replacing manual awning with power awning

Hi all.  I have a 2006 Phoenix Cruiser with a manual awning which is hard for two to set up much less one person.  I inquired at a place about putting a motorized one and the price was shocking.  This year I want to check again to see what would fit and work out well for me. 

Any response are welcome.  I wonder how the manual one is removed and how to be sure the openings are filled in to prevent water damage.  Also how long should a new one be?  This rv is 26' and I don't know how long the old awning is is.  I'll have to go measure that.  Also cloth, plastic, other materials?  Which manufacturer?  What do new rvs come with and do you like it?

Looking forward to reading all the info on this site.  Been a member but life got in the way.  I hope to have more time to keep up to date here.  Thanks.

I hated that old awning in my 2006, my 2012 has Dometic electric. We love it but they are expensive. Shop for a deal.

Hi all.  I have a 2006 Phoenix Cruiser with a manual awning which is hard for two to set up much less one person.  I inquired at a place about putting a motorized one and the price was shocking.  This year I want to check again to see what would fit and work out well for me. 

Any response are welcome. I wonder how the manual one is removed and how to be sure the openings are filled in to prevent water damage.  Also how long should a new one be?  This rv is 26' and I don't know how long the old awning is is.  I'll have to go measure that.  Also cloth, plastic, other materials?  Which manufacturer?  What do new rvs come with and do you like it?

Looking forward to reading all the info on this site.  Been a member but life got in the way.  I hope to have more time to keep up to date here.  Thanks.

Hi!

I have the 'same' rig, a 2006 2350.   I thought ours was 24 foot, however..

Do you have the Fiamma 'box' awning, or a conventional roller tube awning?

I am hoping to fit a 14' roller tube awning in place of the current Fiamma. Got it through Campers world.

I had my Fiamma off once already, and can advise on that removal/hole plug.

Thanks for the responses.  I had looked into getting a motorized one last year so had some of that info in mind.  I went to another place and today ordered the new Carefree power awning, 13'.  It will come in in two weeks and I'll have it put in.  I hope to come up with a use for the manual one which works if you have two people to manhandle it.  Yes, it's the Fiamma one which sits in a box which looks nice actually.  I do love driving the PC.  It's comfortable and drives nicely.  So this will help a lot.  Looking for people in the northwest who might want to camp a time or two.  Enjoy your rigs.

I got a 14', and its going to be a tight fit.  I chose the traditional manual legs so i could set it up 'carport' style. We have a side room that we LOVE and it works best with the legs to the ground.

Odd your Fiamma was so hard to put up. Mine is easy to set up, one person can do it with ease.  Once I got the ceiling braces, it was almost usable!  Before that, it would flop around in any breeze.


I removed the Fiamma awning by first (sorry...) opening it up all the way. Then you will see screws going into the coach on the backside of the Fiamma housing. Mine had 3 on either end, and a couple in the middle.

Once the screws are out, retract the awning. The box may pull away from tha camper a bit as you wind in. Get it rolled up as much as you can. I removed mine to replace the awning fabric, and the torn fabric made it so I could not roll it up all the way. I wrapped a few bungee cords around things to keep it together on the way off.

Once retracted, Have one person lift it on either end, and it will lift/rotate up towards the roof. As you approach vertical and beyond, be ready for the awning rail (on the camper) to release the part of the awning housing that is retained.  Once the awning is free, both parties can go down their ladders holding it.

On mine, we did not know that the awning released if you rotate it far enough, and we slipped it out towards the back.  Real PITA and quite the balancing act at the end.  Once I knew how it locked in, reinstalling it was easy.    Hoping to remove it one more time to install the 14 footer.

Hope that helps!

Odd your Fiamma was so hard to put up. Mine is easy to set up, one person can do it with ease.

The 14 foot Fiamma on our 2007 is not "push-button convenient" but I never considered it all that difficult to setup for an outing.  I do admit, doing it daily up/down would get old.  Being that we typically are out and about in our tow vehicle, I like to use the Fiamma when we return home for dinner.  I open it unsupported just enough before it interferes with the entry door.  Doing that makes a quick & easy short awning across that side of the rig.

The beauty of the Fiamma is just that....it's beauty when put away.  Phoenix also did a nice job mounting it perfectly under the rain gutter.  Here is our 14 footer on our 2007 2350, all put away.  It even blends in fairly well with the full body paint job.

Thank you Vokemon and Ron for your input.  I don't know why it  has bean so difficult to operate but I did decide to get the power awning and I hope it is a breeze to operate.  I also chose to have one with the legs.  I'm paying (dearly) to have the work done.  But I see from your posts how it's done.  I often dry camp and just set up and go enjoy the outdoors.  I eat outside under the shade of the awning and sit and read and all so making it easier is worth the change.  I may miss other aspects of the Fiamma but here goes.  I'll try to figure out how to post a photo of the new look. 

Boy, I can sure appreciate why you would want to replace that Fiamma.  I cussed mine every time I used it, until I finally broke down and installed the $50 side mount gadgets, as Ron advised in another thread.  What a difference it made!  Finally, I could use the silly thing without it flapping and taking flight in the slightest breeze.  But it was still a nuisance to set up, I can do it myself, but it still feels like an Ed Sullivan plate twirling act to get the legs aligned correctly and adjusted just right to clear the door while keeping the awning tight.  If there's any wind at the time, I don't even attempt it.  But every time I think of replacing it, I look at how nice the Fiamma looks when closed, and then I realize I don't actually use it that often, anyway.

Be sure to post the pics!  You might just convince me to spend the bucks.

Boy, I can sure appreciate why you would want to replace that Fiamma.  I cussed mine every time I used it, until I finally broke down and installed the $50 side mount gadgets, as Ron advised in another thread.  What a difference it made!  Finally, I could use the silly thing without it flapping and taking flight in the slightest breeze.  But it was still a nuisance to set up, I can do it myself, but it still feels like an Ed Sullivan plate twirling act to get the legs aligned correctly and adjusted just right to clear the door while keeping the awning tight.  If there's any wind at the time, I don't even attempt it.  But every time I think of replacing it, I look at how nice the Fiamma looks when closed, and then I realize I don't actually use it that often, anyway.

Be sure to post the pics!  You might just convince me to spend the bucks.

I am going to the tube style, and these will work with it also. I found these bows TRANSFORMED the Fiamma awning into something useful. 

https://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/entertainment-comfort-camping/sun-shade/rv-awnings-awning-parts/rv-patio-awnings/accessories/8-awnbrella-3-pack_90.1831?gclid=Cj0KCQiA4NTxBRDxARIsAHyp6gCRbm5AbQGbrDCrvRsGlc1sCNzS7RTWEGOWyZ0h3pQaDuL0L4X1UjEaAhrqEALw_wcB

Thanks for posting that info about the extra curved bars.  I'll show that to the place putting on the new awning.  Wish I had asked more questions here before committing to the new awning.  But let's see how it all goes.