Vintage Carefree Renewal

[RichHog]

The photos on the forum home page has a 75TW with the exact same awning as mine. From the photos it looks like the arms hook at about the 8:00 position somehow into the arms

[RichHog]

Here's a shot of the cross arm-bottom as it is folded inside the outer curved arm where it latches, then the metal top bracket and then the top of the roller/corner. I thought the hook on the brace would latch at the top but it doesn't reach.

[daisy&cowboy]

Hi- We have a 14' carefree awning roll tube and various arms and brackets that we are not going to use....
Anyone interested drop us a line.

[RichHog]

I'm looking for a set of the cross arms that lock the awning in place. The hooks are broken on mine that look like this and attach to the cross arms

Richard

[bridor15]

I don't want to reinvent the wheel but does anyone have any advice on how to replace the end caps and an older Carefree awning. Mine are broken and I have not figured out an easy way to get the plastic cap off of the end shaft.

[overlander63]

I've usually just replaced the shaft. By the time the plastic caps fall apart, the springs are on their way out, too. You can get the whole thing from any place that sells Carefree/Dometic/A&E awnings.

[Kevin245]

Originally Posted by bridor15

I don't want to reinvent the wheel but does anyone have any advice on how to replace the end caps and an older Carefree awning. Mine are broken and I have not figured out an easy way to get the plastic cap off of the end shaft.

If they're broken then getting them off is the easy part.

As for getting the new caps installed I've used several techniques.

I was able to snap the new cap over the keeper flanges one time. This was because the white nylon/plastic ring the cap rolls on was missing and things were a bit sloppy. Another time we simply enlarged the new cap center hole just enough to allow it to snap in place.

I'm sure there are other methods but this is what worked for me in the past. Note that the only replacement caps I've ever found attach with perimeter rivets instead of being screwed on from the ends.

A few words of caution. Is the awning disassembled and has the spring tension been relieved? A tensioned awning torsion spring is capable of causing serious injury and can be very dangerous if not handled properly. Anyone not familiar with them should seek help from a knowledgeable source.

Best of luck,

Kevin

[RichHog]

Mine has little spring tension left in it but it does help it roll back up. I think the end caps on the arms on mine is all metal and the hooks just broke off so
I'm looking for the complete cross-brace assembly.

[Melody Ranch]

I had planned on not using this awning...but, now I think I like the look with the Cloud.
I notice that it does not have a center, brace to body, sliding arm. It is just connected and braced at the top and bottom. In other words it does not look like the awnings in the PDF put up here.
If I get this cleared up I will put up some info on the rebuild, polish and new fabric installation.
Any help is appreciated.

[3Ms75Argosy]

I "think" this awning is an older Carefree... if you unroll the awning, you'll find another vertical brace... this brace telescopes into itself, and then comes out of the resting pocket that's on the lower brace of the awning arm. Take the telescoping piece, and then extend it to horizontal to meet the outreached awning arm.. there's a nubbing inside this extrustion that the brace rests under... that's what keeps the awning tight and away from the trailer.

Kinda hard to explain, but easy once you see it.
Marc

[Kevin245]

Originally Posted by Melody Ranch

I had planned on not using this awning...but, now I think I like the look with the Cloud.
I notice that it does not have a center, brace to body, sliding arm. It is just connected and braced at the top and bottom. In other words it does not look like the awnings in the PDF put up here.
If I get this cleared up I will put up some info on the rebuild, polish and new fabric installation.
Any help is appreciated.

This appears to be one of the newer "Vintage" Carefree awnings. Not what I'd call 1st or 3rd generation, but most likely 2nd in the Carefree/A&E era. We have a salvaged one in the garage and it does not have the center lock bars either. On ours the upper hinge arms lock the awning out while it is deployed.

It looks like yours has the quick disconnect feet. If so then its definitely newer era, but still vintage.

Kevin

[Melody Ranch]

Well, I went to the barn and took these pictures. Yep, it has quick disconnect feet. One of the top body attaches has been weld repaired...maybe has something to do with the missing lift/lock handle and the bent arm. Anyone got a lift handle assembly? Anyother parts you see I might need?
The fabric also has a pretty nice segmented metal cover....fabric needs replacement...I hope to use Sunbrella type instead of that nasty Carefree stuff (juast a personal thing.)

[Melody Ranch]

some more pics

[RichHog]

Looks older than my 72 Tradewinds Carefree. Seems that finding support or parts on the Carefree Awnings is next to impossible. I'm going to need to replace fabric on mine and hate to spend the bucks on a complete new unit from ZipDee

[Melody Ranch]

I found an old thread entry where our resident sail maker Bob Thompson, near us in Texas, said he could do the sewing work. It sure sounded good to me.
RC

[Melody Ranch]

Andy...can you check these photos. I am not even sure now if this is a Carefree. The way the awning arm attaches to the roof by the end of the rail is something I don't see on any other photos. What do you think?
If I go to a Zip Dee can the arms be mounted in the same spots my current awning is?
P.S. ....I like your 20% discount.

[BIGED52]

I'm gonna bump this thread as I am interested in seeing Andy R.s reply on this awning issue and if it is a Carefree. Ed

[RichHog]

Where's Bob Thompson located? There's a few sailmakers here in Houston

[Lumatic]

Could not find Thompson's address but I had him repair sails for me in the past and he did a good job.

[Melody Ranch]

What are you doing with sails in Estancia?
I am trying to find the thread post on the awning/sail reference.....stay tuned.