I thought I would get the opinion of the "experts" here. My folks just had the fabric on their A & E awning replaced at Camping World. I haven't talked to them but below is how my mom described it in an email this morning. Does this sound right? Has anyone seen / had this happen when replacing the fabric before?
Quote: CW did their job on this but A&E is a crock. Their replacement fabrics for awnings are 'one size fits all' kind of thing, model to model. So when they were done installing it, we end up with about a 2 inch gap at the very top that should be covered by metal that isn't, and it doesn't roll up tight and solid so it sits there and rattles. If we get caught by a side or rear wind, it will fly open again. CW called A&E and complained and said the customer isn't happy with this; A&E basically said "Tough". CW's techs said it is a crock; guess Carefree will just replace the awning verus this mickey mouse setup. Crap, had we know we'd have ordered a whole new awning. Anyways, Dad will call them in a day or so (when he cools off a bit) and see what they have to say; otherwise, CEO here we come. And then Hot Line in MH Magazine and wherever else I can find to complain to.
Tony
TABA
Tony, Alisa, Bobby & Anika
1996 Sea Breeze
2002 Chaparral 186 SSi Boat
2006 Honda Odyssey (yes it is towed four down)
"For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know."
-- SSGT Curtis Frantz. KIA Vietnam, 1969
Just had the fabric on my A&E awning replaced by CW. Had to give then the model and size. Fits good works fine and is tight. They should have had the installers show them that it was working to there satisfaction before paying for it and driving off.
Also you mention it was an A&E. So what does Carefree have to do with it? Two different companys.
Tom & Bonnie
Crossville, TN.
Aspect 29H 2008
Class C past Class A owner
Pontiac G6 There is NO such Thing as a B+
Quote: They should have had the installers show them that it was working to there satisfaction before paying for it and driving off.
As mentioned in my posting - they did and as it says, CW called A & E and A & E said too bad. All of what occurred, including the phone call to A & E, occurred right there at CW.
Quote: So what does Carefree have to do with it?
She was simply saying that the CW techs said that Carefree replaces the whole thing - that is all. Merely a comparison.
It sounds like two issues here. The purchase of a universal fabric vs. the correct fabric- which is a CW communication problem, and a possibly bad installation.
I'm not sure about this-
Quote: So when they were done installing it, we end up with about a 2 inch gap at the very top that should be covered by metal that isn't, and it doesn't roll up tight and solid so it sits there and rattles.
It sounds like they replaced an acrylic awning with a vinyl one. The acrylic uses spacers at the top on the arms which need to be removed- that's a CW installation problem.
Actually, the more I think about it- it all sounds like a CW problem- the customer was sold the wrong thing, and it was installed incorrectly.
While I do like Carefree more than A & E- the issues likely would have been the same.
Quote: The paperworks says acrylic and the A&E label/model number on the awning matches the paperwork so have to assume we got acrylic. We also picked up the "Installation of New Awning Fabric" instructions that come directly from A&E. CW installed the replacement according to A&E's instructions: they were very insistent to show us exactly how they did it, according to the instructions. And then why did the rep from A&E say "Tough" that we weren't happy with the way it was done.
and
Quote: I know it is hard to explain what all they did on the awning. Let me try here: the metal cover is in kind of 'slats'. Ours, the 9000 model, was a 6-slat. On the original one the fabric fit in a special rod at the end of the slats so when it rolled up the fabric was completely covered. The instructions for replacement fabric tell them to remove the rod, which was hooked to what they called Slat "A", that held the original fabric and one slat (Slat "E", which is the one closest to the motorhome. Then the fabric is installed up underneath the remaining slats, attached underneath to the motorhome and again to the edge of Slat "A". When it rolls up, that creates the gap (from the removed slat) that leaves the fabric exposed to the sun and does not allow the awning to roll up tightly so it sits there and bounces something awful.
Quote: I know it is hard to explain what all they did on the awning. Let me try here: the metal cover is in kind of 'slats'. Ours, the 9000 model, was a 6-slat. On the original one the fabric fit in a special rod at the end of the slats so when it rolled up the fabric was completely covered. The instructions for replacement fabric tell them to remove the rod, which was hooked to what they called Slat "A", that held the original fabric and one slat (Slat "E", which is the one closest to the motorhome. Then the fabric is installed up underneath the remaining slats, attached underneath to the motorhome and again to the edge of Slat "A".
For 6 slat models, the instructions do say to remove one slat- but then you replace it- when done it should look like this- with the new fabric held at both the top and bottom.
Everyone... Thank you very much for the help! I forwarded all that to my folks and will see what they say today.
I do know one key difference may be the design of the awning. Theirs is an older one (1993'ish) and I remember we noticed it was different than the one on my MH (1996).
On Chris' picture and on my awning, the fabric goes up under all of the slats and fastens to the MH. On my folks' older one, it seems to me like the fabric does not do this - it just attaches at the end of the slats and that is it. I seem to recall my dad complaining about that and saying the design of mine was better because when it rains on his, water is able to come down through the slats and then drop under the awning because the fabric doesn't come all the way to the MH. Hopefully that makes sense.
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with the new fabric held at both the top and bottom.
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