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04-17-2017, 03:52 PM
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#1
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3 Rivet Member
1991 34' Excella
Boerne
, Texas
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 119
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Awning Tube Replacement Source
The Zip Dee awning is a 3" tube of 18 gauge galvanized steel on my AS. Mine is bent and creased near the center so it is unrecoverable. My local metal shop has 24ft lengths of 14 gauge tubing for $45! I need to check them out. The 14 gauge will be heavier by 0.7 lbs/ft not to mention getting the hardware to fit the inside diameter. I'm not sure if this could be a possible substitute? Has anyone tried this change.
__________________
James B.
1991 34' excella 1000, bought 05/10, oak floors, granite countertops, Marble bathroom counter and floor, 2 A/C's, 2005 Hensley. 1600 Watts Solar/ 400Ah Lithium batteries
Tow With: 2006 Dodge 2500 Quad LB 2WD, 5.9 Cummins, Edge Insight CTS, Smarty Jr, Bilstein Shocks, Ingalls balljoints.
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04-17-2017, 05:00 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1976 31' Sovereign
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,017
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Quote:
Originally Posted by texascanuk
The Zip Dee awning is a 3" tube of 18 gauge galvanized steel on my AS. Mine is bent and creased near the center so it is unrecoverable. My local metal shop has 24ft lengths of 14 gauge tubing for $45! I need to check them out. The 14 gauge will be heavier by 0.7 lbs/ft not to mention getting the hardware to fit the inside diameter. I'm not sure if this could be a possible substitute? Has anyone tried this change.
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I don't think weight would be factor. I would not do if hardware does not fit inside. Zip-dee sells all parts for replacement.
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04-18-2017, 03:54 AM
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#3
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3 Rivet Member
1991 34' Excella
Boerne
, Texas
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 119
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It will add about 14 lbs to it but it will be stronger. Price is the big kicker. $45 vs $700 just for the tube from Zip Dee.
__________________
James B.
1991 34' excella 1000, bought 05/10, oak floors, granite countertops, Marble bathroom counter and floor, 2 A/C's, 2005 Hensley. 1600 Watts Solar/ 400Ah Lithium batteries
Tow With: 2006 Dodge 2500 Quad LB 2WD, 5.9 Cummins, Edge Insight CTS, Smarty Jr, Bilstein Shocks, Ingalls balljoints.
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05-23-2017, 05:31 AM
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#4
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New Member
1994 30' Excella
Shelby
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by texascanuk
It will add about 14 lbs to it but it will be stronger. Price is the big kicker. $45 vs $700 just for the tube from Zip Dee.
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Did the metal shop 3" replacement "pipe" work with the slight thickness difference. Mine collapsed in the middle during a 3 inch monsoon downpour yesterday. I thought since it was only out a few feet I could leave it slopped and..... Well, if my IQ was three points lower I would have been a tomato.
So, Will the pipe be a fix or go to Zipdee??
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05-28-2017, 04:57 AM
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#5
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New Member
1994 30' Excella
Shelby
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 4
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Here is the fix I am using. Went to local muffler shop and had a 2 foot section of 14ga muffler pipe welded in the collapsed area. Feels strong, not much added weight, and I rust proofed the weld seems and new metal in splice.
$60 is cost right now. Installing it tomorrow.
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05-29-2017, 04:58 AM
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#6
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3 Rivet Member
1991 34' Excella
Boerne
, Texas
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 119
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I was thinking of going that direction too. The local auto parts store has 10ft sections of 3 inch OD exhaust tubing for 50 bucks. I was going to weld them together to get the length I needed. Trouble is, the muffler shops wouldn't weld them for me because of the risk of getting the final product nice n straight. I guess I could throw a 10 ft piece in the center of the total length. That would give it more strength too.
What did you rust proof the tubing and welds with? O'reilley's autoparts sells an aluminized tubing. I expect that is a coating as a protectant from exhaust acids etc and should, in itself, be rust inhibiting.
__________________
James B.
1991 34' excella 1000, bought 05/10, oak floors, granite countertops, Marble bathroom counter and floor, 2 A/C's, 2005 Hensley. 1600 Watts Solar/ 400Ah Lithium batteries
Tow With: 2006 Dodge 2500 Quad LB 2WD, 5.9 Cummins, Edge Insight CTS, Smarty Jr, Bilstein Shocks, Ingalls balljoints.
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05-29-2017, 05:16 AM
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#7
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New Member
1994 30' Excella
Shelby
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 4
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Rust proofed with some Krylon rust preventing paint my wife had for a steel swing on the patio of our home. It still will have exposure on the inside of the pipe but the splice itself is aluminized metal so those weld seams on the inside is the "time" exposure most critical.
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05-29-2017, 05:19 AM
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#8
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New Member
1994 30' Excella
Shelby
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 4
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06-09-2017, 06:00 AM
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#9
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2 Rivet Member
1972 27' Overlander
1971 31' Sovereign
Orlando
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 97
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I've considered this option as well. In reality, our Sip Dee tubes are really just long fence posts...
__________________
The Shifty Drifter.
2018: 7500 miles: FL to Co
2019: 7500 miles: FL to Co
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06-12-2017, 04:17 AM
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#10
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3 Rivet Member
1991 34' Excella
Boerne
, Texas
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 119
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I just replaced the entire length of awning with a 3" exhaust tubing. Turned out great but it wouldn't wind up. I had to give it 12 extra turns of tension on the spring to get it to pull itself. Weight of the 14G exhaust tubing setup is 62 lbs vs the 18G original tubing at 34 lbs. I'll try this for a while and see if I recommend just removing the buckled portion and adding a section of heavier tubing in it's place.
__________________
James B.
1991 34' excella 1000, bought 05/10, oak floors, granite countertops, Marble bathroom counter and floor, 2 A/C's, 2005 Hensley. 1600 Watts Solar/ 400Ah Lithium batteries
Tow With: 2006 Dodge 2500 Quad LB 2WD, 5.9 Cummins, Edge Insight CTS, Smarty Jr, Bilstein Shocks, Ingalls balljoints.
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06-12-2017, 04:26 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1972 27' Overlander
Denver
, North Carolina
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 768
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I ordered one from zip Dee when mine was bent due to a bonehead maneuver on my part. Replaced it myself , I had to get real creative to do that job. But now and very careful about how, when and where I deploy my awning.
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Lucky Dave, Denver NC
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06-06-2019, 08:45 PM
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#12
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3 Rivet Member
1991 34' Excella
Boerne
, Texas
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 119
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I had problems with the weight of the exhaust tube and it wouldn't roll up very well. I replaced bent section in the original tube and reinstalled it. Happier with the roll up now, although it took extra tension to make it work.
__________________
James B.
1991 34' excella 1000, bought 05/10, oak floors, granite countertops, Marble bathroom counter and floor, 2 A/C's, 2005 Hensley. 1600 Watts Solar/ 400Ah Lithium batteries
Tow With: 2006 Dodge 2500 Quad LB 2WD, 5.9 Cummins, Edge Insight CTS, Smarty Jr, Bilstein Shocks, Ingalls balljoints.
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10-17-2021, 05:49 AM
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#13
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4 Rivet Member
1979 31' Excella 500
Charlevoix
, Michigan
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 350
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How have the repairs held-up?
To those who tried to repair your awning roller tubes, curious how your modifications / repairs have held-up over the years... anyone have an update on how their awning rollers are doing today?
I'm in the same boat, looking for a cost effective repair option.
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10-17-2021, 06:13 AM
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#14
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4 Rivet Member
1989 29' Excella
1979 31' Sovereign
1999 25' Safari
Youngsville
, North Carolina
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 345
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ZipDee awning Tube
Texascanuk,
Are you sure that tube is Steel? all the zipdees I have had were Aluminum. I would call ZipDee they are great with customer service. Hope all works out for you.
Steve
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10-18-2021, 09:40 AM
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#15
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3 Rivet Member
1991 34' Excella
Boerne
, Texas
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 119
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Yes, the tube on the '91 was galvanized steel. It looked original but when I bought it in 2010 it may have been replaced by the previous owners but I don't know.
The replacement of the bent section with just a short tube has been working well. Rolls up nice and is sturdy. I don't take it out a whole lot because conditions have to be just right, but whenever I have it worked nice.
__________________
James B.
1991 34' excella 1000, bought 05/10, oak floors, granite countertops, Marble bathroom counter and floor, 2 A/C's, 2005 Hensley. 1600 Watts Solar/ 400Ah Lithium batteries
Tow With: 2006 Dodge 2500 Quad LB 2WD, 5.9 Cummins, Edge Insight CTS, Smarty Jr, Bilstein Shocks, Ingalls balljoints.
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