U.P. BLDR
Upper Peninsula of Michigan
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Joined: 07/23/2005
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westend wrote:
UP, did you tackle the awning? Inquiring minds want to see the new awning, lol.
Working on it. I am shortening an old 15' awning down to 10'. Cut the main tube in the chop saw last night and going to assemble it this afternoon. Will need extra hands to get it on the trailer so will depend on when some buddies are available. The new awning btw is older than my TT lol.
1981 Sunline 17 1/2SB - under construction
2003 Toyota Tundra SR5 TRD 4x4 4.7lt
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U.P. BLDR
Upper Peninsula of Michigan
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Joined: 07/23/2005
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They say installing an awning is a 3 man job, I say where there's a will there's a way. I'm used to working by myself and often tackle jobs alone that normally require help. So I thought how can I get the awning threaded in the channel on the camper? Bingo! the light went on. I put the main tube with the awning attached on my creeper, it was fully unrolled so I could reach the top of the camper. Got my ladder ready and lifted up the awning and slid the top down the channel on the camper. The creeper followed me with the tube as I went. No extra hands needed.
The rest was relatively easy. Got the arms installed plumb and square, rolled up the awning and mounted in the arms. Then had to wind the springs. I started with 6 turns as that's what the chart said for a 10' awning, but ended up going with 8 turns as it just wasn't enough tension.
Ok so got it all wound up and everything installed. Time to try it out. Comes out just fine and sets up nice. Went to put it back and it wouldn't wind straight on the roll. Keeps drifting to the right and throwing everything off. I fought with this problem for awhile and finally took some measurements. The left side of the awning is stretched. It's 1/2" longer than the right, which I guess is enough to throw it off. Hmmm, how do you handle that? Well I got an idea, I cut a piece of heavy wire, like #6 or so about a foot long and taped it to the tube on the left side. My thought was that this will increase the diameter of the tube and take up the slack on that side. It worked! Well sort of. It rolls up straight now but this awning has a heavy rubber end that attaches to the trailer and it's old and stiff and doesn't want to completely roll up very well. What I really need aside from a new awning fabric is to get my wife to cut off that rubber and sew a cord on that end that will fit in the channel. We could square up the fabric same time and the shorter length would be better for this little TT anyways. I need to treat her extra nice tonight, maybe even clean the kitchen lol.
It's usable now, but I have to get up there and help it get that final roll. I thought about giving the springs another couple turns, but I don't want to break them. I have an awning that rolls up into a box like thing, with legs that pop out of it. It has a good fabric but it's only 8' wide. Guess that would work temporary if I have to. Really want something for this weekend. Feel naked without an awning.
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U.P. BLDR
Upper Peninsula of Michigan
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Joined: 07/23/2005
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Sometimes you have to step back from your work for awhile, so I took a break, had dinner, shot .22's with my son in the back yard and then went back to to the shop. I noticed two things, first the right side end cap was hitting the upper mounting bracket not allowing it to completely roll up. I drifted the mount in the bracket and then moved the bracket a half inch and it rolls up now.
The second thing was the awning fabric. When I cut it down I followed the stripes thinking it would be clean and square, but it wasn't. I had to cut from an inch and a half to nothing on the left side, and then slide the awning over in the tube and top rail. After that it rolled up straight. Not sure how long this old awning fabric will last but should be good for the season, barring getting caught in a major wind.
I pulled the legs out as if I was going to stake them, just to see. Wow what a neat space this is without the brackets on each side. I've never setup like this before, I'm always afraid a storm will kick up and I'll have to get it back up in a hurry, but I will be setting the legs out in nice weather that's for sure. I think I'll have a beer under the awning tonight 
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Perrysburg Dodgeboy
Perrysburg, Ohio USA
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Joined: 12/06/2003
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When we had the old TT on a perm site I used tap-cons to secure the legs to the pad. Worked out well. When we would leave I just uncliped from the pad and reattached to the TT.
Don
Perrysburg Dodgeboy
2004 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad Cab SLT Cummins HO
2005 Keystone Cougar 304 BHS
Chrysler the only one to pay back 100% of their loans from the Government. *The Old Car Company" still owes 1.6 billion. Is that better Chuckles 
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westend
all over
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Joined: 11/17/2011
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Oh man, that is sweet!I can see if a guy got some clip on screens on the open ends, you'd have your own gazebo! I suppose they make that sort of thing.
That rolling thing would have had me puzzled for awhile.
I'll have to look into the awning thing, that is just cool.
'03 F-250 4x4 CC
'71 Starcraft Wanderstar -- The Cowboy/Hilton
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CavemanCharlie
Storden,MN
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Joined: 03/01/2012
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There is a little wheel that is suppose to go on the top corner of your camper door to keep it from tearing the awning. In some of your pictures I can't see one on there. The door corner will tear your awning quickly if you don't have one on there. You may be able to come up with a temporary fix for the weekend. Something like a big wad of electric tape stuck to the corner of the door will at least keep the awning from being ripped. lol(Even though it would look like heck) You may plan to always set the awning up high enough that the door will not catch it. But, it only takes that one time for someone to open the door at the wrong time to make a big rip.
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jblz51
Otto, MO, USA
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Joined: 05/12/2004
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I replaced the fabric on my awning and it took twelve turns on the springs to get it to close correctly, and the springs are still intact. So you should be okay if they looked in decent shape.
Josh
2001 Chevy Tahoe
1991 Jayco Eagle 220
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pasusan
PA
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Joined: 05/13/2009
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Looks like now you don't have to cut off the rubber. Great space under there - enjoy! 
Trip Pics
"Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy." JB & GF
Susan & Ben ~
84 Bronco & 90 Award Classic 23 joined with a Hensley Cub
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U.P. BLDR
Upper Peninsula of Michigan
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Joined: 07/23/2005
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CavemanCharlie wrote:There is a little wheel that is suppose to go on the top corner of your camper door to keep it from tearing the awning. In some of your pictures I can't see one on there. The door corner will tear your awning quickly if you don't have one on there. You may be able to come up with a temporary fix for the weekend. Something like a big wad of electric tape stuck to the corner of the door will at least keep the awning from being ripped. lol(Even though it would look like heck) You may plan to always set the awning up high enough that the door will not catch it. But, it only takes that one time for someone to open the door at the wrong time to make a big rip.
I know exactly what you're talking about and I'll be putting one on before the weekend.
jblz51 wrote:I replaced the fabric on my awning and it took twelve turns on the springs to get it to close correctly, and the springs are still intact. So you should be okay if they looked in decent shape.
Thanks! It's winding up pretty good now, but I think another turn would help. The springs looked fine.
pasusan wrote:Looks like now you don't have to cut off the rubber. Great space under there - enjoy!
Yeah don't have to, but still want to. I don't need that much projection on this little TT. It's low to the ground and the walls are short so a 93" projection makes for steep angles on the brackets. Taking off about 16" would be perfect and it would roll up much better without that heavy rubber.
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U.P. BLDR
Upper Peninsula of Michigan
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Joined: 07/23/2005
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Round two on the awning. Hated that thick rubber, just didn't work well with that on, so off it comes. I cut the round end off if it that goes into the channel on the camper to sew into the fabric since I couldn't think of anything better to use, and it's free.
Was able to square up the canopy and make the top parallel with the bottom, which it wasn't before. We setup a table and brought the wifes sewing machine out in the garage and she did a bang up job at sewing it up.
Second time back on the camper went easier than the first. Put 7 winds in the springs, pulled it out, let it back in, dang nice and straight! I'm a happy camper lol! Works just like new. My $50 awning is officially a score now. I'll be heading out with the Sunny late tomorrow for another weekend in the woods, this time I'll have a roof over my dirt bike, and a place to grill if it rains. Cheers!
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