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04-25-2017, 08:11 AM
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#1
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Rivet Master
1955 22' Safari
Laredo
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,342
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Center rafter for Zip Dee
Just bit the bullet and purchased a Zip Dee patio awning for my 67 Overlander. Best price was through Inland and they had it drop shipped here for a reasonable price. Awning rail is 16 feet long. Zip Dee included a "center rafter" in the package. Most folks I talked to said these are not necessary for awnings shorter than 20 feet. I did not install it, in part because I did not want more holes in my trailer. Anyone have a similar awning with or without center rafter? Assuming I do not use it, what is it worth to someone else?
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04-25-2017, 09:45 AM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2014 27' FB Eddie Bauer
Chelsea
, Michigan
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,792
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I've never seen the center rail used on an Airstream trailer that was under 30 feet in length. Our 27 FB has what I believe to be a 18 or 20 foot awning and no center rail and never felt the need for it. I'd skip it on a 16 foot awning for sure.
__________________
Bob Martel
WBCCI# 5766
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04-25-2017, 09:49 AM
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#3
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Rivet Master
1955 22' Safari
Laredo
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,342
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Thanks
Your advice is line with others. Wish they would have deleted the part and reduced the exorbitant price accordingly:-).
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04-25-2017, 10:44 AM
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#4
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4 Rivet Member
2005 30' Safari
Montgomery
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 385
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I'm drowning in renovation invoices over here, but I'm interested. Our door drags the awning on the our 30' Safari. I'll look closer and PM you.
Dave
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04-25-2017, 10:46 AM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1955 22' Safari
Laredo
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,342
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Ok
Are you attending the Texas Vintage Rally this weekend?
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04-25-2017, 10:56 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1995 25' Excella
xxxxx
, xxxxxx
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 2,349
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My 25 ft trailer with an 18 ft awning has a center rafter. It works great to push the awning taut.... I honesty didn't realize most other trailers don't have one until I read this thread and looked at some pics.
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04-25-2017, 11:17 AM
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#7
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2 Rivet Member
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
Matthews
, North Carolina
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 43
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I had the center arm installed on my 25' FC for added strength and support.
When it rains for any length of time, the awning will tend to retain water and bow to a certain degree, especially when the fabric gets damp. When the center rafter is employed, the awning's center is supported and the rain water drains quickly.
FWIW
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04-25-2017, 11:25 AM
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#8
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4 Rivet Member
2000 30' Excella
Toledo
, Ohio
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 493
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I was told by Zip Dee it is only used for to keep the door from rubbing on the awning . Not for support when it is raining take the awning down . I have one on ours and never use it .
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04-25-2017, 11:29 AM
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#9
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4 Rivet Member
2005 30' Safari
Montgomery
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 385
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Ughhh.. I'm not attending the Texas Vintage Rally. Our bunkhouse is still at Bob Jones RV...you know, dropped it off on January 11th--the day we all met up for lunch downtown. That's a story for another time, though. Awesome bunch of people who do great work, but I was totally unprepared for a 5-month stint in the shop.
I should've asked-- is yours the curved awning rail style or angular? Not sure if the center bracket is different.
Dave
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04-25-2017, 11:49 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1955 22' Safari
Laredo
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,342
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Bummer
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveMc
Ughhh.. I'm not attending the Texas Vintage Rally. Our bunkhouse is still at Bob Jones RV...you know, dropped it off on January 11th--the day we all met up for lunch downtown. That's a story for another time, though. Awesome bunch of people who do great work, but I was totally unprepared for a 5-month stint in the shop.
I should've asked-- is yours the curved awning rail style or angular? Not sure if the center bracket is different.
Dave
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Wow. I thought having mine at PPL for three weeks was irritating. My awning has curved rails. Not sure it affects center rafter though...
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04-25-2017, 05:45 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2015 25' Flying Cloud
2016 30' Flying Cloud
Blenheim Ontario
, Ontario
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,263
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveMc
I'm drowning in renovation invoices over here, but I'm interested. Our door drags the awning on the our 30' Safari. I'll look closer and PM you.
Dave
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If your door drags the awning, ZIP-DEE has a little wheel arrangement that screws onto the door to let the awning ride over it. It works pretty well.
Just make sure that the wheel does turn, by spreading the mounting arms out a little.
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04-25-2017, 05:51 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2015 25' Flying Cloud
2016 30' Flying Cloud
Blenheim Ontario
, Ontario
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,263
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Quote:
Originally Posted by daboose
I had the center arm installed on my 25' FC for added strength and support.
When it rains for any length of time, the awning will tend to retain water and bow to a certain degree, especially when the fabric gets damp. When the center rafter is employed, the awning's center is supported and the rain water drains quickly.
FWIW
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Your Awning".....retains water and bows...."?
It's ancient practice to have one end of the awning, (usually the aft end) lower than the other side to allow water to drain away, and prevent bowing and stretching of the fabric. (For boon dockers, this is a good way to collect rain water.)
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04-26-2017, 02:09 AM
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#13
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2 Rivet Member
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
Matthews
, North Carolina
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 43
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"Your Awning".....retains water and bows...."?"
Yes it does and it's like I said, "to a certain degree."
Yep, I use the "ancient practice" with & without the center rafter and still find the rafter to be supportive. Glad you brought that up.
Thanks.
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04-26-2017, 05:39 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
2008 25' Classic
Full Time
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,309
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I have the center rafter and don't find it useful on my Classic 25fb. When deployed it has a nasty habit of coming out if I extend either end one more hole and slams back on the side of the trailer. There are a couple of dings there. If you install it put a section of pool noodle on the rafter where it can hit the side of the trailer.
Kelvin
__________________
2008 Classic 25fb "Silver Mistress"
2015 Ram 2500 6.7L Cummins. Crew Cab, 4x4, Silver
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04-26-2017, 07:12 AM
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#15
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Rivet Master
2012 23' FB International
Woodstock
, Ontario
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,423
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My '89 25ft Excella had a center rafter...My '96 25 Excella does not. As KJRitchie says it had a nasty habit of dropping out if not tightly extended int the roller
And yes if the slope from end to end isn't quite sufficient there is "some" pooling. It gets worse as the stitching shrinks and tightens the seams.
JCW
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04-26-2017, 07:46 AM
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#16
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Moderator
2004 30' Classic Slideout
Fenton
, Missouri
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 10,401
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I have one on my 30' Classic and use it. The key is to be sure the center arm is the last arm to be extended and the first to be retracted. If you don't do it this way on extending the awing, the center arm will fall out as the side arms are extended. That falling arm is really a hazard with it's spike end. I sliced my wife's canvas chair as that arm fell out of the roller. If I raise the awning higher than it's original set position, I'll get my two step ladder out and snug it up just to make sure it is tight in the roller. Raising the awing higher after deployment tends to increase the distance between the arm and roller thus causing it to fall out in some cases.
If the side arms are retracted first, the center arm will continue to hold the awning out and cause its own level of grief.
It is however, an important part of the big awning support and takes some pressure off those outer arms when the wind blows. It's there for a reason.
Jack
__________________
Jack Canavera
STL Mo.
AIR #56 S/OS#15
'04 Classic 30' S.O.,'03 GMC Savana 2500
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04-26-2017, 10:59 AM
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#17
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4 Rivet Member
2005 30' Safari
Montgomery
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 385
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I'm going to hold off on the center arm support. Did the math last night on my reno costs and I'm down to essentials only. Hope you find someone at the vintage rally who needs one!!!
Dave
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