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Topic: Patio Awning Replacement (Read 2866 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #20 –
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 –
Finally have the replacement Zip Dee on order. Sticking with the manual based on reviews. ^.^d

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #22 –
You won't be disappointed with the manual awning! 

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #23 –
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 –
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

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #25 –
Reversing the standoffs sounds like a great idea... however, the pictures at the linked web site aren't very clear and don't show what it looks like when the awning is stowed. Does anybody have this installed and if so can you post pictures of how it looks stowed and otherwise? My concern is that it appears as if the arm is curved at the top and wouldn't lay flat against the side of the coach. I wonder if there would be more wind noise under way as well...
Thanks, Don

Quote from: Steve & Kathy B –
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 #26 –
I deployed our awning a few minutes ago. I was standing on the ground the for the entire process. The "loose" ends of the rafters fit into slot up high, but I didn't have an problem hooking them into the slots and locking the rafters while standing on the ground.

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #27 –
Patio Awning, Gee, never had it out but once to see it, scared of rain & wind damage.
When had coach painted, should have had it removed and cover mounting holes.

Funny, when I purchased the coach from MOT, I asked about the fancy box looking awning (not Zip Dee), was told they run $12,000.00 complete with installation.
I gave that idea very little thought, as in poof !
Dave M

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #28 –
Re. lift handles, photos shows them being used to push the awning.  I find it very much easier to pull out than to push out.  Handles make the extending of the arm so much easier to do, and can also be used to shorten the length some 12" at a time first at one end of the awning and then the other end.

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #29 –
Here is a helpful hint;
If you have trouble extending the arm while standing on the ground, use a "grabber" from Wal-Mart.  They fit the tube and you can use it to push/extend the arm.

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #30 –
Hi,

I had the factory replace the old Zip-Dee patio awning with a Girard on my other coach, a 2001 U320. I liked the convenience of simply pushing a button on the remote. My RV buddies loved that it was larger than theirs when it rained on our potluck dinners or our happy hour get togethers. It gave a cleaner look to the side of the motorhome as well. Those were the pluses.

On the minus side for me: 1) the cost; 2) the adjustment from time to time would get out of whack. The owner's manual said to fully extend the awning during rain to facilitate drainage. Sometimes, the awning would not retract when fully extended. I'd have to get out the manual crank and crank a few times to pull it in some. Then the electric mechanism would work. 3) The remote died once, for no apparent reason. The Girard factory replaced it at no cost, but had to manually crank the awning while I was waiting for the part.

I will seek other alternatives should my Zip-Dee die on my present coach.

Good luck.

Regards, Lee

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #31 –
Well, the awning is replaced. Found out I had not been operating it properly and the new operates easier than the previous one I didn't know how to work. :P
On the down side, as I arrived for installation, the radiator exploded in the driveway of Parliament Motor Coach and the inverter started alarming.
New radiator on the way from Foretravel and new inverter will be installed tomorrow.
One day trip has turned into a week at the shop. :o

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #32 –
DAMN!!!

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #33 –
And the fun continues. Since I'm here, I figured I'd get a few of the little nagging problems taken care of. Hooking up the ice maker so it's operational again, the tech says, "Looks like this thing is near the end of it's lifespan."
I responded with "Sell it to the warranty company and you got a deal."
Needless to say the refrigerator is working fine once again. :P

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #34 –
Quote from: minibeast –
On the down side, as I arrived for installation, the radiator exploded in the driveway of Parliament Motor Coach and the inverter started alarming.
Nam - that's a bummer!  If you would, let us know how things work out with Parliament?  We live about 4 hours from there ( in FL right?) and need a good place for mods in the future.  I'm glad you didn't go to Classic Coach Works in Lakeland!

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #35 –
I talked with Zip Dee and they service the awnings at their factory in Elk Grove, IL.  (Just off I90, near O'Hare airport).  They charge $95.00 per hour with a 1 hour minimum, and they think that is all they need to service and adjust one.  Service is by appointment only.

Link:

Awnings By Zip Dee

Keith

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #36 –
Here's a picture of the new awning. The tensioner arms have been reversed to make it easier to set them. Very easy to operate properly now. :))

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #37 –
Did you reverse them or did Zip Dee?  Interesting.  Something to consider.

Re: Patio Awning Replacement

Reply #38 –
Came from Zip Dee with the reverse mount. Here are some pictures showing them a little better. And one of a relative that just showed up for, you guessed it "Awning Work" :))