Awning Issues

[phipps33]

We just purchased a NTU 2000 Sportsmen Ultra Lite travel trailer. It has a Carefree awning on it.

When I rolled it out yesterday I noticed a "thumping" sound as it rolled out. When I went to roll it up there was very little tension and I had to roll it in by hand. I am guessing the rear/left spring is broken. Is this a hard/expensive fix? Am I better to try to fix it or should I start saving for a new awning?

I was looking through a RV catalog I have and noticed a conversion kit to convert to a manual awning. That is significantly cheaper then a new awning. Has anyone used one of those?

Thanks for any suggestions/ideas!



Gary

[Steamguy]

I can answer several of the questions above as I did the conversion to manual on our trailer a number of years ago. We liked it better than the 'automatic' version that came on the trailer. The manual version has an 'angling' feature that is helpful for when you have the awning open in the rain. It also is much more secure in that the awning cannot unroll without turning the gears.

It can be done in half an afternoon with a couple people and two ladders. I figured out a much safer way than what Carefree ordinarily recommends, the longer story (with pictures) is on my blog.

CLICK HERE

I'm not quoting cost as I'm sure that has changed. I would recommend going to Carefree's site and selecting from the dealers shown there; that's what I did.

[phipps33]

Thought I'd give everyone an update. I pulled the left side apart today. I was already for the spring tension and nothing! A steel rod pulled out of the awning tube. I took the end cap off and no spring on the left side. I'm guessing the spring must have broken and rather than replacing the spring they put a 3ft piece of rod into the awning tube and attached to the arm cap.

Looks like I'll be looking for a replacement spring. At least I know how it comes apart now.

[wgriswold]

I got mine from either PPL-Motorhomes or Carefree. I can't remember but I am sure that I went on price.

[phipps33]

wgriswold wrote:
Very easy. You have to be very careful when the spring tension is released. IIRC a vice grip on the part that is going to rotate allows it to rotate in a controlled manner. A second pair of hands would help, but I did it alone.

If I may ask, where did you purchase your conversion kit?

[wgriswold]

Very easy. You have to be very careful when the spring tension is released. IIRC a vice grip on the part that is going to rotate allows it to rotate in a controlled manner. A second pair of hands would help, but I did it alone.

[phipps33]

wgriswold wrote:


The manual system is easy to use and I don't regret the change.

Was the conversion pretty easy to do?

[phipps33]

I looked closer tonight and I noticed the spot where the spring shaft connects to the arm endcap has a bolt in it. If whoever did that didn't wind the spring, would the spring flop around inside the tube?

I know I'm probably grasping at straws, but you never know.

[wgriswold]

I proactively converted to a manual awning several years ago. There were two reasons. My springs were 10 years old and I thought they were near the end of their life. Also the manual system cannot unwind while on the road from road wind.

The manual system is easy to use and I don't regret the change.

[newman_fulltime]

You might want to pull that end apart some of their awnings used a two part sping that booked to the end

[BarneyS]

Sounds to me like one of the springs inside the roller tube broke. It is a fairly easy replacement as long as you have some help. If you are not up to it, I would see if a mobile RV tech could come out and fix it.
Barney