Zip Dee: Why, oh why, doesn't Airstream upgrade?

[greghoro]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

FWIW...the zip tie is to prevent pre-mature arm deployment under adverse road conditions...once was enough.:

For re-usability, try using a Velcro strap. ZipDee reps hands out red ones with their logos. Got mine when they installed optional rear and road side awnings at their factory.



Greg

[AWCHIEF]

Originally Posted by Antique Pedaler

We accomplish the same thing with our Zip Dee sun screen accessory. We bungee it to the ground to provide some give to the awning, should a wind slam into it.

I mentioned that to the ZD rep at the Florida State Rally after he said do not under any circumstances tie the awning down when opened. He rolled his eyes and had nothing else to add, keeping to the party line like a good employee.
I was thanking the same as you. The sun screen room when properly installed seems to really beef up the awning. I have only used my screen room a couple of times because it is such a PITA to put up and take down.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by AWCHIEF

I was thanking the same as you. The sun screen room when properly installed seems to really beef up the awning. I have only used my screen room a couple of times because it is such a PITA to put up and take down.

One of the main things a screen room does is it provides a windbreak to reduce uplift forces on the awning fabric. With the screen walls in place, the wind can still suck the fabric up through a venturi effect, but it's harder for wind to get underneath to blow the fabric up directly.

[AWCHIEF]

Originally Posted by Protagonist

One of the main things a screen room does is it provides a windbreak to reduce uplift forces on the awning fabric. With the screen walls in place, the wind can still suck the fabric up through a venturi effect, but it's harder for wind to get underneath to blow the fabric up directly.

Agree, the sun room is designed to add water to the bottoms to hold it down. No idea how much but I would guess a couple of hundred pounds when full.

[mccrosti]

I have the original 1972 awnings on my Overlander. Other than doing something very stupid - like leaving it deployed in the rain, this thing has worked flawlessly. Back to the issue, I bent the main tube and replaced it myself using the ladder method they describe. It's very important not to wind the rear tension arm too tightly. I remember the formula to be length plus seven equals number of turns. Then be very careful as you are now holding a propellor. Either way, it's doable but not very much fun. All three of my zip dees work fine.


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[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by AWCHIEF

Agree, the sun room is designed to add water to the bottoms to hold it down. No idea how much but I would guess a couple of hundred pounds when full.

about 150 pounds for the 8-foot tubes for each end wall, and about 225 pounds for the 12-foot tube for the long front wall, if you fill them as full as possible. In actual practice the fill ports aren't well located, and you'd be lucky to get half of that weight of water in them.

I bought some of those Zip-Dee tubes for my Fiamma Privacy Room for my Interstate, so I could use the Privacy Room without having to drive stakes— it's hard to drive stakes for a screen room when you're parked on pavement. I eventually got rid of the Privacy Room, though. More trouble than it's worth for a solo traveler, especially if you're trying to take it down in order to take in the awning before a storm hits. Can you say "Chinese Fire Drill"?

[AWCHIEF]

Agree, I actually find it more trouble than it is worth. If the bugs are so bad that bug killer or my electric repellant does not work I go inside. I do have a sun shade that I made and use it all the time. It attaches to the same snaps as the sun room.

[CRH]

Originally Posted by mccrosti

I have the original 1972 awnings on my Overlander. Other than doing something very stupid - like leaving it deployed in the rain,


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You can't use it in the rain?

[AWCHIEF]

Originally Posted by CRH

You can't use it in the rain?

As long as the wind is not blowing too hard I leave mine up in the rain. Love sitting outside when it is raining.

[CRH]

I also leave mine open during showers so I can sit outside. I thought maybe I was doing it wrong....lol

[SteveSueMac]

I love watching a rain storm under the awning. Just gotta remember to angle the awning so rain doesn't puddle up and of course, if it's windy, roll it up and hop in the trailer!

[DavidsonOverlander]

Originally Posted by Lumatic

From my experience where you have to be real careful is in storing the awning placing the rafter arm hook on the storage pins. With all the weight and leverage of the whole awning it is easy to bend the bottom curved end of the main awning arm. As an alternative attach the rafter arm to the storage pin after the awning is rolled up

Thanks for mentioning this! I'll try putting the arms on the pins after the awning is retracted. The last time we used our awning we bent that bottom curved piece on the rear arm. The awning is 40 years old and we've used it a number of times in the 7 years we've had the trailer with no problems prior to this. I'm not sure what we did different this time. I made a new piece and bent it to match the front one. $3 in materials and an excuse to use my milling machine. Not knowing what caused this one to bend, I was worried that if I bought a new one I'd bend that one too.

[1Boyscout]

Originally Posted by robi

Sorry, it was protagonist. I guess I am feeling a little antagonistic after spending more money and time on my zip dee awning:}

I concur with Robi. WATCHED the video 6-7 x. OPENS OK. Closing is a disgusting hassle every time. The back brace is the culprit each time. Tried silicone, I guess
I should have used a lot more.

You would expect a better product considering how much an AS COSTS, ,3 to 4 times more than a JC Eagle.

Have not used it the last 6 weeks on our last trip. Quality is missing!
One of the hooks on the front brace broke at our orientation at the dealer.
I love towing my 2015, handling and gas saving is great.

The Carefree awning on my 2012 SOB, electric, was a pleasure to use with 1 finger.

[mccrosti]

CRH - I don't leave it deployed when it's raining - I am perhaps a tad cautious. Once bitten, etc.


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[khollister]

I have been using Zipdee awnings on 2 different Airstreams over the past 12 years. I'm rather amazed at the intensity of the complaints in this thread - I have had zero issues operating both awnings. It's hard to imagine having so much trouble after watching the various instruction videos.

I have no magic suggestions, I'm just baffled.


Keith
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[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by khollister

It's hard to imagine having so much trouble after watching the various instruction videos.

I'm sure not everyone has seen those instructional videos. The elderly folks I assisted with their Zip-Dee a couple of weeks ago certainly hadn't— and neither had I, until later on this very thread. They've had their Airstream since 2005 when it was brand new, and in all that time, apparently no one ever showed them the right way to do it. They did it the way they figured out for themselves, and that's how they directed me when I helped. It required a stepstool and brute force and was done in the wrong sequence. And they didn't use that rod shown on the videos, though I think they had one and just didn't know what it was for. Or maybe they knew how to use the rod but their hands shook too much to use it effectively.

[AWCHIEF]

I operated my ZD the hard way for the first 6 months I had the trailer. Someone here graciously posted a link to Colonial Patrick's videos. What was pretty much a PITA became very easy and quick operation. Learned a few more tips and tricks from the ZD rep at the Florida State Rally. Biggest, lubricate, lubricate and keep lubricated.

[Caroyl]

Can someone post the link to this helpful instructional video? 😃


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[Hiho Silver]

Originally Posted by Caroyl

Can someone post the link to this helpful instructional video? 😃


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https://www.airstream.com/setup-take-awning/
Here is a different video, which also shows the caravan position for the awning.


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[pmclemore]

Ditto what AWCHIEF said - especially about lubricate. If the parts don't slide, then the spring is strong enough to bend the arm.

Once I realized that (and re-bent the arm to match the front arm angle) I reinstalled and now clean and lubricate with spray silicone regularly.

Pat