Awning problem

[beckster53]

We've got a used 2008 19 foot Bambi Airstream. The awning does not close properly. (It doesn't slap shut, and there is fabric showing) My husband just picked it up from the repair shop, and my husband said the repair guy told him, "It's the nature of the beast". Now, hold the phone, the awning won't close properly and that's just to bad? Anyone else have this issue, and resolved it? Or is the repaire guy correct?
Thank you in advance for any advice!

[switz]

Sounds like the spring needs to be tightened and the repair guy lacked the knowledge on how to do that.

[lewster]

Your 'repair guy' is an idiot! Zip Dee awnings should be adjusted so they remain in the fully extended position to allow you to center yourself at the strap location.

Then with a gentle 'nudge', the roller tube starts to retract and should snap into place against the sidewall of the trailer with the aluminum cover fully wrapped around it.

Find a shop that has Zip Dee experience, or one that can actually read and understand directions and have the spring fully un-wound and then re-tensioned according to Zip Dee specifications.


Lew Farber
RVIA/RVDA Nationally Certified Master Tech
Master Tech Energy Systems, Inc.
AM Solar Certified Installation Center
Lifeline Batteries**Magnum Inverters
541-490-6357

[Cannonball]

You can do this yourself. Instructions are available on the ZipDee website. Please be careful. The spring is under a lot of tension.


Cannonball, Deep in the Heart of Texas!

WBCCI #4387, Air #84080

Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums

[Tater]

Let me re-emphasize, the spring is under a lot of tension. I made a rookie mistake and bent an end arm (L shaped on end) and had to straighten it out that night. Short story, took it loose, it beat the ..it out of my hand and I got it straightened out in time to find out my trailer door had locked by itself and I had no spare key (now a funny story for a different time). Watch the spring and follow the Zip Dee instructions.

[silverhilton]

I replaced the spring in my awning last year as it broke one day when we were have breakfast. It shook the entire trailer as it was fully extended at the time it broke.
I don't have the install instructions in front of me right now, but in my case, you tensioned the spring from the slack position , one turn per foot of your awning and in my case seven additional turns.
if I recall my awning is 23/24 ft, so it got 30 turns and works perfectly.
Its like a garage door spring, there is a lot of stored enegry, so you must now what you are doing.
Be safe..