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Old 08-06-2016, 05:38 PM   #1
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Main Awning

On our next to last day of our recent trip, I had the motor on my main awning "give up the ghost" as I'm exiting the freeway and headed towards CG abt 1 mile ahead.... This resulted in total deployment of the awning as I'm on the exit ramp.... (Found out that motor is what keeps the awning closed) Besides scaring the ---- out of us, I now had to quickly find a spot to pull over... The wind was blowing like crazy which added to the problem.... (Can honestly tell you that you can't manually close that sucker without help). Finally got a passer-by to stop and help me close it and hold it closed while I Gorilla taped it closed...

I finally made it home and removed the "25 yds of tape" holding it closed and after talking with a tech from Carefree determined that the motor assembly needs to be replaced... Motor is fine BUT where the shaft goes into the roller tube, the metal shaft has wallowed out the plastic fitting on the end of the roller... This plastic piece is screwed to the roller and actually turns the entire roller...

Carefree price for the motor assembly - $264.00 + $15.00 shipping (lol moment - when the Carefree tech told me the price she said "you can shop this price on the net...) Which I did - Amazon price -$160.00 plus free shipping...


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Old 08-06-2016, 05:46 PM   #2
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... and like you, I'm not beyond shopping for a better price. But if the original company KNOWS it can be had cheaper, why not just match the price? I mean, if you call the manufacturer, they should have the lowest price and might even WANT to show how customer friendly they can be.

Just sayin'....

Note to self - put awning motor from old awning in MH.... just in case.
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Old 08-06-2016, 05:51 PM   #3
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... and like you, I'm not beyond shopping for a better price. But if the original company KNOWS it can be had cheaper, why not just match the price? I mean, if you call the manufacturer, they should have the lowest price and might even WANT to show how customer friendly they can be.

Just sayin'....

Note to self - put awning motor from old awning in MH.... just in case.
Maybe trying to take care of their authorized dealers?
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Old 08-06-2016, 05:56 PM   #4
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Maybe trying to take care of their authorized dealers?
Maybe.
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Old 08-06-2016, 05:57 PM   #5
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I'd try to make the plastic thing out of alum or some other metal.
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Old 08-06-2016, 06:11 PM   #6
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I agree.....

Maybe it's plastic instead so it WILL wallow out and not rip out main motor gears....


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Old 08-06-2016, 06:12 PM   #7
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And yes - the other motor goes in a bag in the basement...


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Old 08-06-2016, 06:24 PM   #8
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Main Awning

How did your step do on your trip ??

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Old 08-06-2016, 06:41 PM   #9
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LOL ... Actually it did pretty good.... Still opened some but any 75% less than normal.....


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Old 08-12-2016, 10:36 PM   #10
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Should get the new motor assembly tomorrow then it's a race with the rain to get it installed.... Hopefully I can get it in and retract the awning before the wind and rain arrives or I'll be doing it in the rain.....


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Old 08-13-2016, 07:41 AM   #11
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.... (Found out that motor is what keeps the awning closed)


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Oh now that's a smart design fail open so you can replace the awning when it ripped off. I would think the awning would be disabled when the key was on.


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Old 08-13-2016, 09:18 AM   #12
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Nope - in fact in Coulter Bay a couple years ago I saw one ripped off because owner forgot to close when driving off


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Old 08-13-2016, 09:52 AM   #13
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Nope - in fact in Coulter Bay a couple years ago I saw one ripped off because owner forgot to close when driving off


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I can understand the forgetting to close it (I did that years ago with antenna) but to design something that comes open when it fails is down right stupid.


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Old 08-13-2016, 11:02 AM   #14
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Wayne....

I 100% agree with you - especially with the trouble it's caused me... Now let me tell you another major design flaw...

If you look at your awning, you'll notice a plastic end-cap that is over the end of the large roller... Believe it or not, this piece of plastic drives the entire roller assembly and actually rolls up the awning....

Being plastic guess what happens - where the steel motor shaft goes into the plastic piece it can wallow out the plastic and the shaft will spin and nothing happens... This is what has happened in my case... (Why they didn't make this out of aluminum totally stumps me) To make matters worse, I was told its a non-replaceable part and is part of the entire motor assembly.... Personally I don't believe that BUT I'm in a bind because I need to get the awning closed BEFORE this approaching rain storm with high winds gets here this weekend... Sooo - I had to order the assembly.... Hopefully it will arrive in the next hour or so...

I will keep the entire old assembly and try to find the plastic part later....


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Old 08-13-2016, 03:19 PM   #15
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FYI: just received new motor (but not before the rain moved in dang it) and guess what - that plastic piece is metal on this one...

Guess you shouldn't order from Carefree but from Amazon after all....

Now to catch a lull between rainstorms and get this thing installed and awning closed....


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Old 08-13-2016, 03:51 PM   #16
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I remember a post not that long ago that said the two end caps were interchangeable but only the motor end used the square part. The non motor didn't care if the part was damaged. Sorry I didn't think about this earlier.


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Old 08-13-2016, 04:03 PM   #17
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That's good to know.... Would have saved me $170.00...

Would have been nice if the Carefree Tech had mentioned that ... It's the almighty dollar isn't it... Who gives a crap about customer service any more..... Really tics me off....

I could have just switched the caps and already have it fixed....


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Old 08-13-2016, 07:30 PM   #18
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Well in between rainstorms I got the new motor on... And not an easy job by yourself... Too dang many things to hold while you have to screw stuff in....

Work great and now awning is closed... Yea!!!

Do have to repaint the case where the gorilla tape removed the paint...


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Old 08-13-2016, 08:20 PM   #19
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Only fell off the ladder once.... Dropped the screws twice and went up the ladder without the tools I needed twice....


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Old 08-13-2016, 08:56 PM   #20
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Only fell off the ladder once.... Dropped the screws twice and went up the ladder without the tools I needed twice....


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Sounds like my normal repair


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