Back from our first time out!

[monkeypants]

OK, so it was only one night (still gotta get home to care of my 90 yr old mother in law), but what an experience. The driving was a dream. Handled well. Guilty as charged for calling Pat & Lauren at Colonial for everything.
In my defense, there were some actual issues, a leak under the sink, bent awning arms (any input?) and issues connecting our blu-ray to the TV (real TV, not towing vehicle :-) )
The folks at Jersey Shore Airstream Haven were very nice. If all streamers are this nice, I'm very proud to be one of you.
These short trips are important to preparing for our first big one in the fall to the Keys.
Here are some pics!

[gail]

Welcome and nice to know you are a good son in law. Streamin is fun and members here are all too nice if there is such a thing.

[azflycaster]

About the awning...
I noticed from your pictures that the rafter arms are attached to the pin on the main arms. When you extend the awning the rafter arms should have been moved to the end shaft of the roller. It looks like you extended the rafter arms to keep the awning extended. This may have been what bent the main arms (not good). Here are the instructions from zipdee that will walk you through the process.
Awnings By ZipDee

Many other members have damaged their arms, me included. I let my awning fill with water one night and that bent the arms as well.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, this is how your awning arms should be attached.

[ZoominC6]

Ooooops! But don't feel alone in these first time missadventures. If the truth were known and we were all willing to fess up, most likely we could fill a book with stories of boo boos on the road! Heck, there may already be a thread on this forum of these things. Enjoy your new Airstreaming lifestyle.

[94Tri]

Took me a "couple" of trips with our first AS to figure the awning and EVERYTHING else out.

[monkeypants]

Every time I look at these pics now, all I see is how we screwed up. Oh well, live and learn!

[Wayne&Sam]

Originally Posted by azflycaster

About the awning...
I noticed from your pictures that the rafter arms are attached to the pin on the main arms. When you extend the awning the rafter arms should have been moved to the end shaft of the roller. It looks like you extended the rafter arms to keep the awning extended. This may have been what bent the main arms (not good).

Bingo! Don't feel bad, I did the same thing. It seemed logical as that is how the awning on my SOB worked. And I did it after Lauren had demonstrated (AND had me do it as I recall) it when I picked up the unit.

[Mikethefixit]

Monkeypants
Thanks for the nice pic's. Yes 99and 44/100 % of Streamers are that nice or nicer. Airforums rallys are a blast.Friendly pple, great food.
Please don't feel bad about the awning rafter arms , I did the same thing I think that unless given specific instruction with a hands on opening a closing at least a couple of times,most everyone makes the same mistake.I know I did.
Enjoy your coach. Its a real learning experience.
Hope to see ya out our way some day.
Roger

[ArtStream]

Hi Monkeypants!

Great pic's and a hearty congrats on the first of many Airstream adventures!

One other correction, your steps are extended backwards!

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Just kidding

Enjoy,

Michael

[azflycaster]

As I said earlier, I also bent my Zipdee main arms in an over night rain storm. My arms are made up of the outer aluminum tubes with steel inside arms that attach to the roller. I was able to ship the bent steel arms back to Zipdee and they straightened them at no charge. I did have to buy the aluminum arms.

My arms were seriously bent, here is one:

[elolson]

Great looking rig and nice camp photos, you look like a pro already. I left my awning up when going out for the day one time. A little gust of wind did a nice job of folding it up for me. My center brace has come crashing down against the side at least a half dozen times. Those things were far from intuitive the first time setting up an awning.