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Veteran
Posts: 231
 
Location: Illinois | I have a 10 ft awning on my Sundowner..1997 model..and I honestly cannot open it by myself ( very hard to lift out of cradle and unroll, sliders on the side are hard to slide also)...I was wondering if there is some kind of mantainence I should be doing to it...ie: grease, lubricate, the moving parts, "hinges" rollers..whatever moves / unrolls. If so what type of lubricant to use ....Any thoughts...? |
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Veteran
Posts: 164
Location: Delaware | |
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Veteran
Posts: 164
Location: Delaware | I have a 15' Carefree of Colorado that I can set up by myself in 4 minutes. My husband helps whenever he's around and it's no quicker. I did help someone put up another brand that seemed extremely hard to work. You had to actually lift the whole arm up to get the roller out of the cradle on top. Mine just locks inside the arms and pulls down. Maybe you can take it by an RV place and they can show you, something might be broke or not aligned properly on it. |
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Veteran
Posts: 229
| To Much Trouble, I have an awning like the earlier poster, but mine's an A&E I think. The only maintenance that I have done, other than cleaning the fabric, was to clean and spray silicon on the extension arms. However, a couple of weeks ago while camping, I did help a gal with the awning on her "new to her" trailer. She was on top of the trailer trying to do something with the awining. EEEEKKK. Major safety concerns. I told her to hop down and we'd figure it out. After everything was unscrewed, I gave pull at the arm and it didn't budge. For this awning, I did have to lift up and get it out of the cradle. After that it was OK. You can't get around the cradle thing or the tension of the spring, but the silicone will help make the arms slide easier. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330
Location: northeast Texas | The trailer I wrecked had an A&E 8500. It took 2 people to put it out. Had to lift the arms, and go back and forth one at a time just alittle at a time. I hated it. New trailer has the A & E 2 Step. Takes 1 person, 2 steps, and its out. |
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Expert
Posts: 1351
Location: Decatur, Texas | Originally written by To Much Trouble on 2010-08-21 2:44 PM
I have a 10 ft awning on my Sundowner..1997 model..and I honestly cannot open it by myself ( very hard to lift out of cradle and unroll, sliders on the side are hard to slide also)...I was wondering if there is some kind of mantainence I should be doing to it...ie: grease, lubricate, the moving parts, "hinges" rollers..whatever moves / unrolls. If so what type of lubricant to use ....Any thoughts...? Good ol' fashion WATER. Wash the rails out. Sounds like you might have some dirt or something built up in the rails. Also make sure you losen the knob on each side before trying to pull it out, this will also cause it to bind up. I wash mine out ever couple of months no matter if I use it or not. |
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Expert
Posts: 3802
 
Location: Rocky Mount N.C. | I got a 21' A&E 8500 and I can put it up and take it down by myself all the while maneuvering a manual wheelchair, in dirt, grass, manure, etc......... |
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Location: Central Arkansas | I have push button weather pro electric awnings on both of my current trailers. Love them! Open and close with one finger from inside the trailer! |
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Veteran
Posts: 231
Location: Illinois | OK, bushycreekranch...you just suck !!! ( just kidding) that awning sounds awsome..but a new awning is not an option at this time I will pull it out and do a major cleaning on the tracks...it is hard to lift up outta the cradle and unrolls sluggishly...I just wasn't sure what if anything I should use to lubricate...Thanks for all the comments |
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Veteran
Posts: 233
Location: Tennessee | In regards to being "hard to lift up out of the cradle" - I had this same problem with just one of my arms. Turns out there is an adjustment (to length) that you can make to the arm. It solved my problem. |
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Expert
Posts: 1205
Location: Arkansas | Brushycreekranch! When are you going up to Clinton? |
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Veteran
Posts: 231
Location: Illinois | Sheryl...can you made elaborate more on the "adjustment" issue...Thanks |
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Location: Central Arkansas | LOL too much trouble. But, I did my time fighting awning arms. Since we are empty nesters, we are no longer buying them toys. But, instead, we are splurging on ours . |
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Veteran
Posts: 231
Location: Illinois | Brilliant idea ....and if the $$$ were there, I would seriously consider replacing the awning...lifes too short to arm wrestle your awning...LOL HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU................ |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 420
Location: Florida | I just watched and learned how to stop wrestling with lifting the awning off so I can open it and or lifting it on so I can close it. There are stops on the bottom of each rail. Just unscrew and raise the side that is a problem by one hole. I was like WOW that was it!?? And it was. |
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Veteran
Posts: 231
Location: Illinois | Interesting...I will check that out.Thank you very much |
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Veteran
Posts: 233
Location: Tennessee | What BlazingCreekBar said. |
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 Regular
Posts: 93
Location: Newnan, GA | I am selling the two awnings on my trailer to go automatic. Best offer. Not sure how shipping would work - if anyone is local to the Atlanta GA area.... 2001 model 16' 2-step awning, gray and burgundy, some pinholes 2009 model 15' A&E manual awning, white and gray. like new, needs cleaning;) |
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awnings....
