Forum Discussion

kbg's avatar
kbg
Explorer
Oct 06, 2016

Carefree Awning Question

I had a dealer install a Carefree Slideout Awning topper over the slideout on my travel trailer 2 years ago. 2 years later, the topper is not working properly and the dealer just told me that the tube is slightly bent from water pooling up on top of it. Because of this, it isn't covered under my extended warranty. I am livid over this because it seems to me that that is what the awning topper is designed to do, to keep water off the top of the slideout and if that caused the tube to bend, it is a defect and should be replaced at no charge. He is basically telling me that I cant have my slideout extended out when its raining in Washington State. Am I the only one who thinks this is the dumbest explanation Ive ever heard?
Seeking Advice
  • path1's avatar
    path1
    Explorer
    Oct 07, 2016
    kbg wrote:
    Kent RV, 22401 88th AVE S. Kent, WA 98031. I will never go back there again


    And you used to be able to use their dump. Not anymore what I understand. Some guy dumped big time and the mess was so big it ran into the street and city got involved. City gave them a talking to and they don't want to risk anymore problems. Hearsay, what I heard, not chipped in stone, just what I heard.

    I buy parts from them sometimes.
  • kbg's avatar
    kbg
    Explorer
    Oct 06, 2016
    He did take it off, cut some of the fabric off, respooled it and it works now. He charged me $246 bucks. My issue is and always has been that I spent over $700 on this topper that they put on, two years later they wouldn't back up their product nor take care of it on Extended Warranty that is supposed to cover all major items on my Trailer for five years from purchase. Its been two. They are insinuating that rain caused the bend so its not covered under warranty. $246 bucks is not that much money. That's not the point. I strongly believe in Service after the Sale. They lost my business as I wont ever go back there again. I am going to call CareFree and talk to them about this. It should not do this.
  • kbg's avatar
    kbg
    Explorer
    Oct 06, 2016
    Kent RV, 22401 88th AVE S. Kent, WA 98031. I will never go back there again
  • 2chiefsRus's avatar
    2chiefsRus
    Explorer
    Oct 06, 2016
    the weight of the water on the material should have caused the fabric to dip down NOT bend the hardware. Have never seen enough tension on the fabric taut enough to bend metal. How far out does your slide come? How much extra fabric is left on the roll when the slide is fully extended?
  • path1's avatar
    path1
    Explorer
    Oct 06, 2016
    Call Carefree and ask them to get their opinion. They were very user friendly to me when I called them (about different problem).

    But the long and short of your problem is that you'll probably cross that dealer off your list, and provide advertising for them. The bad type of advertising.

    I'm in WA also. What dealer?
  • Community Alumni's avatar
    Community Alumni
    Oct 06, 2016
    IMO it should not have bent. My topper awning material is a mesh so no water accumulates there.

    JimR
  • Hondavalk's avatar
    Hondavalk
    Explorer II
    Oct 06, 2016
    mbrower wrote:
    I have the carefree slide toppers. The roller does not have much tension on it and any water that pools will just pull excess fabric out from roller. don't see how you could create enough tension to bend the roller.


    Agree with that. When water pools on my slide topper it just weighs down onto the slide roof. When I leave and pull in the topper the water simple runs off,
  • mbrower's avatar
    mbrower
    Explorer
    Oct 06, 2016
    I have the carefree slide toppers. The roller does not have much tension on it and any water that pools will just pull excess fabric out from roller. don't see how you could create enough tension to bend the roller.
  • NYCgrrl's avatar
    NYCgrrl
    Explorer
    Oct 06, 2016
    Does sound like a strange answer though I don't know how the tube bent or what your warranty says. Have you contacted the manufacturer? If not do.

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