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 HEREI'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.