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07-15-2024, 03:44 PM
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#21
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Rivet Master 
2015 30' International
FREDERICK
, Maryland
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 564
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Our 2015 International came with the power awning. We had it fail the first year under warranty after just a couple of uses. The control board and motor was swapped out and it has worked great since then.
Though if I were to order another Airstream I would order with a manual awning, only because of the stories that I hear and I prefer things simple and manual.
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07-15-2024, 04:39 PM
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#22
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Site Team

1994 25' Excella
Waukesha
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 6,365
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We've never had an electric awning, so nothing to compare our manual awning to.
But, I like the simplicity and lack of things to go wrong. I also like the longevity of a manual device - if it has a control board it will fail at some point and likely sooner than the manual version.
All that said, I do agree with the earlier comment about being able to retract the electric awning quickly, from inside the trailer, and without having to get your shoes on.
__________________
Richard
11018
1994 Excella 25 'Gertie' Follow the build on Gertie!
1999 Suburban LS 2500 w/7.4L V8 'Bert'
1974 GMC 4108a - Custom Coach Land Cruiser 'The Bus' (Sold)
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07-15-2024, 04:59 PM
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#23
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4 Rivet Member 
Napa
, California
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 484
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We have the Relax Awning (2019 GT) and once we figured out it really doesn't do well with low battery power, it's been great. We do regularly lube it and we did replace the weird rubber stops (sort of like a slice of a tire) with spring loaded stops and found that helped as well. And, when boon docking if it decided to go haywire, we plug in the tow vehicle and it behaves.
As with anything, learning to use it will make a difference. You gotta do you.
We watched a guy putting his manual awning out at the last rally. Apparently there were things he had forgotten. He was too short to grab the loop fully, had to get a step ladder, missed setting the brace correctly. Basically he fiddled about with it for a full half an hour, before his wife told him they were leaving for dinner, to please put it in. Truth? We did snicker a bit ...but made sure we didn't hit our button when he was right there.
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07-15-2024, 06:22 PM
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#24
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Rivet Master 
2021 30' Flying Cloud
Sioux Falls
, South Dakota
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,566
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Thanks, everyone. Yes, I prefer a manual awning. We had a manual ZipDee on the Foretravel MH and the ONLY time we had a problem was when a big gust of wind came along and blew it up and partially over the roof. I could have it out in winds up to about 20-25 mph. That said, we never left the awning out if we weren't home and awake.
This Grand Design has two power awnings. Yes, I can operate them from inside, but once the winds get to about 10 mph they start flapping. My preference is for the manual awnings.
Sounds like we can either have ducted air conditioning and power awnings or non-ducted a/c and manual awnings, since both changes came in the 2015 model year, at least for Classics.
__________________
David Lininger, kb0zke
7490
2021 Flying Cloud 30 RBQ
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07-21-2024, 11:19 AM
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#25
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New Member
2017 27' Tommy Bahama
Wylie
, TX
Join Date: Feb 2024
Posts: 2
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@Gwilsonobx Is there a link leading to more info on keeping "...the rafter pressure struts lubricated...". I want to ensure I am performing all necessary maintenance to avoid as my issues.
Cheers!
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07-21-2024, 11:48 AM
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#26
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2 Rivet Member 
2019 30' International
2024 25' Trade Wind
Manvel
, Texas
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 31
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Our 2019 30' International Serenity came with a power awning, I hated it. It failed due to the spring loaded "arms" (rafter struts?) being bent, but the dealership didn't figure that out until AFTER they replaced the electric motor, of course this all happened after the Zip-Dee warranty had expired. After that we hardly ever used it, primarily because we didn't trust it.
We traded the International in for a Trade Wind with a manual awning, that we use all the time.
My humble opinion ----> Power Awing  // Manual Awning
And if anyone is looking for one, I have a perfectly good Zip-Dee Electric Motor that I don't need and would be willing to let it go for a good price - feel free to DM for info (I'm in the greater Houston Area).
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07-21-2024, 01:49 PM
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#27
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2 Rivet Member 
2018 30' Classic
Washington
, UT
Join Date: Oct 2023
Posts: 32
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It was Standard on my 2018 30 RB classic
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07-21-2024, 07:35 PM
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#28
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Primo
2024 30' Classic
Danville
, Indiana
Join Date: Dec 2021
Posts: 11
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Interesting thread. We intentionally traded in our 30’FC with a manual awning for a 30’ Classic with a power awning. Couldn’t be happier. I am aware of the maintenance and procedures vis-à-vis power outages. It should be noted we had a 20’ Bambi and the manual awning was easy to deploy. Not so much on the FC.
__________________
~~~~
Primo
2024 Classic 30RBQ (Serenity)
Danville, Indiana
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07-22-2024, 12:09 PM
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#29
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2 Rivet Member 
Box Elder
, South Dakota
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 65
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Escape_Plan
Whenever you turn the power on, and the relax awning is in the stowed position, press the close button first then the open button. By hitting close first, you reset the limit programming on the motherboard. Likewise if your awning is open and you switch the power off (or lose power to the coach for some reason), once power is restored press the open button first before you close it to reset the limit switches. Once I started doing this I’ve not had any problems with the relax awning. Also don’t forget to lube the arms with white lithium grease with a spray straw in the little holes on the arms and wipe down the support struts with silicone lube on a rag.
I, too, was totally frustrated with the relax awning and considered replacing it with a manual on my 2020 28FBT GT. Talking to ZipDee, one tech said motherboard needs replaced, $400+. Talked another tech and was told “check the back of the switches on the control panel, make sure they’re aligned properly.” Sure enough, the spacer for the close switch was just crooked enough to interfere with the proper opening/closing of the awning. Once I had a rough estimate of the cost, the time to do it and the travel time to/from the shop, I figured I just better get smarter on the relax awning. I’m glad I did, saved me thousands of dollars and I have not had any other issues with the awning.
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I recently purchased a 2023 Pottery Barn with an electric awning. No manual on how to care for it, etc.
What is a relax awning? I'm interested to learn more.
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07-27-2024, 01:57 PM
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#30
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New Member
2016 25' International
Mukilteo
, Washington
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 2
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Replaced Auto Awning with Manual
After multiple mishaps with our Automatic ZipDee Awning we replaced it with a Manual ZipDee Awning. Yes, it was expensive $7,000 + tax, but repairs to the automatic awning were also high. The manual awning of course takes more effort to open, but at least we don't have to worry about it malfunctioning anymore.
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07-27-2024, 02:25 PM
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#31
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Rivet Master 

2020 25' Globetrotter
Santa Rosa
, California
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,953
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DebH
I recently purchased a 2023 Pottery Barn with an electric awning. No manual on how to care for it, etc.
What is a relax awning? I'm interested to learn more.
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It's just Zip Dee's name for the power awning.
Here is the owner's manual:
https://www.awningsbyzipdee.com/wp-c...ting-Guide.pdf
And a video on routine maintenance:
__________________
Mike
2020 25' Globetrotter Twin | 2024 GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali Ult. 4x4 Duramax
400Ah Battle Born lithium battery string | 580W solar (400W roof 180W portable)
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09-21-2024, 02:32 PM
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#32
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1 Rivet Member 
2018 Interstate Lounge Ext
Lebanon
, New Hampshire
Join Date: Oct 2022
Posts: 11
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'18 Interstate with Carefree powered awning. Has anyone replaced the powered product with manual on the Interstate? Our powered one did a backflip (wind aided) on itself and has really never recovered since the Olympic event for RV's. The money difference is large manual vs. powered and simplicity of operation (me) is appealing with one less feature "driven" by button pushes and a motherboard.
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09-21-2024, 02:40 PM
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#33
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1 Rivet Member 
2018 Interstate Lounge Ext
Lebanon
, New Hampshire
Join Date: Oct 2022
Posts: 11
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Manual vs Powered CareFree awning
'18 Interstate Lounge with Carefree powered awning. Has anyone replaced the powered awning with a manual type? My powered one did a backflip on itself and has really not operated correctly since that event. The money difference is rather large and having the simplicity of operation (me) vs. servo/powered seems reasonable. The motor, limit switches, motherboard and drive system are quite expensive, yet I want to know if anyone has done this retrofit. Thank you.
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09-22-2024, 07:40 AM
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#34
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Half a Rivet Short
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 16,745
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Hi
A manual awning is a *very* different beast than the powered unit. All the manuals I have ever seen have "struts" on them. The power awnings (at least the one I have on my van and the one's I've seen) have no support like that.
In order to do a conversion, you will need to come up with a way to anchor those struts to someplace on the van. That's reasonable in the back, there's room. Up front, the space between the sliding door and passenger door is pretty modest. Getting that end all to fit is going to be a lot of fun ... not ....
Since that anchor pretty much "rules" where the new awning goes, the roof anchor points and the like all will just "follow along" with it. That will make re-use of existing mounting points a bit exciting.
Ok, now you have it all installed. About those struts ... hmmm .... on some versions you pull them off and stow them "somewhere else". On others they might stow in place. With the "stow in place" version: Can you still open the passenger door? .... hmmmm ....
Lots of fun and no, I would not want to be the first to try this
Is this to say I love my awning? .... I have an appointment at JC for repairs on mine ... You can easily guess just how much I'm looking forward to that
Plan B:
Do you really *need* an awning?
Bob
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