Zip Dee Awning now works as it should

[Silverscream]

I picked up a used 84 excella a few years back and have had a horrible time setting the awning (two person job). After reading some postings on this forum, I called Zip Dee and they gave me great customer service and instructions. this weekend I cleaned and straightened my arms and now the awning opens easily with one person. What a pleasure.
Thanks to all.

[dano]

Silverscream
I feel your pain every time I try to put up the Zip Dee Awning on my 1987 Sovereign. Mine is a two person job, plus a boy!! Just out of curiosity what modifications did you make?

[Silverscream]

This is what they told me.
1. take an arm off the airstream by unbolting the bottom bracket and unbolt from the awning. (I had 1/2 bolts/nuts)
2. remove the male arm from the female arm.
3. with a green scrubby, clean the male arm of residue.
4. with hot water, clean the inside of the female arm (I just poured hot water down the tube). Dry (I used compressed air)
5. Make sure the male arm is straight. You can use the trailer ball/hitch to bend the arm back to straight. This took a while. It should be straight. Try it carefully in the female tube and see where it binds. It took a few trys to bend it straight since it was bowed abit.
6. Clean the male arm with alcohol.
7. Spray with silicone. Don't use WD 40.
8. reassemble and put on trailer.
9. Repeat with other arm.

I would recommend talking to Zip Dee, the person on the phone was nice and helpful. I wish you the best, it really worked for me. It is now an easy one man job. Let me know if you need anything else.

[aftermath]

I found some interesting how to videos posted on YouTube. Go to their site and search for Zip Dee and you should find them. One shows how to straighten the arms.

[76sovereign]

Great advise....Our AS awning is a 2 man job also....