Dressing Up the Window … for Privacy and Shade

Lake Greenwood Motorcoach Resort — Cross Hill, SOUTH CAROLINA

My favorite spot to sit and read … or blog … or watch the occasional TV show … is the passenger side sofa.  Situated next to a window, that perch allows me to feel like I am outdoors when I can’t sit on the patio while partaking of those activities.  The only problem is that if we have a neighbor on that side, there’s not much privacy unless I close the MCD shade.  Something I don’t really like to do as I feel closed in then.

To solve the problem, we decided to install an awning over the window to match the awnings that were factory-installed on the other windows.  Why one wasn’t installed on this window, I don’t know.  Perhaps Tiffin felt it was unnecessary since there is a huge patio awning on this side of the coach.  Yes, there is.  But it doesn’t afford all that much privacy.  And we don’t — or can’t — always open it.

The before … as Mui preps the slide surface for the awning installation.

So, Mui called the Tiffin Parts Department in Red Bay, and gave them the specifics of our coach and the measurements for the window.  Two minutes later, the technician not only had the part number for a Carefree Awning pulled up, he also had confirmed there was nothing Mui needed to be wary of and could drill as necessary to mount the awning on the side of the slide.  A week later, the awning was delivered to us here at Lake Greenwood, and Mui was ready to get to work.

The after … installation complete.

Those who aren’t interested in the details of the install can stop reading now.

The rest of you … keep scrolling for a photo essay of the install, which turned out to be quite easy.  The instructions that came with the awning kit actually made sense, and Mui had the factory-installed awnings to refer to when he wanted visual confirmation of the instructions.  The entire project took him less than two hours to complete.  And, as the Shake ‘n Bake ad goes … “And I helped.” ;-)

Yes, Mui does read instructions before he gets started on a project.

The awning kit includes: the awning in the roller tube (with protective covering);
the awning rail; the strap catch; the arm assembly; and the screws.

Step 1: measure and mark the position for the awning rail.

Step 2: Tape the awning rail in place and confirm distance from the window.

Step 3: verify that the awning rail is level.
Too bad the laser level is back in storage ;-)

Step 4: drill the pilot holes for the awning rail screws.

Step 5: remove the awning rail and spray silicone lubricant inside the track
to make it easier to slide the awning into the track later.

Step 6: put silicone on the back of the rail to create a seal against the side of the slide.

Step 7: reposition the rail, making sure the pilot holes align with the rail;
tape it in place; and secure it to the slide with the provided screws.

 

Step 8: inspect your handiwork after the awning rail is installed.

Step 9: time to work on the arm assembly; do not remove the spring locking pin at either end yet.

Step 10: slide the arm into the end cap (drill a pilot hole if necessary), and secure
the arm with a screw through the back of the cap.  Repeat for the other arm.

Step 11: carefully edge out the polyrod to make it easier to slide it into the rail;
do this for the length of the awning.

Step 12: gently slide the awning polyrod into the track on the rail.
Sorry about the blurry photo :-(

Step 13: not quite done yet, but the awning is in place and centered in the rail.

Step 14: after making sure the bumper pads on the back of the end caps are properly
positioned, and the arms are perpendicular to the awning, secure each
arm to the slide (drill a pilot hole first if necessary).

Step 15: remove the spring locking pins and unfurl the awning a couple of times using
the pull strap … this is necessary to align the awning on the roll tube, and
determine and mark the position for the strap catch.

Step 16: put silicone on the back of the strap catch to create a seal against the slide.

Step 17: position the catch as previously determined (see instructions that come
with the kit) and mount it to the slide with the provided screws.

Step 18: with the awning open and the pull strap secured by the catch,
mount the lower brackets of each arm to the side of the coach.

Step 19: secure the canopy in place, making sure the screws go through
the canopy, the polyrod, and the  awning rail.

Step 20: remove the protective film covering the roller tube.

Step 21: Installation complete; awning closed.

Open awning from inside … plenty of shade and privacy, and I still get to have a view to enjoy.

There were a couple of interim steps that I did not include since I was helping and I had to put the camera down.  Follow the instructions that came with the kit and you’ll be the proud owner of an awning in no time.