Issue with zip dee awning, hold down hook fell off

[waninae39]

on vacation now.
tried to use the awning

looked up and one of the hooks on the as 22fb bambi fell off!!
all that was left was the screw
it always seemed loose even day 1 when we picked it up.

i called zip dee. no help there
it cost $9 for each hook

i called as support, no answer after 30 min on hold
no call back as promised either

our 2017 as 22fb is over 2 years old, thus no support from As
most of the higher end AS have zip dee with wheels to hold the awning down.
the bambi does not have the wheel as AS asked ip dee to shave 30% of the weight

has anyone else had issues with zip dee hook

this is what it looks like, missing hook and only one hook left

[BigSxyWhtGuy]

Sounds like you just need a new hook. It just screws on. If you’re trying to transport, one should be fine and have the other one tied down with string or something.

[wulfraat]

Yeah mine is kinda loose too after 2 years on the road. One of those maintenance items I’ve never made time to get around to. Thanks for the reminder to tighten it!

Kinda hard to complain about it - it’s a screw, sometimes they come loose and fall apart

I would just google and find a place online and buy the part [emoji4] . You could also call inland RV or colonial airstream parts department and they’ll sell you one and stick it in the mail.

Here is one spot that comes up in google:

http://www.nwrvsupply.com/category/116.html

I wouldn’t sweat it. First of many small repairs perhaps [emoji4]

[SilverWind]

Zip Dee ships them with a tube of LocTite. Their tech claims that Airstream does not use the LocTite when installing. I lost two of them on two different trailers before I used LocTite.

[waninae39]

i saw no evidence of loc tite on the threads
maybe that is why it fell off

should i use blue or red loc tite
ie permanent or able to remove in the future

[waninae39]

i saw no evidence of loc tite on the threads
maybe that is why it fell off

should i use blue or red loc tite
ie permanent or able to remove in the future

[SilverWind]

Originally Posted by waninae39

i saw no evidence of loc tite on the threads
maybe that is why it fell off

should i use blue or red loc tite
ie permanent or able to remove in the future

I don't recall which Zip Dee sent with the new hook. Your choice.

[kjbishop2]

They are very poorly installed... there should be some sort of locknut on them. I have to tighten mine every couple of trips and it's a real pain to do. May try Loctite next and see if that helps (there is nothing applied to the threads of mine).

[HankStarr]

We lost the hold down hook on our first AS (16’ Sport) the first week we had it out. Colonial AS sent us a new one. I put it on. No problems after that. I check them from time to time. Use the blue Locktite.

[Baby Zeppelin]

One of ours came loose too. Blue locktite fixed it for awhile, looks like it's time for me to get up on a ladder and redo it.

[Mollysdad]

I always wondered why ZipDee put the hooks so close to the ends. Now I understand, so you can reach the top and bottom to replace the parts with the awning unfurled. Now I just wonder why Zip Dee, in the larger awnings doesn't put the latch in the front rather than the rear? It seems if you're worried about wind damage, start with anchoring the front.

[Mount'n Man]

Ours disappeared sometime in the spring, as was pointed out by a friend who's been running without his for 10 years without incident. Not willing to take that chance, I ordered one through our "local" Zip-Dee service dealer. I'm sure we paid a premium price ($35) for the part, shipping and his phone call to order the part from the parent company, but it's done and we have the replacement in hand. We'll see how long it stays on...

[AzAirstream]

Instead of using a new hook, just install two zip ties on the arms to hold then together in place. Easy to replace/remove and ensures you won't deploy the awning while driving.



I use them even though I have the hook.

[4riveteers]

The aluminum hooky thing is really kind of useless. How Zipper Dee thinks this is a good solution remains a mystery. It flaps around in the wind and is always unlatched when we arrive at our destination . I always use two 1” wide black Velcro straps (Home Depot) on each arm strut. One at the top and one at the bottom of both arms. It’s long enough to get about three wraps around the arms and installs in a minute and I don’t have to worry about it. Been doing it this way for three years now with the same straps.
Velcro! Best invention for keeping things putt! (next to Duct tape)!
4Riveteers👍🏻

[j.pearce4580]

I had this issue with my 25' FC. In the usual check over that I do before/during/after travelling I noticed this, screwed the screw back in with a bit of 'thread-lock' and right-as-rain. Any item being towed will be subject to a much higher level of vibration, it's a fact, and screwed items can and will work themselves loose. I think the term to use in many cases is 'maintenance'.

[UnklJoe]

I, too, have had to tighten a very loose hook screw more than 4 or 5 times. I wouldn't want that to fall and bounce into someone's windshield. The last time, I added some blue loctite (I always carry loctite in my tool bag) and it didn't loosen on the last leg of my trip (about 500 miles). But, I also carry red loctite, and that will be next if it comes loose again!


But I think I'm going to try the hook-and-loop straps, too--sounds like a great idea.

[Mollysdad]

The travel hook is intended to do more than keep the arms against the body.
On a previous RV I learned the awning can unfurl in high winds without the arms coming away from the body. The way it happens is the wind hits the side of the coach and gets up under the cover. After that it's the spring holding it closed. Mine even had a latch (Carefree), but it meant nothing when the wind took it. I was driving I-70 through western Kansas, clear day. Zoop! I looked in the mirror and saw the awning unrolled blowing up and down in the wind. The arms never deployed. I had a giant sail sticking out. I was lucky, I was a mile from a WalMart and got it re-rolled. I saw many RV's arriving with the awnings cut off.

I know the Bambi is small but I'm surprised it doesn't have more than a couple travel latches holding it closed.

BTW, Zip Dee is usually good to work with. They're happy to send you parts, and not too expensive. You'll either speak to Mr. Rodgers or Nurse Ratchet.

The hook only is parts diagram 7A and item number 210420

[TBRich]

We lost a hook on our street side awning. Ordered a replacement for a small price... they never get really "tight"... I make sure it's OK before each trip. Using locket would help...and would save me time!

When ordering make sure you tell them which awning the hook is for and the model of your rig. Hooks are differet for curb side vs street side awnings.

We have only one hook on the curb side, but our rig has the roller locks to hold it down.

[Backfortyjoe]

I have heard of a few horror stories of awnings opening up while driving down the road with lots of damage. I use Velcro to wrap around both bars when not in use. The kind that sticks to itself. Might save a bit of agony someday!

[MomcatA]

Originally Posted by 4riveteers

The aluminum hooky thing is really kind of useless. How Zipper Dee thinks this is a good solution remains a mystery. It flaps around in the wind and is always unlatched when we arrive at our destination . I always use two 1” wide black Velcro straps (Home Depot) on each arm strut. One at the top and one at the bottom of both arms. It’s long enough to get about three wraps around the arms and installs in a minute and I don’t have to worry about it. Been doing it this way for three years now with the same straps.

Velcro! Best invention for keeping things putt! (next to Duct tape)!

4Riveteers[emoji1303]

We use Velcro, too. Also wrap it around the umbilical where we plug into the truck just to keep the connection stable.