Community Forums

Riverdog · 09-27-2007, 09:25 AM

The fabric on my TT's awning needs to be replaced. I can find the fabric on-line for between $200 & $300. I've spoken to a couple local RV shops & they will sell me the fabric for appx $300 and another $160 for labor(2 hours). I'm pretty good at handyman stuff but don't know how complex awnings are with springs, etc. If you have experience with this please respond on whether or not this is a fairly easy process or not. If it's just time consuming I don't mind the project.

Riverdog · 09-27-2007, 09:25 AM

The fabric on my TT's awning needs to be replaced. I can find the fabric on-line for between $200 & $300. I've spoken to a couple local RV shops & they will sell me the fabric for appx $300 and another $160 for labor(2 hours). I'm pretty good at handyman stuff but don't know how complex awnings are with springs, etc. If you have experience with this please respond on whether or not this is a fairly easy process or not. If it's just time consuming I don't mind the project.

quikduk · 09-27-2007, 10:50 AM

My FIL had it done recently at a boat upholstery place. He opted for the Sunbrella fabric.

I looked at my awning the other day when I was replacing some weathered parts and it doesn't look too difficult, provided you do NOT take the roller tube apart due to the spring tension.

My "track" on the coach has either end (track or groove) limited by a screw and are a little "bent closed" which helps secure the fabric and the built in "welting" from sliding out. You just remove those screws, adjust the "groove" or "track" a little bit with a large flat screwdriver to open it up a bit and the awning fabric should slide out.

You have to coordinate this with the groove on the roller tube since the awning will need to be pulled to the "full-open" position to expose the awning fabric roller tube groove (there are usually three possible grooves). BTW, make sure you get the right groove and that the awning fabric is installed with the correct side "out" or "up".

I have seen people do this before and you might need a helper to start to "close" the awning to release tension on the new fabric and make it easier to slide in. I think the shops go all the way and release the tension from both springs but I wouldn't want to do this myself since they are very highly tensioned. BTW, the springs are tensioned opposite from each other (one is lefthand, the other righthand).

I may be completely wrong so please check with your local CW or MH shop.

Ken

RV Wizard · 09-28-2007, 12:33 AM

Riverdog, if you are mechanically inclined and have someone that has done at least one before to help you, it can be done. You will need to be very careful as there is a high risk of personal injury and property damage associated with this job. THere are several ways that the fabric can be r & r. the awning needs to be fully out. The idea is that you have to unload the back end spring assmy while the front can be held in place by the ratchet lock assmy. To unload the spring, you will need to clamp on a good pair of vise grip type pliars and then remove the bolt holding the endcap to the are and pull it out; BE CAREFULL as much tension is on this spring. You will need someone to hold the tube and another to hold the harware arm. Unwund the springfully counting the number of turns it takes as you will later put at least the same number of turns back in; if the awning did not want to retract without help you may want to add acouple of turns. If you add turns to one end you should add the same number of turns to the other end.
Take the arm off the wall that will allow you to slide the fabric bead out of the awning rail mounted to the wall. If you can slide the fabric off & on at the front end this will be the preferred side. If not then you will need to remove the front ratchet end from the arm hardware. Remove screws that are in the awning rail, rain guter if needed and slide the fabric out of the groove in rail. Clean rail, straighten and even enlarge the opening a little to aid in reinstalling new fabric.
Mark the end cap and tube for realignment as well as the grooves used for the fabric beads.
Drill out the rivets from the rear end spring assmy. on the the tube. Slide the spring assmy out and remove the fabric from the tube.
Reverse the process to install fabric and awning back into place.
As you can see this is not difficult but one must know what they are doing and be careful. If you do not feel compfrtable at doing this then I would highly recommend you pay a qualified team to do it for you. The spring assmy can unwind at tremendous speed and if the pliars are attached to the end cap it becomes something like a propellar and be very dangerous. Be careful and let us know of your decision and progress.

quikduk · 09-28-2007, 05:37 AM

See, there you have it. Personally I like a challenge but the $160 to do it for you...and hopefully this covers any accidental damage by the installer, looks like money well spent.

Just my $.02