Maintenance & Restoration

Janb313 · 04-03-2013, 11:55 AM

I have an old A&E (Dometic) Catalina 2500 awning. The fabric is torn and I wanted to buy a replacement awning fabric. I have spoken with Dometic and they no longer make that model awning or the replacement fabric for it. They are telling me that most replacement fabrics will not fit it bacause it has a 7' projection length instead of the current industy standard of 8'. They are also telling me that the polycord placement is different as well. Has anyone else run into this problem? One company suggested I find someone who makes custom awnings but I haven't looked yet. One company said I could I could just use the 8" even tho it would not roll all the way out. It would just mean there fabric would stay wrapped up and there would be no valance. Not sure what to do - but don't really want to have to buy a whole new unit if I can avoid it.

Janb313 · 04-03-2013, 11:57 AM

OOPS! In my post I said I wanted to buy replacement awning and left out the word fabric. It is the replacement fabric I want. Thanks

D Davis · 04-03-2013, 12:07 PM

EBay is selling A&E Dometic fabric and awnings with the 7" measurment, they may be
discontinued stock from A & E. Worth a peek through. There is a source there for very inexpensive awnings as well.

Carol H · 04-03-2013, 12:09 PM

Have you checked out RV Awnings Smart. They sell the fabric for the awnings and you might find someone to make it up for you.

floyd · 04-03-2013, 12:36 PM

If you have your old fabric, torn or not, then any local tent and awning shop could modify or make you a new awning competitively.

Francesca Knowles · 04-03-2013, 12:56 PM

It's easy to shorten awning fabric, at least in that direction.

The simplest way is probably to just cut about ten inches or so off, remove the spline, and stich/glue a new edge on with the spline inside the hem.

Care must be taken to keep things perfectly square when cutting/restitching.

Francesca

Janb313 · 04-04-2013, 02:07 PM

Had another small complication with the Catalina 2500 - the polycord on that model is 5/32" and the new standard is 3/16 at the tube and 1/4 at the rail. No one was offering that size. In looking on ebay I found Shadepro and gave them a call. The guy there has been in the business for years and said he can make me one with no problems - he knew what I was tallking about. Huge relief - I was starting to worry about having to get a new awning or do without. Price was reasonable too. I'll let everyone know how it works out.