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hikingcamera · 03-25-2023, 08:08 PM

So, not quite sure how this happened, but one of the knobs that is meant to lock the ZipDee awning down in transit fell off after getting the trailer back from the dealer. We are at a campsite now and I want to ensure I don’t lose the awning on the way home. I’m thinking I’ll try to strap it down perhaps… anyone have some advice on how to provide some backup to that missing knob?

John Ware · 03-25-2023, 09:29 PM

Can you put a regular nut and washer on it? Perhaps a fender washer? One of mine loosened up and opened up on me once but didn't fall off.

Shiny16 · 03-25-2023, 09:43 PM

A big wire tie around it.

hikingcamera · 03-25-2023, 09:51 PM

If I were home I’d have lots more options. I don’t think I have the right sized nut on me. Also not sure about a zip tie, but that would probably be ideal. I might have some straps. Lesson learned, gotta hand check those after picking up from the dealer.

s1000pre · 03-25-2023, 09:53 PM

I have forgotten to lock down the awning a couple times and one of the trips was 1k miles. With the amount of spring tension pulling that awning tight to the side, I highly doubt you have anything to worry about. Just order another lock from ZipDee and install it when it arrives.

John Ware · 03-25-2023, 10:48 PM

I would try to tie it down with something. Have any tape you can wrap around the tubing? I discovered mine loose when I heard it banging by the wind while camping.

hikingcamera · 03-26-2023, 01:40 AM

I definitely can find something: cord, probably a webbing strap. Securing it and making sure nothing that can damage the body is dangling may require more effort.

It is luckily the arm under spring tension, so that helps. Though I could always move the other if it weren’t. And it’s the side near to the security latch. So it is pretty secure already. I’d still feel more comfortable with a strap of some kind holding it down.

Mollysdad · 03-26-2023, 08:29 AM

I'd get a very large cable tie, loop it twice through the clamp and roller casting and pull it tight.
Zip Dee will sell you another wheel.

CRH · 03-26-2023, 08:29 AM

I'd put a couple of zip ties under the arm pivot bolt and around the arm.

Saluda372 · 03-26-2023, 09:10 AM

Would definitely secure it, wire ties are great as already stated.

banderabob · 03-26-2023, 09:21 AM

If you are close to a Home Depot or Lowe’s, get some Velcro to wrap around the awning arms. We do this even with the lock down knob.

Kemmy · 03-26-2023, 09:29 AM

Zip Dee clamp wheel. Google it and you’ll find many sellers. It happened us too. I used a spare dog collar around the awning posts to get home. Now I use the clamps again but put a zip tie around posts and up through the wheel so it cannot turn once the zip tie is pulled tight

Ray Eklund · 03-26-2023, 10:06 AM

Looking at your bolt, it appears to be at an angle. It should be centered. Look at the opposite side and is it also off at an angle?

Look at the top where the nut and bolt secure to the casting. Is it wearing off center? If so, you may begin to figure out why the awning is not square with the side of the trailer.

Are either of your supports on the left or right side, bent? Often bent from a wind putting pressure on the awning when extended.

The sliding rods to increase the angle of the awning would be difficult to slide down due to a bend. It will be easy to find, as when it gets to the bent rod, it is difficult to slide into the housing that it is fitted.

I much prefer your kind of manual awning. The electrical awnings are my least favorite, but came with the 27FBQ.

John Ware · 03-26-2023, 10:13 AM

The left side of mine was off center as well. I unscrewed the bracket from the roof and moved it over to properly center the wheel nut.

ROBERT CROSS · 03-26-2023, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

I'd get a very large cable tie, loop it twice through the clamp and roller casting and pull it tight.
Zip Dee will sell you another wheel.

I use a heavy duty removable zip tie from Amazon...

Bob
🇺🇸

Learned a lesson...now zip & make sure the wheel is tight.

I also had to move the rear lower mount to get the assembly plumb. Lock wheel off line and the awning rolled up cock-eyed.

Escape21 · 03-26-2023, 01:26 PM

My bet is someone camping near you has zip ties to share.

hikingcamera · 03-26-2023, 04:28 PM

Well I had some Velcro, so I ended up using that to get home. No incidents. Not a bad idea to put something on there during normal travel as well, just in case.

As for the angle. I mean, pictures like that can be hard. I was taking it from an angle myself. But I do know the arm on that side is bent. On my list to fix that when I have a second person to help. I’m not really sure what normal looks like.

I’ll be ordering two wheels so I have a backup on hand. Plus adding some zip ties to my truck tool kit.

Joseph Sessa · 03-27-2023, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hikingcamera

If I were home I’d have lots more options. I don’t think I have the right sized nut on me. Also not sure about a zip tie, but that would probably be ideal. I might have some straps. Lesson learned, gotta hand check those after picking up from the dealer.

It is very sad that service is not what most of us grew up experiencing. I can tell of accounts that would just make your jaw drop concerning the condition of my Airstream after going to an authorized Airstream repair shop in south Florida, but I suspect nay others have incident reports just as well.

Mollysdad · 03-27-2023, 08:59 AM

I was at the dealer's service center to see if they understood the problem with my awning. (long story). They couldn't figure it out and I drove the three hours back home. After storing it, I noticed they did not even latch the front locking wheel.

Amazingly, it didn't blow open on the way home.
Always check for your self. Don't assume the dealer wouldn't screw up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hikingcamera

Well I had some Velcro, so I ended up using that to get home.

As for the angle. I mean, pictures like that can be hard. I was taking it from an angle myself. But I do know the arm on that side is bent.

It's a hundred year old design and not made to tolerances. I've ordered replacement parts from Zip Dee and the pre-drilled holes don't match up. There's factors you have no control over. The roller might be two inches longer than perfect, so one arm is angled. Zip Dee is not full of laser guided cutting machines. I'll bet it's more like a guy with a hacksaw, "This looks about right."

I'll still take it over the "automatic" version.

Be happy if the darn thing unfurls and furls.
Here's mine.

Daytonacoupe · 03-27-2023, 09:15 AM

We have that large one on the curb side on our 1986 34'-er. You can take the wheel off of the other side, go to a hardware store, and get a nut with the right thread pitch and size. As mentioned a fender washer or heavy zip tie will work.

On the street side front half we have a 12' Zipdee but with no locking wheels. With the interior walls out I noted the installation is with olympic rivets, where I had expected buck rivets. Maybe that's a good thing as perhaps it allowed the awning to let go vs really messing up the sheet metal, or beating out the windows. Over this winter a 100 kph+ wind opened and got under the street side spring loaded awning - tore it completely off the trailer, heaving it front of our car. This wind also blew the front of the trailer sideways into my truck, despite wheel chalks. An easy repair to the trailer with the inner skins out, but not the truck door.

All this to say that if the right wind gets under one of these large parachutes, not good.