Availability of new awning arms via A&E for Streamline/SS

Streamline Message Board: Message Board Postings: Availability of new awning arms via A&E for Streamline/SS
By James on Sunday, October 29, 2000 - 04:14 pm:

I recently ordered and received my new awning and fabric through the local Camping World. A&E still makes by special order the curved arms that fit the side of Streamline and Silver Streak. It sure is worth it since the original pipe style awning was very hard to operate individually. I then purchased small aluminum weep hole vents and riveted them in place over the damaged area where the original pipes were installed. It looks as good as new.

By Tom Patterson on Sunday, October 29, 2000 - 05:09 pm:

James,
Let me know how the awning works out. I have not yet even tried to open mine up, but will be looking into the awning eventurally.
I have (had) two awnings on the street of the trailer. One seems like it works ok, but the awning material will have to be replaced. The other is mostly missing. If you come across one of the window awnings at the bone-yard, let me know.

By streamliner86@aol.com on Saturday, November 25, 2000 - 04:45 pm:

Hello all.where is a&e located..I have a 1957 empress and have no awning nor hardware..any hints??

By Tom Patterson on Sunday, November 26, 2000 - 06:30 pm:

Hi Streamliner86,

Do you have a name? A & E appears to be owned by the Dometic corporation (known for their refrigerators). See their website at http://www.dometic.com/products/rv/ae/ae.html. I don't know how much luck you will have. I came close when I ordered an awning for my '65 Streamline, by ordering the Silver Streak awning from Carefree of Colorado through a local RV place. This did match the curve which is the important item, of course. I do have a little trouble opening the awning over the splash guard above the door. In other words, it is a close match, but not exact.

Where are you located? Do you have pictures of your trailer ?

By streamliner86@aol.com on Friday, December 15, 2000 - 07:11 pm:

Hello Tom,this is Phil Kaufman..I have changed my screen name from wallyliner to streamliner86@aol.com..it seemed closer to my Empress...my Empress(1957) is in great shape and I am planning a trip to Florida very..very soon.I am very interested in finding an awning..my rig has no hardware nor awning..any ideas where to start looking for a complete set? Once again thanks for all your kind help through the past couple of years...Phil in Nashville.

By Tom Patterson on Sunday, December 17, 2000 - 07:48 pm:

Hi Phil,
Good to hear from you again, and glad that the trailer is still in good shape, and busy travelling. I don't think that you are likely to find a Streamline awning, except in a bone yard, and I suspect that you probably would not be too happy with the pipe type awning that James mentions above. I think that you need to look into a Silver Streak awning, while they are still available, as the curvature is close to that of a Streamline. As I said above, I got a Carefree of Colorado awning, which works ok, except for the door clearance. What I probably should do is to put a door roller on the door to prevent the rubbing. James obviously has had good luck with the A & E. Zipdee, which is used by Airstream also comes to mind as a possibility.
Let me know if you have any further awning questions that I can help with, and by the way, glad to see you posting to the message board. I think that the sharing of information helps all of us.

By streamliner on Sunday, December 17, 2000 - 08:44 pm:

Hello again Tom..I think I should look into "Carefree" of Colorado...do you have any info on them??you said you got yours from a local RV dealer...there are several RV stores here in Nashville...or can I call them direct??Is there supposed to be special hardware to assemble and install..or is that extra..??also I had a look at the A&E list ,,there were several to chose from...any one know the one with the correct curve for the Streamline/Silver Streak/Airstream ?
thanks again...Nash-phil

By Tom Patterson on Monday, December 18, 2000 - 06:14 am:

Phil,
I had mine installed by the RV dealer, but there was no special hardware other than that which came with the awning. They had a catalogue from which I was able to choose the colors I wanted on the awning etc. The catalogue also showed the various shapes of the arms for the different trailers, which is why I know that I have a Silver Streak awning. They had them for Airstreams, Avions, as well as flat trailers, etc.
One interesting option that I took was to get the flourescent 12V bug light that fits in a slot on the awning. When the awning is unfolded at night, you have light, and the awning itself looks like one big lampshade. Cool !
I would think that any of the RV parts suppliers would have this catalogue. Carefree itself does have a website at http://www.carefreeofcolorado.com/ or http://www.digidot.com/carefree/

By James on Monday, December 18, 2000 - 07:52 pm:

Streamliner-

I had the 21 foot A&E installed several months ago and I simply raise the right side a notch after unlocking and then pull it out with the pull strap. This allows the awning to clear the drip cap installed over the door. The Streamline door already had a roller installed that rolls against the fabric when extended. This is un-avoidable. If I raised my awning high enough to prevent any interaction between the door and the fabric, it would be high enough that it would do no good as intended. This has nothing to do with the brand of awning. I had been told (but it may not be fact) that A&E was the only awning manufacturer that would still custom order the curved arms that fit both Streamline and Silver Streak. The body curves are identical and there are no other RV's that match this straight side from the bottom and then the rounded curve at the top. Most tend to curve inward at the bottom as well such as Airstream and Avion. This also limits the interior floor space. I have the 8500 series which is the mid line A&E with vinyl fabric. This holds up better through experience with fabric and also keeps water out of your patio area. The fabric type is much more expensive and has to be coated periodically to prevent sepage. Hope this helps. Tom has a Carefree and I think it is more recent so either awning is a good brand to have if available.

By Anonymous on Sunday, February 04, 2001 - 06:35 pm:

Thanks to James and Tom for the info on the A&E awning at Camping World....I had mine installed for $5. and it looks great,and a perfect fit to my 57 Empress.I opted for the 5 year Camping World full replacement for $125...hopefully I won't need it..but it covers everything including nuclear fall out...thanks guys..
Phil streamliner86@aol.com}

By Bob Gilbreath on Monday, February 05, 2001 - 10:35 am:

Good day sir's I hope you can help me with a question I have. I have been looking at travel trailers for a while now since I lose my Avion camper in a divorce. I liked the Avion workmanship but when looking at different trailers I have been dissipointed with what I have seen in the airstream when conpaired to it. I have a chance to purchase a Silver Streak trailer and I was trying to find out what you could tell me about the workmanship in them. Do you think they are better then the Avion or airstream? I know that I have not seen as many of them and I have almost never seen one of them for sell where I could look at it. The one I am consdiering is a several hour drive to look at and I have not found the time to make the trip as of now but i am looking farward to getting to see as soon as possible. Any help you could give would be very much appericated. (:BOB:)

By James on Tuesday, April 24, 2001 - 08:16 pm:

Bob-

You have probably made your purchase by now...If not, perhaps you can find a used Streamline or Silver Streak. You would find that if you appreciate a "yester year" RV, these brands would offer you great quality and craftsmanship. You can update these units with a minimum of money and have a really nice camping unit.
This site offers a variety of ideas and "how to-s"...Good Luck!

By MikeKinney on Monday, April 30, 2001 - 05:41 pm:

Hi All
I have the original 21ft A&E awning on my 30ft. The door has a wheel on it and the splash guard above the door has been removed. (I am looking for a replacement)The door interferance seems to be due to the curved nature of the door and appears unavoidable.
mike

By Laurel Styke on Tuesday, June 29, 2004 - 01:25 pm:

am looking for the value of a 1962 32ft streamline/Emporer excellent condition