How to open the large Zipdee awning help

Topic: How to open the large Zipdee awning help (Read 1361 times) previous topic - next topic

How to open the large Zipdee awning help

February 12, 2020, 09:53:37 am

Bought this last October and haven't opened the large awning yet. All the others work fine. Read the manual and was wondering if you all have a step by step procedure for opening and closing it? Looks brand new. The two previous owners used it very little. I hear there are tension adjustments that need adjusted?
Thanks

Re: How to open the large Zipdee awning help

Reply #1 – February 12, 2020, 10:00:44 am

Check out youtube.com. Some helpful videos there. Or look here: Instructional Videos

jk

Re: How to open the large Zipdee awning help

Reply #2 – February 12, 2020, 10:05:13 am

Also, here is the instruction booklet from the Zip Dee site.
jor

ZipDee

Re: How to open the large Zipdee awning help

Reply #3 – February 12, 2020, 10:15:44 am

Quote from: dans96u295ft – February 12, 2020, 09:53:37 am

Bought this last October and haven't opened the large awning yet. All the others work fine. Read the manual and was wondering if you all have a step by step procedure for opening and closing it? Looks brand new. The two previous owners used it very little. I hear there are tension adjustments that need adjusted?
Thanks

If it's the manual awning, I use a step stool so that I can begin pulling straight out on the awning. You can bend the tube on which the awning is stored.

Re: How to open the large Zipdee awning help

Reply #4 – February 12, 2020, 10:51:31 am

You first have to unlock it by pulling down on the 2 levers with holes in them at each end.

Re: How to open the large Zipdee awning help

Reply #5 – February 12, 2020, 11:01:53 am

Quote from: craneman – February 12, 2020, 10:51:31 am

You first have to unlock it by pulling down on the 2 levers with holes in them at each end.

There may also be one or more small swivel locks toward the center of the awning cover that need to be twisted to open.

And when putting it back up, must make certain that the two levers are ALL THE WAY back in the locked position. Sometimes one needs to pull on the rafters a little to get the levers all the way back into the locked position. If this is not done, it is possible to launch that very large sail at the most inopportune moment!

Re: How to open the large Zipdee awning help

Reply #6 – February 12, 2020, 11:07:17 am

When talking to Zip Dee they made a point to tell me to not re-lock the awning while it is extended, that it could damage the roller assembly. I still don't understand that one, but I leave it unlocked as the arms lock it out anyway.

Re: How to open the large Zipdee awning help

Reply #7 – February 12, 2020, 11:07:57 am

Mine only has a lock on the front roller . So I keep a note next to the speedo that says ." stay under 77MPH or zip tie the awning".

Re: How to open the large Zipdee awning help

Reply #8 – February 12, 2020, 11:20:57 am

The awning on my 99 U270 was removed prior to purchase. Am thinking "will I use it?". Have been think on maybe just having a xx pct shade cloth made up to use in place of large awning, cost would be 1/3. Designing it to attach and be detached during usage times. I have a company that does great shade cloth such as this. Just need to figure out attachment methods. Thinking maybe using outrigger poles as way to hold extension.
Questions
1. Are the big awnings really needed?.
2. Wind is huge factor in usage at what mph do you pull in?.
3. Opinion of doing this?

Re: How to open the large Zipdee awning help

Reply #9 – February 12, 2020, 11:28:59 am

Quote from: Texhub – February 12, 2020, 11:20:57 am

1. Are the big awnings really needed?.
2. Wind is huge factor in usage at what mph do you pull in?.
3. Opinion of doing this?

1. I use it all the time. Shade for me while working on that side of the coach. Shade for the coach when the sun is intense.
2. Wind & Rain are indeed huge factors if you want to use the awning ever again! I put mine up every night or when we leave. PIA but I've seen too many RV with ripped up awnings.
3. Worth a try. The ZipDee awnings are expensive. Remember the WAF if you DYI. (wife acceptance factor)

see ya
ken

Re: How to open the large Zipdee awning help

Reply #10 – February 12, 2020, 11:30:16 am

Quote from: Texhub – February 12, 2020, 11:20:57 am

The awning on my 99 U270 was removed prior to purchase. Am thinking "will I use it?". Have been think on maybe just having a xx pct shade cloth made up to use in place of large awning, cost would be 1/3. Designing it to attach and be detached during usage times. I have a company that does great shade cloth such as this. Just need to figure out attachment methods. Thinking maybe using outrigger poles as way to hold extension.
Questions
1. Are the big awnings really needed?.
2. Wind is huge factor in usage at what mph do you pull in?.
3. Opinion of doing this?

1. in our situation almost a must have. We dry camp for over a month each of 3 trips in sunny Ca. sit under the awning for shade in order to be outside.
2. Judgement call. If we are going to be away for several hours we roll it up just incase. I can deploy the awning in under 5 minutes, same with rolling it up.
3. Shade is shade, if you could come up with a convenient way to have it, go for it.

Re: How to open the large Zipdee awning help

Reply #11 – February 12, 2020, 12:09:35 pm

Quote from: Texhub – February 12, 2020, 11:20:57 am

Have been think on maybe just having a xx pct shade cloth made up to use in place of large awning...
1. Are the big awnings really needed?.
2. Wind is huge factor in usage at what mph do you pull in?.
3. Opinion of doing this?

Personal opinions (everbody got one):
1. For us, the longer we will stay in one spot, the more likely I will deploy the patio awning. One day stay - no way - too much hassle.
2. I'm always wary of wind if the big awning is out. Thunderstorms nearby - I stow it. At night - I usually stow it. If in doubt, I stow it.
3. Might work. Would keep coach "cleaner" looking and be more "aero" than the big ugly tube hanging off the roof edge.
4. You could consider a portable popup canopy. They go up/down quickly, and you can move the shade where you want/need it. Example:

Amazon.com: Coleman Instant Pop-Up Canopy Tent and Sun Shelter, 13 x 13...

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: How to open the large Zipdee awning help

Reply #12 – February 12, 2020, 01:40:46 pm

Quote from: craneman – February 12, 2020, 10:51:31 am

You first have to unlock it by pulling down on the 2 levers with holes in them at each end.

Evidently crane operators are nicer people than tool makers, but since we're going all Kumbya here:

ZipDee does not use one-way ratchets on the roller the way some other brands do, so until the "hold
'em out there arms" are installed the awning can roll back up on its own. If we're talking about a manual awning.

Re: How to open the large Zipdee awning help

Reply #13 – February 12, 2020, 02:03:14 pm

When I got my 1996 U320 in 2010, the patio awning would not unroll more than a foot and even MOT technicians could not get it to roll out. It was a "no use and no lubrication" problem. I used a spray can with penetrating oil and kept injecting oil inside the big tube at each end. After a couple hours of work unrolling and rewinding it could be used. Over the next year I put oil into the big tube on several occasions and it became easy to unroll. Today, ten years later, it still rolls out easily. The first time it came out ten years ago, it looked new when it was actually 14 years old. Today, it looks experienced.

Re: How to open the large Zipdee awning help

Reply #14 – February 12, 2020, 02:28:51 pm

What I do...

ZipDee Patio Awning Deployment

Re: How to open the large Zipdee awning help

Reply #15 – February 12, 2020, 04:49:30 pm

Quote from: dans96u295ft – February 12, 2020, 09:53:37 am

Bought this last October and haven't opened the large awning yet. All the others work fine. Read the manual and was wondering if you all have a step by step procedure for opening and closing it? Looks brand new. The two previous owners used it very little. I hear there are tension adjustments that need adjusted?
Thanks

Tell us your location and there may be another Foretravel owner close by that can hopefully, help you out with the deployment of your awning.

Re: How to open the large Zipdee awning help

Reply #16 – February 12, 2020, 05:01:38 pm

Quote from: Texhub – February 12, 2020, 11:20:57 am

The awning on my 99 U270 was removed prior to purchase. Am thinking "will I use it?". Have been think on maybe just having a xx pct shade cloth made up to use in place of large awning, cost would be 1/3. Designing it to attach and be detached during usage times. I have a company that does great shade cloth such as this. Just need to figure out attachment methods. Thinking maybe using outrigger poles as way to hold extension.
Questions
1. Are the big awnings really needed?.
2. Wind is huge factor in usage at what mph do you pull in?.
3. Opinion of doing this?

Tex; if you order a new ZipDee awning, it will cost just under $2k with shipping. I believe I paid $1981 for a new awning and choice of fabric color. Like others have stated on here, we had 2 rules; Rule #1, never leave the awning unattended; Rule #2; see Rule 1

Re: How to open the large Zipdee awning help

Reply #17 – February 12, 2020, 05:10:25 pm

Our 24-yr old Zip Dee awnings were showing their age and then I let the patio awning roller tube get bent because I didn't have the proper slope in a heavy rain. I ordered a completely new patio awning and window awning fabric from Zip Dee and installed them myself and have been extremely pleased. They offer excellent support and are a pleasure with whom to work!

Re: How to open the large Zipdee awning help

Reply #18 – February 12, 2020, 05:19:03 pm

A illustration of a place not fun to be; The pic is 'fixing' a bowed awning; I've come close by having a spring break with the awning out; took three of us to get it back and wired up for travel to the Zip Dee pros at the Airstream dealer in Tucson.

Re: How to open the large Zipdee awning help

Reply #19 – February 13, 2020, 12:52:04 am

I feel your pain. It took me a while to get the hang of ZipDee manual awning after many years using other brands.

I carry a four step aluminum step stool to hook up the support arms. ZipDee recommends not using locks while awning deployed. Also says to roll up pull strap when deployed and put it into a loop at base of pull strap as an extra measure against runaway roll up. When rolling up move strap back and forth six inches from center to keep it from bunching up.

As others say it's always a good practice to store when away from rv and at night. Trying to store it in middle of night during wind storm is a memorable experience. I actually have two big awnings that span the full 36 feet of my U270. I've learned to like them and after 21 years still in great condition. I like everything else on the Foretravel, the awnings have a steeper learning curve.

Re: How to open the large Zipdee awning help

Reply #20 – February 13, 2020, 09:31:47 am

Quote from: Realmccoy – February 13, 2020, 12:52:04 am

I feel your pain. It took me a while to get the hang of ZipDee manual awning after many years using other brands.

In our case, we began our Foretravel journey one year ago. Regarding the awning, one of the claws was broken, and not understanding the use of the stretcher arms I pulled the awning out to caravan position and left it there, my being used to ratchets. Until it suddenly retracted itself. Scared the dog.

Re: How to open the large Zipdee awning help

Reply #21 – February 13, 2020, 10:09:35 am

Quote from: Old Toolmaker – February 13, 2020, 09:31:47 am

In our case, we began our Foretravel journey one year ago. Regarding the awning, one of the claws was broken, and not understanding the use of the stretcher arms I pulled the awning out to caravan position and left it there, my being used to ratchets. Until it suddenly retracted itself. Scared the dog.

Your spring must be tighter than mine, it won't roll up without help for about a foot.

Re: How to open the large Zipdee awning help

Reply #22 – February 13, 2020, 10:12:58 am

Dans,
When you first deploy that awning it just seems ridiculously complex, however, after doing it 10 times or so it will seem "relatively" easy. To avoid having to carry a stool to reach that just-out-of-reach top bracket, you can buy ZipDee's NX upgrade which makes the process much easier (no stop stool). Good luck.
jor

Re: How to open the large Zipdee awning help

Reply #23 – February 13, 2020, 10:18:45 am

I rewound the spring on our patio shade. The Zipdee instructions tell you how many turns per foot of length and say that correctly done it will not roll up on its own until you push it up a foot or two.

If you use the NX conversion make sure you are attaching to underlying metal framing at the top. I helped another member whose front top connection pulled almost completely off. It was a challenging repair.

Re: How to open the large Zipdee awning help

Reply #24 – February 13, 2020, 10:22:11 am

Just curious, what do you need a stool to reach? I just drop the top brace in the slot at the top and push out on the roller and the pin drops down.

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