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Carefree (Not!:)) Omega II - Murphy Strikes....

May 05, 2012, 08:00:30 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 78995

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So, I admit it was on my list of 'to do's'... But on a quick four day get away, the large slide Carefree Slide Top/Awning spring snapped.
I planned to pull the fabric and have a sail maker replicate the Carefree's with a better fabric and UV appropriate stitching, so the fabric was on it's way to replacement anyways.
Searching the board, I found mention of an Omega II Retrofit Spring Kit? Does anyone know if they are still available for this old of unit? Will call around Monday for sources, but thought I'd ask if anyone here has swapped out the springs for the 'retro's', and if so, are the holding up better?
I've raised the awning manually, and removed the fabric, so no problems when it is time to head out in the AM...

Best to all, and TIA for any Colorado Carefree Omega II awingings, Smitty

04 Allure 31017

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Re: Carefree (Not!:)) Omega II - Murphy Strikes....

Reply #1 – May 07, 2012, 12:07:21 am

Yahoo Message Number: 79024

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Smitty - I can't vouch for the spring kit as none of my springs have sprung (yet). I did, however, replace the cheap OEM Carefree of Colorado fabric with SeaMark material on all four slides. You can get some additional information about SeaMark here: http://canvas-fabrics.com/SeaMark/index.htm As for using 303 high tech fabric guard at $25/qt to seal acrylic fabric, forget it. Don't waste the time and money on it.
SeaMark is an acrylic marine grade fabric with a vinyl layer laminated to the underside. It is completely water tight. That means puddling water (see http://muniac.smugmug.com/Maintenance/Bus-Works/IMG1131/1097980847_L793q-M.jpg) can't drip through onto your slide top. The material is about $60/yd and just slightly heavier than the OEM stuff because of the vinyl laminate. That said, it still fits into all the slots on the bus and drum. I added about 1" of width to each side to better extend the material over the sides of the slides. This helps a little with dripping water blowing back onto the slide top.
Concerned about vinyl in cold weather I froze a sample piece to about 5F in the freezer. I then removed it and tried to crack it with vigorous bending. No problems at all. I can't vouch for really cold temps like 0F to say -10F. My guess is the stuff will be fine.
There is a slight problem (on my DS bedroom slide) with the circular track mounted on the bus which receives one end of the slide topper. Water pours over it, floods the track then runs out the bottom onto the slide completely bypassing the material. This hasn't amounted to much water but it did create icicles spanning from the slide top to the track this winter. In warmer weather it's a couple of cups of water perhaps. Anyway to test my theory about what was leaking, I put a piece of black vinyl tape long the molding above the track to conduct water beyond the track and onto the fabric. After several all night rains, nothing leaks now. Hope this helps a bit.

At 05:00 PM 5/5/2012, you wrote:

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Re: Carefree (Not!:)) Omega II - Murphy Strikes....

Reply #2 – May 07, 2012, 08:47:59 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 79046

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Thanks Scott - Informative post, and I also read an earlier post of yours on SeaMark. I'm also reading up on the Tough Tops, as many people report positive results with their material too.
I had no problem getting the part number for the spring replacement assembly for the Omega II. The very pleasant lady at Carefree, did confirm I have the Omega II (used the Serial Number). She also updated me that the 'Retro Fit' that others had reported, was to upgrade the springs of the Omega I. She said the Omega II, is that same upgraded spring set. So, I called my local RV Shop I deal with, and ordered the spring number she provided.
I was going to replace the small slide's spring too, but at $85 a shot, I think I'll just wait until it is needed:)! And being a smaller span and not as deep of slide, figured that the spring was not working as hard in that topper/awning as it was with the Big Slide (same part number spring in both units).
The last thing that I've learned, and suspect most of you knew, is that by extending the window awnings too - it helps keep the topper part of the awning tighter. Did not know this, and very seldom used the window awnings. Especially in rain chance situations, I will put the awning part down now too, to help keep the topper tighter.
Will get some more measurements, and replace two slide topper/awnings as well as the smaller fixed window awning material all at the same time. I'm going to leave the large electric slide out and door awnings as is for now.

Best to all,
Smitty

04 Allure 31017

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Re: Carefree (Not!:)) Omega II - Murphy Strikes....

Reply #3 – May 08, 2012, 11:43:12 am

Yahoo Message Number: 79058

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Smitty - Glad the information was informative. Each of us contributes their experience(s) to boost the collective knowledge available to the group. People can pick and choose what works best for them.
I dealt with Sugar House Awnings in SLC, UT who were very nice people. They turned me on to SeaMark material. They are a custom marine cover shop and get involved with all types of canvas, vinyl, acrylic, etc. I'm sure many good materials exist. Since I've used SeaMark I've confined my comments to that one product. Their recommendation turned out to be a good one. I chose black to promote quicker melting and evaporation. The old setup looks like this: http://muniac.smugmug.com/Travel/Country-Coach-2006-430-Allure/IMG0633/594510111_ywXA9-M.jpg Pretty typical.
For us, the less material exposed to the wind the better. What material is exposed, needs to be lashed down. I had Sugar House make me a 2" black strap just for that purpose. We've had 100 MPH wind gusts come through here as storms cross over the mountains. Canyons concentrate the winds too. Depending on how you are parked, wind gets under the awnings and runs all the material off the drum. It then bangs back only to start the process all over again. These storms can range in length from 30 minutes to an entire day. Lashing the material down has solved the problem. It also helps reduce the rain from blowing in on the sides.
Over the winter we had several hundred pounds of ice sitting on top of the kitchen slide. On warmer days throw in 10 gallons of water mixed with the ice and snow which would freeze up at night. Not one drop of it made its way through the SeaMark material. The old leaky setup looked like this: http://muniac.smugmug.com/Maintenance/Bus-Works/IMG1139/1101082348_pVdy7-M.jpg We are only into about 1 year with SeaMark at this point. So far so good.

Good luck with your project.

At 05:47 PM 5/7/2012, you wrote:

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Re: Carefree (Not!:)) Omega II - Murphy Strikes.... (Update and Spri

Reply #4 – May 13, 2012, 10:24:21 am

Yahoo Message Number: 79167

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I did inspect the awning cloth, and besides being a bit dirty, it is in amazingly good shape. (O4 coach, but very little usage by the 1st owner of 6 years, so these awnings remained rolled up out of the weather and sun for most of their life so far.) I'm going to remove the rear bedroom awning material too. We'll wash them, then take them to a local sail maker for restitching. Though it may not really last or be as effective as the better newer replacement fabrics available, I figure I'll spray it with some canvas waterproofing spray, and put these back on until they wear out enough to need replacement. Get a few years or so out of them I suspect:)!
I read a few other threads on search at IRV2, and decided to order a replacement spring. When I called Carefree, I got polite and quick service, by just providing our units serial numbers. The lady informed me that I did not need a retrofit spring, that the Omega II had the newer upgraded spring, that it was Omega I owners that could update with a retrofit spring if needed. So that was good.

OK - My question:

I assumed the spring was broken, as no tension, so ordered a replacement spring for the front large slide awning/slide topper. I have it now, and looking at it, it sure looks robust. I'm doubting that the spring itself is actually broken.
Have any of you had problems with springs losing their tension? Looking at the new one, was wondering if a pin or rivet may have given away on the existing spring? If this is common, how have you repaired these and reset the tension?
Thinking I might just be able to repair the spring I have, reset the tension, then keep my 'new spring' as a spare. (I won't be able to work this until next weekend, so I won't be able to take apart and inspect the existing spring until next week.)

Appreciate any tips.
Smitty

04 Allure 31017

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