Carefree of Colorado awnings

I changed my Carefree awning to the crank system and love it. Cranking is easy, it would take you longer to get out the drill than to just crank it out by hand. I bought the parts from Amazon, installation was not too bad, and overall cost much less than replacing the spring(s). Plus, with the wormwheel drive you don't have to worry about the awning unrolling while trucking down the road. It's a win-win-win upgrade in my book. Highly recommended.

~Rick

Thanks to wannavolunteerFT. I have been trying to convince my wife that we should consider going to the crank setup. Her concern is how long and how many turns it would take to do it by hand? I suggested maybe to modify a crank to work with a power drill. Has anyone tried that? If I convert to crank will that replace and eliminate the springs altogether? We have to decide if we replace the whole assembly or just cranks and fabric. The front does not release freely and so the fabric has started to separate from the aluminum weatherguard. Being a 20 foot awning it won't be fun to do twice so I am using the great advice and experience here to make the right decision the first time. Since I changed coaches I have also updated my username in case somebody noticed a change.

Jim & Betty wrote:

CA Traveler wrote:
CareLess awnings are not top to the line.

OK what is?

JimR

Girard

I converted my carefree awning from spring to crank, love the mod as it is much easier for one person to work. My awning was large enough, I couldn't hold the pull strip in the center and flip the release at the same time. I ended up letting it slip and roll up in the awning a couple of times, and had to find help to get it back open. Conversion kit is on carefree site.

Also, I found the carefree awning more complicated to work than the previous brand I had. Maybe because it was different, but I am happier with the crank mod.

pacearrow96 wrote:
I got a response today from Carefree identifying which model that I have but they tell also me that I need the number from the roller. How do I release the pressure from the springs safely? On my older unit I had to torque up the smaller awnings to get them to retract tighter but I have never had the opportunity to deal with the patio side. I intend to replace the fabric too, so if the springs are broken won't the tension be more relaxed? I assume that the springs will come with instructions and precautions as to how to properly put them into service safely.
Are the Carefree products more inclined to failure? I can't understand both springs going bad so soon although I have no idea how long they have been out of service. My old '96 Pace Arrow's A&E /Faulkner awnings were 20 years old and aside from fading of the fabric still operated fine if the ratchet in the patio tube was kept lubricated periodically. Is this a common defect or just a random failure?

Perhaps I do not understand but if you just extend the awning the tube will be exposed also it seems you think the springs are broke how do you know that, perhaps the previous owner messed things up, just saying.
Please do not take this wrong but with fabric and hardware a new awning may be more cost effective. IMO you need someone to see if the springs are really broke.

Anyway good luck keep us posted

JimR

CA Traveler wrote:
CareLess awnings are not top to the line.

OK what is?

JimR

CareLess awnings are not top to the line.

I got a response today from Carefree identifying which model that I have but they tell also me that I need the number from the roller. How do I release the pressure from the springs safely? On my older unit I had to torque up the smaller awnings to get them to retract tighter but I have never had the opportunity to deal with the patio side. I intend to replace the fabric too, so if the springs are broken won't the tension be more relaxed? I assume that the springs will come with instructions and precautions as to how to properly put them into service safely.
Are the Carefree products more inclined to failure? I can't understand both springs going bad so soon although I have no idea how long they have been out of service. My old '96 Pace Arrow's A&E /Faulkner awnings were 20 years old and aside from fading of the fabric still operated fine if the ratchet in the patio tube was kept lubricated periodically. Is this a common defect or just a random failure?

The numbers on the arms are not the one that you need, that's for hardware, at least I'm pretty sure my memory serves me right on this. The numbers you need are on the awning tube. And the only way to get to them is to unroll the awning. A bad thing if the springs are broken, I know.

They should be able to get the springs pretty quick, and I would say any decent sized repair place will have them in stock.

For heavens sake, be careful when you do this spring change, if you do it. That spring not can, but will hit you 15 times before you can move your hand. Don't ask how I know, I've changed 100 awnings and springs over 10 years as a tech.

Stonevoss

Contact these folks. They can tell you what you have by description and may have springs available.