Awning Size for Trailer Length

[bvcg1]

I've almost completed restoration of my 1971 23' Safari. When I purchased the trailer the owner included the (detached) awning and hardware. During the past 5 months of restoration I have really never looked at the awning and hardware, but now that it is time to put the finishing touches on the Safari I need some advice.

The awning is a Dometic A&E 8500, 11 foot width in need of a new (cloth? canvas?) $300, and the hardware brackets need new parts totaling about $200.00. The rails are functional but are pretty scratched up and in need of a professional paint job from an automotive body/ paint shop (I know from experience that silver metallic spray painting from a can never looks like I want it to), and I estimate it would cost $100 - $150. I figure the total to get this awning operable and looking good to be about $600 - $700, vs. the cost of a new awning at around $1,300.00

My dilemma is the size of this awning. My Safari is a 23 footer with a 13 foot awning rail. Is the 11 foot awning I have undersized for my trailer? Will my fellow Airstreamers point, laugh, or snicker because the awning is undersized? What is the correct size awning for my trailer? What would y'all do?

[AWCHIEF]

The awning on my 23 is right at 13 foot.

[TheHandyDan]

"Hey, look at that man with his puny awning!!!"

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by bvcg1

I've almost completed restoration of my 1971 23' Safari. When I purchased the trailer the owner included the (detached) awning and hardware. During the past 5 months of restoration I have really never looked at the awning and hardware, but now that it is time to put the finishing touches on the Safari I need some advice.

The awning is a Dometic A&E 8500, 11 foot width in need of a new (cloth? canvas?) $300, and the hardware brackets need new parts totaling about $200.00. The rails are functional but are pretty scratched up and in need of a professional paint job from an automotive body/ paint shop (I know from experience that silver metallic spray painting from a can never looks like I want it to), and I estimate it would cost $100 - $150. I figure the total to get this awning operable and looking good to be about $600 - $700, vs. the cost of a new awning at around $1,300.00

My dilemma is the size of this awning. My Safari is a 23 footer with a 13 foot awning rail. Is the 11 foot awning I have undersized for my trailer? Will my fellow Airstreamers point, laugh, or snicker because the awning is undersized? What is the correct size awning for my trailer? What would y'all do?

The correct size, if it was for a Zip Dee is, 12 feet 11 1/4 inches.

Andy

[bvcg1]

Thank you sir

[HiJoeSilver]

Call zip dee and talk to them when I have they've been very helpful. You want the mounting points going into or on top of or right next to ribs. So you'll want to measure where you can get the mounts. Especially bottom mounts. I think your water heater will limit your length as it has mine because of bottom space to put the bottom aft mounting bracket.

[paddle whisp]

Your timing is perfect. I'm almost to the awning point too.
Would weather keep me from traveling to zip Dee?