I have purchased new awning vinyl from AussieTraveller in Qld. After reading a lot of old posts, looking at Utube vids re changing the vinyl etc, I had one of those "light bulb" moments and ask your opinions. I personally think it should work.
On the locking end of the roller, simply drill a hole in the end of the grey cast cap, (same as the one where the annex wall slides in and out), and cut a slot the same as the other. Carefully clean the new hole and slot so it is nice and smooth, nothing rough to tear the new material. With the awning fully extended, then let inwards a little till it "sags", slide the old vinyl out (towards rear), then with the help of a mate simply slide the new one in, van side and roller, together.
Once fitted and tested so everything is central and rolling evenly, a couple of small self-tappers to keep it there like on the van. Have I missed something, or might this just work?
Look forward to any thoughts.
Cheers
-- Edited by Dave Jezza on Tuesday 2nd of August 2016 01:38:45 PM
Welcome to the gang Dave, enjoy here and out in the playground.
I might be off the mark here but aren't you supposed to thread the new vinyl through the roller first while everything is taken off the van and on the ground. Then with a helper stand everything up and walk the new vinyl through the rope track on the van, then a screw each end to stop it moving? I have been known to be wrong before though :)
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I think it'll work ok. I went to my local upholsterer and went thro it with him. He's done a few the "normal", and I think pretty hard way, and agrees, so fingers crossed. I drilled, slotted and smoothed the extra hole earler today and will tackle it tomorrow morning. I'm in WA 100kms from Perth, so wherever you are you might hear me either cheering or crursing!!!
Often the simple way of doing something is best - so trust it works. Let us know if it all works OK, as it will definitely save us lots of anguish if we have to do it the "recommended" hard way!
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A diesel Nissan Pathfinder towing a Coromal Element 542.
Looks simple when you know what your doing hope you get the tension right .
Hi Brickies, the way I see it, everything stays exactly where it should be. No removing the roll or bars or mucking with tensions. I will cable-tie the lever to make sure it stays on the rachet.
On mine the 2 end cap cover the spline track , So drilling hole in the cap I still can't see how you can feed the new awning through the hole
I've drilled the hole same size as the track, about 6mm I think, directly in line with the track holding the awning, and cut a slot, same as existing slot for annex or shade to be slid in. I'll post pictures later tomorrow after the job's done. I hope! :)
Forgot to mention my awning is a Dometic, but they all operate pretty similarly from what I see.
Well I don't want to be the only one out of step, but last month at Noosa I saw a cast end explode. Pieces went several sites down, and the lady standing near it had a hole ripped in her shirt. The spring tension on the cap is more than I'd previously imagined. Luckily no injuries, but to my mind it was a warning not to stuff around with that cast cap.
Please, no insulting comments ... I know I'm a silly old bugger... but I try to be a safe one.
All finished! Everything went exactly as planned. So simple and easy. Even the new vinyl is one piece where the old one was two, with valance separate. Didn't need to make another hole to remove the old valance, just sliced it off with the stanley knife and left the "rope" in the unused track.
Total time taken was probably less than half hour. About 10 minutes to drill the hole, cut the groove, and smooth it all off. Then about 20 minutes to cut the old awning off and remove the old rope, then fit the new material. Having two helpers made it even easier. one holding the end at the right height, and the other guiding the awning into the track. We simply moved along the caravan track and the roller track at the same time. Didn't need to cable-tie the locking lever either.
The picture attached doesn't really show much but I guess gives you the general idea. Hope this can make the job a bit easier for others.
Hi Dave,
Great idea. I will definately give it a go when I have to change the vinyl.
Just one question though, as I see it for this method to work it would need the vinyl to be exactly the same lenght out from the van as the old vinyl so that the vinyl is tensioned the same. Did you check the length dimension of the new vinyl was the same as the old?
Yep Nigel, measured the old one, track on van to fully extended track on the roller. I have no connection with AussieTraveller, but hightly recommend them. When ordering online, or on the phone, they send you a measuring sheet which covers everything. Looks good quality material and perfect fit, and most importantly, possibly the cheapest you will find. I actually found them after researching these forums, so thank you Grey Nomads! Sharing is caring, they say. :)
Cheers Dave
-- Edited by Dave Jezza on Wednesday 3rd of August 2016 08:04:26 PM
After reading removal instructions for the end caps I had thought of doing exactly what you did yourself when it comes time to replace the vinyl. Looks like it works ok. Cheers Kev.
Definately makes it a simple job. My awning is only small, 9 foot. Luckily, when I got my son to call around to help slide the new one in, he bought his apprentice. Three made it just right. I would say with some of the longer ones 4 people would be needed, only for 5 or 10 minutes, two sliding in sync, and two holding the other end off the ground.
