Glyn,
I put new Zip Dee's on my 69 Caravel. All the way around. However, mine
had the rear bed. Therefore, the hatch that was placed behind the refer was
just behind the door. Are there adjustments on the arms? I believe mine
allows for the awing to be set higher or lower. Just a thought. I believe
A&E awnings may have been used in 69. Good luck. As I understand the arms
must be mounted on the ribs.
Good Luck.
Dan
> All,
>
> I just bought a vintage Zip Dee on eBay last week and when it finally
> arrives plan to shorten it to fit my 1969 Caravel. I've already spoken to
> Jake at Zip Dee and am confidant that I can shorten it easily enough by
> making the cuts to the right side of the tube. He also advised me to
> remove
> excess fabric from either side so as to retain the center seam in the
> center. It's almost 15 feet long now and will be shortened to fit the
> approximately eight foot span required for my Caravel. The factory(?)
> track
> for the bolt rope in the fabric is already in place on the curve of the
> roof
> and there are old fittings from another unknown brand of awning arms
> already
> installed that I will remove and replace and cover with the Zip Dee
> hardware.
>
> Here's my question to the group at large.
>
> Every photo of a Zip Dee awning I've seen on Airstreams have the legs
> attached to the skin several inches above the joint between the banana
> skin
> and the vertical side. I can't do that because there's an access door
> just
> above that joint centered on the seam of the rear end cap and the flat
> side.
>
> Jake tells me that there's an extra 6" or so of straight leg in the arm
> that should allow me the length to attach the bottom fitting into the side
> of the floor joint below the access door. Can anyone confirm that there
> is
> enough arm length to install it that way? At worst, I may be able to buy
> just the short arms from Zip Dee and splice them to the existing ones for
> added length.
>
> My installation is similar to this one
> http://vintageairstream.com/archives2/71Caravel/1971Caravel2/index.html
> but
> the bottom frame of the door on mine abuts the trim piece that covers the
> banana skin and the side skin (photo of my installation available on
> request
> to me at glynjudson@roadrunner.com).
>
> By the way, I added that door based on seeing the one in the link
> above.
>
> A series of before and after photos, excluding that access door can be
> seen at http://vintageairstream.com/archives/69Caravel/index.html The
> "After" photos are the first set that appear when you click on the link.
> The "Before" photos are in the folder marked 1969 Caravel 2.
>
> Thanks as always in advance for any and all help,
>
> Glyn Judson, 1969 Caravel #508, Santa Monica. CA