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Toppers and awning material

Yahoo Message Number: 84170
My toppers are showing signs of wear, and the PO did do a repair I have now identified. They are all carefree and I am dissappointed that the meterial only seems to have lasted 4 years. I am getting quotes to have the whole lot replaced so it all matches, including window awnings and the main patio (which is also looking tired and stretched).
The material currently used seems a pure cloth base, I am am interested in those who have replaced the original material and what they chose, why and how their choice has faired in use?

Michael

2008 Allure 31683

Re: Toppers and awning material

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 84173
Michael,

I have the carefree topper/awning combination set up. All the seams on these awning had worn out. These awnings we just on the D/S slides. I just replaced material to make them toppers only. I then added window awning to the three windows left uncovered. I did add an additional window awning to the P/S front slide as it is difficult to leave the patio awning out when it is breezy. All total was about $2,300.00 installed.
I used a company called Awnings R Us. We are in the Mesa, AZ area and they have an office here. They are a franchise operation and I don't know where all of their offices are located.

Jock Vargo
2005 Inspire
51428

Re: Toppers and awning material

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 84175
Hi Mike,

Scott helped me on this too, when I posted about a broken spring related to our vintage Carefree topper.
Our coach is older then yours in age, but not much usage in those years (though we plan to change this starting next year!).
When I removed my living room slide awning/topper to fix have the spring fix. The examination of the material showed it to remain in good shape. I did take both of my slides awing/topper's to a local sail maker, and re-stich with UV sail maker thread. We also washed real well, and then sprayed canvas sealant on them.
I plant to do a yearly maintenance of cleaning/inspecting/sealing and keep using them as long as they are holding up. Then I'll jump to Scott's Super Fabric ( :)! ) as a replacement.
As ours we good shape still, I figured wait until needed to spend the extra $$...
Best of luck on yours, and I doubt I would use the same fabric again, as better material and options exist.

Smitty

04 Allure 31017 (Young in usage:)!)
04 Allure Sold to a nice new owner! Now enjoying a 07 Magna Rembrandt 45' ISX600 #6775
"We're ONDROAD for THEJRNY!" (Toad and Coach license plates, say Hi if you see us!)

Re: Toppers and awning material

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 84177
To repair the rotted stitching on my slide toppers I used freesole which is a Flexible urethane shoe repair. Works great and seems to be holding the seams together.
Marc 6429 05 affinity

Re: Toppers and awning material

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 84178
Michael

Our carefree two main toppers lasted about 6 years. The problem is the thread used in the construction. The two bedroom toppers are still the original material. We replaced the two main toppers and door with Carefree.
I don't know of a better option. The replacement was not that outrageous.
Some protectant for UV rays on the treads would probably help. Sun and cotton are probably not a good combination.

Dan 2006 Allure 31348

Re: Toppers and awning material

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 84184
All who have responded; I too have noted the failure of the stitching as well on most to some degree or another and the removal process to just get them re-sewn seems unproductive. With regards to the awnings the rear drivers side topper has a patched in repair, the other has a wear hole, more like a very thin patch at the moment but you can see through like women's stockings. Also they are green on the exposed bit and I cannot get that out so they are rotting slowly. The main patio awning has a similar area where it sits close to the topper. The over the door awning took a beating when the motor had failed in Spain earlier this year with the awning out. I could not rewind the cloth as the motor had seized! So I had to fold it up and strap up the whole assembly but inevitably the cloth suffered in the 1500 miles we still had to do. The window awnings are basically fine but I like to keep the coach in tip top standard so I would need to change them all to match. Scott with the Seamark fabric seems to have the answer, I noted from an online video that it is Sunbrella fabric which has been coated with a vinyl to make it totally waterproof. It certainly does seem an interesting option and I am looking to get samples to compare, as clearly weight and thickness are of concern when rolling up.
Most of you seem to get slightly longer life out of your fabric, so maybe it's our European weather! But from the end of this month I have undercover storage so that will help I hope. Still interested in other options of material.

Michael

2008 Allure 31683

Re: Toppers and awning material

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 84202
I would have to recommend Sunbrella. The ZipDee awnings on my '87 LTD still have the original Sunbrella fabric. The fabric is sun faded but stitching is still strong as is the fabric itself. No signs of rot or deterioration.

Jim Barber
'87 LTD #4223
~~~~~~~

Re: Toppers and awning material

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 84203
In our application, the need for the awning toppers to be absolutely watertight was a requirement. And without any liquid treatments which just adds another maintenance item to an already long list. Sea Mark worked for us. This material is just slightly thicker than the OEM stuff but fit fine in all the channels. When you have new awning toppers made, it's important to copy the original corner stitching design and orientation. I was also able to add about 1" extra to each side to max out the drum's width. This helped with drainage. I'm not familiar with Sunbrella fabric.
As for the Sea Mark material, it's been through deep freezing and deep snow with several hundred pounds of ice frozen into it. And also scorching sun, high winds, hail and heavy rain. Puddles of water have laid on top for months mostly as melt water in winter. It has gone through many freeze and thaw cycles too. Not one drop of leaking has occurred in that time. We lash down our awning toppers on the windward side as shown here: http://muniac.smugmug.com/Maintenance/Slide-Damage/i-KCzHxPm/0/L/IMG_3532-L.jpg At times we see gusts upwards of 80 MPH in wind storms. This also helps reduce the distance between the awning topper and slide top which reduces blown in water. The extra width helps drain runoff water out and beyond the slide.
This system of awning toppers isn't perfect by any means and even with Sea Mark material there are issues that need to be addressed. My BS on the subject is here: http://www.muniac.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=111#Post111 as previously posted. Stay dry everyone.

At 08:19 PM 11/29/2012, you wrote:

Re: Toppers and awning material

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 84936
Marc, the stiching for my toppers have become rotten. This is causing water to drop on to the slides tops during rain. I read that you use a product called Freesole to glue them back together. how many seams will a tube seal?

Cheers, Gary C
2005 Magna 42'