I installed the product from this eBay seller: Awning to replace my Dometic A&E 8300 series and I thought I'd give a few details about the item.First, the seller says this awning is made from heavier material than the original but it's not. The orig is .018" and the new stuff is .014". This doesn't sound like a lot but you can definitely feel the difference (not a deal breaker though). Then there's the "fade" coloring. The color isn't nearly as dark as the images on-line and I would have liked it a bit darker but it's not a big deal.This awning is advertised as having a vinyl "weather shield". You can see in my second image that the WS lets a lot of light through, which I kinda of like but if your needs/tastes may differ. This WS also causes the awning to have s seam about two feet down from the roof. A bit unsightly IMO.All in all, I think the product is fine for the money (orig will cost 4~6 times as much) and looks pretty good. It fit well and the sides were actually seamed straighter than the original. Still needs to bake in the sun and get the wrinkles out:View from underside - note light coming through weather shield:My TT smells like new again!Hope this helps anybody that was considering this option.Cheers,Scott

So, it was just the material? You needed to install on your "roller" and brackets? Sounds like a deal.

mleekamp wrote:So, it was just the material? You needed to install on your "roller" and brackets? Sounds like a deal.Yes, exactly just the fabric. I think it was worth the money.

We bought one of those,too......and we're into our 2nd summer of using it. Last summer, when not traveling, it stayed out (we use RV as guest house) and we get lots of sun here. Also, we used it all winter in Arizona. It STILL looks brand new. :) We're happy with it.

We just got a "new to us" TH that needs a new awning of this kind and size. What was the level of difficulty in doing it yourself?

Looks fine... just helped the BIL do his last fall he paid about $250.00 for his 19' fabric... just had to watch the roller springs.. not a hard job... and at $119.00 ..!

$119 eBay replacement awning material | Good Sam Community

11 Replies

ScottG
Nomad
Jun 09, 2014
I just wanted to post one more comment about this material after camping with it..
A lot of light comes through it! Both from the weather guard and the colored part as well.
So if blocking light or heat is an important function of your awning buy something else.
westend
Explorer
Jun 05, 2014
ScottG wrote:
westend wrote:
Looks good. Does the roller side of the awning come with a welt or hem sewn?

It comes with one sewn in welt for the valance. Then you crease a line where the awning portion attaches on the roller and slide the plastic round thingy in from the ends. When I saw this in the directions I thought, No freakin way! But it was very easy. I used a cheap plastic scraper (dulled with sandpaper) to crease a line along the length of the grove and the "thingy" slid right in. It made for a nice tight fit around the roller.
Is that what you meant?
Thanks for replying and the explanation of the roller attachment.

I am tossing around some ideas on how to install an awning on my old Starcraft and would like to forgo the roller part. If I can find an awning material with a welt on the roller side, I can use it by manually sliding the welt into an existing awning fitting on the trailer.

The price on your awning is cheaper than I can buy the material, wholesale, and have my BIL, the upholster sew it for free. Great deal you got there!
ScottG
Nomad
Jun 05, 2014
westend wrote:
Looks good. Does the roller side of the awning come with a welt or hem sewn?

It comes with one sewn in welt for the valance. Then you crease a line where the awning portion attaches on the roller and slide the plastic round thingy in from the ends. When I saw this in the directions I thought, No freakin way! But it was very easy. I used a cheap plastic scraper (dulled with sandpaper) to crease a line along the length of the grove and the "thingy" slid right in. It made for a nice tight fit around the roller.
Is that what you meant?
westend
Explorer
Jun 05, 2014
Looks good. Does the roller side of the awning come with a welt or hem sewn?
powderman426
Explorer
Jun 05, 2014
Just for additional information, about a year ago I bought the awning shade screen from shadeproinc on eBay and was very pleased. Nice heavy screen with sewn edges and grommets all around with hardware for less than $50. They also sell awning fabric but haven't had need for that yet. My experience was very good.
ScottG
Nomad
Jun 05, 2014
We found we needed 4 people to do the job safely without damaging the material. We need two people to handle the awning roller with the material installed on it. Those two people would walk the awning along as one person above would guide the material into the top rail and the forth person would pull the material along form the other end of the awning rail.

All in all not a bad job.
One note though, make sure when you start that the awning is pulled all the way out and the rafters are LOCKED. I neglected to lock one side and ended up doing minor damage to one arm.
The most dangerous task is of course tightening the springs. But they're not nearly as strong as I thought they would be. Not really hard to do at all.
ford_truck_guy
Nomad
Jun 05, 2014
Looks fine... just helped the BIL do his last fall he paid about $250.00 for his 19' fabric... just had to watch the roller springs.. not a hard job... and at $119.00 ..!
bhamlyn
Explorer
Jun 05, 2014
We just got a "new to us" TH that needs a new awning of this kind and size. What was the level of difficulty in doing it yourself?
amandasgramma
Explorer
Jun 05, 2014
We bought one of those,too......and we're into our 2nd summer of using it. Last summer, when not traveling, it stayed out (we use RV as guest house) and we get lots of sun here. Also, we used it all winter in Arizona. It STILL looks brand new. :) We're happy with it.
ScottG
Nomad
Jun 05, 2014
mleekamp wrote:
So, it was just the material? You needed to install on your "roller" and brackets? Sounds like a deal.

Yes, exactly just the fabric.
I think it was worth the money.