BCM Community
Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: Sebulba on December 17, 2024, 03:18:25 PM
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Hello all,
Getting to thinking about an awning for the side of the old MCI. We're thinking maybe a 19 footer.
What have any of you used?
Thanks
Seb
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Hi Seb,
What are you looking for in the awning? Should it blend in with the bus lines, or is that not important? Any features you are looking for? Manual, electric?
Hope this helps, Phil
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You’re probably looking for a much nicer push button awning.
But in case you’re interested, this is a link to a much cheaper alternative that I built as a temporary solution a few years ago that has worked so well that it is now a permanent part of the bus.
https://www.busconversionmagazine.com/forum/index.php?topic=35707.msg412558#msg412558 (https://www.busconversionmagazine.com/forum/index.php?topic=35707.msg412558#msg412558)
Peter
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Awning are pricey now the Girard was top of line they can cost big money even to repair ,19 ft would be a special order,in the later years I got where I preferred the window awning, we had both on the coach seldom did we ever use the 2 awnings on the roof ,You won't find the armless awnings with out being electric and most are AC power and that sucks if you have the wind sensors to roll up in case of high winds,I had ZIP DEE on the Eagle non electric they were good awnings
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Hi Seb,
What are you looking for in the awning? Should it blend in with the bus lines, or is that not important? Any features you are looking for? Manual, electric?
Hope this helps, Phil
Hello Phil,
Just exploring now. It would be to blend in or at least look nice. Not interested in people hearing banjo music when they see us.
Electric would be nice, I'm getting lazy.
Seb
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You’re probably looking for a much nicer push button awning.
But in case you’re interested, this is a link to a much cheaper alternative that I built as a temporary solution a few years ago that has worked so well that it is now a permanent part of the bus.
https://www.busconversionmagazine.com/forum/index.php?topic=35707.msg412558#msg412558 (https://www.busconversionmagazine.com/forum/index.php?topic=35707.msg412558#msg412558)
Peter
Thanks for directing me to that thread. I will look at in more detail later
Seb
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Awning are pricey now the Girard was top of line they can cost big money even to repair ,19 ft would be a special order,in the later years I got where I preferred the window awning, we had both on the coach seldom did we ever use the 2 awnings on the roof ,You won't find the armless awnings with out being electric and most are AC power and that sucks if you have the wind sensors to roll up in case of high winds,I had ZIP DEE on the Eagle non electric they were good awnings
Thanks for the suggestions
Seb
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I have a used Dometic awning, about 19ft I think that I plan to mount on the DL3. It will need new fabric which I think I might be able to get for about $750.
The challenge is going to be mounting it in such a way that it covers the door. To do that I think it will have to stick out to the front a bit.
Don't know if I have any rain gutters or not, I don't recall seeing them.
Jim
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Have a Solera 5000 Series Slide Topper Awning, Black - 9'6" (9'1" Fabric) #V000168325 sitting out in the barn if anybody needs a short one. Bought it for a slide out room for my Brothers camper and He up and sold the camper. I'm stuck with the Topper. :D
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That is not going to give you much shade Glen they only have a couple of feet of fabric
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If I was building a bus, I would not do any big awnings. They look ugly. You have to roll them up when you go away in case it gets windy. The arms take up half the view in your mirrors. Window awnings are great. That is all you need. I would just carry a tent/shelter to put up outside for shade.
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If I was building a bus, I would not do any big awnings. They look ugly. You have to roll them up when you go away in case it gets windy. The arms take up half the view in your mirrors. Window awnings are great. That is all you need. I would just carry a tent/shelter to put up outside for shade.
The Country Coach had 4 topper ,4 window, 2 roof patio (20ft ea), and 1 door awnings what a job to keep 11 awning cleaned and going ,I agree with you on the window awning
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That is not going to give you much shade Glen they only have a couple of feet of fabric
Yeah Cliff, it's only for a topper for a slide out. Most of us don't have a slide on the bus. Brain Fart on my part.
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IDK guys, it's awfully nice to be able to walk out of the bus and be under the awning, especially if it is raining. Makes the outside (front porch) area feel an awfully lot like an extension of the inside of the bus, especially if you put down a 'yard', a couple folding chairs and table. You don't really get that with a standalone shelter.
Jim
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I have a used Dometic awning, about 19ft I think that I plan to mount on the DL3. It will need new fabric which I think I might be able to get for about $750.
The challenge is going to be mounting it in such a way that it covers the door. To do that I think it will have to stick out to the front a bit.
Don't know if I have any rain gutters or not, I don't recall seeing them.
Jim
Yeah, I have kind of given up on the idea of covering the door due to the angle.
I think the challenge is to have hardware short enough to go between the top of the ay dots and the rain gutter, about 65 inches, if I recall.
Seb
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If looking for something that blends in, and gives complete shade when you walk out, then I would say the Girards do meet those requirements. We have them. Also, to help with blending in, Girard has "blanks" so if you only want the one awning on one side, you could pair that with a blank. So, it would look like a nice straight line down the side of the bus. They are pricey, but we have been very pleased. The Girards fit in well with our DL3 lines. That was one of the main reasons they were purchased.
If you want more info please let me know.
Hope this helps, Phil
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Yea Girard's cassette are pricey I had 2-20ft Girard cassettes on roof on the passengers side,I didn't care for the 110v on the 2 since all the rest were 12 v, the build sheet on the CC shows the doctor I purchased it from paid $15,000 for a upgrade to Girard from Carefree that would never happen with me ,I would have bought sun tan lotions, they were good awning though I never had one blow out in the 50mph cross winds
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If looking for something that blends in, and gives complete shade when you walk out, then I would say the Girards do meet those requirements. We have them. Also, to help with blending in, Girard has "blanks" so if you only want the one awning on one side, you could pair that with a blank. So, it would look like a nice straight line down the side of the bus. They are pricey, but we have been very pleased. The Girards fit in well with our DL3 lines. That was one of the main reasons they were purchased.
If you want more info please let me know.
Hope this helps, Phil
Thanks Phil,
I tried Girard RV.com and it doesn't seem to work. Also other links on Google aren't working. Did you buy direct from Girard RV.com or?
Seb
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Girard sold to Lippet a manufacture of RV stuff may be the problem ,The Carefree Latitude is a cassette awning that is about the same as a Girard for 1/2 the price ,you see a lot of those now on the higher end RV's
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I will check with the company who installed the Girards (Lippet) so that you can do your comparisons w/ the Carefree solution.
Hope this helps, Phil
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https://www.lippert.com/rv-camping/campsite-patio/awnings :^
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Phil, how is this going to work on the front right corner of a 102DL3? I can't quite picture it.
Jim
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Thanks for the URL Dave. :) And here is the direct Girard link within the Lippert site:
https://corporate.lippert.com/about/brands/girard/rv-awnings (https://corporate.lippert.com/about/brands/girard/rv-awnings)
Hope this helps, Phil
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Phil, how is this going to work on the front right corner of a 102DL3? I can't quite picture it.
Jim
Hi Jim,
This picture looks almost identical to how it looks on our DL3:
https://res.cloudinary.com/lci-cloudinary/image/upload/c_pad,w_500,h_350/f_auto/q_auto/v1/lci1-www/uploads/brands/girard/rv-awnings/ultra-door-awning618?_a=BBDAACAD0 (https://res.cloudinary.com/lci-cloudinary/image/upload/c_pad,w_500,h_350/f_auto/q_auto/v1/lci1-www/uploads/brands/girard/rv-awnings/ultra-door-awning618?_a=BBDAACAD0)
Leisure Coach buitl a special cap at our request to streamline the look of the awning to match the coach lines. They had several other ideas, but I requested the streamlined look as I really like the DL3 exterior.
I've also attached a picture of our DL3 with the front cap. There may be a Youtube of them building it out. Or I'm sure they could build another.
Please let me know if I may assist.
, Phil
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Well, I'm a cheap bastard so it's not likely I would go that route but thanks for the photos. Too cold to mess with it right now anyway and I still have to finish up a couple other projects before I can really get back on the bus but at least it might give me some ideas.
Jim
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Thanks for the URL Dave. :) And here is the direct Girard link within the Lippert site:
https://corporate.lippert.com/about/brands/girard/rv-awnings (https://corporate.lippert.com/about/brands/girard/rv-awnings)
Hope this helps, Phil
I almost got the name right lol,that guy that owned Girard a real nice guy but he must make a fortune selling awning companies he sold CareFree and started Girard now he sold it ,some have nack at doing that
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I got talked into going electric. I went with a 19 ft carefree altitude on both side. Carefree of colorados service was beyond reproach. Really good. I think I spent 5 k for both- just parts. They work ok, but bind sometimes. On my left side one I have a huge voltage drop (if I apply the 12 volts directly at the motor- it opens a lot quicker). Both have a motor on one side, no spring. When it was first put in, one opened while driving and got ripped up. In retro spect I wish I’d gone manual now.
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I got talked into going electric. I went with a 19 ft carefree altitude on both side. Carefree of colorados service was beyond reproach. Really good. I think I spent 5 k for both- just parts. They work ok, but bind sometimes. On my left side one I have a huge voltage drop (if I apply the 12 volts directly at the motor- it opens a lot quicker). Both have a motor on one side, no spring. When it was first put in, one opened while driving and got ripped up. In retro spect I wish I’d gone manual now.
My son has the Carefree Latitude on his Country Coach his are 110v though (don't ask how I know that), there are no springs but you have load lift cylinders on each arm side to push and pull the arms straight as the tiny motor unrolls the fabric. We had to change those not long a go because his would hang and unroll just on 1 side .after changing the cylinders on both arm and doing a good dry lube on the hinge pins they worked good as new, he did upgrade the cylinders from the cheap made in China Carefree used
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My son has the Carefree Latitude on his Country Coach his are 110v though (don't ask how I know that), there are no springs but you have load lift cylinders on each arm side to push and pull the arms straight as the tiny motor unrolls the fabric. We had to change those not long a go because his would hang and unroll just on 1 side .after changing the cylinders on both arm and doing a good dry lube on the hinge pins they worked good as new, he did upgrade the cylinders from the cheap made in China Carefree used
How old are the latitudes? Interesting that they’re 110 volts.
Electronics scare me but I’m actually pretty happy on evenings like this. If I’d gotten a late 80s/early 90s prevost I wouldn’t be enjoying some of the luxuries I have now.
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2007,a mobile service guy came out and told us Carefree didn't make 110 v awning cost him a test light ,Carefree told us they were made for Country Coach and 1 other manufacture I forget the name using 110v ,I have never saw a DC voltage Girard on the top of the higher end RV's they may make one now I don't know .I should have knew his were 110v it had breakers in electrical panel for the awnings I forgot to turn off
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Girard sold to Lippet a manufacture of RV stuff may be the problem ,The Carefree Latitude is a cassette awning that is about the same as a Girard for 1/2 the price ,you see a lot of those now on the higher end RV's
Thanks, will look into that
Seb
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https://www.lippert.com/rv-camping/campsite-patio/awnings :^
Thanks
Seb
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I will check with the company who installed the Girards (Lippet) so that you can do your comparisons w/ the Carefree solution.
Hope this helps, Phil
Yes, thanks
Seb
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I bought 2 girard gg750 cassettes 7(?) Years ago when they first came out. Was at rv show in indy. Think I paid $3200for the pair. They sent me install instruction which included ac wiring diagram. They were 12 voltage. I let the smoke out of first motor. They sent me new motor with correct diagram. Haven't had a problem since. Money well spent.
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I bought 2 girard gg750 cassettes 7(?) Years ago when they first came out. Was at rv show in indy. Think I paid $3200for the pair. They sent me install instruction which included ac wiring diagram. They were 12 voltage. I let the smoke out of first motor. They sent me new motor with correct diagram. Haven't had a problem since. Money well spent.
The Sumbrella fabric on those now would cost you more than $3200.00 ,RV shows are a good place to get good buys the vendors don't want transport any thing back,I bought 2 of the Norcold 100 lbs Ac,DC freezers at a FMCA rally the vendor was selling for almost a 1000 bucks ea and on the last day I paid him 500 bucks for 2 still have one in the box
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I bought 2 girard gg750 cassettes 7(?) Years ago when they first came out. Was at rv show in indy. Think I paid $3200for the pair. They sent me install instruction which included ac wiring diagram. They were 12 voltage. I let the smoke out of first motor. They sent me new motor with correct diagram. Haven't had a problem since. Money well spent.
Thanks