In the Caravan Industry there are several popular brand of Awnings. At first glance they are all quite similar in operation and features and it can be sometimes difficult to tell which brand you have. This makes replacement parts difficult to match and obtain, as they are not interchangeable. The George Day team can help you to identify what awning you have and what relatable parts, accessories and aftermarket products will suit your awning. 

We have access to the top three Australian leading Brands of Roll Out Awnings; Aussie Traveller,  Dometic, and Carefree, and stock spare parts and accessories for all of them.

Dometic: Manufactured the 8300 & 8500 series awning and are currently making the 8700 series Awnings as well as the Hardware, Spare Parts and accessories. These are typically the same Roll out style of awning but each part number relates to a specific manufacture period.  

Carefree: Manufacture Fiesta & Freedom Roll out Awnings, Carefree Hardware's often have a sticker Carefree or Carefree of Colorado.  

Aussie Traveller Manufacture the Sunburst range, these are a recent release and as such they are becoming more commonplace on newly manufactured caravans. 

All three brands stock both White and Black Legs/Hardware's, to ensure a colour scheme match to both dark and light vehicles.

Carefree in the past did offer Silver Legs, unfortunately these have now been phased out and no longer replaceable. 

All Three brands have major suppliers in Australia, with HQ's in the Eastern States, Dometic and Carefree having Perth distribution warehouses also. 

How Do I know Which Awning I Have? 

There are a few ways to identify which awning has been installed to your Caravan. 

Firstly we can check the Awning Legs (Hardware)

Dometic

Dometic Hardwares sometimes have a Hardware Sticker on the Side of the Awning legs, near the operating handle.

See Below 

These have a Grey Operating Handle with a rubber bottom with finger grooves. 

Carefree

Carefree have their logo stamped on the Awning legs, located again near the operating handle.

See Below 

These have Operating Handles similar to a teardrop shape. 

Aussie Traveller

Aussie Traveller also have their logo stamped on the Awning legs, located again near the operating handle.

See below 

Also the Operating Handles will have their logo embossed on the outer, these are typically a triangular/ raised angle with a curved bottom shape. 

I Cant See Any of these?

Lets Check some other distinguishing features. 

 **The top Roller Fitment - How the Awning attaches to the legs (hardware)**

Dometic 

All Dometic Awnings have a Grey Catch at the top of the Awning Legs, this is a Slider Catch it is used to lock the main rafter and arm in position when setting up the awning. 

Carefree 

Carefree have a cupping bracket that fits over the top of the hardware and it attaches to the barrel with a pivoting screw fitting. 

Aussie Traveller 

Have a cupping bracket that fits over the top of the hardware with their Logo Stamped into the Hardware above the securing screw. 

**Hardware Brackets  & Operating Hardwares**

Dometic 

• Silver / Grey Foot both at the base of the hardware/leg, it is pop riveted to the base of the Inner Arm. it has two holes either side of the attachment to assist with pegging into the ground. 
• Silver / Grey Bracket attaching the hardware/leg to your caravan, it is bolted to the base of the van exterior, allowing the awning leg to be clipped onto the van or pegged to the ground. The older style and has square corners, the newer style have rounded edges.
• Dometic Awnings also have a Silver Safety lock, used to hold upper and lower arms together when awning is folded up.
• Silver / Grey Slider Catch, used to lock the main rafter and arm in position when setting up the awning.
• Silver / Grey Operating Handle with a rubber bottom with finger grooves. 

Carefree 

• Travel latch or Storage lock these hold the awning arms together while the awning is in the closed position.
• Flower Shape Black locking knobs These hold the brace arms in tension and lock them to the main arms. 
• Bottom Foot is typically an oval shape it is bolted to base of the inner arm. it has two holes either side to assist when pegging into the ground. 
• Bottom Bracket is a squared shape with a lever to open and close the bracket it is bolted to the exterior of the caravan, allowing the awning leg to be clipped onto the van or pegged to the ground.
• Handles are a teardrop shape and are attached by a rivet to the arm.

Optional parts you may have installed 

• Plastic remote lock this slides into the Carefree arm and releases the lock on the awning, these are typically seen on larger vehicles and assists to release the locking mechanism where the awning may be too high for standard access. 
• Canopy clamps support the awning fabric when it's in the open position, they attach to the awning arm and swivel back inline with the arm when awning is roll back in the closed position. 

Aussie Traveller 

• Bottom Foot Slightly rounded (where the pole fits in) with two rectangular wings that have two holes either side of pole to assist with pegging. 
• Bottom Bracket is a squared shape with a Aluminium/ Silver lever to open and close the bracket it is bolted to the exterior of the caravan, allowing the awning leg to be clipped onto the van or pegged to the ground.
• Barrel Locking mechanism to the top barrel is toward the back of the barrel and closest to the van.
• Handle is embossed with Aussie Traveller and is and angled shape with a curved bottom.
• They also have a minor textured lip that runs central of the pole itself. 
• Circular Black Locking knobs these hold the brace arms in tension and lock them to the main arms.