Re: Coolaroo Shade on Lazy Daze Reply #25 – July 09, 2016, 03:08:21 pm Quote from: Chris Horst - July 08, 2016, 06:50:45 pmHey, Lee. Welcome to the new Lazy Daze forum.ChrisHey thanks Chris. Very fancy forum now. I like it -- great improvement to the old site, I think.
Re: Coolaroo Shade on Lazy Daze Reply #26 – July 09, 2016, 04:10:39 pm I have recently had problems with my Fiamma awning also....was considering driving to Montclair to have it repaired but I am wondering if I should just resort to the sunsail shade instead. For any of you having the Coolaroo shades, do they set up high enough to clear the door of the LD without problems? I thought having the enclosed awning on my LD would solve my experiences with other awnings on RVs I have owned but the more I read from other owners, it does not sound like they are happy with the awning installed on a LD.
Re: Coolaroo Shade on Lazy Daze Reply #27 – July 09, 2016, 04:31:53 pm To clear the entrance door, the awning's outboard corner will need to be tied to something up high, like a tree or maybe a pole.Used away from the door or on the driver's side, the awnings's outboard end can be staked to the ground.An enclosed Fiamma will be very slow to take down if high winds suddenly appear. An enclosure's sides will not hold down or protect the awning in high windsThere are not many adjustments to be made on a Fiamma, except for dealing with a slightly stretch awning, that will not fully roll up. Make sure the Fiamma's shock absorbers are sill intact and not broken, a common occurrence.If parts are broken, some are available but not all.Larry
Re: Coolaroo Shade on Lazy Daze Reply #28 – July 09, 2016, 05:10:02 pm Quote from: Mary Claesson - July 09, 2016, 04:10:39 pmI have recently had problems with my Fiamma awning also....was considering driving to Montclair to have it repaired but I am wondering if I should just resort to the sunsail shade instead. For any of you having the Coolaroo shades, do they set up high enough to clear the door of the LD without problems? I thought having the enclosed awning on my LD would solve my experiences with other awnings on RVs I have owned but the more I read from other owners, it does not sound like they are happy with the awning installed on a LD.Really, the awning does what it's suppose to do which is provide shade. I'm at the beach a lot and it's mostly breezy and that sometimes turns into gusts that can make me nervous. When the awning starts snapping and I see the supports being jerked around, I think it's time to retract. In 14 years, I've had one shock absorber break. When I started thinking about an awning upgrade, it didn't look like there was much out there that was different from what I had. And the Fiamma videos for tweaking the awning wasn't helpful -- So, maybe the awning I have isn't garbage. It works -- it's just a fair weather awning. And if you're caught with it out when wind starts blowing hard, it's a 2 person chore to get it in. In the scenario I described awoken at 5am, I thought the awning was going to rip off and I held it in place for 1/2 hour before I risked retracting it. This scenario has happened before in SoCal. People who see this happening think the same thing -- better get the awning in because it's headed for trouble. 1 Likes
Re: Coolaroo Shade on Lazy Daze Reply #29 – July 09, 2016, 08:27:48 pm This tuesday we'll be taken Baxter out for a trip to South Beach near Newport Oregon. I'll take a few pictures demonstrating the setup and hardware. My setup clears the door with no issues.
Re: Coolaroo Shade on Lazy Daze Reply #30 – July 09, 2016, 10:05:36 pm Quote from: G Plam - July 09, 2016, 08:27:48 pmThis tuesday we'll be taken Baxter out for a trip to South Beach near Newport Oregon. I'll take a few pictures demonstrating the setup and hardware. My setup clears the door with no issues. OMG, I camphosted there last summer during the month of August! 1 Likes
Re: Coolaroo Shade on Lazy Daze Reply #31 – July 10, 2016, 12:19:36 pm Quote from: desertdivanm - July 08, 2016, 12:22:33 pmWhere and when is the Joseph camp out?Cheryl, I believe the Joseph outing is September 13-15...going with mom and her LD so she has all the information...that's all I know so I could take the vacation time and travel with her...maybe someone with more info on it can give you more specific details. I will add that we went up there quite a few years ago (Aunt lives near there). Wallawa Lake is south of Joseph (maybe thats where the gathering is?? not sure on campground) but there is a tram that you can walk to, to ride to the top of the mountain and hike around, go-kart track for us kids at heart and paddle boats to go out on the lake. Besides the beautiful scenery, bald eagles and such...Sherry 1 Likes
Re: Coolaroo Shade on Lazy Daze Reply #32 – July 10, 2016, 01:43:43 pm I'm pretty sure that the LDNW outing in September is full. One can check with Pete Reed (weereeds@msn.com) for information.
Re: Coolaroo Shade on Lazy Daze Reply #33 – July 10, 2016, 06:35:55 pm Quote from: desertdivanm - July 08, 2016, 12:08:22 pmI think "that's the ticket" Chris!Here are photos of the Coolaroo in use at Jalama Beach, CA, after the Morro Bay outing. 2 Likes
Re: Coolaroo Shade on Lazy Daze Reply #34 – July 10, 2016, 07:31:55 pm Quote from: Chris Horst - July 10, 2016, 06:35:55 pmHere are photos of the Coolaroo in use at Jalama Beach, CA, after the Morro Bay outing.Thanks for posting the photos Chris. Although more expensive, I think I'd like to have a 12 X 12 square sail. Coolaroo 473822 Coolhaven 12-ft Square Shade Sail | ATG StoresI'm thinking the best way to anchor the end in the sand would be to use two "corkscrew" dog stakes.
Re: Coolaroo Shade on Lazy Daze Reply #35 – July 10, 2016, 08:39:37 pm Quote from: desertdivanm - July 10, 2016, 07:31:55 pmI'm thinking the best way to anchor the end in the sand would be to use two "corkscrew" dog stakes.We did two things Chris didn't do. We left the rope on the ends of the traps. And two we used tent poles to anchor the end(s). This allows for more room and adjustments under the shade. We have eye hooks on both sides of the LD. This allows shading on both left and right side. REI – Top-Brand Clothing, Gear, Footwear and Expert Advice for All Your...
Re: Coolaroo Shade on Lazy Daze Reply #36 – July 10, 2016, 08:47:24 pm I just bought one of these to try. Portable Ivory Shade Sail Kit - Poles, Ropes, Pegs - Square 11ft 10" .99Langton
Re: Coolaroo Shade on Lazy Daze Reply #37 – July 10, 2016, 10:52:27 pm Quote from: G Plam - July 10, 2016, 08:39:37 pmWe did two things Chris didn't do. We left the rope on the ends of the traps. And two we used tent poles to anchor the end(s). This allows for more room and adjustments under the shade. We have eye hooks on both sides of the LD. This allows shading on both left and right side. REI – Top-Brand Clothing, Gear, Footwear and Expert Advice for All Your...Glen, please post a photo of your setup. I'm having trouble picturing what you've done.Chris 1 Likes
Re: Coolaroo Shade on Lazy Daze Reply #38 – July 12, 2016, 09:27:32 pm Enclosed is a set of images I took a few hours ago as I was setting up camp for the week. You can notice on the last two images I have cleared the door. As you know I have a TK but I''m sure this will work on the other floor plans as well.
Re: Coolaroo Shade on Lazy Daze Reply #39 – July 12, 2016, 11:09:37 pm Quote from: G Plam - July 12, 2016, 09:27:32 pmEnclosed is a set of images I took a few hours ago as I was setting up camp for the week. You can notice on the last two images I have cleared the door. As you know I have a TK but I''m sure this will work on the other floor plans as well.Thanks, Glen for the photos. Cool way to use the Coolaroo (sorry for the pun). Is the shade you used the triangle or a square? Chris
Re: Coolaroo Shade on Lazy Daze Reply #40 – July 12, 2016, 11:11:19 pm Quote from: Chris Horst - July 12, 2016, 11:09:37 pmThanks, Glen for the photos. Cool way to use the Coolaroo (sorry for the pun). Is the shade you used the triangle or a square? ChrisSince I only see one tent pole, I think I answered my own question - the triangle.Chris
Re: Coolaroo Shade on Lazy Daze Reply #41 – August 17, 2016, 11:02:41 am Our new Fiamma awning was installed yesterday and was simply hung on the existing brackets, eliminating any new drilling into the rig. (Holes do have to be drilled in the bottom of the awning to meet up with the holes in the 3 brackets.). We haven't used it but upon inital inspection and extension, it would appear that the design is slightly better than the original. The appearance is almost identical, the hardware looks "new and improved.". We ordered it online from Fiamma and had Oak Lake RV in Kerrick MN install it for $130. The cost of the awning was $1,193.00 inc shipping to MN from FL. 1 Likes
Re: Coolaroo Shade on Lazy Daze Reply #42 – August 17, 2016, 02:02:26 pm Todd,Congrats on your new awning. The other day, while at the "homestead", I decided to wash mine. After cleaning and drying it I cranked it back in...almost. The case wouldn't quite close. What gives? I thought.Upon closer inspection I found that one of the support brackets was not tucked inside the housing but instead protruded outward preventing it from closing. I'm not sure if others have experienced this or not. I do remember a post not long ago where a group member had lost part of his awning support. Not a happy moment I'm sure. Just throwing this out there as an FYI.Kent 1 Likes
Re: Coolaroo Shade on Lazy Daze Reply #43 – August 17, 2016, 03:51:35 pm This sort of things happens to mine too. I chalked it up to being old- the awning, not me. I tuck the bits in carefuKly before zipping up- the awning, of course!
Re: Coolaroo Shade on Lazy Daze Reply #44 – January 26, 2017, 12:38:58 am Over the years, I've had my share of windstorm adventures with Fiamma awnings. The main problem is that before stowing the legs and retracting the awning, you have to extend the awning most of the way. But when a sudden wind comes up, extending that big sail is the last thing you want to do! Recently a friend suggested a simple solution, and yesterday I had a chance to try it when the wind whipped up suddenly. The awning was only out about two feet--just enough to shelter the entry door from rain--but the violent gusts were threatening to lift it up over onto the roof, breaking the mechanism. Following my friend's advice, here's what I did:1. Unhitched the legs from the RV body and let them dangle.2. Rolled in the awning as far as it would go, which turns out to be about two inches from full closure.3. Secured the dangling legs to their brackets with Gear Ties, so they wouldn't flap and scratch the body.This took only a minute or two, and worked perfectly. There was no chance of the awning being damaged once I had retracted it almost all the way. After the storm passed, I cranked the awning out again, stowed the legs normally and retracted it fully.I wish I'd known this simple trick years ago! 2 Likes As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Coolaroo Shade on Lazy Daze Reply #45 – January 26, 2017, 08:40:50 am Andy, clever solution to the awning sail issue! The link was to some kind of hammock strap; this link shows Gear Ties from Niteize (they make several useful products), but I'm sure the ties are also available from Amazon (and HD may also carry them, but in fewer sizes):http://www.niteize.com/collection/Gear-Tie.aspGear Ties are swell inventions; they come in many sizes and colors, and are super tough, versatile, and long-lasting! Joan
Re: Coolaroo Shade on Lazy Daze Reply #46 – January 26, 2017, 09:05:04 am Thanks for sharing this tip. I will get more use out of our awning now, with gear ties at hand. I like to use the two foot extension technique too.
Re: Coolaroo Shade on Lazy Daze Reply #47 – January 26, 2017, 09:07:33 am Andy,That's a cool Idea! Thanks!My mind is trying to figure out how to do that with the A&E Instamatic 3000 Awning (NLA) that came with the '88.Oh, yeah! Spring loaded roller. Release the rafter locks while hanging on to the awning, dangling a foot off of the ground. Then pull in the support legs, while the wife and dog laugh hysterically.
Re: Coolaroo Shade on Lazy Daze Reply #48 – January 26, 2017, 10:04:38 am Quote from: Andy Baird - January 26, 2017, 12:38:58 amOver the years, I've had my share of windstorm adventures with Fiamma awnings. The main problem is that before stowing the legs and retracting the awning, you have to extend the awning most of the way. But when a sudden wind comes up, extending that big sail is the last thing you want to do! Recently a friend suggested a simple solution, and yesterday I had a chance to try it when the wind whipped up suddenly. The awning was only out about two feet--just enough to shelter the entry door from rain--but the violent gusts were threatening to lift it up over onto the roof, breaking the mechanism. Following my friend's advice, here's what I did:1. Unhitched the legs from the RV body and let them dangle.2. Rolled in the awning as far as it would go, which turns out to be about two inches from full closure.3. Secured the dangling legs to their brackets with Gear Ties, so they wouldn't flap and scratch the body.This took only a minute or two, and worked perfectly. There was no chance of the awning being damaged once I had retracted it almost all the way. After the storm passed, I cranked the awning out again, stowed the legs normally and retracted it fully.I wish I'd known this simple trick years ago!Can't you get the same result by unrolling the awning several feet without using the support arms? Just leave them stored? I often do this and leave the opening/closing wand dangling in case of wind.Chris 2 Likes As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Coolaroo Shade on Lazy Daze Reply #49 – January 26, 2017, 01:32:50 pm I'm with Chris. I've been cranking it out about two feet, without deploying the legs, for ten years, mostly to shade the fridge. No problems thus far. This is done only while I'm near the coach, so that I can reel it in if a wind comes up. -- Jon '06 TK "Albatross"