Driver side awnings, 166FBS

[DonBr]

Finishing up the project that started with the slide topper.

[Bill Johnson]

I put those on my trailer in the early 2000s and they are great

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by Bill Johnson

they are great

X-2 I always installed them too, and

[JFlightRisk]

Very nice job! I've often thought I'd like to do the same to ours to keep the sun out on hot days. I'd only need two, the rear and the driver's side rear, but that one's the emergency exit window. A little leery of shading that one.

[DonBr]

The front one I did is also the emergency exit, but I don't the awning would seriously inhibit egress. My prior RVs have mostly been Class As that had awnings all around from the factory, including the emergency exit windows.

[JFlightRisk]

Good to know, thanks. Might be a project for next spring when I can measure the two windows.

If I might ask, where did you get them from?

[DonBr]

Amazon for both, Carefree Simply Shade. They come in 6 inch increments, and I had to go to 42 and 60 because the windows are 31+ and 49+ so not good for the 36 and 54 inch ones. The fabric on a 36 is only 30, and the 54 is only 48. Biggest issue is that you can't center the awning on the front window of a 166 because of the curve in the cap, and it bothers me not have things symmetrical. Oh well, it works! They truly are simple. I didn't time my install on the front one a couple of weeks ago, but today with not needing to read the instructions I timed from unboxing to completion in 55 minutes flat. Rain was coming and I wanted to be done.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NS7N93W is the link for the 42. They don't group them, so you have to find the sizes individually on Amazon. Each listing does, however, give the sizes needed based on window width.

[JFlightRisk]

Thanks, great information to know. Measure twice, order once! I'll measure them when it gets uncovered in the spring. These will probably make the DW happy, and might even get the A/C to work a little less when the sun comes in the windows.

[DonBr]

I decided on this after 3 weeks in the desert ending in mid October. Unless I was parked somewhere with the drivers side due North there was always some point where the sun blazed into the windows.

[Rustic Eagle]

DonBr,

Nice mod and added it to my list!

My thought was to consider putting a 'Shade' over my large slide window. But, I may not have enough room between the window and topper mounting brackets, plus the horizontal surface 'rise' pattern of the siding may effect mounting of the Shade fabric rail.

I plan to take some measurements and then check on what size 'Shade would be required.

What do you think??



Bob

[Rustic Eagle]

Went to storage and pulled some measurements from my slidewall/window area, and it appears the Carefree Simply Shade 5-5ft (66") model will clear my slide topper mounting bracket assemblies and the 60" fabric width will cover my 60" wide window .

Referencing my Jayco slidewall framing drawings the Carefree shade fabric 'mounting rail' location will allow the mounting screws to land into a wood cross member, not just the aluminum siding.

The Simply Shade 5-5ft (awning arms CTR-to-CTR) part number is WG0554E4EB.

Plan to take my copy of the Carefree Installation manual out to the TT to double check all the mounting locations....., then will do some 'price' shopping.


Simply Shade 5-5ft Product Catalog & Videos:

https://catalog.carefreeofcolorado.c...simply%20shade


Simply Shade Installation Documents:

https://www.carefreeofcolorado.com/w...dow-Awning.pdf

Bob

[DonBr]

I didn't see your picture until just now, but my "calibrated eyeballs" do agree that you should have enough room. Not much needed for the install - the only tool that might be considered at all odd is the #2 square bit, but I had that and you may as well. The one thing I didn't have, but ordered at the same time I ordered the awnings, was butyl putty tape. I got the 1 inch, and it was just right. Squeezed a bit out on the top rail, but trimmed it away with a plastic knife. On the first awning I made the mistake of trying to put the putty on the railing, and there was just no way to keep it straight. I stopped and removed what I had done, and switched to laying the putty out on the garage floor and then laying the rail on top of it. Worked perfectly.

Show us how it looks when you finish!

[Rustic Eagle]

DonBr,

Originally Posted by DonBr

snip.....Show us how it looks when you finish!

Thanks for the follow-up and insight. The Michigan winter weather may push out my actual install timeframe, but I will check back in.

Bob