Freedom Over The Door awning question

[late starter]

This awning quit working while on vacation; luckily it was closed. I have since then jarred it and the motor now works. Elec contacts, voltage, all checked good, and after pounding on the motor end of the awning, it now works.
I posted a thread on another forum, and haven't received feedback; should have posted it here. Anyway, I have two questions:

1. Its an old external motor design that's been discontinued. I'm told you have to destroy the motor endcap to access the motor. It's obvious I have to remove the whole awning from the MH to access the hardware, but if I do that, can I get it apart, or is it riveted together?

2. Is there a reliable source other than CarefreeOfColorado for acrylic fabric to match my original fabric? The fabric is stretched enough that when closed, the front edge remains extended about an inch. I'm hoping new fabric would fix that.

I appreciate any and all feedback!

Thanks.

[Chef Guy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by late starter This awning quit working while on vacation; luckily it was closed. I have since then jarred it and the motor now works. Elec contacts, voltage, all checked good, and after pounding on the motor end of the awning, it now works. I posted a thread on another forum, and haven't received feedback; should have posted it here. Anyway, I have two questions: 1. Its an old external motor design that's been discontinued. I'm told you have to destroy the motor endcap to access the motor. It's obvious I have to remove the whole awning from the MH to access the hardware, but if I do that, can I get it apart, or is it riveted together? 2. Is there a reliable source other than CarefreeOfColorado for acrylic fabric to match my original fabric? The fabric is stretched enough that when closed, the front edge remains extended about an inch. I'm hoping new fabric would fix that. I appreciate any and all feedback! Thanks.

Roger,

I just had mine replaced last month in Coburg at the new Monaco LLC. Cost, including new paint, RE and RE for the newer and better Marquis OtD awning was around $1700.00

On mine, the motor went bad due to a bad design that lets water enter the motor housing. The new one is supposed to be a better design.

I kept the old one, Freedom OtD awning, and the tubular motor is accessible at the opposite end of the structure by taking off a few screws. Carefree does sell a replacement kit for this old one, at a cost close to $500.00 which includes a new front cap (which does have to be destroyed on the OEM awning when the awning stops working at the retracted position) and they will only sell to an authorized dealer, not to you nor me. If the OtD awning fails in the open position, you can remove it by following Carefree's clear detailed instructions which are downloadable from their site (which you must know by now).

So, while you may be able to get a replacement kit, the old problems may still re-appear some day. Then again, you may be able to make it more watertight. Who knows?

BTW, the fabric that is still extended by an inch is an indication of eventual motor failure, as mine did the same thing for 2 years prior to it not working at all.


Good luck!

[late starter]

Thanks, Chef Guy.
On mine, the motor is an external, and inside the rear cap. I'm thinking that little opening at the front edge will just act like a little water trough when driving in rain; water will inevitibly end up in the motor cap. What I was hoping for was to clean the motor and seal that endcap except for a small drain hole that I will drill in the bottom. I think new fabric will solve the problem of not closing fully.