BAC Forum
General Boards => Technical Support => Topic started by: Keith Duner on June 01, 2015, 12:21:09 PM
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The world moves in mysterious ways. Yesterday I backed our 2005 Monterey out of the barn to take pictures in preparation for selling the coach. While putting the coach back in the barn I forgot to retract the front awning and severely damaged it. I was finally able to retract the unit after the impact but I know at least one support arm is broken and the awning is torn. I was too frustrated to investigate further but the damage is extensive (however restricted to the awning). Where to start? Are parts available or do I search for a complete unit? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.
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Is this a Girard Awning?? Also, I'm betting this would be an insurance claim if you wanted to go that route.
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Keith,
I think that your patio awning is a Carefree of Colorado unit. If so, parts should be available, but Carefree of Colorado is not known for their customer service. Therefore the factory may not be too helpful in your repair efforts.
Gerald
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Another lesson learned. ALWAYS do a walk around the coach looking high and low BEFORE moving it. Slides in, awnings in, satellite dish down, windows closed, basement doors closed and latched on both ends, shore power cord unhooked and stowed, sewer and water lines unhooked and stowed, no tree limbs or trunks, or anything else in the way,.... If by the end of the first year of ownership you do not have "Beaver knee," then you're missing something on your walk around. Also, never get in a hurry in RV parks, entering or leaving, and in high traffic situations. If they honk at your slowness, then you are likely doing it right. I learned my first lesson - of many more to come, I am sure - a year ago. One time I also drove ten miles after forgetting to stow the satellite dish.
On our coach we generally have Girards on the curb side and Carefrees on the street side.
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I think Gerald is correct; that era Monterey should have Carefree (aka "Careless") equipment. I'd start with a call to your insurance, as Dick alluded to, but be aware that some offer no forgiveness on a first collision/comp and may raise your rates costing more in the long run than a new awning. If you have the right agent, such as BAC's sponsor, Overland, they can advise you in that regard and a call to them would be my initial move.
Joel
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Keith,
I'll take some of the attention off your Boo-Boo. I was showing someone around my coach a couple of weeks ago. I had just finished showing off how my Girard awning worked with the remote control. I only brought it out about 3' and returned it because I park next to the corner of the house. I stuck the remote in my pocket, walked around the other side of the coach, and squatted down to look inside the wash bay. I heard this really weird noise and ran back to the passenger side where (in horror)I found one side of the awning out 4' up against the house and the other end almost fully extended. I guess when I squatted down, I pushed the "extend" button on the remote while it was in my pocket. God I felt stupid!
I managed to get the awning most of the way in at an angle, backed the coach away from the house, gingerly extended it fully and retracted it. No damage to the awning! Lots of damage to my pride though!
Needless to say I put the awning remote inside as soon as I'm done using it now.
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Thanks Les, good story. I guess it's a good thing I don't have a remote for my awning, I'd be in bigger trouble! I appreciate the comment though and needed some relief at the moment, feeling like quite the boob. Like many here I've been driving motorhomes for over 20 years and have always been super careful around the coach. Of course the irony is that the event occurred after deciding to sell the coach (bad karma?). I have disassembled the awning and I'm making a parts list, so far looks like left arm and fabric are the only parts I need. I've found them on Carefree's website so onward and upward. Thanks again.
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Keith,
Funny thing, like you, my Beaver is for sale and I was showing my coach to prospective buyers that day.
I had to ask them to help me through the whole process by being my spotters to negotiate the coach past the house with the awning stuck out at an odd angle! It looked ugly!
Needless to say, they didn't call back!
Lucky for me no damage. Sorry it's going to cost you a bit.