awning installed

[H3Jim]

Yippee, I got my 20 ft Zip Dee, lateral arm awning up!.  About killed me I think.  It weighs 222 lbs. I had several friends / neighbors help, but we all agreed if I do another, we need 4 people not 3.  I am thinking of putting 3 more up, to make it front to back on both sides.  I've seen another H3 with front to back awnings, and it makes for nice lines.  The bolts do stick down slightly into the coach, but I think whatever I do for the ceiling will cover it. 

I have a flatbed trailer, and when the awning was delivered, I slid it out of the truck onto the trailer.  Something that large and heavy is a little unwieldy. Then we put some 8" x 8" blocks underneath it so we could grip it easily. Dennis loaned me some scaffolding, 7' tall, and I put several sections next to the bus.  We lifted it up the 5 feet to the scaffolding, and then got on the scaffolding and lifted it up the other 5 feet or so to the roof.  I had previously mounted the brackets up there, but apparently its really critical as to being straight as in 1/4 inch runout over 20 feet  is way too much.  Fortunately I had drilled 3/8 holes for 5/16 bolts, and we were able to scoot it over enough.  Not really fun muscling that amount of weight around at that height.  Maybe the $1,000 they wanted to install was a fair price.  Its done now and after the memory fades a little, I may order the others.

The remote control is nifty, it hangs near the front door.  I also installed the anemometer which automatically closes the awning when wind speed exceeds 22 mph, although I don't think I am likely to go away and leave it out.  It's so easy to put in and out, a button push, it makes sense to keep it closed when not needed.

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi Jim,

It looks great...... Good Luck With it.

I remember last year installing my 24' A&E LA03.  Just the 2 of us and my fork lift. Way Safer...

Now, I hope you have an ignition safty switch in the wireing.. I do, and glad that feature is in place.

I tried to start the bus a couple times and foregetting to retract the awning.... Ha Ha... can you imagine rolling down the highway with it out..Not good!

Nick-

[H3Jim]

I have the relay in place, but have not run the 12v wire from the ignition back to it.  I do have it on a circuit breaker and for now will turn pwer off while driving.  these remotes would be too easy to hit, or run into someone broadcasting something - it wold be a disaster if it ever opened while under way.  I need to run that wire, probably not long before I stop turning off the breaker....

[Torquester]

Sweeeet. Looks great. A very nice addition to a beautiful coach.

Tq

[ChuckMC9]

Oh man. It's photos like that that make my little efforts look inferior. Man, what an inviting scene. I love the quality of light that filters thru. I gotta keep reminding myself that I, too can have that someday! Congratulations on the installation!

I'll be over for Pina Coladas under the awning in just a jiffy...

[H3Jim]

Guys, thanks for the support. 

Chuck, its all those little efforts that add up to the fun in this hobby.  I've thought the same thing when I see Sean W's coach. Just keep plugging and use it every chance you get.  It keeps getting more fun.  And do stop by for pina coladas! - I  have a place to park an extra bus - right where the trailer and scaffolding are.

The down side to the height of these H coaches is that the space under an awning is not as "intimate" as with other coaches. 

You pays your money and you takes your chances.

[Rich (Prevost)]

"Funny" story from one of the technicians here at the Prevost Service Center. The anemometer was installed in reverse by the converter on one of the coaches. So the awninig automatically OPENED at 22 mph on the way to our branch..........you can imagine the rest.

Rich

[H3Jim]

Rich you gave me a scare so I just called tech support at Zip Dee.  There are two power wires that go to the Somfy motor in the awning, one is for opening, the other for closing.  While the wires to the anemometer itself can be reversed with no affect at all, its the wires to the motor that are important.  open vs close.  The tech suggested to get up there with an air hose to test.

Of course, Nicks point about making sure the "all power off" relay is installed so when the ignition is on there is no power to the awning - would keep this from happening too.

All these complications from making it automatic - no worries if its manual.

[Skykingrob]

Hey Jim
Great install, great look.  Now for reality. I have a friend who owns an 02 Newell with one of those awnings. He also lives in a gated community. He carries the remote for the community gate in his coach. You guessed it. He hit the remote to open the gate, the awning deployed and after the awning hit the gate and brick walls holding the gate, neither the awning or the gate were the same. Just a friendly word of warning. Take care. Love the inspiration I get from the pics of progress, keep it up.

Rob
91 LeMirage XL
Missouri

[FloridaCliff]

Jim,

Looks Great!

I deal with "state of the art"  commercial electronics all day,

so its NO surprize that I recommend manual deployment of the awning.  LOL   

Best of luck,

Cliff

[Rich (Prevost)]

What a great feeling that you don't have to get up in the middle of the night & go outside in your underwear when you hear the awning flapping outside. it will automatically come in if the winds are excessive. And not hitting your head on the support bar, priceless.........How easy to open it up & put it away.

Another little warning is for sticks & debris. I have talked to people that have "rolled up" some funny items in the awning when they are putting the awning in.

Rich

[H3Jim]

The Zip Dee has a brush on the top edge, so it lightly brushes the awning as it closes, and will push off any sticks or leaves that are on it.  Nice feature.  I will probably never go to bed with the awning out, or leave camp with it out either. 

With the manul kind its just enough of a hassle that its easy to be lazy and not do it "till later".  With the automatic kind, its so easy to just push one button and its done, theres no reason not to do it.  And if you change your mind, and need it out again, its just one button push away.

That said, I haven't really missed having an awning, but it will keep the inside cooler with the big windows.

Not having support bars is also very nice.  Every once and a while you can really clock yourself on those things!

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hay Rich,

My A&E LA03 also has the brush that sweeps off thr leaves, and I also found out that it works for pine needles too.

Jim, How many coated cables does the Zip Dee have in their arms?

A&E has 4 per, at the time Zip Dee and Gerard only had 3. Have they changed?

Nick-

[H3Jim]

NIck, the Zip Dee's are 3 wires.  but I suspect that more is overkill.