How are carefree awning arms measured?

Need to get a new awning, or fit some accessories like shade screens, anti-flap kits, clothes lines? You’ll need to 3 things:

  • length measurement
  • brand
  • hardware style

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Measure Caravan Awning Length

  • Roll out awnings are measured from the centre of the front arm, to the centre of the rear arm.
  • It is NOT the length of the roller tube, or the length of the vinyl.
  • Most generally come in foot increments (e.g. 15′, 16′ etc)
  • Aussie Traveller awnings can be custom sized to any length

Don’t  have a tape with feet on it? Use this handy mm to feet conversion table.

FEETMM
10′ 3,048 mm
11′ 3,352 mm
12′ 3,657 mm
13′ 3,962 mm
14′ 4,267 mm
15′ 4,572 mm
16′ 4,876 mm
17′ 5,181 mm
18′ 5,486 mm
19′ 5,791 mm
20′ 6,096 mm

Brand / Types of Caravan Awnings

If you look at the end of the roller – you will see the cap. Here are the most common versions.

Carefree are most common on Jayco caravans, and offer a good quality unit.

Dometic are the most reliable awnings, with minor differences between the 8300 and 8500 versions. The 8500 has a slightly conical end, where the 8300 is flat. 8300 is the most common, and is slightly cheaper than the 8500.

Aussie Traveller also have their own brand.

Caravan Awning Hardware Type

The awning “hardware” (also called the legs, arms, frameset and a pile of other things), need to match the brand of the roller. So if you’ve identified your awning as a Dometic as above, you’ll need Dometic hardware.  Generally, they come in 2-3 sizes to suit caravans or pop-tops, or super tall ones for high motorhomes / 5th wheelers.

Ensure you know what van its going on:

  • caravan
  • pop-top
  • extra tall

Colour

The roller ends and hardware is available in various colours, depending on brand, including

  • White (most common)
  • Black
  • Silver/Anodized

Dometic always have grey ends – so is always the same. Hardware varies.

Carefree has coloured ends & hardware varies.

Aussie Traveller has coloured ends & hardware varies.

Article by - Caravans Plus

  • Always read the product manual before installing or using this product. Failure to follow the instructions and safety precautions in the manual can result in personal injury and/or cause the product to not operate properly.
    How are carefree awning arms measured?
    General Awning Configuration

    Installing an Awning Rail (If Required)

    1. Position the awning rail along the roof line (line where roof and wall meet) or a minimum of 6" above the upper edge of the door or windows the awning is covering. Awning rail must be level and parallel with the floor line of the vehicle.

    2. After determining mounting position, mark the position with a chalk line.

    3. Seal the back of the rail with silicone sealant or putty tape.

    4. Align the awning rail onto the wall and secure with #10 x 3/4" screws. Use all the attachment holes in the rail.

    5. Use a screwdriver to spread open the left end of the awning rail on the installation side.

    How are carefree awning arms measured?

    6. File any sharp edges or burrs from the end of the rail. This will help protect the awning fabric from damage during installation.

    7. Spray inside the awning rail track with silicone lubricant.


    Assembling the Awning

    CAUTION DO NOT remove the following items until instructed: 1) TAPE around the canopy; 2) the SAFETY PIN in the roller tube (this is holding the pre-wound spring tension); or, the NYLON STRAP holding the roll bar brake lever. Removing these items prematurely may cause personal injury, damage to the awning and cause the awning to not operate correctly.

    How are carefree awning arms measured?
    Assemble the awning on flat surface (ground)

    1. On a flat surface, layout the arms and rollbar assembly.

  • Position the rollbar with the fabric oriented as shown over the top with the edge toward the coach. The brake lever must be on the right side.
  • For Spirit and Fiesta - The right arm assembly has the remote lock.

    2. Slide the left arm into the left end plug of the roll bar. Align the holes and secure using one (1) 1/4-20 x 7/16 Quadrex Drive screw.

    3. Hook the remote lock over the brake lever while sliding the arm into the right end plug. Align the holes in the arm and end plug and secure using one (1) 1/4-20 x 7/16 Quadrex Drive screw.

  • Tip: Release the travel lock and slide the remote lock up until it protrudes over the arm. Hook the remote over the brake lever. Allow the remote lock to slide back into the channel while sliding the arm into the end plug - REMEMBER TO CLOSE THE TRAVEL LOCK WHEN DONE.

    4. Measure and confirm the width of the awning. The distance is measured from centerline of arm to centerline of arm.


    Mounting the Bottom Mounting Brackets

    1. On the awning rail, mark the position of the centerlines of the arms. Ensure that the arms will not interfere with any lights, vents or other obtrusions.

    2. Using a non-permanent method of marking such as a chalk line, mark a perpendicular line from the awning rail down to the floor line. This is the centerline of the arms.

    How are carefree awning arms measured?
    Locating the Bottom Mounting Bracket

    3. Position and attach the bottom mounting brackets. These should be centered on the lines made in the previous step and MUST be attached to the structure at the floor line of the vehicle. Attach using 1/4 x 2/12 lag screws.

    NOTE: The bracket is made to straddle the trim found at the floor line. A flat shim is available for mounting to flat areas without trim.


    Mounting the Awning

    1. Measure the distance from the awning rail to the bottom mounting brackets.

    2. Adjust the arm length so the distance from the center of the roller to the foot is approximately equal to the measurement in step 1.

  • To adjust arm length, open the arm handle and slide the lower channel up or down as required. Close the handle and slide the lower channel until the locking pin clicks into the nearest positioning hole.
    How are carefree awning arms measured?
    Extend Arm to Match Required Height

    3. Remove the tape from the canopy. Unwrap a small portion of canopy but not more than one wrap. The next step will require two additional people. One to feed the canopy into the awning rail; two to "walk" the arms while the canopy is slid into position.

    4. Slide the polycord edge of the canopy (or alumaguard) into the awning rail. Continue to "walk" the arms and canopy down the rail until the arms are in line with the centerline marks made previously.

    5. Lift the arm up and secure the foot into the bottom bracket. Repeat for both arms.

    6. Firmly grasp the roll bar and remove the safety cotter pin from the left end of the roll bar. Allow the fabric to SLOWLY roll up.

    CAUTION Use care when removing the cotter pin. The pin is holding the pre-wound tension of the spring. Failure to securely hold the roller tube may allow the roller tube to rapidly roll up and cause personal injury or damage.

    7. Remove the nylon strap holding the brake lever.

    8. Carefully open the awning 12 - 18 inches to provide access to the upper mounting bracket.

  • Open the arm storage lock and push the remote lock up.
  • USE THE PULL STRAP and pull the awning out.
    How are carefree awning arms measured?
    Carefully Open Awning to Mount Top Bracket

    9. Loosen the black locking knob on the upper brace.

    10.Slide the upper portion of the brace up so that the upper mounting bracket straddles the awning rail.

    11. Center the bracket on the arm centerline drawn earlier.

    12. Attach the upper bracket using two (2) 1/4 x 3 lag screws. The screws must go into the vehicle structure. It is acceptable that the screws go through the flat portion of the awning rail.

    13. Repeat steps 9 through 12 for the other arm.

    NOTE: The bracket is made to straddle the awning rail. If it is necessary to space the bracket out from the wall, a spacer bracket is available and must be ordered separately.


    Installing the Stop Bolt

    1. Retract the awning.

    2. Observe if the centerline of the roll bar is level with or slightly higher than the centerline of the awning rail. The bottom of the roller tube must not be higher than the awning rail.

    3. Adjust the arm length as required. Open the arm handle and slide the lower channel up or down as required. Close the handle and slide the lower channel until the locking pin clicks into the nearest positioning hole.

    How are carefree awning arms measured?
    Installing the Stop Bolt

    4. Mark the position stop hole that is directly below the upper channel.

    5. From the inside of the channel, insert a 1/4-20 x 7/16 quadrex head screw with a star washer through the hole. Slide the centering spacer over the screw and inside the mounting hole. Secure with a 1/4-20 cap nut.

    Tip: It may be necessary to lift the upper channel to tighten the cap nut.

    6. Repeat for other arm.


    Securing the Fabric

    1. Roll the awning in and out several times to make sure that the fabric is square on the rollbar.

    2. Secure the canopy fabric or Alumaguard using one, #6 x 3/8" hex head screw at both sides of the awning.

    How are carefree awning arms measured?
    Securing the Awning Fabric

    2.1 For vinyl awnings, place screw through awning rail, polyrod and canopy approximately 1" in from the end of the fabric.

    2.2 For Uniguard awnings, place screw through awning rail, polyrod and the soft connect material approximately 1" in from the end of the fabric.

    2.3 For Alumaguard awnings, place screw on the outer edge of the Alumaguard.


    Installing the Rubber Bumpers

    Because of vibration and movement, it may be necessary to "tighten" the awning arms when stored in the travel position. Two rubber bumpers are provided for this purpose. 1. Open the awning to expose the top of the upper brace. 2. Peel and stick a rubber bumper on the upper brace, opposite the locking knob as shown. 3. Repeat for second arm Installing the Rubber Bumpers

    You have now completed the installation

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  • How do I know what size my awning is?

    Some awning manufacturers have tables to look up the awning size by caravan, but the most reliable method is to use the caravan's A-Measurement which is the universal method of sizing an awning, all full size awnings are sold by A-Measurement Size.