Power Awning never operated properly

[CMTampa]

I took delivery of my Classic 30 in June of this year. The Zip Dee power awning has never operated properly. While I could complain about the dealer, my interest is in knowing if anyone has had problems with their awning and if so, have you found a solution. The problems are intermittent and include stopping while deploying and retracting, tilt front and back going haywire, front tilt extended while awning was in retract mode so it popped the front of the awning out of the track, buttons not responding which is a major problem when it is raining. The dealer's mobile tech has been out several times changing parts and making adjustments and just took it in last week to have another part installed that someone in their infinite decided not to install. It now requires a series of depressing 5 buttons on the control panel in order to deploy so the door doesn't hit the arm at the top of the awning. Zip Dee has been consulted throughout this process and I just got Airstream involved. In any event, 6 months is way too long to be dealing with a problem like this. Any helpful advice I can share with the service department would be helpful.

[ajwbarnard]

Yes we are having problems with ours. The dealer had ordered a new motor but the tech said it was not motor when he went to install it. He could make it work somehow, but didn’t have the time to trace the connections. He thinks it is a firefly issue. So it is not fixed yet. Ours would retract and then it would keep bumping and not shutting off automatically.

[Rocinante]

Our zip dee relax electric awning stopped opening at all for no apparent reason after 3+ years of flawless service. Getting it working again required a new motherboard, a new motor for the awning roller, a service tech, and lots of money. If we ever buy another AS trailer, it will definitely have a manual awning!

[Pete B55]

Originally Posted by CMTampa

I took delivery of my Classic 30 in June of this year. The Zip Dee power awning has never operated properly. While I could complain about the dealer, my interest is in knowing if anyone has had problems with their awning and if so, have you found a solution. The problems are intermittent and include stopping while deploying and retracting, tilt front and back going haywire, front tilt extended while awning was in retract mode so it popped the front of the awning out of the track, buttons not responding which is a major problem when it is raining. The dealer's mobile tech has been out several times changing parts and making adjustments and just took it in last week to have another part installed that someone in their infinite decided not to install. It now requires a series of depressing 5 buttons on the control panel in order to deploy so the door doesn't hit the arm at the top of the awning. Zip Dee has been consulted throughout this process and I just got Airstream involved. In any event, 6 months is way too long to be dealing with a problem like this. Any helpful advice I can share with the service department would be helpful.

We have a 2017 Classic that is one year old today (12/28). We had it out about 60 days this year with no issues with the awning .... until today. No matter how may times I tried it would only extend 3/4 the way. After playing with it for awhile, I found there are nylon adjustment hex screws on the motor near the door side (under an insulating sleeve) . I had to adjust the extend and retract travel settings (quite far) and then everything is now working fine. I have no idea why but it seemed to forget the settings it had

[Roadtech]

Originally Posted by Rocinante

Our zip dee relax electric awning stopped opening at all for no apparent reason after 3+ years of flawless service. Getting it working again required a new motherboard, a new motor for the awning roller, a service tech, and lots of money. If we ever buy another AS trailer, it will definitely have a manual awning!

We just had this exact same experience. Our 2014 International awning worked fine for 3+ years and then quit. I called Zip Dee and described the problem which was one of the arms wouldn't extend. Zip Dee said they don't sell any parts for the arm and I would have to buy a new one for $1500 plus labor. I asked if I could send the arm back to Zip Dee and see if they could fix it. They agreed to do this. The Airstream was down for 3 weeks while the arm was shipped to IL and back plus time at the factory. I was charged one hour of labor ($85) with no parts req'd. An internal bolt had come loose preventing the motor from engaging the arm extension. Thank goodness this didn't happen while camping or I would have had to figure out how to manually retract this thing. I will also never own another electric awning.

[labalope]

Our 2016 Classic has the same problems with the awning, have to help it out most of the time and help it in. I t stops sometimes for no reason and I have to wait a few minutes then try it again and then it works, I believe if I continue to have problems I will also go to a manual awning if one is available for the classic, Labalope

[CMTampa]

After numerous attempts and all new parts, the dealer finally got my awning adjusted and working properly. Happy it happened while under warranty.

[ajwbarnard]

What was the final verdict?

[CMTampa]

It was a process of replacing parts and making adjustments so the electronic components communicated properly. It took four months for Zip Dee and the dealer to figure it out. There is a solution, it is just a matter of getting the right person at Zip Dee to communicate that solution and me throwing tantrums and having to threaten legal action.

[garypilot55]

I'm relatively new to Airstream. We have ordered a 2019 Globetrotter for June delivery, seems the remaining 2018 inventory and production has already been sold for what we wanted. I did not want the power awning but the salesman from the local dealer said the power awning was now standard (required) on all future 2019 Globetrotter models - not sure if that applies to other models. I've read about all the nightmares regarding issues with the power awnings. I'm assuming there is a manual override to the power operation in the event there is a problem.

Looking forward to the Airstream experience.

[Roadtech]

Originally Posted by garypilot55

I did not want the power awning but the salesman from the local dealer said the power awning was now standard (required) on all future 2019 Globetrotter models - not sure if that applies to other models. I've read about all the nightmares regarding issues with the power awnings. I'm assuming there is a manual override to the power operation in the event there is a problem.

I don't believe it is standard according to the current information on the AS website. I do believe that the dealers are always ordering their stock units with the power awning to increase the sale price (and their margin). If I couldn't order a Globetrotter without a power awning, then I would not order one period.

There is a manual way to close the awning, but it is a pain, but necessary to have.

[Rocinante]

The Globetrotter looks nice, for sure. If I ordered one, there are two things I would insist on: No power awning, and no power stabilizers. Just more stuff to break.

[garypilot55]

Originally Posted by Roadtech

I don't believe it is standard according to the current information on the AS website. I do believe that the dealers are always ordering their stock units with the power awning to increase the sale price (and their margin). If I couldn't order a Globetrotter without a power awning, then I would not order one period.

There is a manual way to close the awning, but it is a pain, but necessary to have.

You are correct for current 2018 models. We had to order the 2019 model and were advised it would not be optional. I’m waiting to hear about 2019 options, it’s not posted on the website. I figured if I unable to manually open an awning I shouldn’t be setting up a trailer . I was adamant about all the additional power options, more things to break.

[Roadtech]

Originally Posted by garypilot55

You are correct for current 2018 models. We had to order the 2019 model and were advised it would not be optional. I’m waiting to hear about 2019 options, it’s not posted on the website. I figured if I unable to manually open an awning I shouldn’t be setting up a trailer . I was adamant about all the additional power options, more things to break.

Don't believe everything a dealer tells you...I would call Airstream direct and ask...