Awning

[AK49er]

Davydd, Gowesty has a shorter hand crank that they sell for the Fiamma awning. It may be too short for a Sprinter platform but they take up about half the space of the regular crank.

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by AK49er

Davydd, Gowesty has a shorter hand crank that they sell for the Fiamma awning. It may be too short for a Sprinter platform but they take up about half the space of the regular crank.

I have the short crank for awning on my Interstate - but it requires a ladder to reach the awning.

[Davydd]

Ours is an adjustable extension type shaft that telescopes down. I don't think it matters what length it is. It is still an item with a cumbersome "L" shape crank you have to find a convenient spot for. I've created that spot but it is still less convenient than no spot at all and a push of a button.

[AK49er]

I wasn't sure if the shorter one would work on the Sprinter or not, now I know for sure. I would go to the shorter hand crank but then the queen couldn't use it cause she's really short and I want her to be able to set up and take down everything so she could do it by herself if needed. Watching some of the videos on electric awnings, I believe we are about twice as fast to deploy and retract the awning by doing it manually with less worry of more electrical "stuff" to go out.

[obgraham]

I'm with AK49. My previous rigs with manual awnings worked nicely 100% of the time. Then I went to powered awnings on my Journey. OK, but intermittent nonfunctioning. Now on the RT it's another powered one, but at least this one has support props.
Given the choice: Manual every time. There's always a place for the crank.

[gdoug]

In my RT RS the crank clips onto the sofa/bed brace about 18" from the floor with two neoprene clips. Very convenient, out of the way, no rattling. The center support (2-Piece) came held in the same place by two velcro straps wrapped around the brace and the crank. I have never used it so it stays home in a closet with passenger seats 3 & 4. As others do, we use the awning not only for shade, but for rainy days, bugs, etc dropping from trees and to keep the dew off the bikes, chairs, etc over night. Anything above a comfortable breeze, though, up it goes. That has only happened twice in four years.

[Raindem]

Originally Posted by rbrtwareham

If you still need the instructions for the Fiamma F45 awning, I have one you can have. I reolaced mine this year, with a Dometic. My email address is rbrtwareham@yahoo.ca . You can e mail your mailing address, and I will send it to you

That's good of you to offer, but I found a set online.

We went for a short camping trip last week and the awning worked great. I'm finally getting the hang of it. Camping in southern Arizona in the middle of July, it's the most important accessory we have!

[Fastpaddler1]

I always slide the awning crank handle behind the drivers seat-- sort of wedged in. It is out of the way there. It is the long handle one.

[Davydd]

I have an out of the way place for my awning crank. I just put in some clips to hold it on the back cabinet.

[booster]

Our crank and the center brace ride in a piece of pvc central vac tubing (thin wall and light). Very much out of the way compared to the Roadtrek method of putting it right across the back.

[accrete]

Originally Posted by Davydd

...I don't think it matters what length it is. It is still an item with a cumbersome "L" shape crank you have to find a convenient spot for...

We created a nice spot for the long items right above the original roof line in our conversion

Awning bracket goes up here with the kites:


Thom

[Davydd]

We are all finding spots for an awning crank handle but i would rather have the space for hiking poles, fishing rods or tripods.