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Lt46 · 05-13-2008, 11:48 AM

Boy-o-boy am I confused. Hope I can type this with enough clarity for all to understand.
My A&E 8500 original fabric had the valance sewed to the main awning fabric, virtually one piece. At the valance/main awning seam, a full length of plastic rope (for lack of a better term) was inserted. A 2nd plastic rope was in a 2nd seam, 3" away from the 1st. Both of these plastic ropes slid into the awning tube, each in their own groove. Making the awning seamless from roof to valance, no part of the awning tube was visible.
Now, my new replacement fabric comes in 2 pieces. Main awning and valance, each having their ends hemmed to accept the plastic rope. Given this configuration, a roughly 3" section of awning tube will be visible when the awning is deployed, between the main awning and valance. This I don't like!
Has anyone else installed replacement fabric and had this dilemma? I can not think of anyway (aside from trying to slip 2 pieces of plastic rope into one groove) to make this gap disappear. Did I get the wrong replacement fabric? SHOULD it have come, sewed together as one, like the original had?
Any suggestions are welcome.

Lt46 · 05-13-2008, 11:48 AM

Boy-o-boy am I confused. Hope I can type this with enough clarity for all to understand.
My A&E 8500 original fabric had the valance sewed to the main awning fabric, virtually one piece. At the valance/main awning seam, a full length of plastic rope (for lack of a better term) was inserted. A 2nd plastic rope was in a 2nd seam, 3" away from the 1st. Both of these plastic ropes slid into the awning tube, each in their own groove. Making the awning seamless from roof to valance, no part of the awning tube was visible.
Now, my new replacement fabric comes in 2 pieces. Main awning and valance, each having their ends hemmed to accept the plastic rope. Given this configuration, a roughly 3" section of awning tube will be visible when the awning is deployed, between the main awning and valance. This I don't like!
Has anyone else installed replacement fabric and had this dilemma? I can not think of anyway (aside from trying to slip 2 pieces of plastic rope into one groove) to make this gap disappear. Did I get the wrong replacement fabric? SHOULD it have come, sewed together as one, like the original had?
Any suggestions are welcome.

CHIPPYSGT · 05-13-2008, 12:48 PM

Are you talking about the tube when the wawning is extended? I've never seen one with fabric over the tube. The little skirt that hangs down is a seperate piece on all I've ever owned or seen.

Kazoo Tom · 05-13-2008, 05:03 PM

You may have ordered a fabric that you didn't want. I replaced my fabric about a year ago with a "Carefree of Colorado" fabric that is one piece like your original. Check with your dealer. On mine the fabric only has one insertion point on the roller with the valance hanging over the roller to the outside, completely covering the roller tube.

Lt46 · 05-14-2008, 03:13 AM

Thanks guys, I've since found that I ordered a generic replacement fabric from A&E, thus the 2 pieces. Had I been specific with my order, I would have gotten what I wanted and its associated higher cost. Live and learn!