If you are interested in how much an awning skin could cost for your van, follow this link to get an instant quote >> www.rvwarehouse.com.au/manufacturing/great-caravan-awning-skins/
Great easy to follow video. I've had a couple of garage roller door jobs and know that spring tension and fingers don't always mix well! Excellent instructions with each step explained and shown clearly. Was a bit apprehensive of doing my own awning (and nearest service is 650 km's away. Your awnings were on top of our list and the video on how to just clinches it. Thanks
I was afraid of the spring also. I ended up replacing mine without messing with the springs and rivets. I made a video on my channel if you think it might help you.
Hi, just watched your impressive video on swapping a new awning. Question, is a screw required on both ends of the awning fabric to stop any shrinkage. Kind regards, Les
i pulled mine out placed track up on roller an locked the barrel in place then two of us walked off old then walked on new took away clamp an let awning slowly return to van easy as
I have just watched this video as I need to get my awning skin repaired. The stitching has come apart at the track side on the van. Once I have the skin resewn is the process the same as replacing a skin bearing in mind I won’t have a second skin to use as a guide?
Hi, prior to putting the tension back in the springs, why not reassemble the drum into both arms, then tension both springs at the same time safely relying on the ratchet to stop the drum unwinding, or am I missing something? Cheers
When ordering vinyl what happens if it comes folded up in a package and it is full of creases which could cause holes. Should vinyl be sent rolled up in a long tube and therefore no creases
We take GREAT care in packaging our vinyl, however, the vinyl will still come with creases from the packaging. To get the best out you need to unpackage the vinyl and install it as soon as you can to allow the sun to heat the vinyl which helps remove any creases. Rest assured our vinyls come with a 5-year warranty.
Thank you for posting such an informative video. I have 2 questions for you if that is ok. 1 - Can you replace the awning skin by only removing the ratchet end and not the opposite as well? This would eliminate the need to remove and re-tension that end and no need for a locking pin. 2 - Why did the fabric in your video wrinkle up at both ends? That would be something that I would NOT want when we replace a skin. We are getting a quote on a replacement awning skin from you now so this was great timing. Thanks again for your video.
I can answer this one for you. On both sides on the awning you have a small plastic rope inside the vinyl awning to keep the awning strong from it flapping which takes up more space when rolled up on top of each other then just the middle itself which is just vinyl, you cannot avoid this and doesn’t hurt the vinyl warning itself
Hi there.. apologies for missing your comment. I will answer for the benefit of others also.. given you may have already sorted this out. 1. It is possible on some awning to remove just the one end.. like Carefree and Sunburst, however on Dometic awnings, the splines are folded back into the drum at either end which locks it in. If you look closely in the video, you will see this as I remove the spring. The other reason to remove both springs is to assess them for rust. It is possible for surface rust to bind the spring, ultimately reducing the performance and capacity of it. Use a wire brush and some spray lubricant to help free the spring again. 2. The wrinkles you see when it rolls up are completely expected when new. This occurs because the hems are thicker than the single layer of skin across the middle. However, as the skin ages, it naturally tightens across the middle and as a result begins to settle out the wrinkles. If you ensure the pull strap is in the middle as you roll it away, it will assist in getting another layer of thickness across the middle and help match the added thickness of the hems. Hope this assists... and again apologies for the delayed response. Safe Travel ;)
Great video thanks. One clarification is the locking pin referred at time 12:45 . As this is removed later (video time 14;40) is there any special pin needed or just a nail that fits snugly in the hole and is then slid out using pliers? Thanks again.
A nail is fine… just ensure it is about the same diameter to the access hole or as close as possible. If you use anything too small or soft, the spring pressure can bend it making it very hard to remove. A 5mm steel rivet shaft can also work.
Removing the second spring is a glaring omission in the video isn’t it because he tensions both springs! I did mine with only one spring removed (the ratchet side) I could not see a reason to remove it.
Yes, both are tensioned. When I release the pressure off.. it is de-tensioning both springs at the same time. Removing both is required on Dometic awnings, whereas Sunburst and Carefree can be done removing one only. Removing both is great to check the condition of the both springs, as surface rust can be an issue. Spray both springs with lubricants regardless for better performance of the awning. Tension will still need to be reapplied to both springs.
Most of the awning sites want the distance from arm to arm which is usually a foot or so larger than the fabric. Most sites i looked at explained this and tell you what size to order and where to measure and also the actual size of the fabric itself.
If you are interested in how much an awning skin could cost for your van, follow this link to get an instant quote >> www.rvwarehouse.com.au/manufacturing/great-caravan-awning-skins/
Thank you so much for this information! I replaced my awning today using this video as a guide and it worked exactly as you showed it.
Thank you for the steps to replace the canvas of the awning.
Thanks for the video mate., just put new awning on our van with your help. GREAT STUFF Thank you
Great easy to follow video. I've had a couple of garage roller door jobs and know that spring tension and fingers don't always mix well! Excellent instructions with each step explained and shown clearly. Was a bit apprehensive of doing my own awning (and nearest service is 650 km's away. Your awnings were on top of our list and the video on how to just clinches it. Thanks
I was afraid of the spring also. I ended up replacing mine without messing with the springs and rivets. I made a video on my channel if you think it might help you.
Hi, just watched your impressive video on swapping a new awning. Question, is a screw required on both ends of the awning fabric to stop any shrinkage.
Kind regards, Les
Followed the video. All went according to plan. Excellent advice.
Awesome !
Thanks just had a quote for $2000 grand to replace and suppy will grab a mate and have a go
i pulled mine out placed track up on roller an locked the barrel in place then two of us walked off old then walked on new took away clamp an let awning slowly return to van easy as
I have just watched this video as I need to get my awning skin repaired. The stitching has come apart at the track side on the van. Once I have the skin resewn is the process the same as replacing a skin bearing in mind I won’t have a second skin to use as a guide?
Hi, prior to putting the tension back in the springs, why not reassemble the drum into both arms, then tension both springs at the same time safely relying on the ratchet to stop the drum unwinding, or am I missing something? Cheers
Hi Grant... this method can also work... thanks for pointing it out.
Thanks, subbd and saved.
I'll watch a few more times before i attempt it.
When ordering vinyl what happens if it comes folded up in a package and it is full of creases which could cause holes. Should vinyl be sent rolled up in a long tube and therefore no creases
We take GREAT care in packaging our vinyl, however, the vinyl will still come with creases from the packaging. To get the best out you need to unpackage the vinyl and install it as soon as you can to allow the sun to heat the vinyl which helps remove any creases. Rest assured our vinyls come with a 5-year warranty.
Thank you for the video . Where can I purchase the splines ?
A great video but you only show releasing the tension on the one spring, what about the other end??
Loved your video
Just two questions
Do I put a screw at both ends of awning on the drum and the van track
Cheers
Yes
Thanks for the tips
Thank you for posting such an informative video. I have 2 questions for you if that is ok.
1 - Can you replace the awning skin by only removing the ratchet end and not the opposite as well? This would eliminate the need to remove and re-tension that end and no need for a locking pin.
2 - Why did the fabric in your video wrinkle up at both ends? That would be something that I would NOT want when we replace a skin.
We are getting a quote on a replacement awning skin from you now so this was great timing. Thanks again for your video.
I can answer this one for you. On both sides on the awning you have a small plastic rope inside the vinyl awning to keep the awning strong from it flapping which takes up more space when rolled up on top of each other then just the middle itself which is just vinyl, you cannot avoid this and doesn’t hurt the vinyl warning itself
Hi there.. apologies for missing your comment. I will answer for the benefit of others also.. given you may have already sorted this out.
1. It is possible on some awning to remove just the one end.. like Carefree and Sunburst, however on Dometic awnings, the splines are folded back into the drum at either end which locks it in. If you look closely in the video, you will see this as I remove the spring. The other reason to remove both springs is to assess them for rust. It is possible for surface rust to bind the spring, ultimately reducing the performance and capacity of it. Use a wire brush and some spray lubricant to help free the spring again.
2. The wrinkles you see when it rolls up are completely expected when new. This occurs because the hems are thicker than the single layer of skin across the middle. However, as the skin ages, it naturally tightens across the middle and as a result begins to settle out the wrinkles. If you ensure the pull strap is in the middle as you roll it away, it will assist in getting another layer of thickness across the middle and help match the added thickness of the hems.
Hope this assists... and again apologies for the delayed response.
Safe Travel ;)
Great video thanks. One clarification is the locking pin referred at time 12:45 . As this is removed later (video time 14;40) is there any special pin needed or just a nail that fits snugly in the hole and is then slid out using pliers? Thanks again.
A nail is fine… just ensure it is about the same diameter to the access hole or as close as possible. If you use anything too small or soft, the spring pressure can bend it making it very hard to remove. A 5mm steel rivet shaft can also work.
Are both ends tensioned
Removing the second spring is a glaring omission in the video isn’t it because he tensions both springs!
I did mine with only one spring removed (the ratchet side) I could not see a reason to remove it.
Yes, both are tensioned. When I release the pressure off.. it is de-tensioning both springs at the same time. Removing both is required on Dometic awnings, whereas Sunburst and Carefree can be done removing one only. Removing both is great to check the condition of the both springs, as surface rust can be an issue. Spray both springs with lubricants regardless for better performance of the awning. Tension will still need to be reapplied to both springs.
They are nearly all 2.4m but were do you measure the length from pole to pole or just the length of you old awning?
Cheers
Most of the awning sites want the distance from arm to arm which is usually a foot or so larger than the fabric. Most sites i looked at explained this and tell you what size to order and where to measure and also the actual size of the fabric itself.
Very good video thank you
Glad you enjoyed it
Could be a How to video if the adds didn’t play almost every time a rewound it a bit to watch a section again. Too annoying to be helpful