DOMETIC Awning Manual Override

[mdtn]

Hi,

The motor on my Dometic awning is shot after only 11 months . The motor has been on order for over 7 weeks. “Due to Covid” they have not received it yet.

I’m going camping this week and it’s going to be very sunny and hot.

Is it easy to manually open the awning so I can use it for the week?

Cheers!

[shaffjc]

You have to have a drill and driver to turn the nut under the rubber plug in the housing. You'll need a ladder also. Not hard but a nuisance.

[BriaBeck]

Does anyone have the manual or a printout of the procedure for manually opening the Dometic awning? My wife and I were just talking about this last week, we went through all the documents that came with the camper and we couldn't find anything for the awning at all.

[bubbles]

Originally Posted by BriaBeck

Does anyone have the manual or a printout of the procedure for manually opening the Dometic awning? My wife and I were just talking about this last week, we went through all the documents that came with the camper and we couldn't find anything for the awning at all.

The 9100 and 9200 series Dometic electric awnings have different procedures for retracting the awning when a problem occurs but I haven't seen a procedure that addresses extending either awning manually. Don't know if the retract procedure can just be reversed. The owner manuals for both are on the web.

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by mdtn

Hi,

The motor on my Dometic awning is shot after only 11 months . The motor has been on order for over 7 weeks. “Due to Covid” they have not received it yet.

I’m going camping this week and it’s going to be very sunny and hot.

Is it easy to manually open the awning so I can use it for the week?

Cheers!

Originally Posted by BriaBeck

Does anyone have the manual or a printout of the procedure for manually opening the Dometic awning? My wife and I were just talking about this last week, we went through all the documents that came with the camper and we couldn't find anything for the awning at all.

This is from the A&E Dometic 9100 Power Awning User Guide, page#3.


In Case Of Coach Power Failure Or To Manually
Close Awning:
Important: This procedure will require two people.
When this procedure has been performed, the awning
must be serviced by a Dometic Service Center or a
qualified service technician before using again.
1. Slide the pull strap (provided) into the utility slot of
the FRTA.
2. While one person is holding onto the pull strap,
remove the screw in the top of the right top casting.
The FRTA will immediately roll in once the
bolt is removed. Walk the awning to the closed
position.
3. Align hole where screw was removed and replace
screw into top casting to secure awning.


And you can extend your awning by doing the procedure in reverse order as long as you had inserted the pull strap in place before rolling it up. A copy of the manual is attached.

[jk31668]

storm ruined my extended awning. curious as to what a complete replacement costs approx. for both labor and the awning and framework. its an insurance job at this point.

[D W]

Originally Posted by Scrapper

This is from the A&E Dometic 9100 Power Awning User Guide, page#3.


In Case Of Coach Power Failure Or To Manually
Close Awning:
Important: This procedure will require two people.
When this procedure has been performed, the awning
must be serviced by a Dometic Service Center or a
qualified service technician before using again.
1. Slide the pull strap (provided) into the utility slot of
the FRTA.
2. While one person is holding onto the pull strap,
remove the screw in the top of the right top casting.
The FRTA will immediately roll in once the
bolt is removed. Walk the awning to the closed
position.
3. Align hole where screw was removed and replace
screw into top casting to secure awning.


And you can extend your awning by doing the procedure in reverse order as long as you had inserted the pull strap in place before rolling it up. A copy of the manual is attached.

Yes Sir! I would not advise anyone try it without the tether strap installed. That is one powerful torsion spring inside that tube.

[bubbles]

The Dometic 9200 is the new version and a drill can be used to retract/extend awning when motor fails. No strap required. Don't know what version the OP has.

[Palinduff]

Google has all kinds of info.

[KyDan]

My trailer is 4 plus years old. I can extend or retract my awning with a step ladder (picnic table) and a drill driver and proper socket. I forget what size socket. Allen hex key maybe??

[AFDON]

Have you checked with Google using the motor number? I would think there are replacement motors (maybe not the same motor but one that will work fine) out there. I remember reading on one of the forums (don't remember which one) that the person found that a car window motor was the same. He went to a salvage yard and picked one up of less then half what the RV dealer wanted.

[Isabelle]

Originally Posted by mdtn

Hi,

The motor on my Dometic awning is shot after only 11 months . The motor has been on order for over 7 weeks. “Due to Covid” they have not received it yet.

I’m going camping this week and it’s going to be very sunny and hot.

Is it easy to manually open the awning so I can use it for the week?

Cheers!

Our awning malfunctioned on the weekend too. My husband took the serial/model number off it, went on Amazon.ca and ordered one for approximately $250.00. It should be here by Thursday. Nothing more frustrating than an awning that won't retract...our second summer with the trailer. Other than that problem, we absolutely LOVE our Forest River.

[KyDan]

See this thread for tips on replacing the motor with a much cheaper car window motor available ebay for cheap. Good luck!
Cheap LCI awning motor replacement
My bad this is for a LCI rather than a Dometic.

[Garrette]

I think this will help. Just leave the strap attached to the tube.
Dometic 9100 series awning. As stated, you will need the strap and hook rod to control retraction.
You should have gotten with your TT.

[BriaBeck]

Does anyone have a photo of the strap and hook that attaches to the FRTA that is supposed to be included with the awning? The strap, I"m sure, is easy enough, but what does the hook look like? Does it slide into the same channel that the DW uses to hang her patio lights?

I didn't get any of this stuff with our Avenger.


I've got an 8952 model awning, FRTA #916

[Garrette]

The hook rod is a simple bent 1/4” Rod with a 90deg bend at one end for booking the strap and a round loop in the other. You need to hook the strap when retracting, extra reach, and hook the strap when pulling down. Old manuals awnings use the hook and strap to deploy and retract.
Hope this helps.

[NavyLCDR]

OMG! I have wondered for a year now what that strap was for! Oh, man, I hope it is still in trailer. I think I might have thrown it away.....