Awning Help!! Replace or repair?

[Intrepid_Family]

We've got broken brackets on our camper awning. Two months ago, we had a bad tire blow-out that caused a bent axle, major repairs, etc., and we wonder if the brackets cracked/broke during the bouncy ride before we realized the axle was in trouble. We haven't had the awning out since it was in the shop to be repaired. This weekend, we rolled it out to scrub/dry it, etc., in preparation for a trip we are taking in 2 weeks.

The awning itself, spring mechanism, etc., is fine. The rear bracket assembly is fine, but the front one is cracked at the bottom and completely broken through at the top, so that the top support arm no longer affixes to the camper.

We are in trouble. I don't want/like to camp without it. One nearby repair place can't even look at us until mid-July. We took it to a dealership further away who could look at it today -
and they tell us they don't make the brackets anymore, so the only thing to do is to replace the entire awning!

For $2,000!!!

Is this right? It just seems very fishy to me! The awning is 26 foot with no holes or tears, and the spring mechanism is still tight and functional - we were able to pull it out and put it back up this weekend without problems. We just couldn't *lift* it because of the broken bracket. Does this sound reasonable? Even the actual support arms are undamaged. They are white metal (?aluminum?) and the brackets are a heavier gray metal - it's the gray bits that have cracked/broken. The actual arms are completely normal/functional

I'm just wanting to make sure we're not being taken in out of our desperation.

Would it not be possible to replace the entire support-arm set-up on the broken side? That seems like it ought to be less expensive than replacing the whole thing. Are they that brand-specific and proprietary that if one piece is broken it has to be entirely replaced?

The RV is a 2007, but we had rain damage in 2010 and the entire awning was brand new at that time.

If nothing else, we would like advice as to how we can "jerry rig" this for a while - maybe even get us through the summer - without having to put in a brand new awning! We're in a very serious bind because we have a trip planned in mid June that is not optional and cannot be changed or postponed. The RV is our "hotel" - we can't possibly afford to house all of us in an actual hotel. If we have to go awning-less, we will, but I'd rather find a quick and effective solution.

Anyone? Please!

[bstar1952]

I'm a pretty experienced RVer and handyman and my opinion is getting ripped off by RV dealers/shops is common. Last year, I was charged $450 for a bad brake that I could have fixed for about $60 with parts from e-trailer if I had know. This was from a very well know RV dealer here in San Antonio. Sent a detailed letter to the service manager and did not even get a reply. Lesson learned and will never use or recommend this dealer again.

Glad to see you weren't screwed....

[Intrepid_Family]

We got the R.V. back from the shop today, did NOT opt for the "can't be repaired" line, and when we unrolled it to take photos to post here, we found the tag that tells us manufacture information. (Sunsetter, Dometic,an A&E product. Manufactured May 2010) Less than 5 minutes with Google, and we found the replacement parts for less than $30 INCLUDING express shipping. Very annoyed that a dealership would try to take advantage so badly, and appreciate the links and information provided here. I didn't know where to look for that manufacture's tag!

I didn't post photos with the original plea because I didn't have the RV at home and the shop is 40 minutes away.

What I wanted to know from more experienced RVers was simply whether or not the "must be replaced" verdict seemed legitimate. It was shocking to go from thinking we might have $100 in parts and labor to replace the broken pieces to $2K for a whole new awning. We don't keep that kind of spare change around! 😛 Needless to say, we won't be using that shop again.

Thanks for the help.

[Chris_Bryant]

Can you post a picture of the awning?- like the spring end or an arm?
I'm not aware of a brand that has gone out of business after 2007- IIRC, Faulkner went out well before that.

[fitznj]

I had an older (2006 A&E) awning with broken brackets; There are a bunch of
internet sites which sell brackets for different types of awning makers. I also found the brackets on Amazon.

Unfurl the awning all the way - there may be a makers tag on the roller tube or
the awning material. Mine was on the roller tube and hard to find.

in the mean time Use a $50 portable awning from WMart - that's what I did when my awning needed work.

[sch911]

Intrepid_Family wrote:

sch911 wrote:
Why not shop around for the needed parts and do the work yourself?

That's the problem - we are told that this 'brand' of awning isn't made any more and the parts can't be found. I can't find anything on the awning that identifies its brand/make/model to look it up to search the pieces ourselves.

We had thought that by taking it to a dealership, they'd have the ability to find that information/search the parts, but they tell us they can't be found.

And we're back to square one. 😕

If you post a picture of the awning and broken parts we would be able to identify it in seconds. And someone will know where to get those parts within minutes. Again you need to try to help us help you, not tell us the sky is falling!

[MitchF150]

Get a couple of 10x10 canopy's and call it good. Advantage to them is you can move them around depending on where the sun is.

I've had my awning out, plus put my 10x10 in front because we faced West and it still just barley provided shade..

We consider our awning our 'slide out' so it's important to us too.. Ours is an A and E brand, so I'm pretty sure they are still around?

Good luck!

Mitch

[Lwiddis]

Hunger is urgent. Lack of water is urgent. Rigging a shade with a five dollar plastic tarp is easy. Stressing over repair of an old awning isn't urgent. Replace the awning on this older RV.

[Intrepid_Family]

IAMICHABOD wrote:
Try This Place I got a part I needed from them and installed it myself,they are very helpful

Thank you. We will look there!

[Intrepid_Family]

Lwiddis wrote:
Desperation over an awning? The sky is not falling.

True, but we are heading to a very hot location with very limited shade and will be there 2 weeks. An awning - or not - will make all the difference in our comfort level throughout the trip. We've had this RV for years and very much enjoy the comfort of the awning! Shade in the hot sun, protection from rain - vastly increasing our living space when 6 (or, for this upcoming trip only 5) people are eating, cooking, playing games or just hanging out for 2 weeks in a small space. This is not a 'luxury' RV on the inside.

Not sure why my urgency deserves derision, but it's important to me and I'm hoping to find a solution in the tiny time-window I have.

I'm also concerned about the safety of driving with the awning as it is now. I believe *most* of the weight of the awning is supported by its spring-mechanism bit, and the support arms are primarily useful when it's rolled out - but I don't *know* that.
As it is right now, neither connection on the front arm of the awning is very securely affixed to the RV and we have nearly 500 miles drive to get to our destination. What do I do if the awning literally *falls off* the rig on the interstate?

It is an important consideration.

[Intrepid_Family]

sch911 wrote:
Why not shop around for the needed parts and do the work yourself?

That's the problem - we are told that this 'brand' of awning isn't made any more and the parts can't be found. I can't find anything on the awning that identifies its brand/make/model to look it up to search the pieces ourselves.

We had thought that by taking it to a dealership, they'd have the ability to find that information/search the parts, but they tell us they can't be found.

And we're back to square one. 😕

[Lwiddis]

Desperation over an awning? The sky is not falling.

[IAMICHABOD]

Try This Place I got a part I needed from them and installed it myself,they are very helpful

[sch911]

Why not shop around for the needed parts and do the work yourself?