Care Free awnings?

[guadalupegrl]

I have found a 20ft used Care Free awning for my 26 ft trailer. Does anyone have any info about the quality of this brand and if a 20ft awning will work on my 26ft overlander? Thanks in advance for any knowledge and advice!

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by guadalupegrl

I have found a 20ft used Care Free awning for my 26 ft trailer. Does anyone have any info about the quality of this brand and if a 20ft awning will work on my 26ft overlander? Thanks in advance for any knowledge and advice!

Carefree fabric is only good for 5 years.

A 26 foot Airstream can only use a 16 foot long awning, at maximum.

A 20 foot awning would have to be cut down.

Andy

[U3270]

Hi Andy,
I thought I'd tag along with this thread.

I have a carefree awning that needs work. It came with my trailer and I'm unsure what exactly is wrong. Would it be better to repair or replace the awning? The previous owner said the material torn but everything else worked properly. I'm unsure how to proceed.

[wahoonc]

I have a CareFree awning on my 1975, you can buy some parts for it, the arms are not available any more. If I were looking to purchase an awning for an Airstream I would do everything in my power to get a ZipDee, they are the best awning for an Airstream and still provide parts and service for the old ones.

I am not sure where Andy get's his 5 year on the fabric from... maybe that is 5 years of constant exposure? Mine are much older than that and the fabric is still viable. It is about due for replacement, but the awnings have been in use for over 15 years.

FWIW I have a ZipDee on my 1981.

Aaron

[U3270]

Thank Aaron. Do you know how much a ZipDee runs for a 24' Argosy? Can anyone give a guesstimating on what it would run to repair a CareFree and replace the canvas with all the parts intact?

[tkasten]

You can give Zip Dee a call and they will tell you the price for your trailer.
800-338-2378

[Melody Ranch]

Look, you own the Care Free already. Any good awning/tarp shop will make you a perfect replacement fabric. You can buy Sunbrella at discounts on Ebay any day. Pick you own colors. I had mine done for a 16 footer for a little over 200 dollars. I also bought any needed replacement parts on Ebay as well. When thats all done, take it to an RV shop and have them install it all. You can be hurt with the spring tension if your not familiar with it. That should be one hour labor at the most. Later on, when your ready, a Zip Dee installed will be about 2000.

[U3270]

Just got off the phone with Zip Dee. It will cost $2000 for a new awning : ( I really hope fixing the CareFree is doable

[U3270]

A new ZipDee awning for a 24' Argosy will cost $2000 delivered. :/ Anyone happen to know the cost to replace awning canvas?

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by U3270

A new ZipDee awning for a 24' Argosy will cost $2000 delivered. :/ Anyone happen to know the cost to replace awning canvas?

Bigger awning but IIRC ~$500 or so for the material on a CareFree on an old Coachman we used to have. The fabric is pretty generic. The main parts that are Airstream specific are the arms, the roller, fabric and latches are the pretty much the same across the CareFree line.

Aaron

[Taylormade]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

Carefree fabric is only good for 5 years.

A 26 foot Airstream can only use a 16 foot long awning, at maximum.

A 20 foot awning would have to be cut down.

Andy

Spoken like a true awning salesman.

Check out this thread I had on mine. I bought new springs and found a used awning fabric from a local RV parts supplier and was all fixed for under $350 total.

Cutting the tube is a rather simple process with either a hacksaw if you have the time/energy or a mitre saw if you have a high tooth blade.

While I understand that Zip Dee is the gold standard, I really enjoy the curved arms of the Carefree and it's done remarkably well for me. I just can't participate in the Zip Dee rallys.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by U3270

Hi Andy,
I thought I'd tag along with this thread.

I have a carefree awning that needs work. It came with my trailer and I'm unsure what exactly is wrong. Would it be better to repair or replace the awning? The previous owner said the material torn but everything else worked properly. I'm unsure how to proceed.

The old story is always pay now or pay later.

Carefree many years ago was a first class company and awning.

Then Carefree was sold and moved to Colorado.

There awning arms would not properly fit an Airstream, because "THEY" said that Airstream always puts the awning rails in the wrong place.

Ever since then, their reputation seems to have not flourished very well.

I would suggest that you replace the entire awning and end the worries.

As others have stated, you cannot beat a Zip Dee.

Andy

Andy