My awning tube is bent- question . . .

[Splitrock]

Is this a case of just replacing the bent tube and replacing the fabric? Or is it a case of replacing the whole thing?

Thanks!

[HiHoAgRV]

I straightened the tube on by 34' main awning but it was tough! ZipDee has some instructions for their brand of awning on the website. The say it can be done by supporting the ends and with the bend upward, pull down on the center until its straight. Me and a couple of pals bounced on it and never had any effect. I ended up straping one end down to a car bumper, putting a ladder under the middle and pulling down the free end with a front loader tractor. Don't go crazy and kink it or the show is over...
Much better....

[AIR-Quarius]

A wind storm took our tarp out, so we did some research and some had said that the existing 'C' channel that is attached to the AS was originally used to insert a welp corded tarp- with poles that went with it. So we gladly took ours (arms and all) off and sold it for a little..glad to get rid of the extra weight and are now having one of those made because we saved the original welp cord that inserts in to that channel. Some say that these mechanical additions WERE NOT original to the Airstream til later...is that true? Plus it also gave us ease of access to polishing the wall where those arms were attached.

[Excella CM]

You might unrolling it a ways and then support(a 4x4 maybe) the center with the bend facing downwards then two people can pull downwards on the ends and bend it back straight. Just the opposite of the other method, but might be easier..

[Splitrock]

Originally Posted by Excella CM

You might unrolling it a ways and then support(a 4x4 maybe) the center with the bend facing downwards then two people can pull downwards on the ends and bend it back straight. Just the opposite of the other method, but might be easier..

Both sound like good ideas. I'm glad to hear they maybe can be straightened. Thanks! Gary


`

[Jim Foster]

This question was asked at the ZipDee seminar at the WBCCI International Rally which I attended a couple of days ago.
The ZipDee answer is to unroll the awning to a point where the bend is UP, support the ends of the tube, get on a ladder at the center of the bend and push downward little by little until the tube is straight.

[Splitrock]

Originally Posted by Jim Foster

This question was asked at the ZipDee seminar at the WBCCI International Rally which I attended a couple of days ago.
The ZipDee answer is to unroll the awning to a point where the bend is UP, support the ends of the tube, get on a ladder at the center of the bend and push downward little by little until the tube is straight.

That sounds good. Again the news is . . . "it can be straightened". Thanks,
Gary

[4RXLA]

A Zip-Dee awning with the curved support arms would be perfect for your trailer...but expensive. The awning you have appears to be made for the 60's model Airstreams. If you can salvage the roller, blue striped canvas with the metal fabric protector would be appropriate.

[Kevin245]

Bowing like this usually occurs when rain water is allowed to pond and weighs down the fabric causing the tube to bend or even worse collapse taking the arms with it. . Yours looks like a later model Carefree brand and if it is in good shape otherwise you can save money buy straightening the tube. You could replace the tube but your doesn't appear to bowed all that badly. I'd encourage you to use the methods described by others here and enjoy your Summer camping.


Best of luck,

Kevin

[Splitrock]

Can anybody identify the brand of awning by this picture?



The awning was on this 1976 trailer when I bought it. Everything else I find on this trailer is OEM except some plumbing and an electric converter box.

Thanks for the replies.

Gary

[Kevin245]

I believe...

Originally Posted by Kevin245

...Yours looks like a later model Carefree brand ...

3.5" diameter roll tube...

Originally Posted by Splitrock

Can anybody identify the brand of awning by this picture?



The awning was on this 1976 trailer when I bought it. Everything else I find on this trailer is OEM except some plumbing and an electric converter box.

Thanks for the replies.

Gary

[Minnie's Mate]

Ours is/was bent. I used the aforementioned method with one exception. I unrolled until the bend was down in the middle and placed a ladder under the center of the bend. I left it this way for two or three days and it straightened it most of the way out, but it still has a bend. This used the weight of the awning roller to do the straightening work. I'll have to try it again when I have the time and can leave it that way for a while longer.

[Splitrock]

Originally Posted by Minnie's Mate

Ours is/was bent. I used the aforementioned method with one exception. I unrolled until the bend was down in the middle and placed a ladder under the center of the bend. I left it this way for two or three days and it straightened it most of the way out, but it still has a bend. This used the weight of the awning roller to do the straightening work. I'll have to try it again when I have the time and can leave it that way for a while longer.

Thanks for the reply. I'm "seasoning" this awning bend for a few days. During our last rain I see that several window seals as well as the door seal is leaking, so I'm going to re-seal them all before I move on.

[Splitrock]

I removed the awning hardware today. There is no canvas on the hardware. The fabric was cut off. It's still in the roller. The awning is made by Carefree. I found a sticker on the arm I could read.

The roller has a kink in it at the bend. I'm pretty sure I don't want to invest in new fabric and use this bent roller. The center support is missing. The bracket is above the kitchen window.



The arms seem to be there and working okay with their rusty bolts. Do I order a replacement roller and fabric from Carefree? Or ?

I want to add street side window and rear matching awnings.