Awning Recommendations

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PeteSr

Active member
May 10, 2020
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Hi Everyone,

As part of completing our exterior renovation I need to get an awning. Zip-Dee seems to be one I typically see and I am impressed with their quality. But, I DO NOT like the way the ZIP-Dee awning looks when it is installed. One of GMC's design goals was that the motorhome not look like a box. I admire the curve of the body and do not care for the way the permanent Zip-Dee awning arms breaks up it's lines. (It is bad enough that I have to have the rooftop A/C units and storage box - necessary evils.)

I am considering a Carefree of Colorado, Freedom Roof-mount awning. It is a box mount with folding arms that cantilever out. But it also has braces that manually can be swung out and attached to brackets mounted on the side of the coach. Seems to be the best of both worlds.

Do any of you out there have any experience with Carefree of Colorado awnings? I haven't been able to examine any of their products in person like I have the Zip-Dees.
 
Zip Dee also makes the Century, a roof mount lateral arm awning like the one you described. Although mine doesn’t have extra bracing, just the cantilevered arms.
 
I spoke with Shade Pro in Spring Valley, San Diego. I needed parts for my Carefree awning. I sent photos and they wrote back stating they no longer have parts. I called back asking about purchasing a new unit and the girl told they no longer make an awning for a GMC Motorhome. Jim Bounds later concurred stated that I was out of luck and that Zip-Dee was my best if not only option. I got a quote for a 17+ foot awning from Zip-Dee which was just under $3,000.00. Electric models are also not available…
 
Bill Bugg said:
I spoke with Shade Pro in Spring Valley, San Diego. I needed parts for my Carefree awning. I sent photos and they wrote back stating they no longer have parts. I called back asking about purchasing a new unit and the girl told they no longer make an awning for a GMC Motorhome. Jim Bounds later concurred stated that I was out of luck and that Zip-Dee was my best if not only option. I got a quote for a 17+ foot awning from Zip-Dee which was just under $3,000.00. Electric models are also not available…
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What was the shipping cost? When I got a quote, shipping was about $1200 to CA.
 
I am still sold on the CareFree Freedom Roof Mount awning. I like it's look on the coach, it's braced arms when deployed. So, I have been corresponding with the Carefree of Colorado sales dept., and they have even sent fabric samples. My Better Half wants a vintage look. Stripes running along the length of the coach are called horizontal, those running perpendicular to the length are called vertical. She would like a vertical symmetrical stripe pattern - just regular alternating stripes (dark brown and cream of some sort). Neither Zip Dee nor CareFree have that in their current inventory. CareFree does have a more modern type of fabric, but I thought to ask here first if anyone has any suggestions as to where to find a more vintage type pattern. BTW, we are looking for it in an acyrlic fabric.

Here is an example of what she is looking for (in different colors). We have seen this type on GMCs.
 

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Bill Bugg said:
I spoke with Shade Pro in Spring Valley, San Diego. I needed parts for my Carefree awning. I sent photos and they wrote back stating they no longer have parts. I called back asking about purchasing a new unit and the girl told they no longer make an awning for a GMC Motorhome. Jim Bounds later concurred stated that I was out of luck and that Zip-Dee was my best if not only option. I got a quote for a 17+ foot awning from Zip-Dee which was just under $3,000.00. Electric models are also not available…
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Not sure this helps but try this site: carefree-awnings
 
For the group's information - one of our members posted a picture of his awning that had exactly the fabric we desired. The Sunbrella corporation carries striped fabrics in a vertical pattern.

Also, CareFree of Colorado has told me that they are willing to build their Freedom box awning in a 5 meter length for my GMC. The Freedom awning is a cantilever awning with manual bracing arms (arms you manually fold out to lock into brackets on the side of the coach or to ground mounts).
 
Would someone with a 26 ft coach and a ZipDee awning please measure the Over-All-Length of their awning and tell me that number? I would like to know the OAL.

It seems that those awnings cover the entire length of the 26 ft coaches, and that their bottom side attachment is on the side just before the front and back fiberglass caps.

I am looking at a 5 meter awning. But, perhaps I need it to be a little bit longer...
 
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PeteSr said:
Would someone with a 26 ft coach and a ZipDee awning please measure the Over-All-Length of their awning and tell me that number? I would like to know the OAL.

It seems that those awnings cover the entire length of the 26 ft coaches, and that their bottom side attachment is on the side just before the front and back fiberglass caps.

I am looking at a 5 meter awning. But, perhaps I need it to be a little bit longer...
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I dont have the exact…. 26’ coach takes an 18’ awning give or take an inch.

it has to be exact because the arms drop down. Rear one has to allow the propane compartment to seal.

front arm has to fit between front window and dinette window.

also there is a structural beam that the arm secures to at those points.

i know there are exact measurments somewhere on gmcnet or photosite.
 
PeteSr said:
Would someone with a 26 ft coach and a ZipDee awning please measure the Over-All-Length of their awning and tell me that number? I would like to know the OAL.

It seems that those awnings cover the entire length of the 26 ft coaches, and that their bottom side attachment is on the side just before the front and back fiberglass caps.

I am looking at a 5 meter awning. But, perhaps I need it to be a little bit longer...
Click to expand...
I can take a measurement next time I'm out to my storage site. @LQQKatJon is correct. The front arms live been the two windows and the rear arm is just outside the compartment door. Basically, the awning covers the coach cap to cap.
 
Thanks to LQQK and others for the ZipDee length (17'-11&1/4"). That converts to about 5.5 meters. The actual numbers are 17'-11.25" is 5,467 mm (i.e. 5.47m) and 5 metes is 16'-4.85". So the CareFree awning that I like is 18.4" shorter than the ZipDee. Unfortunately, CareFree cannot make their awning any longer. That length doesn't cover the side as of the GMC as nicely. I would likely not cover the entire back window with the CareFree awning. I sure wish ZipDee made a box awning like CareFree's.

I have looked on the internet but not found any other RV awning manufacturers. Does anyone know of a good RV awning manufacturer besides ZipDee or CareFree?

As it stands now I have to decide between the too short CareFree or the ZipDee with the exposed side arms that I do not care for...
 
I have a line on a CareFree awning that came off a GMC, it just needs new fabric so that is the route I was going, I suppose I will need to double check the length then see if I can get new fabric.
 
caddmandew said:
Did you find a source for replacement fabric?
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Wow sorry for the super late reply, I actually found a used Zip Dee that needed some parts and the price was right. I also picked up a good Carefree tube with black material at auction and was going to use the material for the Zip Dee because I need to change the color (Zip Dee is Brown/Gold). The Carefree material is very cheap compared to Sunbrella. We have plenty of Amish in our area and I found a canvas shop that also does Sunbrella and he is going to make me one for 1/2 the cost.
 
Applied GMC

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