Thoughts on ordering the extra Awning pkg

[bernermom]

Does anyone have the additional awning pkg on their trailer, and if so can you tell me if you are happy with it.

I did not order it, but I do not think it is not too late for me to add it on.

My plus and minus...
I live in a damp area, and the awning on my current trailer gets moldy very fast.

In the wind, do you have to worry like you do with the big awning. I never leave mine up on my current trailer when I am not there, because we lost one to heavy wind once.

On the plus side, if they do keep the love grotto cooler, that would be great, as I (and my dogs) do not like the heat.

Diane

[CanoeStream]

Hi Diane -- cosmotini has them on his '08 28' International FB. I know his roadside awning installs above the vista view windows. Leaving them out in the wind? The wind we had yesterday would certainly have ruined even these lower profile awnings.

[millvalleyca]

Hi Diane
We had the 25'SS and it came with the awing package. (additional driver side and rear) The top of the "driver side awning" got very dirty. It's not the same awning as the "door side". It doesn't have the metal cover like the larger roll out awning....just fabric at the top. We only had the trailer for 5 months (not sure how long it was on the dealer's lot) and already it was a maintenance problem.
When we traded her in for a 27'FB we did not order the extra awnings.

[warbler5]

Hi Diane,

We would not have ordered the additional awning package, but we use it at least as much as the large, main awning. The nice thing is that you don't have to worry about the wind like you do with the large awning. If there is a big wind coming in the late afternoon, we sometimes fold the smaller awnings up once the sun goes down....otherwise, we leave them open even at night. The main use ours get is when we are camping in the desert....no shade and warm daytime temps....and, the awnings keep the sun off those big, glass windows, where most of the heat seems to radiate from.

Cheers

[warbler5]

Originally Posted by millvalleyca

The top of the "driver side awning" got very dirty. It's not the same awning as the "door side". It doesn't have the metal cover like the larger roll out awning....just fabric at the top.

Interesting....on our 2004 Classic, ALL of the awnings have the metal cover!

[2airishuman]

hi diane

YES YES YES more awnings!

shade, temp control, open windows in rain and so on...

the fabric doesn't mold/mildew.

dirt, pollen, organic matter ON the awning does...

looks like we have one entire subform just 4 awnings but here are good pics and user experience...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f442...ngs-20245.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f48/...5-a-18847.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f358...ide-23835.html

also a "wind tolerance" report...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f161...ted-17997.html

Originally Posted by millvalleyca

... It's not the same awning as the "door side". It doesn't have the metal cover like the larger roll out awning....just fabric at the top....

millva'..

this reads like a defective/incomplete awning (dealer install?)

while the smaller awnings don't have as many metal sections,

that's just because it takes fewer to cover the thinner roll...

i've not seen ANY zipdee without the metal sections...

unless user modified.

check the pics in the threads above, or just ENLARGE this pic in a new window.

cheers
2air'

[RIstream'n]

Get all of the awnings that you can!!!

[Minnie's Mate]

We had the dealer install the road side and rear awning on our Airstream. We really like them. Like 2Air said, they have the metal sections that encapsulate them when retracted. They are easy to deploy. Just pull the center strap and hook the loop on the road side to the hook on the trailer wall and the rear one has two legs to hold it away from the end wall of the trailer. They make a big difference in the temperature of the trailer and also ad to the privacy if you are parked next to an SOB or motor home (both usually tower above an Airstream trailer).

I would highly recommend them if your budget allows. Ours added $1,700 for both but that may have been co-mingled with the dealer's mark up on the price of the Airstream.

[pmclemore]

Yes! - not only are they functional and much less susceptible to winds, they are dressy as heck.

Get 'em all.

Pat

[millvalleyca]

Hey 2air'
It was a dealer install.....the top channel was a soft "mesh" material..... moisture and dirt got embeded. I tried cleaning it with a brush but it still looked dirty. We only had it for 5 months....that's why we didn't get it on our new unit. Maybe I should look into it and have it installed now....we did love all of the awnings! Practical but more importantly....they look great!

[richinny]

awnings? we vote YES! i wish we had them on the ends too.

[Foiled Again]

I can't tell you how often I've pulled into an RV Park and been assigned a space where the big awning is on the north side of the rig. Uh d'oh!

Shade is most effective on the south side where the sun glares in all day, so sometimes the small awnings on the road side DO more depending on the direction the trailer is facing.

Paula

[bernermom]

Thanks so much for all the advice. I am thinking I should go for the awnings.

I spoke to the dealer, and even though it is not schedule to begin production until 11/12, he thinks it is too late to add them. He can add them for me at the dealership. Not sure if that is a good idea, but this is a very large AS dealer so I guess he knows what he is doing.

[craftsman]

Get the awning package and don't let the dealer tell you it's to late to add them. I had add on's a week before mine was built.

[RIstream'n]

Me too

[jcanavera]

Your dealer should be able to add on the awning. I added the long streetside awning on my '01 Safari. Cost wise it was a wash to add one big one or two smaller ones. We chose the big awning since it would add more shade to the trailer, even though no windows are in that middle area. More shade means less A/C load (I already considered that the 13.5K unit on my 27' Safari was marginal), and less heat penetration up into the fridge compartment.

Yes it is a smaller awning and nothing as large as the curb side patio awning. It obviously could be left out in higher winds than the curb side awning. Mine still had the aluminum cover at the end that protects the awning when rolled up.

My advice is to add the awning. Sure the preference would be at the factory but again the dealer should be able to do it if necessary.

[bernermom]

Craftsman and Jack, thanks for the boost, I called the dealer back and said order the awnings! I could tell by his response that he was hesitating because he said he never orders Safari's with the awnings, only on the classics. He said there is no market around here at that price point for the awnings. (I also added the generator prep remote). I did not back down, and he agreed to call the factory.

He just called me back and they are ordered. I am starting to like this dealer a bit more now!

Thanks
Diane

[RIstream'n]

Right on Diane good job!!!

[SilverGate]

Yes More Awnings! I agree with 2air’ and others on this.
Ours get a lot of wonderful use here in Southern California.

And glad you insisted that the factory install them as part of your order…
Greater chance that they will be installed perfectly without acquiring new dents & scratches!

We’re very happy with our full awning package (see photo below).
The street side awning does not obstruct the Vista View Window.

In my opinion, it is so much nicer to have all options installed by the factory if possible.
Everything seems to fit & work better and becomes an integral part of the trailer.

And while there’s still time to add on to your order…
You might want to check out my factory order.
I am pleased with and use everything that I ordered:

A 2007 23’ Safari SE LS factory-order with 2 Solar Panels
2 Glassmatt batteries, 600-watt inverter, Wireless speaker
Full awning pkg. (3 sides) & L-Lounge with rolling dinette table
2 Fantastic Fans… 1 with reversible switch installed by dealer.
Midnight Sun interior with Graphite counter tops
Audio/Video Package with 19" Sony WEGA LCD

More details at:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f396/silvergates-safari-home-last-29471.html

You will not regret ordering a second Fantastic Fan installed by the factory.
And when it arrives the dealer can install a free reversible switch…
Obtained from the Fantastic Fan Company.

Congratulations on your order!

SilverGate

[craftsman]

Silver Gate... now that's a good looking Airstream!