[tom]

Available at camper supply places. Just need length. they come preloaded and you release tension by pulling pin.The fabric just slips in grove on coach and tube/might have screw or pop rivet to help retain fabric/has plastic expander like rope inside full length. Have our trip delayed but hope to meet you soon.

[Archived]

Charles,

There sure is a desire for electric auto everyting now days including awnings. But for me, I prefer my 22 foot manual Zip Dee patio awning and manual window awnings. Mine are 1995 vintage and still going strong with very little maintenance.

So, I would get the bent part replaced and very importantly, get the Strecher Arm Reversal Kit. This kit turns the streacher arms around and makes working the patio awning very user friendly. Makes putting it up at night a quick simple task.

Since I am not you, please do what makes your heart smile. All the best.

[Roger]

Charles,

FWIW, I have the Girards and they work great, but my preference would always be the good ole manual Zip Dee.

[Dan]

Charles,

The awning type you have is not one of ZipDee’s better ideas. If I were in your shoes I would have two options to consider. The first would be to have your awning replaced with a manual one as Rudy suggests. With practice you can open and close that style is almost the same amount of time the version you have will open or close and your maintenance will be close to nothing.

The second option is to switch to the Girard or current generation ZipDee cantilevered electric awnings now being installed. The cost will take your breath away because those awnings first need to be secured so they are structurally sound. That is not simple, and I believe you will need access from within the coach. Taking down a Liberty ceiling is difficult and expensive so before you even begin you are spending a lot of money. Those awnings look great because they aren’t just stuck on the side of the coach and they look like they are part of the coach, but to get that clean look is going to involve more than just screwing one to the roof. I would bet if you do the whole coach you are approaching $50,000 and to do less than the whole coach they look incomplete.

[Dick]

Charles,

I cannot tell what kind of awning you have currently but I will tell you when we had our Foretravel, we had the Zip Dee Auto Awning and after many many issues, fights, language not suitable for the public, we ripped that SOB off and installed a manual Zip Dee. Never had a problem or fight after that.It was a fairly easy change out, some paint repair and we were good to go.

[Dick]

I too have one of those air/electric ZipDee’s. I’ve seen it opened only once, when Jeff Rowe did the pre-purchase inspection. My wife has asked about opening it up from time to time and I’ve told her since I’ve heard those things can be so unreliable and prone to locking themselves wide open at the most inopportune time … the time I’ll open it is (1) at ETLC, (2) at home, more than two weeks before a trip, and (3) only on the road if I have a SawZall in the coach with a new box of blades and a good ladder.

I sniffed at a coach (1998 Liberty Classic Lady) which had no big awning on the curb side. Seller said it came unhooked or loose on the Interstate while traveling between Memphis and Alberta and its in the ditch somewhere along that path. I called Zip-Dee and was quoted about $2,500 for their longest manual awning (23′ or 24′, can’t remember). Woman on the phone said they should be able to match the fabric of the other awnings if Liberty can provide the original order information.

Liberty (North Chicago) and Zip Dee (Elk Grove Village) are only 35 miles apart. You might be able to get Liberty to do the removal and install. Check with Bill Doherty at Liberty.

Tom & Bill wrote: “after many many issues, fights, language not suitable for the public, we ripped that SOB off and installed a manual Zip Dee.”

Exactly my fear.

[Rudy]

Awnings in general are prone to problems and even though my current cantilevered awnings have not presented any trouble, I only use them when they are really needed.

I had zero hesitation about using our original manual ZipDee awnings on the first and second coaches.

[joel]

Thanks everyone. Guess I’ll stick with what I have. Was able to get the 22.5 foot galvanized steel tube out and disassembled. Will order the new tube and see where I can get it delivered (or if they can deliver it to me directly, I am sure it will come by truck).

The cloth is still fine, just bend the long tube in the middle. Everything else is fine as well (all the arms are straight and perfect).

On Airstreams site, they show the tubes at around $100 a foot (plus shipping) so shouldn’t be that bad.

---

1999 XLV X-6872,  liberty #440

[Corey]

In Ocola. Was a place up by Gainsville that bought/sold discount RV Parts=last time I was there they had 100’s of new awnings and tubes seperate. Bob

[Rudy]

Charles what part of the country you in ? I just took a big awning off

[Tim]

Is the tube curved or does it have a kink? My tube developed a curve. Xtreme Paint and Graphics placed a ladder at the curve and bent it straight. Rolls smooth now.

Don’t forget the Strecher Arm Kit.

[Larry & Diane]

Charles,

I have a electric Girard as my primary awning and three zip dee for the others. The Girard is nice and convenient, but I’ve only had it out once since winds over 10mph cause me to vision my awning head down the RV park without the RV attached…And although there is a wind sensor, I still haven’t trusted it yet.

[Bernie]

BOB’s rv parts High Springs Florida. Not my place.. is where all the awning roller tubes came from.

[Archived]

Don’t call Liberty!! Same thing happened to me called liberty in Fla.[ ahour away] got told they were to busy to screw with my F@%K*N awning call Jeff Rowe IT’S TRUE !!

[Gary]

Whow, that was rude! Will at least Liberty holding tanks smell like roses. That’s at least a plus.