This is an FYI post to help others with getting parts for their A&E/Dometic door awnings (perhaps for large patio awnings too.)
Background - my 2003/4 vintage door awning (Dometic Oasis Elite model 974xxx) wouldn't close due to a failure of a connection/part between the motor and the roller. Unlike other versions that have a pin, mine had a "D" shaped rod and receiver that turned the awning and the aluminum "D" shaped receiver in the roller had broken. Image attached.
Many searches, many phone calls always came back with the same answer... part no longer available, can't fix, must buy new $1000+ door awning. One awning shop even put me on hold while they called Dometic, same answer... part no longer in stock, must replace awning.
A bit more digging came up with a surprising fact... A&E/Dometic does not actually make the awnings. They buy them from a company called "Fiamma" (Italian, with U.S. subsidiary) and slap their label on them, and then in turn supply them to Winnebago. A quick check on their website (www.fiammausa.com) and an email to their parts/support group came back "sure, we have the part, this is what you need, $75 plus shipping and here's the part diagram for your awning (PDF included.)"
So if you ever need to repair your awning parts this is the way to go. Appears they also have the motors and other parts and are far more helpful and less expensive than Dometic. Two big thumbs up!
Edit by staff - reduced image size
Background - my 2003/4 vintage door awning (Dometic Oasis Elite model 974xxx) wouldn't close due to a failure of a connection/part between the motor and the roller. Unlike other versions that have a pin, mine had a "D" shaped rod and receiver that turned the awning and the aluminum "D" shaped receiver in the roller had broken. Image attached.
Many searches, many phone calls always came back with the same answer... part no longer available, can't fix, must buy new $1000+ door awning. One awning shop even put me on hold while they called Dometic, same answer... part no longer in stock, must replace awning.
A bit more digging came up with a surprising fact... A&E/Dometic does not actually make the awnings. They buy them from a company called "Fiamma" (Italian, with U.S. subsidiary) and slap their label on them, and then in turn supply them to Winnebago. A quick check on their website (www.fiammausa.com) and an email to their parts/support group came back "sure, we have the part, this is what you need, $75 plus shipping and here's the part diagram for your awning (PDF included.)"
So if you ever need to repair your awning parts this is the way to go. Appears they also have the motors and other parts and are far more helpful and less expensive than Dometic. Two big thumbs up!
Edit by staff - reduced image size
