I changed mine by myself (with no help) a couple weeks ago. To pull it through the top track, I tied a small pulley onto the rear arm of the awning. I attached vice grips to the leading edge of the awning (with a protective cloth between the awning material and the vice grips). Then I tied a rope to the vice grips, ran the rope through the pully, and ran the rope back to the front. As I fed the awning into the track, I pulled on the end of the rope, which pulled the leading edge of the awning to the rear of the RV.
I changed my Fabric last week after watching this vid , Thankfully i didnt loose any fingers or any claret , I was a lot easier due to this vid for sure I also had a marker pen and put arrows to remind me the way to preload the springs , Oh and a Bloody big set of Vice grips .Funny thing i went to the rv repairer they quoted me near $2000 to change the fabric I purchased the new fabric for $465.00 AUD saved over fifteen hundred bucks ! I love winning Thanks again buddy Rob NSW Australia
Oh my gosh thank you soooooo much for your great video! Man it is so helpful and I love the fact that you included what NOT to do also. I have made so many mistakes along the way and the fact you included them in the video is fabulous. What a great teacher you are. I was not actually looking to replace the fabric but was trying to find out how to replace and put on the coil and housing on my brothers camper that BROKE IN HALF during a heavy rainstorm while we were camping recently. *Note to self....ALWAYS put your awning in at night especially when they are forecasting heavy rains! I really enjoy your videos, keep up the good work!
Thanks a bunch for the feedback. I certainly learned a few things the hard way on this one. Yes. Leaving the awning out is always risky. I did it the other day then the wind kicked up. I couldn't wait to get back and pull it in :) Luckly it was fine.
I need to do this soon. You have no idea how grateful I am for your video. This will be exceedingly helpful when I get my new fabric. Thank you for showing us how to do this.
Perhaps the one thing that I like best about your videos, is that even though you are obviously an experienced RV'r, you understand life, and are not afraid to admit that you don' know EVERYTHING! And that much of your knowledge is earned through misadventure and EXPERIENCE.
This was the best video for installing an awning I've. Cut and dry, to the point. I have mine still in the box brand new. Just got it July 28th from Shade Pro. Once I get back to my 35 foot Dutchman Denali in another state, my neighbor and I are going to install it. Thanks for showing the wrong ways and right ways.
This Video is one of the Best I've seen on this, I wish it'd been up a couple of Months ago, LOL! My Father-In-Law has an OLD Motorhome and when we had that Big Snow Storm (For Texas, anyway, LOL!), he didn't roll his Awning in so the weight of the snow tore his awning completely in two. So he Ordered a new Replacement and My Wife and I Installed it. My FIL said next time, he's just gonna pay to have it installed even though the Company was gonna charge more for Installation than what the Fabric cost. 1 thing I can add is MAKE SURE YOUR CHANNELS ARE CLEAR!. My FIL's fabric had been in there so long, the Piping was sealed in with dirt and oxidation. I used water from a garden hose along with a wire brush and a screwdriver to try to get them clean. Next time, I'll use my pressure washer! If dirt is still in the channels, the Fabric will bind up and not slide. Also, use a silicone spray lubricant to help it slide in (I had a spray can of Food Grade on hand) and like Tito said....at least 2 people to install! There are Videos saying it's a one person job and I've seen 1 that even says you don't even need to remove any framework, both top and bottom can be done at the same time......Ours Couldn't.
Ouch, I could feel what your hand was about to feel before your hand felt it. I had the vicegrips slip out of my hand and beat the ever-living-snot out of my fingers. I went into the house and ran it under cold water because I was afraid to look at it. Two person job for sure, I learned that lesson the hard way too.
Good thing my vice grips slipped off instead of spinning. I felt them start slipping and there was no way I was going to grab it with my hands. No problem at all with the bigger vice grips. Lesson learned.
I replaced ours with help. It looks like you watched the same video I did before I started. My wife says I have a 3-stooges sense of humor.....but I had to laugh when the spring flew loose. Thanks man.
Thanks for showing us how you put your awning on and all your mistakes, because we all learned when we make mistakes so I think we learn more by seeing your mistakes. It's always better to have helped but one of the things you could have done is put a pulley on the back side of the RV on the roof and attach 1 line to the awning with a clamp and you pull the other line as you feed the new awning into the the track rail. Great job...
Brian - Know what I love about you more than your excellent informative videos? You keep it real. A lot of guys would have cut out those painful mistakes, not you... valuable lessons! I have done the same project on my rig (my first "big" project). Definitely a multiple-person project! I also used a replacement from Tough Top Awnings. I can't begin to tell you how happy I am with the product and the customer support. One lesson I learned that I will pass along, make sure that on the right side you use short rivets. I didn't have the right size and the locking mechanism wouldn't fully engage (hitting the rivet). BTW - An excellent tip on the strap, thank you... got to try that on mine.
@@RVwithTito Anytime On the rivet tip, screwed me up... hopefully, save someone else some time! Love the Tough Top product, great customer support too. Was surprised to see how "small" they are. My next project is to do the two that pull down over the bedroom windows and the double-wide one that protects the two on my slide out for the livingroom/kitchen. Thankfully, the one that tops the slide-out is in great condition. I am a little concerned as they do not ratchet down like the main one(same as the one you did in the video). Hopefully just smaller versions... guess I will find out!
@@edd6917 The slide toppers are much easier. Just remove the tension by hand, then pin it. Once replaced, remove the pin and let the spring take up the slack.
I know I should not have laughed out loud, but the "Ah crap!" look on your face at 18:49 was priceless. Thank you for sharing your mistakes, I mean, tips with us!
I have same end caps. You can avoid taking both those off and messing with the springs or rivets. On one side just drill a whole where the slots are to run the fabric in. Cut that little piece of metal over the slot making it a clear shot to stick the cords in and pull fabric through. Done quick and without smashing your hand with spring which I also did as seen on here but worse. I saw the easy trick afterwards
Great Video.. I bought a Scaffold ladder from Amazon several years ago now it’s a one person installation for my awning and slide tops, works wonderful..
Thanks Brian For being transparent, it gives us a shot of reality so we can get it done right .I just replaced my power awning on my class C exactly a week ago all by myself and didn’t have to disengage any spring - lucked out .My project went slow but turned out really well .Thanks again Brian : )
This video is a lifesaver. I was camping alone and had my awning out as a patio. A wind gust caused the arm to flip over. I couldn't get it back to where it was and had to release the tension by removing the end cap. It spun so quick I didn't have a clue how many revolutions it was wound up too. Just purchased a new awning and ready to change it out. Thanks again for your videos.
We just finished putting our awning on. This video was excellent, you made the mistake and showed them and it was such a huge help because when we got to those steps we stopped and rewatched and then proceeded forward. Thank you!
Very good lessons. A friend of mine and I helped to change one on his parents' RV. I didn't want to do it but together we were able to get it done. Really was nice that we could get it done together. Important to wind them the right way and remember because we made the same mistake. Also, very helpful to have two of you when doing it. Thanks for sharing, Pat
Really great video. We also had to take the back cap off because of some piping that broke off. Luckily it didn't spin out of control. Now we have to figure out how to keep it locked after winding it back up. Our caps seem different, the hole isn't perpendicular to the roller like yours. It is parallel, so we have to find something that won't get in the way. But so glad you showed how to wind the backside. We watched several videos where this was not addressed.... And it should have been. Great job!
After watching several other videos on how to do this I settled on this one, Than You! Took the wife and I about 5 hours bit we got it! Probably would have gone faster but we slid it upside down so the print was facing the ground had to slide back off and reslide on the correct way. And thanks for including your mistakes, I made sure to rewind mine the rite way.
Most people I noticed on YT use the wrench’s in the wrong direction. If you go back and observe your vice grips when you were winding your spring, the tool always goes with the jaws in the direction you are turning. You were doing it opposite of the jaw and that may/will give it an opportunity for it to slip and snap free or not grab as well. Most people use vice grips and adjustable wrenches (cresent wrench) against the jaw opening, which should always be in the direction you are turning. I hope I made myself clear of what I’m trying to explain. Job well done otherwise, the first time we ever do anything, it is always a learning curve👍.
Ouch! I have been there. I know that pose, bent over moving your hands up and down. When I did it, it hit my thumb. I thought it broke it, but it did not. Very sore, for a while. Thanks for your video.
Good job. You did better than me with the correction of the winding direction! I made the same mistake 3x in a row! And I thought I was a quick learner! Haha
@@RVwithTito Glad this worked out! A lesson I learned from watching this is that I need a camera to record the steps I take on a project like this, just so I can go back and check the tape to see which way I actually wound the thing! That’s how much I trust my memory.
Thanks for the video, it helped me out a ton today. I had a bad experience with the spring tension getting away from me as well, except I thought I would be slick and stick a long Phillips screwdriver through the hole instead of the vice grip method. It’s by the grace of God that I didn’t blind my right eye when the screwdriver came firing at my face and got hit in the cheek with the handle. This is definitely a task to be safety conscious about.
Yikes. I know what you mean. I've had the pin fly out too. It really has to be the perfect size. Glad to hear you didn't go blind. So I'll add safety glasses to go with the gloves :)
Great video, and thanks for showing the mistakes you made along the way. It's much more instructive and memorable than the videos that just say "use two people", "use a 'large vice grip' , use a ' pick to hold the spring tension', etc. The devil is always in the details, and too many people just assume you know what they are talking about for sizes, lengths, dangers, etc (we also had problems with our left spring). One suggestion I have, and it's something I've not seen elsewhere either, is to be more detailed on the process of drilling out the rivets (for example, how to size the drill bit to the job, and what you are trying to accomplish) - - - we had never done that before. My wife and I are currently replacing an awning similar (but an older model) than yours, and after a few hours of cussing and watching other videos we are now at the point of putting the fabric on, and re-setting the spring tension on both ends. Your 'mistakes' at that point are exactly what I needed to see to finish, and I wish I had found your video first! Thanks, and I've subscribed, liked, and will click on any affiliate links to help support your efforts. I look forward to watching the rest of your videos.
Great video. I just did mine 2 days ago. I wish I had seen your video before doing mine, but I watched only ones that were motorized since mine is motorized. But, same technique applies to both types. We started with 4 people and ended up with 6. We put the tube on first and then attached vinyl to RV. That was a mistake but we managed with 6 persons. Others were doing it that way. Even though one end is motorized, you still have to deal with a tensioner on the other end that wasn't mentioned in videos that I had watched. I am still fine tuning mine. I will highly recommend your video to any one that does their own replacement. Other than a few steps to do with the motorized awnings, your video is the only one that needs to be watched. Ron
Good job. With your talent I knew you'd be able to do it. I'm sorry for laughing when the spring let loose. LOL I would love to help you. I would have held the ladder for Melissa. I'm glad you didn't seriously get hurt. Thanks for your videos they are the best.
Thanks for the video. And thanks for the honesty of mistakes made. One method we used for tensioning the loose left side…. Put the arm back on the roller with the bolt, and swung the arm around 14 times. It’s a big swing but gives good control so it don’t hurt a guy!
Watched a few videos already & you must be a teacher by trade! everything in your video is what one needs to know with on hand pros, & cons! "OUCH The Finger " !! tackling mine shortly loaded with confidence. Thank You!
Well Tito, we did ours on Christmas Day. Ours is a motorized one, 16' long, and with the aluminum guard it is so heavy the wife can't hold one end up. So even with help, it's still very difficult. Other than that, it went on and is absolutely beautiful. Funny, our old one was exactly the same color as yours. We got new fabric from Shade-Pro - very good price and very nicely made. Our old one made it 17 years.
Great video, you really made it fun to watch this project unfold. You highlighted important steps well. Thank You and best wishes to your fingers and friends.
I just finished mine this past weekend, Unfortunately I could not find any help from wife or daughter, So I had to be extremely creative with use of tools, techniques & extra ladders to do it by myself. Took me about twice as long as it should but was able to successfully complete the project. Had some issues as you did maneuvering the initial spline into top track by myself, I positioned the folded fabric on top of my trailer- and let it slide as I pulled slowly from the opportunity side into the track, had to go back & forth frequently to keep it half way in line as not to snag or rip anything. Biggest challenge I’d say was retensioning the spring by myself, I only took off the left- no lock side, So had to spin it…. Then will holding the tension, Kick the ladder away and maneuver the arm up to me & reattach it. I only put 12 turns on mine, Probably could tension another turn or so, but myself it was hard to do. It opens & closes sufficiently, even with only 12 turns so I think it’s good for now. All in All it is doable for one person but much more difficult, Potential for mistakes is greatly increased.
Tito I almost fast forwarded past the spring loaded episode cause I knew the tension release was coming but I watched anyways, ouch! Nice job and explanation anyhow. I hate awnings and got rid of mine a decade ago and built a gazebo instead. I don't like getting trapped inside the RV during snow loads. Neighbor kid actually came over and opened my door during a snow load and ripped the awning about 2 feet. Now I am going to attempt a DIY Topper Awning on all 3 slides except I won't be using traditional Hardware. I refuse to spend 2K. Instead I am going to use PVC 1" pipe maybe inside a 3 pipe with drilled out end caps to accept the 1" pipe. I don't care about the spring loaded stuff. Don't need it. I figure I will have $300 max invested and that includes the fabric.
Great video on lessons learned. I was just watching the Hillbilly RV channel (RV TECH), and he just posted a video about the awning springs. Long subscriber to your channel. Thanks Don
Sorry about your hand. That was exactly what i was worried about. I ended up replacing mine a different way and by myself although another person would have made it easier. I didnt have to unwind or disassemble the springs either. I made a video of it
I like that you don't hide the mistakes and are humble about when to ask for help. Excellent vid!
I changed mine by myself (with no help) a couple weeks ago. To pull it through the top track, I tied a small pulley onto the rear arm of the awning. I attached vice grips to the leading edge of the awning (with a protective cloth between the awning material and the vice grips). Then I tied a rope to the vice grips, ran the rope through the pully, and ran the rope back to the front. As I fed the awning into the track, I pulled on the end of the rope, which pulled the leading edge of the awning to the rear of the RV.
I just saw someone use that method. Didn't think of it at the time. Thanks!
I changed my Fabric last week after watching this vid , Thankfully i didnt loose any fingers or any claret , I was a lot easier due to this vid for sure I also had a marker pen and put arrows to remind me the way to preload the springs , Oh and a Bloody big set of Vice grips .Funny thing i went to the rv repairer they quoted me near $2000 to change the fabric I purchased the new fabric for $465.00 AUD saved over fifteen hundred bucks ! I love winning
Thanks again buddy
Rob
NSW
Australia
$2000 !!! That's insane. Way to go. Rob for the win! Great job.
Oh my gosh thank you soooooo much for your great video! Man it is so helpful and I love the fact that you included what NOT to do also. I have made so many mistakes along the way and the fact you included them in the video is fabulous. What a great teacher you are. I was not actually looking to replace the fabric but was trying to find out how to replace and put on the coil and housing on my brothers camper that BROKE IN HALF during a heavy rainstorm while we were camping recently. *Note to self....ALWAYS put your awning in at night especially when they are forecasting heavy rains! I really enjoy your videos, keep up the good work!
Thanks a bunch for the feedback. I certainly learned a few things the hard way on this one. Yes. Leaving the awning out is always risky. I did it the other day then the wind kicked up. I couldn't wait to get back and pull it in :) Luckly it was fine.
I need to do this soon. You have no idea how grateful I am for your video. This will be exceedingly helpful when I get my new fabric. Thank you for showing us how to do this.
You got this. Glad it helped you get ready for yours. Good luck!
Great tips. Thanks. Often times what-not-to-do is the best kind of tip.
Definitely those are the ones you remember.
Perhaps the one thing that I like best about your videos, is that even though you are obviously an experienced RV'r, you understand life, and are not afraid to admit that you don' know EVERYTHING! And that much of your knowledge is earned through misadventure and EXPERIENCE.
Thanks!! I really appreciate that feedback. I'm always willing to learn new things. It's usually through trial-and-error though :)
👍🏻 to a brave soul in tackling this project on your own !!
I wanted to see if I could do it. I sorta did Ok :)
Yep I've done it too and it just requires patience
This was the best video for installing an awning I've. Cut and dry, to the point. I have mine still in the box brand new. Just got it July 28th from Shade Pro. Once I get back to my 35 foot Dutchman Denali in another state, my neighbor and I are going to install it. Thanks for showing the wrong ways and right ways.
Great to hear! Good luck with the install.
This Video is one of the Best I've seen on this, I wish it'd been up a couple of Months ago, LOL!
My Father-In-Law has an OLD Motorhome and when we had that Big Snow Storm (For Texas, anyway, LOL!), he didn't roll his Awning in so the weight of the snow tore his awning completely in two. So he Ordered a new Replacement and My Wife and I Installed it. My FIL said next time, he's just gonna pay to have it installed even though the Company was gonna charge more for Installation than what the Fabric cost.
1 thing I can add is MAKE SURE YOUR CHANNELS ARE CLEAR!. My FIL's fabric had been in there so long, the Piping was sealed in with dirt and oxidation. I used water from a garden hose along with a wire brush and a screwdriver to try to get them clean. Next time, I'll use my pressure washer! If dirt is still in the channels, the Fabric will bind up and not slide.
Also, use a silicone spray lubricant to help it slide in (I had a spray can of Food Grade on hand) and like Tito said....at least 2 people to install! There are Videos saying it's a one person job and I've seen 1 that even says you don't even need to remove any framework, both top and bottom can be done at the same time......Ours Couldn't.
Thanks a bunch for the feedback. I appreciate the tips too. Hopefully you won't have to do it again anytime soon.
Ouch, I could feel what your hand was about to feel before your hand felt it. I had the vicegrips slip out of my hand and beat the ever-living-snot out of my fingers. I went into the house and ran it under cold water because I was afraid to look at it. Two person job for sure, I learned that lesson the hard way too.
Good thing my vice grips slipped off instead of spinning. I felt them start slipping and there was no way I was going to grab it with my hands. No problem at all with the bigger vice grips. Lesson learned.
I replaced ours with help. It looks like you watched the same video I did before I started. My wife says I have a 3-stooges sense of humor.....but I had to laugh when the spring flew loose. Thanks man.
I think I know what video you're mentioning. I actually saw it after I did the project. Yeah I think I'm a spring pro now. Trial by fire.
Thanks for showing us how you put your awning on and all your mistakes, because we all learned when we make mistakes so I think we learn more by seeing your mistakes. It's always better to have helped but one of the things you could have done is put a pulley on the back side of the RV on the roof and attach 1 line to the awning with a clamp and you pull the other line as you feed the new awning into the the track rail. Great job...
Yeah. I just ran across someone who used the pully technique. Had I known, I probably would have tried it. Thanks!
Brian - Know what I love about you more than your excellent informative videos? You keep it real. A lot of guys would have cut out those painful mistakes, not you... valuable lessons! I have done the same project on my rig (my first "big" project). Definitely a multiple-person project! I also used a replacement from Tough Top Awnings. I can't begin to tell you how happy I am with the product and the customer support. One lesson I learned that I will pass along, make sure that on the right side you use short rivets. I didn't have the right size and the locking mechanism wouldn't fully engage (hitting the rivet). BTW - An excellent tip on the strap, thank you... got to try that on mine.
You're welcome and thanks for the rivet tip. Glad you're happy with your ToughTop fabric. I'm loving it so far too!
@@RVwithTito Anytime On the rivet tip, screwed me up... hopefully, save someone else some time! Love the Tough Top product, great customer support too. Was surprised to see how "small" they are. My next project is to do the two that pull down over the bedroom windows and the double-wide one that protects the two on my slide out for the livingroom/kitchen. Thankfully, the one that tops the slide-out is in great condition. I am a little concerned as they do not ratchet down like the main one(same as the one you did in the video). Hopefully just smaller versions... guess I will find out!
@@edd6917 The slide toppers are much easier. Just remove the tension by hand, then pin it. Once replaced, remove the pin and let the spring take up the slack.
I know I should not have laughed out loud, but the "Ah crap!" look on your face at 18:49 was priceless. Thank you for sharing your mistakes, I mean, tips with us!
Ok to laugh :) I was totally hoping to be done at that point
Great video. Glad you show the mistakes so we can learn from them without the pain.
Glad it was helpful!
Good job. I felt that hit on your hand. Good it wasn't worse damage.
Ta for the tips.
Yeah. No fun. All good now though.
Loved your 'What Nots'. Great job. You have gumption.. Always enjoy your vids!!!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
I have same end caps. You can avoid taking both those off and messing with the springs or rivets. On one side just drill a whole where the slots are to run the fabric in. Cut that little piece of metal over the slot making it a clear shot to stick the cords in and pull fabric through. Done quick and without smashing your hand with spring which I also did as seen on here but worse. I saw the easy trick afterwards
Yes, but then weather gets in and you risk ruining the whole tube and springs with debris and moisture. Some climates are pretty harsh. 😮
Great Video.. I bought a Scaffold ladder from Amazon several years ago now it’s a one person installation for my awning and slide tops, works wonderful..
That second ladder I had actually can be used as scaffolding, but it's not that stable. Good idea though.
Good Job! I changed one by myself several years ago on another RV with a little help from my wife but needed a refresher. Thanks!
There are lots of ways to do it. Shouldn't need to do it again for a long time :)
RvGeeks did a couple of videos on this a few years ago. Your video shows what could go wrong and i appreciate your transparency.
You bet. Yeah the Geeks have some good tutorials on this.
I now know I can do this, thanks for the video, the best one I've seen on this..
Love seeing you at work Brian.... I feel like we’re kindred spirits regarding repairs and trying to “do things right”. Thanks for posting.
You bet. I eventually got it right :)
Ouch...I felt that all the way here. Great job....with the awning of course!
Almost all healed up. Thanks Hector 👍
Thanks for a very informative video. I suspect I will be referring back to it some time in the future.
I will be too :)
Nice to see I'm not the only quick learner:)
It's a big quiet club.
Thanks Brian
For being transparent, it gives us a shot of reality so we can get it done right .I just replaced my power awning on my class C exactly a week ago all by myself and didn’t have to disengage any spring - lucked out .My project went slow but turned out really well .Thanks again Brian : )
You're welcome! Great job getting it done. Not having to mess with the spring is definitely a plus.
What a Team!!
Right! She was watching from afar and was waiting in the wings just in case. Glad she was home :)
This video is a lifesaver. I was camping alone and had my awning out as a patio. A wind gust caused the arm to flip over. I couldn't get it back to where it was and had to release the tension by removing the end cap. It spun so quick I didn't have a clue how many revolutions it was wound up too. Just purchased a new awning and ready to change it out. Thanks again for your videos.
Good luck with the replacement. I'm glad the video helped you out.
That was a VERY good video! Especially the direction to wind the spring. Thanks!! Jim in California
I may have to do this again on our Class A. I'll have to watch the video and refresh my memory 😁
Brian you are gamer from the old school and learned from you video!
Ton of kudos for showing how you identified all of those tips!!
Well...I guess lessons learned the hard way are the ones you remember :)
We just finished putting our awning on. This video was excellent, you made the mistake and showed them and it was such a huge help because when we got to those steps we stopped and rewatched and then proceeded forward. Thank you!
Great job! I'm glad to hear that this video helped you out. I may have to watch it again too when I replace one soon :)
Very good lessons. A friend of mine and I helped to change one on his parents' RV. I didn't want to do it but together we were able to get it done. Really was nice that we could get it done together. Important to wind them the right way and remember because we made the same mistake.
Also, very helpful to have two of you when doing it.
Thanks for sharing,
Pat
I even made a mental note when unwinding it to go the other direction. When the time came, I just forgot.
@@RVwithTito We did the exact same thing. LOL...
Really great video. We also had to take the back cap off because of some piping that broke off. Luckily it didn't spin out of control. Now we have to figure out how to keep it locked after winding it back up. Our caps seem different, the hole isn't perpendicular to the roller like yours. It is parallel, so we have to find something that won't get in the way. But so glad you showed how to wind the backside. We watched several videos where this was not addressed.... And it should have been. Great job!
I have this same problem! Fortunately the arm was already unwound, I'm needing to do some work on a pin so I can set the spring again.
Glad you didn't get too injured.
It's all good. I'm healing up nicely.
After watching several other videos on how to do this I settled on this one, Than You! Took the wife and I about 5 hours bit we got it! Probably would have gone faster but we slid it upside down so the print was facing the ground had to slide back off and reslide on the correct way. And thanks for including your mistakes, I made sure to rewind mine the rite way.
So glad it helped! Now you're just as experienced as we are with this replacement :)
Great job Tito’s👍
Thanks!
Thanks Buddy, I'm about to change my fabric and I really relate to that knuckle rap to got....
Good luck!
This will definitely help us as we new a new one on ours so thanks
You're welcome!
lots of good information and as the man said its easy to make a mistake, but we learn from them. thanks well done video.
FIRST VIDIO THAT I HAVE SEEN ANY WOOOPS IN.
My videos, or awning videos in general?
Took your advice and went to Tough top and got a new awning. Wonderful.
Great. Glad to hear everything worked out well for you.
Most people I noticed on YT use the wrench’s in the wrong direction. If you go back and observe your vice grips when you were winding your spring, the tool always goes with the jaws in the direction you are turning. You were doing it opposite of the jaw and that may/will give it an opportunity for it to slip and snap free or not grab as well. Most people use vice grips and adjustable wrenches (cresent wrench) against the jaw opening, which should always be in the direction you are turning. I hope I made myself clear of what I’m trying to explain. Job well done otherwise, the first time we ever do anything, it is always a learning curve👍.
Yup. I was totally doing it wrong 😛
Nice job Brian it is tough being by yourself I did mine a couple of years ago I was lucky to have help 👍
Thanks 👍 I thought I'd try it solo, but I certainly had my doubts.
Thanks for a great video. I definitely learned some shortcuts from you today.
You bet!
I got to do this. I’ll be bookmarking this. Love the sounds 🤣
Glad it was helpful
Thanks for the video!
You bet!
Brian, you are a humble man to show those hard lessons. Never forget the number for 911.....its 9-1-1 !!!!!!
Ouch! I have been there. I know that pose, bent over moving your hands up and down. When I did it, it hit my thumb. I thought it broke it, but it did not. Very sore, for a while. Thanks for your video.
Yeah. Ouch! Like you...nothing broken. Just a little banged up. All healed up now though.
Good job. You did better than me with the correction of the winding direction! I made the same mistake 3x in a row! And I thought I was a quick learner! Haha
I had my doubts the second time also. Good thing I got it right.
@@RVwithTito Glad this worked out! A lesson I learned from watching this is that I need a camera to record the steps I take on a project like this, just so I can go back and check the tape to see which way I actually wound the thing! That’s how much I trust my memory.
@@tglass0000 Yeah. That would help :) When I watched the footage later...there it was...me getting the direction wrong.
Thanks for the video, it helped me out a ton today. I had a bad experience with the spring tension getting away from me as well, except I thought I would be slick and stick a long Phillips screwdriver through the hole instead of the vice grip method. It’s by the grace of God that I didn’t blind my right eye when the screwdriver came firing at my face and got hit in the cheek with the handle. This is definitely a task to be safety conscious about.
Yikes. I know what you mean. I've had the pin fly out too. It really has to be the perfect size. Glad to hear you didn't go blind. So I'll add safety glasses to go with the gloves :)
Great video, and thanks for showing the mistakes you made along the way. It's much more instructive and memorable than the videos that just say "use two people", "use a 'large vice grip' , use a ' pick to hold the spring tension', etc. The devil is always in the details, and too many people just assume you know what they are talking about for sizes, lengths, dangers, etc (we also had problems with our left spring). One suggestion I have, and it's something I've not seen elsewhere either, is to be more detailed on the process of drilling out the rivets (for example, how to size the drill bit to the job, and what you are trying to accomplish) - - - we had never done that before.
My wife and I are currently replacing an awning similar (but an older model) than yours, and after a few hours of cussing and watching other videos we are now at the point of putting the fabric on, and re-setting the spring tension on both ends. Your 'mistakes' at that point are exactly what I needed to see to finish, and I wish I had found your video first! Thanks, and I've subscribed, liked, and will click on any affiliate links to help support your efforts. I look forward to watching the rest of your videos.
Great video. I just did mine 2 days ago. I wish I had seen your video before doing mine, but I watched only ones that were motorized since mine is motorized. But, same technique applies to both types. We started with 4 people and ended up with 6. We put the tube on first and then attached vinyl to RV. That was a mistake but we managed with 6 persons. Others were doing it that way. Even though one end is motorized, you still have to deal with a tensioner on the other end that wasn't mentioned in videos that I had watched. I am still fine tuning mine. I will highly recommend your video to any one that does their own replacement. Other than a few steps to do with the motorized awnings, your video is the only one that needs to be watched. Ron
Thank you for doing these videos, I always learn something I can use, even when I know in would never try the project myself.
Good to know. You're very welcome. Always nice to learn something. You never know when you'll need it.
Good to know. Thank you for sharing.
Glad you got something from this.
Awe a CR-V! Absolutely love mine!
One more tip! Get more bandaids! Great video as always. It nice to learn once in a while by someone else’s mistakes! 👍
That's for sure. Duct tape and shop towels works pretty good too.
Good job. With your talent I knew you'd be able to do it. I'm sorry for laughing when the spring let loose. LOL I would love to help you. I would have held the ladder for Melissa. I'm glad you didn't seriously get hurt. Thanks for your videos they are the best.
Thanks. It all worked out in the end. Love the new fabric.
You're definitely a Damn Do It Yourselfer, mi amigo. Great job! Thank you for sharing your video.
You're welcome. The best way to learn is to fail a few times 🙂
Amazing videos I’m learning so much . As I’ll be building out my van hool tour bus. To a full off grid rv.
Awesome. Best of luck with your build.
Thanks I am putting this off until I can find a friend.
You'll need and extra ladder too. Good luck.
I’m so glad I’m not the only one that has one mistake after another lol. Thanks for the tips lol
I replaced mine this weekend by my self. Hard work paid off.
Glad mine is electric. There’s no spring on a electric awning.. I do appreciate the help on a few pointers.. thanks a million Tito
Thank you for showing your suggestions and mistakes. I can so identify with that human quality. It helps me feel less klutzy:-)
I wear gloves more now that I did before this project. I'm learning :)
Great video! Thanks for keeping it real. Very useful information as I contemplate my next awning. 👍... I hope your finger is feeling better.
Thanks! Finger looks and feels like a finger again :)
Thanks for the video. And thanks for the honesty of mistakes made. One method we used for tensioning the loose left side…. Put the arm back on the roller with the bolt, and swung the arm around 14 times. It’s a big swing but gives good control so it don’t hurt a guy!
Haha, yes Great tip for the spiraling pull strap! I just installed my new awning last week. Thanks for the great video!
I thought so. That was a great tip from Tyler at ToughTopAwnings.
Hope your hand is ok. Great episode
Yes, thank you. It's doing good. Glad you enjoyed it!
Great tip at the end of video! ! ! Great job, WE ALLL Learned something here today!
Thank you for all the pointers,great video.
This was very helpful, thanks so much
You're very welcome!
Watched a few videos already & you must be a teacher by trade! everything in your video is what one needs to know with on hand pros, & cons! "OUCH The Finger " !! tackling mine shortly loaded with confidence. Thank You!
got er done as planned & very happy with your tips & tricks bonus ! fingers ok😉
Nice! Sounds like you did better than me 🤪
I appreciate that feedback. Glad to help load you up with confidence 😀👍
Thanks for the how to do tips and what not to do (Ouch!). My awning needs replacement too.
Hope the tips help. Glad to take one for the team. It's doable for sure with some help.
RAINING DAYS And AWNING ALWAYS BRING ME DOWN 👇
I learned to pay those guys so I don’t break something.....like me 😂
To think Tyler at Tough Top offered to do it and I told him no. I got this :)
@@RVwithTito You did get r done, kudos to you.
@@RVwithTito Yeah, you did it your damn self - and it works! :)
@@edd6917 Ha! Where have I heard that?! :)
Thank You Tito, I'll find a place near me that can do this.....
Any RV tech or shop should be able to get it done for you.
Nice tutorial Tito. I had a '99 Pace Arrow with that kind of A&E awning.
Nice! Did you ever have to replace the fabric?
Well done … understand the challenges but you persevered and did it! Love your tips.
Thanks! I appreciate that.
I wish that I would have watched this prior. I made the same exact mistakes, and got my hand🤣🤣
Back to engineering school with you
Well Tito, we did ours on Christmas Day. Ours is a motorized one, 16' long, and with the aluminum guard it is so heavy the wife can't hold one end up. So even with help, it's still very difficult. Other than that, it went on and is absolutely beautiful. Funny, our old one was exactly the same color as yours. We got new fabric from Shade-Pro - very good price and very nicely made. Our old one made it 17 years.
Great Job!
Awesome job. Now I don't feel so afraid to try and install mine.
Thanks! Good luck with the install.
Yowch!!!! I felt that!!
Some scary moments for sure but glad it all worked out. 👍
Yeah. Now I feel like an expert having to do those springs several times :)
Thank you! Always better to learn from someone else's mistakes
Agree. I get to do it again soon. Let's see if iI learned anything.
Great video, you really made it fun to watch this project unfold. You highlighted important steps well. Thank You and best wishes to your fingers and friends.
I just finished mine this past weekend,
Unfortunately I could not find any help from wife or daughter,
So I had to be extremely creative with use of tools, techniques & extra ladders to do it by myself.
Took me about twice as long as it should but was able to successfully complete the project.
Had some issues as you did maneuvering the initial spline into top track by myself,
I positioned the folded fabric on top of my trailer- and let it slide as I pulled slowly from the opportunity side into the track, had to go back & forth frequently to keep it half way in line as not to snag or rip anything.
Biggest challenge I’d say was retensioning the spring by myself,
I only took off the left- no lock side,
So had to spin it….
Then will holding the tension,
Kick the ladder away and maneuver the arm up to me & reattach it.
I only put 12 turns on mine,
Probably could tension another turn or so, but myself it was hard to do.
It opens & closes sufficiently, even with only 12 turns so I think it’s good for now.
All in All it is doable for one person but much more difficult,
Potential for mistakes is greatly increased.
i will be doing this job next moth THANKS
Hope it helps. Good luck!
Tito I almost fast forwarded past the spring loaded episode cause I knew the tension release was coming but I watched anyways, ouch! Nice job and explanation anyhow. I hate awnings and got rid of mine a decade ago and built a gazebo instead. I don't like getting trapped inside the RV during snow loads. Neighbor kid actually came over and opened my door during a snow load and ripped the awning about 2 feet. Now I am going to attempt a DIY Topper Awning on all 3 slides except I won't be using traditional Hardware. I refuse to spend 2K. Instead I am going to use PVC 1" pipe maybe inside a 3 pipe with drilled out end caps to accept the 1" pipe. I don't care about the spring loaded stuff. Don't need it. I figure I will have $300 max invested and that includes the fabric.
Great video Brian, good words of wisdom, #TitoTears
Thanks!
Wow great video and information ! I will be getting me a larger set of vises for sure. Thanks for letting us watch.
Great video on lessons learned. I was just watching the Hillbilly RV channel (RV TECH), and he just posted a video about the awning springs. Long subscriber to your channel. Thanks Don
Thanks. I will check out that video.
Really enjoyed this. You used minimal help but got the job done. Thanks.
Glad you accomplished what you set out to do. And hope you didn’t get hurt too badly. 😊
Nice job! I could see that knuckle buster before it happened! 😣 Hope your hand healed quickly.
So far so good. Hand will be back to normal soon.
Yep that's an instructional video right there
Hehe. No pain, no gain :)
@@RVwithTito it's always good to enjoy a challenge
Sorry about your hand. That was exactly what i was worried about. I ended up replacing mine a different way and by myself although another person would have made it easier. I didnt have to unwind or disassemble the springs either. I made a video of it