Catalina 2500 Awning.

[rm56]

Hello, I was directed here by Four Wheel. I have an older Granby camper I think its 1985 with a Dometic Catalina 2500 8 foot awning installed. Last Summer someone ran into the rear support at the back of my awning and broke the pivot. All Terrain was kind enough to give me a new pivot which I installed. The problem is when I removed the pin and arm to replace the busted joint the spring unwound and tension was lost on the rear end of my awning. I found that 6 turns are needed for an 8 ft. awning, but that is when the awning is rolled up. My awning is completely pulled out in my garage and hanging down on the side of the camper. Some on line suggestions say to use a pair of needlenose vise-grips. But there is only about 1/4 inch space between the housing cap and the pivot arm. Also it seems there is no hole for using a cotter pin on the Catalina 2500 to hold the tension. There are slots on the end cap but I can't see a way to lock it? Has anyone here found a way to fix the tension on this awning? Thanks

Rick

 

[rm56]

107 views and not one comment? No one with a Four Wheel pop up camper has ever had a problem with their awning springs? Anyone?

 

[Mark W. Ingalls]

107 views and not one comment? No one with a Four Wheel pop up camper has ever had a problem with their awning springs? Anyone?

Ouch. Mine was on of those views, Rick. I don't have any direct experience with your awning. Sorry.

 

[RJones]

Your problem is hard to visualize and maybe a few pictures may draw a few more responses for a fix. Is there a place to tap in a square easy out or something to torque that spring for you? Good luck...

 

[chnlisle]

I believe the Catalina 2500 is distributed (manufactured?) by Dometic. This parts list and exploded view might be of some help;
http://www.dometic.com/4e10496c-c9e3-4dab-aeb6-df025589179b.fodoc
You could try and call them. 800-544-4881 Maybe they have a tech that could walk you through the process.

 

[rm56]

Your problem is hard to visualize and maybe a few pictures may draw a few more responses for a fix. Is there a place to tap in a square easy out or something to torque that spring for you? Good luck...

I'll see if I can take some pictures on the end.

 

[rm56]

I believe the Catalina 2500 is distributed (manufactured?) by Dometic. This parts list and exploded view might be of some help;
http://www.dometic.com/4e10496c-c9e3-4dab-aeb6-df025589179b.fodoc
You could try and call them. 800-544-4881 Maybe they have a tech that could walk you through the process.

Yes it was made by Dometic, I got no where with a phone number for them. I emailed them and their wonderful customer no service reply was "We do not offer technical support to retail customers." In other words your on your own pal. How does a company stay in business being that lousy? Oh and I did find the parts list for my awning. But the problem is not a part, the problem is how to redo the tension in the roller spring without taking my head off. For an eight foot awning when rolled up its six turns. But since it is completely out that six turns is not enough tension. I may just end up called a local RV repair guy, they quoted me around $80 just to look at it. I need to get it fixed soon. Thanks

 

[chnlisle]

Perhaps you can find your answer here;

http://www.rverscorner.com/RV_Awning_Repair.html

http://www.justanswer.com/sip/dometic?r=ppc%7Cga%7C2%7CHI+%2D+HVAC%7CDometic&JPKW=how%20to%20dometic&JPDC=S&JPST=&JPAD=11104988338&JPMT=b&JPNW=g&JPAF=txt&JPCD=20120207&JPRC=1&JPOP=Darren_Andrew9sec_Trans&gclid=CJ6Hlcf_sa4CFacGRQod43fX6Q

http://www.exploroz.com/Forum/Topic/73884/Retensioning_a_Dometic_A__E_rollout_awning.aspx

http://www.ehow.com/how_5032280_replace-vinyl-rv-awning.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_6314137_self_install-awning-fabric.html

 

[Stan@FourWheel]

We have the owners manual on our website ...


http://www.fourwheelcampers.com/CatalinaAwning.pdf


But it does not get into the details of fixing the internal components.

Covers more of the opening & closing only.



We stopped using that brand of awning back around 2002.

We fould the Fiamma awning to be a little easier to use.

I will see if I can find anything on line for you.


.

 

[rm56]

We have the owners manual on our website ...


http://www.fourwheelcampers.com/CatalinaAwning.pdf


But it does not get into the details of fixing the internal components.

Covers more of the opening & closing only.



We stopped using that brand of awning back around 2002.

We fould the Fiamma awning to be a little easier to use.

I will see if I can find anything on line for you.


.


Thank you, I bought my Granby from All Terrain in Sacramento in 2008. They had basically redone the interior and repaired some damage to the back from the previous owner. I had them add a backup battery, 3-way refer, and the awning. I did not know at that time but they sold me an older discountinued awning. It is in good shape since I have not used my camper alot. But as I said some dummy ran into the rear support last Summer and broke the leg pivot. I went to All Terrain and they gave me a usable part, to their credit they are good guys and have always helped me out before. Several times I've visited them and they don't even charge me. But unfortunately as they explained to me on the phone. "They just sold them, they don't know how to repair them." I'll try and post some pictures of my awning as soon as I can. But I'm not real good at uploading photos. I still am not sure which way to even wind the shaft on the end? I think its clockwise but if someone on here knows that would help. There appears to be a quarter inch hole molded into the outside end of the cap. I'm going to take a closer look at it once I support it to see if an internal hole lines up. If I see one then I can use a bolt or something to lock the tension while I reassemble the leg. I'll just need to know how many turns when fully extended and which way to turn the half inch diameter shaft? Thanks again for any help.

Rick M

 

[Phird05]

I was looking at a website/forum yesterday and someone had the same problem. They apparently found some direction (undisclosed) that it took 8 turns. They also said however, the awning must be rolled (closed position) before attempting the procedure or it could be "life-threatening".

I'm sorry I don't have the website. I was working at home when I was viewing it.

Good Luck!

Paul

 

[chnlisle]

I know I posted this above but this time I took the time to read it as well. It appears to give a step by step method on re-tortioning the spring including a chart for how many turns (8) to wind.

http://www.rverscorner.com/RV_Awning_Repair.html

Please be very careful. Remember you are dealing with a ton of stored energy.
Good luck

 

[rm56]

I know I posted this above but this time I took the time to read it as well. It appears to give a step by step method on re-tortioning the spring including a chart for how many turns (8) to wind.

http://www.rverscorner.com/RV_Awning_Repair.html

Please be very careful. Remember you are dealing with a ton of stored energy.
Good luck


I found that diagram on line. That mechanism is alot different than a Catalina 2500. It shows a cotter pin inserted from above into the housing. On mine there are no holes there. There is a opening on the end which appears to be about 1/4 inch where a small bolt or steel pin can be used to hold the shaft while winding the tension. But I am not 100% sure that is what that hole is for, I'll set up my awning and rotate it to see if a hole passes that opening. The other thing that concerns me is those end pieces are plastic, not metal. I do think I want to have a plastic part holding all that force? I may just end up paying a local RV shop to do it in my garage. Thanks

 

[Mark W. Ingalls]

I know I posted this above but this time I took the time to read it as well. It appears to give a step by step method on re-tortioning the spring including a chart for how many turns (8) to wind.

http://www.rverscorn...ing_Repair.html

Please be very careful. Remember you are dealing with a ton of stored energy.
Good luck



I found that diagram on line. That mechanism is alot different than a Catalina 2500. It shows a cotter pin inserted from above into the housing. On mine there are no holes there. There is a opening on the end which appears to be about 1/4 inch where a small bolt or steel pin can be used to hold the shaft while winding the tension. But I am not 100% sure that is what that hole is for, I'll set up my awning and rotate it to see if a hole passes that opening. The other thing that concerns me is those end pieces are plastic, not metal. I do think I want to have a plastic part holding all that force? I may just end up paying a local RV shop to do it in my garage. Thanks


...all the same, my hat's off to Jay for going way beyond the extra mile.

Rick, what you have here is a 'sunk cost'. Be careful not to throw good money after bad, I'm s'posing.

 

[chnlisle]

Thanks Mark for the kind words. It's kinda what we're about on this forum. It's good to have a place where we all pull together.

Rick, I think Mark's right. I know a new awning is expensive but given the condition (broken) and age (27 years) of yours a new approach could be in order. There are many here who have made their own awnings for a lot less than a new Dometic. As a KISS kinda guy, mine is simple and very effective for my needs. There are a few pix of it here;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jayaronowcampersales/

This is a link to the first one I made. I refined the new one a bit but it is essentially the same thing. It's pretty easy to make and works great. http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/index.php?/topic/968/page__hl__awning__st__10

Just use the search tool here and You'll find a number of others who have tackled the project as well with very nice results.