Destroyed my awning March 23, 2024, 04:33:34 pm Help fellow Lders. I just did a very stupid thing. I was cleaning up my roof seams in prep for Eternabond. I had to move the LD over a bit so my scaffold would fit on the driver side. I got too far over and ripped off my awning control. So now I have the awning hanging out and a storm is coming and I can’t wind up the awning. I think I need to remove the awning. Any ideas?Thank you,Larry 1 Likes
Re: Destroyed my awning Reply #1 – March 23, 2024, 04:50:18 pm Hi Larry; a bit of a pickle! How 'destroyed' is the winder loop? If you can get the awning bundled into a clump of fabric, a belt or long tywraps may control it until you can get it wrapped back onto the roller. I carry two 1 1/2" wide Velcro fabric loops about two feet long just for such occasions. (thanks Debbie from Venice). I have a strap oil filter remover that could probably be wrapped around the roller and used to wrap up the awning also. You'd have to turn the stub of the winder gear also, to help the roller turn. https://www.harborfreight.com/rubber-strap-wrench-set-2-piece-69373.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12169269821&campaignid=12169269821&utm_content=117203747179&adsetid=117203747179&product=69373&store=348&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-_mvBhDwARIsAA-Q0Q7YoF9h7-yHkeH0X6ECWip82OGrd7BVzbK-SgPy2pTpSW3ofosXWPQaAvJVEALw_wcB RonB 1 Likes
Re: Destroyed my awning Reply #2 – March 23, 2024, 06:52:11 pm Thank you Ron. I’ve calmed down now. A friend came over and we removed everything except the bracket that holds it all to the rig. I don’t have time to deal with it now. The gear box broke off at the shaft. Interesting choice of metal there. I guess it’s better for the shaft to break instead of the whole assembly. We’ve got some weather moving in so I won’t get back to the Eternabond for a few days. Larry 1 Likes
Re: Destroyed my awning Reply #3 – March 23, 2024, 07:42:15 pm "...we removed everything except the bracket that holds it all to the rig."Tough go there friend, I know the feeling!Got caught in a fast moving rain/wind squall at Custer Battlefield with the awning partially deployed. Wind put the whole shebang on the roof before I could blink. Dismounted everything at the mounting points and went home without it!You might want to consider a different brand of awning when you get 'Around Tuit'. 1 Likes
Re: Destroyed my awning Reply #4 – March 23, 2024, 08:01:46 pm Yes. We had a Carefree awning on our first RV, and it seemed more robust. Right now I’ve got to finish the Eternabond project and try not to break anything else before we head out for Texas🤠 2 Likes
Re: Destroyed my awning Reply #5 – March 23, 2024, 09:32:32 pm You probably have this figured out by now, but the part I think you broke (if I understand) is replaceable. It's DIY friendly if you're comfortable drilling out a rivet and replacing it with a new rivet for reassembly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC_c-rqi-Js&ab_channel=ozzy1964osborneI've ordered parts and fabric from the US distributor. Winch awnings for wall installationRich 2 Likes
Re: Destroyed my awning Reply #6 – March 25, 2024, 09:18:00 am At first glance I can see that the drive shaft snapped off just outside of the gear box. There’s also damage at the other end of the fabric roller. Since I still need to finish the Eternabond project before we leave, and we are in the middle of a blizzard, I’ll leave the awning repair for when we get back. Thanks for all of the comments and ideas.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Destroyed my awning Reply #7 – March 26, 2024, 01:49:48 am We replaced our Fiamma awning with a Girard motorized awning. Very nice unit, which looks natural on the Lazy Daze. I chose the accelerometer auto retract option to protect against unexpected wind gusts. We had the installation done at the Girard facility in Orange County, California.There is the debate about manual versus powered extension: the deciding factor for us was usability by people other than me (the process of cranking out, clipping in the center support, cranking more, unfolding the side supports, cranking some more, and hand tightening the clamps to deploy, and all of that in reverse to stow, was too intimidating for family members and guests). 1 Likes
Re: Destroyed my awning Reply #8 – March 26, 2024, 02:50:11 am I have been told that wind/gusts can come up fast enough in some places that the wind sensing auto retract systems may not respond fast enough. But they may work most of the time. I never replaced the broken wind speed sensor on my Bigfoot RV. It is not an available plug and play part so involves some modification. It is a Care Free of Colorado awning, easier to deploy and perhaps better in wind. The arms that extend from the RV side to hold the awning up have pivot points and move with the wind gusts. 1 Likes
Re: Destroyed my awning Reply #9 – March 26, 2024, 12:45:25 pm Thank you both for the info. I’m going to have a couple of weeks of down time to sort out the mess so I appreciate any ideas and experiences. I think that since the roller shaft is snapped off, at the very least I’ll need to replace that and both end caps and the gear box. I’ll look at everyone’s recommendations before deciding and I’ll report back on how it goes.Larry 2 Likes
Re: Destroyed my awning Reply #10 – March 26, 2024, 05:56:57 pm "Tough go there friend, I know the feeling!"Reference my Reply #3...When I was in negotiations with Steve Newton for my 2004 30'IB I asked to have the OEM awning deleted. I told him that I intended to mount a 20' long A&E (Dometic) instead. He asked where the mounting points would be and blocked (reinforced) those areas. Traveled with that 20' awning for several years until my wind event in Montana.My Insurance bought me an identical awning and that has served me a good long while. Even the new Captain, LazyBones2, can deploy it! 2 Likes