Curb Side Slide Awining - Solitude

[chris-TMO]

Hi GD Team (Janice!),
We are thinking of putting an awning on the curb side slide and wondered if the engineering team had any recommendations, or cautions about doing such a thing. We'd want it pretty much full width to the face of the slide. To match, I would put the CareFree on it, like the one over the door.
Thanks for the guidance.
Ct..

 

[GDRV Service]

Hi @chris,

I can check to see if your specific Solitude 369RL has backer above the slide room hole opening, as well as clearance between the roof edge and slide room hole opening, etc. for this aftermarket part installation but before I start, did you mean you want to install a Carefree of Colorado patio awning or a slideout awning (aka slide room topper) at the rear slide room on your Solitude 369RL? Just checking as you wouldn't be able to use a patio awning unless the rear slide room was closed (retracted) ???

Thanks,
~ Janice

 

[chris-TMO]

Hi Janice,
I want to install a patio awning on my slide. There are a few other brands that do this. The patio awning would be mounted to the slide itself, if your guys say it's okay to do.
Ct..

 

[GDRV Service]

Okay, glad I asked as that's not what I was envisioning from your question at all

I've got a call into Engineering and will get back to you after I hear from them.

~ Janice

 

[huntr70]

We put one on a customers unit here, just last month.

Not any different than a normal install, just needed to use the short arm version, and it was a manual awning.

It was also a Dometic, not Carefree. They are almost identical anyway...

 

[GDRV Service]

Hi @chris,

On your specific Solitude 369RL there is no backer in the rear door-side slide room wall to attach an aftermarket patio-style awning, BUT you should be able to attach the awning hardware to the heavy duty T-mold that frames the slide room wall. Hopefully this makes sense, if not please feel free to call me.

I do need to add that this modification, the aftermarket parts, installation and any potential damage caused by the modification is not covered by either of our limited product warranties. Please contact your dealer or our Warranty Dept. (our phone number in my signature, below) if you have further questions.

Hope this helps!
~ Janice

 

[laffman]

Asked this exact question at the Detroit RV show back in October. Can't remember if it was Marc Hauser or Rob Groover, met them both, but they did not recommend doing this.

 

[huntr70]

[quote author=GDRV Customer Service link=topic=174.msg921#msg921 date=1386114806]
Hi @chris,

On your specific Solitude 369RL there is no backer in the rear door-side slide room wall to attach an aftermarket patio-style awning, BUT you should be able to attach the awning hardware to the heavy duty T-mold that frames the slide room wall. Hopefully this makes sense, if not please feel free to call me.

I do need to add that this modification, the aftermarket parts, installation and any potential damage caused by the modification is not covered by either of our limited product warranties. Please contact your dealer or our Warranty Dept. (our phone number in my signature, below) if you have further questions.

Hope this helps!
~ Janice
[/quote]

So, how does warranty work when we install a slide out awning on the door side slide of a Solitude, which you don't install at the factory?

It didn't come with it, so it is not covered?

 

[GDRV Service]

Hi @huntr70

I'm not an authority on aftermarket parts but my understanding is that if you choose to install an aftermarket slideout awning, the only warranties that might* pertain would be from the aftermarket parts installer and/or the aftermarket patio awning manufacturer. *You must contact the aftermarket patio awning supplier, and the person installing the aftermarket part (i.e., your dealer management) for specific details as to what, if any, warranty would apply to the modification.

Alterations, modifications or changes to the original design or build of the RV, etc. are specifically excluded from our One Year Limited Base Warranty (see pages 9-14 of our Solitude Owners Manual) and our Three Year Limited Structural Warranty (see pages 15-20 of our Solitude Owner Manual).

Hope this helps!
~ Janice

 

[huntr70]

I guess what I am asking is, that you offer factory installed slide toppers on the driver's side of the Solitude. Is this considered a factory modification that is covered in the 1 year warranty?

If it is, why would a dealer installing one on the door side (because we can do it, and I showed Rob Groover how to do it) be an issue?

Just trying to understand how things are covered from the factory stand point.

I understand if someone is trying to do some off the wall modifications, but doing the exact same thing that the factory can do, doesn't quite seem the same.

 

[GDRV Service]

Hi @huntr70,

I started to write a reply back to you a couple of times, but then stopped as I wasn't quite sure if I was addressing your concerns correctly. Hypothetically, if your dealership placed a sales order with us that included the slide out awning (a.k.a. slide topper) option, then the slide topper would be covered by our limited product warranty. However, in this scenario it would not be considered a factory modification (?) as it would be installed as part of our production process.

Also, I don't necessarily think a dealer installing an aftermarket slide topper becomes an automatic issue; however, we wouldn't cover it under our warranty nor am I aware of any other RV manufacturer that would cover aftermarket work done by a dealership under the terms of their (the RV manufacturer's) warranty.

Hope this helps but if not, please feel free to call me or Marc Hauser to discuss so as to prevent any misunderstandings on the subject. Our phone number is (574) 825-8000.

Thanks,
~ Janice

 

[clc530]

When I bought my Solitude I had Lazydays but slide toppers on all my slides total price 1500+ and rain covers over the fans I would have thought that rain covers would be standard. Very happy with slide covers.

 

[GDRV Service]

Hi @clc530,

Thanks for the comment! I'll pass your suggestion regarding the rain covers on to Marc Hauser, our GM for the Solitude/Momentum product lines.

Best regards,
~ Janice