Replacing Zip Dee fabric

[Randy Gates]

I need some advice. I have a 1968 Globetrotter. I have polished and reinstalled all 4 braces, painted 2 Zip Dee emblems and freed up the frozen awnings main arms. Whew! Now to install the fabric. How does one remove it from the panels attached to the unit. It seem to be crimped into a channel. There are rivets at the ends of the channels. Does not follow the directions I got from Terry's article (2/13/10) from Airstream Central. They call for removing screws from the channels. Can someone give me direction. Thanks,
Randy

[azflycaster]

This is what ZipDee recommends: Awnings By ZipDee

[Lumatic]

Use a screwdriver to carefully pry open the crimps. You can rip the aluminum easy. The panels on the alumagard are using held by screws, but you should not have to remove. Don't know about the rivets.

[Inland RV Center, In]

To replace the Zip Dee fabric, one must be extremely careful of the alignment of the fabric on the roller tube.

If not exactly correct, the fabric will roll up towards the front or the rear of the roller tube when the awning is retracted back to the trailer.

If that happens, then the fasteners must be removed, and start all over again.

Be advised that if you do not want to take that risk, Zip Dee also has what is called a "CFR". That stands for the Cover, Fabric and Roller tube, all assembled.

That then permits a much easier installation, as it removes the risk of incorrect fabric installation.

Yes, it does cost more, but removes the risk of adding more holes to the fabric.

Andy