Zip Dee Powered Awning

[Mike0392]

Ok, I’m getting tired of these problems. Took delivery of a 2019 Classic 33 5 weeks ago and have had several problems. Ok Airstream technician called and walked me through resetting the powered shades. All good!
Tonight the powered awning will not retract, are sqtick in the open position! Are you kidding me? I maybe used it 10 times in the 5 weeks I’ve owned this Airstream. Of course Zip Dee isn’t open.
Who do I call? Airstream as the control panel is airstream or zip dee???

Anyone else have this problem and can you help me get this awning retracted?

Angry

[GMFL]

There is a way to manually retract it. That would get you out of the jam.
Now as far as who to call.... Airstream is your point person.
There have been problems reported with this system. Airstream will be able to help

[Mike0392]

Found a google post of someone with the same trouble. Followed the instructions they got from zip dee and (drum roll please) it retracted!!!! YAY. Lubricated the arms with silicone spray and gave it a little help to get started and there we are. Obviously the awning doesn’t like dust or dirt.

All good now so call off the dogs.

[GMFL]

That’s great news! Glad you fixed it and now have a tip to pass along to others.

[Omnial]

It's disappointing that there are problems with these awnings. I had an issue with mine as well.

There is a way to manually retract the awning, however. Check out the Zip-Dee manual that came with the trailer for details. Following the instructions you are able to retract the extension arms as well as roll the fabric up. Both scenarios requires the use of a power drill to spin the gears. You will have also received a bag with a power cable that lets you connect the Zip-Dee motor directly to your battery, a flexible 'drill bit' that lets you connect your power drill to the bottom of the extension arm gears, and a 7 mm Hex bar to drive the roller gear.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that everyone with a Zip-Dee power awning locate the kit and instructions and practice retracting the awning IN ADVANCE of having to do so in a failure situation.

[Davidwantz]

We routinely need to utter a prayer and cross our fingers, turn to the west three times, and jump on one foot to get the awning to retract.

After the voodoo, I have found the next most effective thing is to toggle the open/ close switch. If you are closing and it stops, try to open it again a bit and then close it. That sometimes will take it past the limiter into full closure.

It takes a moment or two for the board to reset and it may blink at you. Just know that the reset is a process (30 seconds or so) and try it again.

I also had the factory install a kill switch because in my year (2016) they had difficulties with the awning opening as folks drove down the road.

Dave

[Lucy Goosy]

In the fancy brief case AS puts all the trailer info in you should find the info on the awning. It gives you a phone number to call for help.
Good luck

[Kevinshortnh]

You might want to call ZipDee to ask about software updates. It is a complex system. When we have had ours get stuck, we would have success after trying to extend and retract one or two times.

[PCJ]

I'm guessing you received (we did in our 2018) a hex type key and you can retract it manual

[cazual6]

As much as I wanted it a power awning when I ordered mine, I went with Manual. Only because this is version 1.0. Waiting until all the bugs are worked out on 2.0 then I'll upgrade.

[denora]

had to jumper the on/off switch to get my 2018 International to work , Bad switch sure it was Chinese.