New awnings, front and window hail damage

[Doris]

When we camped over the 4th, we discovered that we had a bunch of pinholes in both awnings. Apparently the hail got more than the branch it dented the truck with. Lucky for us, we had the inexpensive rider we need in NYS to have our awnings covered!
Insurance agent came out and ok'd new awnings (I can't believe they still talk to us!), so we'll stop at Camping World on our way out today to set it up.
Anything I should know about replacing an awning? This was not a covered one, now we are thinking maybe we should get that type, in case of more hail. Any thoughts on that?
Thanks.
Doris

[Ray,IN]

Hail damage is so rare in most areas that you really need to compare the cost to your ins. deductable spread over how many years you've owned an RV. Kinda like an extended service plan, if you save the annual premiums , you may come out ahead vs buying the plan.

[Doris]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray,IN Hail damage is so rare in most areas that you really need to compare the cost to your ins. deductable spread over how many years you've owned an RV. Kinda like an extended service plan, if you save the annual premiums , you may come out ahead vs buying the plan.

It was $15 a year..well worth it (covers wind damage as well..in NYS awnings are not covered by the RV insurance, although in talking with people, many insurance companies don't seem to realize this). They (Alpenhaus in our area) were able to find the material from Carefree (they no longer make this type of topper/window awning) and it should be in next week. They'll replace the material of both. Guess we'll be sticking with what we have. I was told be the insurance adjustor, and the RV place that hail damage happens more on older vinyl awnings, than on the newer ones, because they stiffen up over time. The insurance adjustor said it's been a tough few weeks, with two hail storms. We also noticed the back of our air conditioner took a beating, but Gil thinks he can straighten those fins.

[Ray,IN]

Doris, a fin comb for straightening the dents out is quite inexpensive. Buy one with different spacings (4 sides) so you only have to make one trip to the HVAC store. I think mine was ~$5.
On the awning material, now is the time to decide if you want waterproof material, or sun-block/shade material. This is the same material as the side curtains for shade/privacy. On the escapees forums it is touted as not popping in high winds, but still shades the slide roof and blocks debris like the waterproof material.

[Doris]

Thank you! Didn't know about the fin combs. We'll pick one up! Will we be able to get that at any air conditioner place, or does it have to be an RV place?

Because of the type of slider top/window combo, it appears we don't have a lot of choice, so it will be the vinyl like it came with. Thank youo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray,IN Doris, a fin comb for straightening the dents out is quite inexpensive. Buy one with different spacings (4 sides) so you only have to make one trip to the HVAC store. I think mine was ~$5. On the awning material, now is the time to decide if you want waterproof material, or sun-block/shade material. This is the same material as the side curtains for shade/privacy. On the escapees forums it is touted as not popping in high winds, but still shades the slide roof and blocks debris like the waterproof material.

[Ray,IN]

Any HVAC business will carry them, some auto supply stores, big box stores like Lowes, Home Depot, perhaps. I bought mine from a Harbor Freight store in the city. It looks like this: Fin Comb. Ask for a fin comb for straightening condenser coil fins. How to use a fin comb:
How to Use a Fin Comb | eHow.com

[Doris]

Thank you. You guys are great!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray,IN Any HVAC business will carry them, some auto supply stores, big box stores like Lowes, Home Depot, perhaps. I bought mine from a Harbor Freight store in the city. It looks like this: Fin Comb. Ask for a fin comb for straightening condenser coil fins. How to use a fin comb: How to Use a Fin Comb | eHow.com