replacing power awning fabric

[Huntindog]

I have replaced the fabric of the manual awning that my last TT had.
I read some tips on here of easy ways to do it, and watched some you tube on it...
Well it was time to replace my present Dometic power awning fabric.. I could find nothing on the net but complicated disassembly instructions to do it... Everyone seems to think that the power ones are harder... Having done this yesterday, I can tell you.... It is not.
It is very similar to it's manual cousin.
But there are some things that need to be done differently.

The first thing to do is use a dremel and drill to make the slots in the end cap of the roller tube. Mine only had one slot, and it wasn't being used by the fabric. I needed to make 2 slots. I did this on a ladder to reach. Make sure to smooth out all sharp edges in the slots with the dremel to keep from cutting the new fabric.

Then use duct tape to cover the sharp edges at the top of the awning rails/arms. Both on the TT wall, and by the roller tube.

Next extend the awning. Position the roller near the end of it's travel so that the slots will not line up with the awning arm

Then get some heavy things. I used 6 gallon filled water jugs and some rachet straps to hang them from the awning arms to make them bend at the hinge and make slack in the fabric.

Next undo the screws on the top rail, and slide the fabric out . I had two helpers for this. The old fabric had shrunk some with age making it a tight fit, so a razor was carefully used to free it up, without scratching the roller tube.

Then lay out the new fabric. Everyone needs to be on the same page for the install. The most important duties are the two fabric feeders. The one feeding the fabric into the top wall slot, and the other one into the roller tube must be careful to make sure that the fabric is fed into the slots straight without snaging.. The third person can pull it along, only when the feeders say it is OK.

We had some difficulty starting the fabric into the roller. Two ropes need to go into different slots at the same time, and with the cap in place, it was a tight fit. But little by little we eased it on. Once past the cap, then it slid on easy.

You may find as I did that one of the roller grooves had some old cord stuck in it. It can be pried out with a small crewdriver and cut off.

Once it is positioned/centered, roll it in and out a few times. Then reinstall the screws in the top rail. I added a screw in the non feeding end of the roller to help secure the fabric in place.

And that is it. It took the three of us less than an hour to do it.. Not counting the prep work on the slots that I did the day before.

I paid 200.00 for genuine Dometic fabric, and that was the total cost.
Knock off fabric can be had for less.

[Huntindog]

You guys are welcome.
I have learned many things here. It feels good to be able to give some back.

An additional note: If your TT is a tall one like mine, Try to park it in the street in front of your house if possible. Then when you extend the awning it will be lower with you standing above street level. In my situation it mean't that the lower people could stand on the ground instead of on a ladder etc..

When making the slots. I used a drill to make the round part of it. Start with a small bit and increase the size as you adjust the hole location to match the roller. It is hard to get the center of the hole perfect on the first shot. The last step is a small cutoff wheel to cut the slot into the hole. Widen it to match the roller. When it is all done it should almost look factory.

[gmw_photos]

Thanks Dog ! I'm going to print this out and put it in the three ring binder of all the trailer stuff. I'm sitting here under my dometic awning right now as I read this, so it was easy to visualize all you did as I look up at this.

[bullsnot]

This is awesome! Thanks for posting. There is virtually nothing on the net. I registered just to thank you!!!