Community Forums

nbargolf · 02-06-2015, 08:30 AM

The awning over the door Dometic brand the rod broke in half. Does anyone know where to get parts for these awnings?

puttin · 02-06-2015, 09:02 AM

I can't directly answer your question but if you do a search "dometic awning parts" or something similar...maybe with the model name/# added you should find lots of info. A couple of weeks ago I ordered my brother-in-law a new fridge door handle assy. this way and got it through ebay. Dometic's actual web site was much less helpful and I couldn't even find the model# on their site.

f15epilot · 03-22-2015, 09:11 PM

Similar issue....need to find the roller attachment caps that hold the awning to the support arms. They are cast metal (pot metal) and not necessarily strong. When I called the local RV shops, they said those end arm pieces are only sold with the roller mechanism cap and spring--the round piece with the steel rod that caps off the roller on each end. They said you have to replace that whole unit. Sounds odd since the pot metal cap is only held to the end of the arm with a small bolt and the steel roller rod is then locked to that arm cap with a pinch pin. I've attached pictures.

Does anyone know if those arm end pieces are available separately? Maybe someone has an aftermarket solution.

f15epilot · 03-22-2015, 09:13 PM

Here's the model number.

f15epilot · 03-25-2015, 03:45 PM

First, the good news (somewhat) for me is I now know what model and part number of Dometic Awning I have affixed to my Damon Outlaw. I emailed pictures of the awning and the above slightly rubbed label to their customer service and, within a short while got an answer: it's an 8500 Plus affixed to said RV with their 8485000 Series Universal Plus Hardware. Knowing that led me to manuals on how to remove/unwind/reinstall the end torsion assemblies. I was also able to identify the parts numbers FOR those torsion assemblies (see attached thumbnails). THAT is where the good news ends.

You see, Dometic does not sell that model of torsion assembly (or arm) having gone to a 'flat' arm with a slider. Worse, the shaft on the legacy torsion assembly will NOT fit into the top cast of the newer 'flat' arms (different diameter; confirmed with two RV parts suppliers).

All I need is the two end pieces, the "Top Cast" that attaches to the torsion assembly with a simple 'pinch-pin' or friction-pin that is driven (pinched) to hold the two together. BUT...Dometic does not sell that rounded top cast separate from the torsion assembly. It's either a liability issue or because the only top casts they have are attached to assemblies, the only way to get that simple, $10-part is to buy the $60 (right) and $55 (left) torsion sets. Now, to install those, you have to do the same 'unwinding' and top-cast-to-arm removal AND have to drill out the rivets holding the torsion cap onto the main roller tube. Replacing just the top cast would be a simple matter of pressing out the pinch-pin, removing the broken top cast, and pressing the pin back into the torsion rod/top cast holes (and of course, rewinding the end piece).

And I called both Any RV Parts (site from which I got the pictures; great folks; even looked through their 'bucket' of spare pieces for me) and PPL Motorhomes...both said it was either the entire assembly or nothing.

SO...does anyone know of a secondary market source for these casts? I'm thinking of taking my left-side to a local machinist and seeing if he can 'copy' the cast out of billet aluminum. If anyone has a better idea, please let me know. I'm guessing I'm not the only person who has run into this, so if anyone has a solution, I'd love to learn from it. Or, if you're in the same boat, let me know, as well...I'll share my solution with you when I get it 'solved.'