Awning-Care Free or A & E?

[lushy]

I'm looking to buy a new bag awning and was wondering if anyone has an opinion on the Care Free Campout bag awning verses the A & E Trimline bag awning.

I've looked at both awnings online and in brochures but the RV dealers by me do not have one that I can physically look at before I buy. I'm curious to see which awning is built better, which is easier to set up, which one is best, etc.

Thanks!  :confused:

[hoppy]

I can't offer up an opinion on the A & E awning, but I did install the Carefree "Campout" awning on my previous PU.

 I can say without any hesitation, that the Campout was far superior in quality and ease of operation than any stock awning offered by the manufacturers.....  with the exception of the manufacturers that use the Campout as their stock awning. My Coleman stock awning pales in comparison to the Campout. (loose poles, cheaper hardware, limited slopeing of the awning for rain and wind, and takes longer to set-up)

 The Campout system is completely self-contained (no loose poles or other parts), and can be set-up in as little as three minutes. It comes with the options of having the verticle poles staked to the ground, or attached to the side wall of the PU.

  One of the best investiments that I added to that particular PU.  

  I give it a big "thumbs-up"

[zamboni]

When we bought our Starcraft pup several years ago (used), I called the local dealer here to get an awning.  He said he'd be happy to sell me one, but he urged me to get a Carefree instead (and told me where to buy it locally).

Best awning I've ever used!  I seriously miss it every time I set up our Coleman awning on our newer camper.  Not sure exactly what version the "campout" awning is - ours was self contained, we unrolled it, and the legs/arms swung down from the end bar of the awning.

Recently, I saw a new Carefree awning on a pup - that had telescoping legs and when the pup was raised, it spring-rolled out just like a real (box, hybrid) awning.

[4campinfoxes]

A couple of years ago we replaced our stock Coleman awning with a Carefree awning.  Best $ we ever spent on camper "toys".  

Sharon

[hoppy]

zamboni,

 The one that you had was the Carefree "Campout" version. (just like mine)

 The newer "Super Sport" model works just like the ones used on TT and 5-er's. The side poles are attached permenetly to the side of the PU, and extend up while lifting the roof of the PU. This is a pretty nice set-up also, but will cost about a hundred bucks more than the manual "Campout" version.

[Willc]

I have  the Campout on my rockwood and love it

[Miller Tyme]

Again, no experience with the A&E, but I do have the "Campout", which works well for me.
 
 You might also check on the Fiamma line of awnings. HTH.

[lushy]

Thanks everyone!  I was leaning toward the Carefree Campout and now I think I have made up my mind. I have checked out the Carefree Supersport model like mentioned above. It's the spring operated roll out kind like on TT's and MH's. It is a little more $ but I have been hearing some things about it that make me unsure about it. I spoke to a few other PUT members in a previous thread and to a couple of dealers and I am just not sure about the Supersport. The same issue I keep hearing is the trouble with the awning while raising your PU?? It looks like a great awning......but I guess I'll stick with the hand roll out kind! I checked with the local RV dealers, but no one has either one in stock or on a PU that I can check out.  :confused:

Thanks again for your help!