[Dick]

Had one the air Zip Dee awning got rid of it and put a window awning on best move I ever did no trouble now ever Brady Como put a manual one on his coach

[Archived]

So our Bus is a 1996 Marthon XLV with the original ZIP DEEP – Manual – Awnings.. and they are AWESOME!

Clearly there are limits to every awning system… but we have had ZERO problems with wind / storms / rain / etc… the “locking rig” / stabelizing system / extra arm thing that prevents them from taking off in high wind is crazy effective.

… When we travel and meet other PREVOST owners with more “modern systems” for their awnings, they usually tell us a story of a previously owned Bus that had the same system, and how they “long for those “old” days” … etc…

Don’t know if that helps you at all, but some how I feel really grateful that I have the privillage of getting up on a ladder to “lock” in our awnings when we get settled in, as everyone we have met, with out exception, say they “wish” they had the simplicity of the “old days”.

Good luck, and ALL THE BEST!

🙂

[Jerry]

Bill and Linda:

As Peter refers, we took the automatic Zip Dee off our previous 2003 Liberty XLII and replaced with a comparable Zip Dee manual awning (not just the window awnings Peter is referring to.) Had to make matching cover plate for one set of mounting holes and repainting the cover plate to match striping on the coach – was biggest issue.

Getting caught several times unable to retract the awning forced the decision to change out…. Last time, had to “jump it” closed using a car battery with long wires with roach clips standing on the top of toad to reach the zip dee motor – did it for me….. Life is too short to be hampered by a tempermental awning causing problems at the most inopportune times!!!

Good luck but it will be a worthwhile investment if you use your awning regularly…..

[Jerry]

Bill,

Those Zip Dee air/electric are nothing but trouble. We’ve had several members replace with manual as you’ve already heard and the one I saw looked really good.

[Bill]

Maybe I’m just lucky but I have automatic Zip Dee awning and it works flawlessly … 2004 CC XLII

I love it does just what it is supposed to do all of the time.Maybe my time is coming but for now I’ll keep it.

[Doug]

Purchased our bus 3 years ago. Awning did not work at time of purchase and price reduction was agreeded to.

Spent less then 2k on arms, batterys and rebuilt control box. Have maintained as suggested by zipdee znd have not had a problem since.

[Joe]

Jeff:

If you have the “box” type awnings that are all electric, this is “night and day” from the “air / electric” type we are discussing. On the air / electric, when you open the control box and observe the nest of wires, battery, control board, etc. looks like a bad attempt at making an explosive device!!!….. Age, moisture, vibration, etc. i believe are all leading causes of failure along with a bad design. Primary issue with these, in my opinion, is moisture and not be able to keep air related portion of the system dry!!!, which as we all know from suspensions, is a major concern for all our Prevost coaches..

Either way, I have the box all electric, and all is good….

[Dan]

After spending a couple of thousand dollars fixing my Zip Dee Autoawn, it does work ok.

The problem is moisture as Jeff has said and also the wireing harness going down the front arm has been my problem for the last three repairs.

They do need some way to seal the top of the arms where the smaller arm slides down into the bigger arm.

Every time I wash the coach or am parked in the rain I will need to drain the two arms by removing the 1/4″ bolt in the middle of the big arms as it is in the vertical position.

While at Jeff’s the last time, someone told me he mad a wireing harness that runs down the outside of his arm and that solved his problem of the wires shorting out in the arm.

My control board and batteries and battery charger have all worked well.

[Dick]

Thanks for the comments, they are helpful. I didn’t know Zip Dee had a manual awning which is the direction I am going to investigate. I have a new arm in the box if anyone is interested.

[Doug]

Had a ZipDee manual awning on our last coach, and also on this. Main difference was on the old coach I could set up and take down the awning from the ground. With the taller coach, I need a ladder for both operations.

[Archived]

Zip Dee has a tool that can be used from the ground to release the lock on the arms and to place the lower arms in the slot on the upper end of the awning where it attaches to the coach. No ladder is needed and it takes less than a minute or two to extend and secure the awning when using the tool. It has a “saddle” on one end to go under the big round head on the arm lock to release it, and a hook on the other end to reach and pull on the awning strap.

[Archived]

Jon,

I have the tool, but I see no easy way of getting the upper awning arm into the upper attachment. Unless there is a trick to it, it’s just easier to pull out the ladder.

[Archived]

I am interested in arms….I have found these auto-awnings to be rather high maintance and if used a lot are less problematic than those used occasionally…

[David]

Per,

I won’t say there is a trick to it, but with a little practice you can become pretty adept at raising the upper arm into the slot on the top, releasing the lock pin so it engages and having the awning secure.

You are a tall guy so you should not need a ladder as long as you own the tool.

[Dewey and Tina]

I always used the tool when I had manual Zip Dee’s, the secret is well sliding easy arms using silicone often. Pull the sliding arms off, clean them good, add silicone and you’re good to go.