New awning

[Starbrightsteve]

I've ordered a new 5.0TA and need to admit that I have never seen one in person. I'm planning on visiting the fiberglass event in Niagra Falls so maybe I can see a fifth wheel. My question for now is about the new awning. I am very familiar with the Fiamma used on Casita's which is a manual crank out awning. My understand is that the new awning used on Escapes is electrically operated. I think the new style might be more aerodynamic that the older version. What happens if the motor dies when the awning Is deployed? How do folks with the new style awning like it?
Steve

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Starbrightsteve

I've ordered a new 5.0TA and need to admit that I have never seen one in person. I'm planning on visiting the fiberglass event in Niagra Falls so maybe I can see a fifth wheel. My question for now is about the new awning. I am very familiar with the Fiamma used on Casita's which is a manual crank out awning. My understand is that the new awning used on Escapes is electrically operated. I think the new style might be more aerodynamic that the older version. What happens if the motor dies when the awning Is deployed? How do folks with the new style awning like it?
Steve

There's a manual override even with the electrical model. I've heard they are going to offer a manual awning if you don't want the motor, but not sure if that's true.

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[emers382]

Originally Posted by Starbrightsteve

I've ordered a new 5.0TA and need to admit that I have never seen one in person. I'm planning on visiting the fiberglass event in Niagra Falls so maybe I can see a fifth wheel.
Steve

For sure you will see at least one 5.0TA at the Falls Steve. Organizer of the rally Alf has one. There were two there last year.

Adrian

[J Mac]

speaking of the new awning, can the new, electric awning be retrofitted onto an older model escape trailer?

[Losangeles]

Originally Posted by J Mac

speaking of the new awning, can the new, electric awning be retrofitted onto an older model escape trailer?

I am pretty sure not, due to increased weight up high.

And the wrong shape of indent.

Could be wrong.

[Canadark]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

There's a manual override even with the electrical model. I've heard they are going to offer a manual awning if you don't want the motor, but not sure if that's true.

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We signed off on our build sheet last month for a 17B, due to be completed in December 2016...it's the 2017 mold. We specified Manual Awning after Krista told us this is an available but unpublished option for the 2017s.

No idea what manufacturer it is...we don't really care we just don't want the added weight, complexity and battery drain of the power version. No cost adjustment for going manual.

And you cannot change your mind later and switch from a manual awning to a powered one because the mounting hardware is completely different.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by J Mac

speaking of the new awning, can the new, electric awning be retrofitted onto an older model escape trailer?

Originally Posted by Losangeles

I am pretty sure not, due to increased weight up high.

And the wrong shape of indent.
...

And perhaps more importantly, the older model trailer has reinforced mounting points which suit the awning which came with it. While the new design doesn't need the lower arm mounting points, it does require a much stronger mounting area at the top of the wall. I think that retrofitting the new style would be a major project.

[J Mac]

thanks, I was just curious.

[mcdonner]

Anyone know the weight difference between the new electric awning and the same awning in a manual model?

[Starbrightsteve]

What was wrong with the old awning?

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Starbrightsteve

What was wrong with the old awning?

Nothing. This is just a redesign of the trailer. There's a recess at the top of ther shell for a case style awning. No arms down the sides. Looks sleeker.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by mcdonner

Anyone know the weight difference between the new electric awning and the same awning in a manual model?

Not exactly, but it's just a motor and gearbox... maybe a couple of kilograms (a few pounds). The awning material and arms for the power and manual versions of the same series of awning will weigh the same.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Starbrightsteve

What was wrong with the old awning?

As Robert said, there is nothing really wrong with the awning that has been used, but the redesign of the trailer was an opportunity to go to a new style. In addition to being sleeker because it has no arms running down the side of the trailer, it also avoids issues of interference between the arms and features such as windows and access hatches; in addition, the arms of the original awning had to be custom-bent to fit the shape of the side of the trailer, which would not be required by the new awning type even if the trailer body were the same shape.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by J Mac

speaking of the new awning, can the new, electric awning be retrofitted onto an older model escape trailer?

To add to what others said, I know at least in the 19, Reace glassed in an angled piece of plywood from the roof to the bottom of the indent created for the awning, in order to stop the side of the trailer from flexing.

Originally Posted by Starbrightsteve

What was wrong with the old awning?

They worked fine, but the new one should work better (well differently for sure), and looks WAY better with no arms.

[ReagentGrade]

Yes, I agree that it looks much better... but I also greatly appreciate the fact that it will provide a much better view in the passenger side mirror. The vertical arms in the old style are hard to see around.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by ReagentGrade

Yes, I agree that it looks much better... but I also greatly appreciate the fact that it will provide a much better view in the passenger side mirror. The vertical arms in the old style are hard to see around.

I pretty much always have used towing mirrors for safety, so that was not much of an issue.



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[freespirit]

Originally Posted by Canadark

We signed off on our build sheet last month for a 17B, due to be completed in December 2016...it's the 2017 mold. We specified Manual Awning after Krista told us this is an available but unpublished option for the 2017s.

No idea what manufacturer it is...we don't really care we just don't want the added weight, complexity and battery drain of the power version. No cost adjustment for going manual.

And you cannot change your mind later and switch from a manual awning to a powered one because the mounting hardware is completely different.

please post your build pics when in production,you may have the 1st of this new manual kind awing.....and curious minds want to know more. Thanks in advance...

[cpaharley2008]

When powered windows first appeared there was a hesitance to purchase such a luxury, now manual windows are rare.

[freespirit]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

When powered windows first appeared there was a hesitance to purchase such a luxury, now manual windows are rare.

if you are referring to autos, yes... however never had an issue with manual windows except the door handle crank broke once ..it cost only a few bucks. Now with the powered windows you have to practically gut the door to replace the motor. On the last Ford that was about $500 to fix both front door window motors after the warranty was up...even the Ford people said it was made cheap....guess progress these days in autos is defined as convenience rather than being well built and easy to repair.

[gbaglo]

Guess you could always buy a Model T.