig

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #21 – July 05, 2012, 06:27:48 pm

Finally have the replacement Zip Dee on order. Sticking with the manual based on reviews.

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #22 – July 06, 2012, 08:32:05 am

You won't be disappointed with the manual awning!

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #23 – July 06, 2012, 09:33:20 am

Has anyone installed the NX upgrade kit from ZipDee , NX Hardware Upgrade Kit , to get around from having to lift the arm up?

I thought the lift handles were kinda neat to. Lift Handle

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #24 – July 06, 2012, 11:00:08 am

Steve & Kathy,

Re: Lift Handle

Don't leave home without it. One pinched finger was enough for me. Makes it super easy to put out and in. FWIW

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