Changed out the awning today

[Ozz]

https://picasaweb.google.com/Jimsue1...eat=directlink

[noneck]

Looks really easy when you do it...I'm concerned your awning life span is too short tho. I'm still on my 1st set and I'm a second owner.

[kramperD]

Awesome Ozz!!!

[LonnieB]

Yessir, Ozzsome.

[Ozz]

Thanks folks!
Best part of it all is the cost; around $140.00
Cool beans...

[Mudchief]

Great job Ozz.

[D and M On The Road]

Good Job Ozz. I'd like to try and replace our awning myself but not too sure about handling the dreaded spring I hear so much about. Any tips on that?

We are on our third awning and have owned our Montana since July 2001. I try and keep proper care of the awning, but the husband keeps hitting trees so who knows how long our awnings could really last? *heavy sigh*

Awnings are like our decals, they have a certain street life, but we can do things to extend their life, besides not hitting trees.

If it gets wet, open it up and let it dry. Mildew loves the damp and dark and likes to grow on dirt and will damage, stain & weaken the fabric. Hose down & lightly brush the awning with clean water occasionally on a sunny day. Allow the awning to air dry completely before putting it away. This will also keep the colors nice and bright.

Follow the manufacturers cleaning instructions. Use of the wrong cleaners can destroy the protective coating on the fabric, weaken the fabric, fade the colors and end up destroying the fabric.

If you have a newer RV, you hopefully have an awning shield that the awning rolls up in. This protects it from the sun (and bad drivers) which is a major enemy to the awning. Our awning doesn't have one and we would have to buy an entire new awning assembly including all the arms, roller, etc just to have an awning shield. I will insist upon one whenever we buy a new RV.

For now, I just get a new awning about every 3-1/4 years.

[Ozz]

Roger and 10-4 on the shield. I also was interested in that, but I just have too many things on my plate right now to take on any extra.
The wrist-breaker is a concern, just use the proper cotter-pin.
I did not have the right one, so I used a wire... bad decision, the wire broke, wrapped around the internal shaft and I had to take it apart again, drill out the pop-rivets and get the copper wire out. My major failing, impatience. I finally ground down a large cotter-pin to fit.
Oh, the hole is in-line with the pin that secures both end-caps.
Not a job I would like to do every week, but not all that bad either, you should have 3 people, we did it with 2, lot more work up and down the ladders.

[D and M On The Road]

Thanks for responding Ozz.

It sounds like I should not try and replace the next awning myself and plan on letting CampingWorld continue to replace it each time.

I wonder if they would give me a quantity discount?