Awning question

[tyrrionn]

Here's mine, after I installed it. It took less than an hour to install.
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/559651940aSEhYE

This may not be the right thread, but I just wanted to ask about your awning being braced against the camper.  I was told by the dealer when I bought my last popup (coleman) that you would have to support the opposite side of the roof to offset the weight of the awning if propped in that manner.  Is that true, do you do that, etc etc.?  I have a Starcraft now that I'm planning on replacing their cheap awning and want to know what to look for.
 
Dave

[wavery]

This may not be the right thread, but I just wanted to ask about your awning being braced against the camper.  I was told by the dealer when I bought my last popup (coleman) that you would have to support the opposite side of the roof to offset the weight of the awning if propped in that manner.  Is that true, do you do that, etc etc.?  I have a Starcraft now that I'm planning on replacing their cheap awning and want to know what to look for.
 
Dave

I think that dealer may have been mistaken (polite way of saying, "He's full of doo-doo")

This is a great awning:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/A-E-TRIM-LINE-11-AWNING-CAMPER-POP-UP-PICKUP_W0QQitemZ140221408523QQihZ004QQcategoryZ50069QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Several here have purchased one. I've had mine for a year and about 10 camp-outs. It's great. :-()

[tlhdoc]

One tip for setting up your Fleetwood awning (I love mine and have no trouble setting it up or putting it away by myself and I have used it on hundreds of camping trips), is to crank the top half way up and then unzip the bag and set up the awning.  This way it is easy to reach.  Just adjust the poles that come down from the awning rail to the ground when you pop up the rest of the way.

[butterflyfish]

We bought the awning off ebay and finally got the awning up  :-() and freecycled the old one (they are picking it up today)!  Actually, DH and my dad were able to do it yesterday since the wind finally calmed down.  Hopefully it won't be too windy this weekend when we go camping again so we can use it.  It was way too windy this weekend to use it if we did have it installed.  Other pop up awnings were blowing all over the place so we learned that whenever we leave our pup we will close the awning, just in case.  I try to get some pics of it if it isn't too windy this weekend.  Thanks for all the advice and  help on the awning.  Oh and the funny thing was the awnings that were left on ebay were green and the green matches the pup almost perfectly!  

[rcompton]

They go straight out at a 90* angle from the roof, parallel to the ground.

However, if I were you, I would trash the hole works and buy this one (as I and several others have).
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=004&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=140218301920&rd=1

You would be much happier with this one and it can handle a lot more wind. The Coleman awning is a real piece of junk.

Here's mine, after I installed it. It took less than an hour to install.
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/559651940aSEhYE

Hi wavery: I purchased this awning a while back and am finally doing the install on a 12' box Coleman Fairview, looks very similar to yours. Somehow my awning arrived w/o instructions, but I put the rail together and have it all on the awning no problem, rolled the awning back up, got it in the bag and into the awning rail on the roof. My next step is to mount the clips that the arms go into for the 'legs' and the support arms that run from the awning rail to the roof. Do you happen to recall if there were any measurements for that? I see you mounted yours right into the 'inside' of the bag into the roof. Did you do so with the screws provided? I don't have the ABS roof, so no worries there, just don't want any suprises... thanks for any advise!

 -Ron

[butterflyfish]

Hi Ron,

I'm not Wavery   , but since DH and my dad just installed our awning, I'll let you know that there were no measurments (drove my engineer dad nuts! lol).  It was basically, does that look good?  Yeah.  Is it even, yeah, that works etc.  We did measure to make sure it was all level and even etc.  When you mount the clips, be sure to mount the larger opening on the bottom.  As far as instructions go, that was about it.  The instructions said read and fully understand before installing... well I didn't understand them until setting it up and even then they were very vague not to mention the fact that since the instructions are for several different models, the supplement sheet sent with it didn't apply to our awning, so I was a little comfused trying to figure that out.  Once I realized it was for a different model, all went very smoothly!  LOL.  I assembled the awning and rolled it into the bag, DH and my dad mounted it on the camper.  Took them less than an hour.  Hope this helps!  

[wavery]

Hi wavery: I purchased this awning a while back and am finally doing the install on a 12' box Coleman Fairview, looks very similar to yours. Somehow my awning arrived w/o instructions, but I put the rail together and have it all on the awning no problem, rolled the awning back up, got it in the bag and into the awning rail on the roof. My next step is to mount the clips that the arms go into for the 'legs' and the support arms that run from the awning rail to the roof. Do you happen to recall if there were any measurements for that? I see you mounted yours right into the 'inside' of the bag into the roof. Did you do so with the screws provided? I don't have the ABS roof, so no worries there, just don't want any suprises... thanks for any advise!

 -Ron

Hi Ron,

I'm glad that you asked the question about installing the ball mounts inside the bag. I did that for a very specific campground. We camp at Pt Mugu Beach quite often. We set our PU so that the side is facing the ocean and often times we can get very strong gusts of wind coming off of the ocean, up the beach and hitting our camper in an upward angle, right in the front door. This lifts the awning (rolled up inside the bag) and slams it back on the roof of the camper. Sometimes, that goes on for hours (always at 2:AM) and just drives us nuts. My reason for screwing the ball mounts through the bag is to keep the bag from lifting like that. We haven't had that condition since, so I don't know if it works or if the bag will tear where I screwed the brackets on (although I don't think it will).

You may be better off screwing yours right into the roof side panel (use a little silicone sealer). The measurements aren't important. There is very little stress on the plastic mounts as the "Rafter" poles actually push against the mounts and there is no up or down pressure. I angled mine down slightly just to accommodate holding the bag better.

As for the lower ball mounts (on the box of the PU), I mounted mine in the middle of the track because there is downward pressure on the mounts and it really need a substantial footing. The sidewall of the camper is much too flimsy for that and the frame is too far away.

Just check and make sure that your bunk slide will open and close without hitting the screws. Mine has no problem and I used the screws supplied with the awning.
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/559651940aSEhYE

I hope that helps.

[rcompton]

Thanks guys (and I too 'are' an engineer, so I feel your dad's pain, butterflyfish. Go 'Jackets!!!). Thanks wavery, your pics made it simple. Being my first pop-up, I had never even messed with an awning, that helped make it a snap. It is installed, I will tweak it when we get to the campground this weekend. I liked your idea of putting the brackets inside the bag, so I followed your lead. I am going to get a stainless plate that is about an inch larger overall than the bracket, and glue on some old inner tuber on both sides, drill it to fit the bracket and fit it between the bracket and bag. Should spread out any stress on the bag... if not oh well.

 Thanks again! -Ron

[GoneCampin]

   We have a bag awning that slides in the the groove along the roof.  The plastic piece on the edge of the bag that slides through & holds it is all cracked & broken.  

Last year I rolled up pieces of duct tape to the same size of the good pieces & then taped over them along the sides.  It took a bit to slide into the groove - but it worked!
   
This held most of the summer - but then was pretty well shot - we are in a very windy site & it had a lot of pressure on it.

    Does anyone have any other ideas for the piece that I'm talking about?

Thanks so much!  

[wavery]

   We have a bag awning that slides in the the groove along the roof.  The plastic piece on the edge of the bag that slides through & holds it is all cracked & broken.  

Last year I rolled up pieces of duct tape to the same size of the good pieces & then taped over them along the sides.  It took a bit to slide into the groove - but it worked!
   
This held most of the summer - but then was pretty well shot - we are in a very windy site & it had a lot of pressure on it.

    Does anyone have any other ideas for the piece that I'm talking about?

Thanks so much!  

This might have been better in a new thread.

That piece is called the "Bolt rope". If you are in to sewing, you can cut off the old one and make a new one by literally sewing a piece of 5/16" rope into a piece of vinyl and sewing that onto the bag.  You can also purchase it here:
http://www.sailrite.com/Categories/Awning-Track-Ropes
I think what you are looking for is Item Number: 102549.

[rcompton]

There was an old piece in the channel on the roof of my pup that I took out to put on the new awning (guess the old awning blew off/tore off and the previous owner didn't replace). If you could use it I am happy to send it along. I have a 12' box, and this could be cut down if you need something smaller. I am sure you could just do a bit of nylon rope quicker, but let me know: PM me your address and I will send this out to you.

 -Ron

   We have a bag awning that slides in the the groove along the roof.  The plastic piece on the edge of the bag that slides through & holds it is all cracked & broken.  

Last year I rolled up pieces of duct tape to the same size of the good pieces & then taped over them along the sides.  It took a bit to slide into the groove - but it worked!
   
This held most of the summer - but then was pretty well shot - we are in a very windy site & it had a lot of pressure on it.

    Does anyone have any other ideas for the piece that I'm talking about?

Thanks so much!  

[dkutz]

Thanks guys (and I too 'are' an engineer, so I feel your dad's pain, butterflyfish. Go 'Jackets!!!). Thanks wavery, your pics made it simple. Being my first pop-up, I had never even messed with an awning, that helped make it a snap. It is installed, I will tweak it when we get to the campground this weekend. I liked your idea of putting the brackets inside the bag, so I followed your lead. I am going to get a stainless plate that is about an inch larger overall than the bracket, and glue on some old inner tuber on both sides, drill it to fit the bracket and fit it between the bracket and bag. Should spread out any stress on the bag... if not oh well.

 Thanks again! -Ron

I just got done installing this awning as well.  THe only problem i ran into is that I installed the LEG plugs/brackets  like Wavery on the bed slides.  The screws ended up being too long, so the beds wouldn't slide out.  I will have to modify this next trip to get them to clear.  Otherwise I love the awning.

[Ka-Cee]

Wavery if you are still out there I am trying to find this awning you are talking about the one they are showing on Ebay looks different then yours and has poles that go directly to the ground (like the disaster I have - Coleman) and not back to the camper.  Ours recently came unsewen as we were closing it on our last trip to St. Augustine, Florida.  Can you please connect me to the right one to purchase you are all talking so fondly of that thing i just have to have one.  Can make things a heck of a lot easier.  Thanks so much  Ka-Cee@Knology.net

[wavery]

Wavery if you are still out there I am trying to find this awning you are talking about the one they are showing on Ebay looks different then yours and has poles that go directly to the ground (like the disaster I have - Coleman) and not back to the camper.  Ours recently came unsewen as we were closing it on our last trip to St. Augustine, Florida.  Can you please connect me to the right one to purchase you are all talking so fondly of that thing i just have to have one.  Can make things a heck of a lot easier.  Thanks so much  Ka-Cee@Knology.net

This is the awning:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/A-E-TRIM-LINE-11-AWNING-CAMPER-POP-UP-PICKUP_W0QQitemZ140229219023QQihZ004QQcategoryZ50069QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
That awning is for a 12' box. If you have a 10' box, you'll have to contact him directly (ph # is listed in auction). He may have a few left. dkutz just got one by contacting him.

Same guy that I and many others here have bought from.

He used to have more pics including the one that shows the set-up going back to the camper. I don't know why those pics aren't there any more. He probably got too many questions about how to mount it like that.

Here's the pics of mine:
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/559651940aSEhYE

BTW....WELCOME TO PUT!!!!

[Ka-Cee]

Thanks again everyone for all your help - we purchased the new awning 3 weeks ago and bought one of the last 7 remaining.  We did buy (for a 12' box) the big one.  With a few crummy weekends behind us we just installed the new awning and thanks again Wayne for your pictures they certainly helped.  I just love the darn thing and can't wait to really use it.  I feel like this guy should be giving you a cut of this as many as you have sold.  You are right it is way better than the standard Coleman on the rig.  

Thanks again and I really enjoyed your pictures too - as mentioned before I am from Santa Maria, California even though we are stuck here in Augusta, Georgia.  I practically grew up in Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo area, our Dive Shop was in Pismo Beach and I continue to make frequent trips home.  Thanks for the pictures they were fun.  


Ka-Cee Vaughan
Evans, GA
2001 Coleman/Fleetwood Utah
1999 GMC Suburban