Is damaged awning DIY repairable?

Beernutzbob · 01-18-2024, 06:11 AM

I think I brushed the side of a tree leaving a campground with the rear awning and didn't realize it until we tried to open the awning at the next site. I found that pantherrvproducts.com carried Dometic awning replacement parts and I'm wondering if anyone has attempted a similar repair. I watched a couple youtube repair videos done by professional rv repair techs which made me think it was at least possible to DIY the repair.

dutchmensport · 01-18-2024, 06:54 AM

With enough time, money, the right tools, and the space to do the work, anything is fixable. Yes, you probably can do it. But normally, when awnings arms get bent up, it's just much easier to replace them. You might check at a couple RV dealerships near you and see if they have any old ones laying around they are tossing out. Maybe you can find the parts for the end not twisted up and they will just give them to you.

**chuckster57** · 01-18-2024, 07:14 AM

JMHO, it will be a LOT less stressful to just replace and move on.

You need an arm and the tube and the idler end. Trying to straighten things out can end badly.

Stircrazy · 01-18-2024, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beernutzbob

I think I brushed the side of a tree leaving a campground with the rear awning and didn't realize it until we tried to open the awning at the next site. I found that pantherrvproducts.com carried Dometic awning replacement parts and I'm wondering if anyone has attempted a similar repair. I watched a couple youtube repair videos done by professional rv repair techs which made me think it was at least possible to DIY the repair.

If you are going to try fix the parts you have, it is not worth the effort, if you are going to replace the damaged pieces with new then it is worth the effort if it is cheaper than buying a whole new awning. if the price is close to replacing then you really have to look at the condition of the rest of the awning and decide which way you want to go.

Beernutzbob · 01-18-2024, 03:48 PM

Thanks for the replies everyone.

LadyCPA · 01-19-2024, 05:14 PM

We are always more than happy to provide our opinion! Good luck with the repair, no matter how you decide to proceed.

Ddaddyo · 01-28-2024, 09:16 AM

Yes its DIY repairable. We're on a Permanent Site and the Hat Boys have repaired or replaced ed many awnings. Three guys here that love to wear Straw Hats!

Wantoride · 01-28-2024, 10:22 AM

I did the same thing , only I had the guided help from the county road crew working on my road! With there help I took out a mailbox and pulled the rear part of the awning away from the body. I managed to bring it all back in-line and secure it with screws but could not open it due to the center support of the rear mechanism had ripped the pins attaching it to the gas strut. I found the part on eBay. Dealer couldn’t help, neither did domtectic. Got it back together and works fine. Still a little bent so it binds a bit when opening and closing but better than replacing the whole thing.

DAMILLER_SR · 01-29-2024, 08:37 AM

Like many have probably stated before, and I haven't read all the responses, I have the exact same thing happened and I spent several hours trying to repair the old bar. And then I gave up, looked up on Amazon how much they cost, about $300. Following that I went to a junkyard and found a used one for $110 and it took me about 30 minutes to complete the repair. That's my journey, I hope this helps.

Bob Mackie · 01-31-2024, 06:27 AM

Our trailer is in a seasonal sight and there is a lot of people who remove their awning to install a hard top, screen room. I sold our 19' power awning complete for $400.00 it was 2 yrs old.

Beernutzbob · 02-21-2024, 02:55 PM

I was able to repair the awning today using this video as a guide

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjE6...index=2&t=591s

I followed what he did almost exactly except at the end where he used the locking oil filter clamp to put tension on the torsion spring bar. I couldn't do it the way he did but had to use both the locking oil filter clamp on one side and some channel lock pliers on the other to get the end of the torsion spring bar back into the awning arm so I could bolt them together. That part alone took me 30 minutes to complete.

The entire repair took about 2 hours as I worked slowly and used a manual riveter but the good thing is I can't tell where it was damaged now. I spent $144 for the Dometic 9100 torsion spring bar at panther rv products and $20 for the locking oil filter clamp at Amazon. If I was doing it again I would use something other than the locking oil filter clamp.

Thanks for all the advice.

**chuckster57** · 02-21-2024, 03:05 PM

Good job!! Glad to see you got it fixed.

**JRTJH** · 02-21-2024, 05:06 PM

Glad to see you got it repaired. Good Job !!!

Looking at your photos, you might want to check the fabric alignment on your awning. It looks like it has slipped aft on the roller tube or slipped forward on the awning rail. Either way, the alignment (or bad alignment) can cause undue tension on the roller tube and lead to problems with the awning not retracting or deploying properly. If it pulls the awning arms out of alignment, it can bend them, cause the awning not to lock for travel or even bind the motor and burn it up.

Beernutzbob · 02-22-2024, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRTJH

Glad to see you got it repaired. Good Job !!!

Looking at your photos, you might want to check the fabric alignment on your awning. It looks like it has slipped aft on the roller tube or slipped forward on the awning rail. Either way, the alignment (or bad alignment) can cause undue tension on the roller tube and lead to problems with the awning not retracting or deploying properly. If it pulls the awning arms out of alignment, it can bend them, cause the awning not to lock for travel or even bind the motor and burn it up.

Thanks, I was so relieved to get the awning extended I hadn't noticed that. Do you adjust the fabric alignment by extending the awning and pulling the fabric?

**JRTJH** · 02-22-2024, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beernutzbob

Thanks, I was so relieved to get the awning extended I hadn't noticed that. Do you adjust the fabric alignment by extending the awning and pulling the fabric?

Typically, if the fabric at the roller tube is centered (equal amount of space at each end of the roller tube) then I'd leave that alone and adjust the position at the awning rail. There is (or should be) a small screw anchoring the fabric in the awning rail. Remove the screws, extend the awning and move the fabric, in your case, to the rear of the trailer, about 1/2 the "eyeball measurement" of the space between the bottom layer of fabric and the to layer of fabric. Then roll the awning up to travel position, see how the fabric rolls, extend and adjust as needed.

It's not a "critical measurement/adjustment" that requires precision, but the edge of the fabric should roll up with less than about an inch of distance between the bottom and top layer. It looks like yours is about 3 inches or so.

Once you get it adjusted, reinstall the anchor screws in the new location and use some sealant to seal the old holes. If the fabric has stretched out of square over time, you may need to adjust it again at a later date.

ADDED: It's easier to adjust the fabric if it's warm and flexible, so I wouldn't try to do the alignment on a "cold, crisp morning when the fabric is less pliable"... A HOT SUNNY SUMMER DAY is a blessing for this type work.

Beernutzbob · 02-22-2024, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRTJH

Typically, if the fabric at the roller tube is centered (equal amount of space at each end of the roller tube) then I'd leave that alone and adjust the position at the awning rail. There is (or should be) a small screw anchoring the fabric in the awning rail. Remove the screws, extend the awning and move the fabric, in your case, to the rear of the trailer, about 1/2 the "eyeball measurement" of the space between the bottom layer of fabric and the to layer of fabric. Then roll the awning up to travel position, see how the fabric rolls, extend and adjust as needed.

It's not a "critical measurement/adjustment" that requires precision, but the edge of the fabric should roll up with less than about an inch of distance between the bottom and top layer. It looks like yours is about 3 inches or so.

Once you get it adjusted, reinstall the anchor screws in the new location and use some sealant to seal the old holes. If the fabric has stretched out of square over time, you may need to adjust it again at a later date.

ADDED: It's easier to adjust the fabric if it's warm and flexible, so I wouldn't try to do the alignment on a "cold, crisp morning when the fabric is less pliable"... A HOT SUNNY SUMMER DAY is a blessing for this type work.

Thank you. I'll give that a try. It's pretty warm here already. It was 70 when I did the repair work.

**JRTJH** · 02-22-2024, 10:16 AM

If the awning fabric has been "misaligned like that" for a long while, the actual fabric may have stretched "out of square" and it may take several "partial alignment steps" before you get it "stretched back into the correct shape". If that's the case, don't put the screws back in the awning rale to anchor the fabric until you get it where you want it to be on the final attempt. No need to put multiple holes in the awning rail during the process. Just make sure you anchor it the "last time"....

Beernutzbob · 02-22-2024, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRTJH

If the awning fabric has been "misaligned like that" for a long while, the actual fabric may have stretched "out of square" and it may take several "partial alignment steps" before you get it "stretched back into the correct shape". If that's the case, don't put the screws back in the awning rale to anchor the fabric until you get it where you want it to be on the final attempt. No need to put multiple holes in the awning rail during the process. Just make sure you anchor it the "last time"....

Thanks, I appreciate the info. I'll post an update after giving this a try.

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