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NINIP123 · 05-13-2020, 12:16 PM

Hello. So excited to find this forum. We bought a 40’ 1999 Fleetwood American Eagle
to help to transport our critters to Colorado and lived in it a couple of months until we found a home to purchase. It is now at a consignment lot however my husband sideswipe a tree and bend the roller tube on the slide awning. Now we are in the predicament of deciding if we should have a dealer (Carefree) fix it, ($1500. Estimate) or purchase a complete new awning. I need some suggestions. We have put about $12,000. Into this coach on top of purchase price and I know we wont get any of that back so trying to do this as inexpensively as possible.
Thanks so much for any advice.

Ray,IN · 05-13-2020, 04:57 PM

Locate an independent RV repair shop nearby and ask them to inspect the damage and quote a repair(can it be straightened?) price. Dealers are not the best "bang for the buck" IMO.
There are RV salvage yards in nearly every state if a used part will suffice.

Dav L · 05-13-2020, 08:38 PM

Depending on how bent it is, this repair can be as simple as rotating the tube until it's bowed down. Wrap each end with a rope or strap. Secure the bottom of the straps to something that won't move (heavy or fixed to the ground, back two cars with a tow hitch to each side and tie off to the hitches).

Then, cut a 2x4 to size so that a floor jack can push against the tube. You can use a jig saw to put a semi circle saddle for the tube to sit in. Put that 2x4 at the low point of the tube. Raise the jack just past straight. Lower the jack to see if it's now straight. Repeat until it is.

Don't overdo it. Small changes with checks. Be careful you don't tear the awning fabric (best is to do this with the awning all the way out and no fabric between 2x4 and aluminum tube). Don't put any pressure on the awning arms.

Been there, done that, straight as an arrow.

NINIP123 · 05-14-2020, 08:59 AM

Great! So this will work on the slide awning right?

Teamfoxy · 05-14-2020, 09:20 AM

We went through this exercise last fall with our main awning. Both the tube and the fabric were ruined. Replacing the entire awning was the least expensive solution because the labor to replace damaged parts was more than installing a new one. My only regret was not switching to a manual awning when we did it.

Gary RVRoamer · 05-17-2020, 01:32 PM

Dealer shops are expensive and not very flexible to work with. I'd get a repair quote from a mobile RV tech or handyman type guy and discuss the options with him. Slide toppers are fairly easy to work on and it may be practical to repair the bent roller tube. If not, repair parts vs new awning will be a straight-forward cost decision. Online sources like PPL Motorhome Parts Dept can quickly tell you the costs and deliver the parts or new awning.

Cat320 · 05-18-2020, 01:56 PM

You can purchase the awning tube without purchasing the awning. I purchased the awning and two end caps, total, including installation was around $1,000.