Like a lot of Ekko owners, I’ve had issues with the Carefree awning binding while extending and retracting.
Mine has done it for quite a while, but because I rarely use the awning, I never spent much time figuring out what was actually happening.
Once I finally got up on a ladder and watched the mechanism closely, the problem became pretty obvious.
On my awning, the issue was the black plastic wire-management strip for the LED wiring along the rear arm. As the awning moved in and out, that strip was binding against the top edge of the housing.
The fix was simple:
remove the strip from the top
relocate it to the side of the arm
make sure there’s still clearance when the arm folds closed
The important part is placing it on the correct side of the arm. One side folds tightly against the adjacent aluminum extrusion and won’t leave enough clearance. The other side remains angled slightly away from the housing and works correctly.
After moving the strip, the awning now opens and closes smoothly with no binding.
Honestly, once I saw the problem, it immediately became one of those:
“How did I not notice this sooner?”
It also looks pretty clear that the LED wiring solution was added after the original awning design rather than being integrated into the extrusion itself.
After about 14 months of living and traveling in the Ekko, I removed the factory microwave and replaced it with a RecPro RPM-8-BK-KT convection microwave with air-fry mode. It fits — but it is not a drop-in replacement, and cabinet modifications are required.
I posted the video below in case it helps someone else thinking about the same swap.
Why I changed it
This wasn’t about power draw, noise, or performance.
I do use a microwave, but almost exclusively for defrosting — usually 30 seconds to a minute, every couple of days. It’s a nice feature to have, but it’s not something I rely on heavily.
What I do use constantly is an oven-style appliance.
I cook nearly everything fresh in the camper:
pizzas
meat pies
chocolate chip cookies
For that, I’d been carrying a Ninja Flip countertop air fryer in one of the exterior compartments. It worked fine, but it was a pain:
it’s large and heavy
awkward to move through the door
had to be brought in and put away every time
Because I was using it so often, that extra friction added up.
The goal of this mod was simple:
stop carrying a separate air fryer
make better use of the existing microwave cabinet
end up with one permanently installed appliance that matched how I actually cook
What I installed
I removed the factory microwave entirely and installed a RecPro combination convection microwave with air-fry mode.
RecPro advertises it as a direct replacement. It is not.
It will fit in the cabinet — but only after modifying the opening and reworking the mounting and internal support.
The standalone air fryer now stays at home. I don’t need to carry it anymore.
Installation overview (high level)
I’m not going to rewrite the video step-by-step here, but these are the major things to expect.
1. Remove the factory microwave
Remove four mounting screws
Unplug it inside the cabinet
Slide it out
Once it’s out, you’ll see a rat’s nest of wiring in the cavity.
Plan on spending about an hour carefully:
reorganizing
packing
and cleaning up wiring so the new unit can fit properly
2. Enlarge the cabinet opening
The RecPro unit requires a larger opening.
I:
ran the shoe of a Bosch jigsaw directly against the cabinet panel
cut the sides and top to size
scribed and cut the bottom edge carefully
If the wiring is managed well, the microwave will slide into the opening cleanly.
3. Address support and depth
The new unit sticks out farther than the original.
To support the weight:
I removed the original stapled wood support
replaced it with angle aluminum at the top
through-screwed it into the plywood structure
added a lower support beam (painted gloss black to match the trim)
I also installed:
two ¾” wooden rails along the sides
to support the edges of the microwave and prevent the heat shield from flexing while driving
The unit is heavy — having a second set of hands helps.
4. Power cord routing
Because access is limited once the unit is partially installed:
I fed an extension cord through the cabinet opening first
plugged the microwave into it
then used it to pull the power cord through as the unit slid into place
This worked well and avoided fighting blind access behind the cabinet.
5. Final install
Install the trim sash
Secure it with the six mounting screws
Clean up
Cook something
What to know before doing this
This is not a drop-in swap
Cabinet modification is required
You need to think about:
wiring management
structural support
clearances
mounting, not just fit
None of it is especially complex, but it is deliberate work.
Bottom line
This mod wasn’t about upgrading for the sake of upgrading.
It was about:
how often I use an oven-style appliance
not hauling a heavy air fryer in and out of the camper
making the microwave cabinet earn its space
The camper now matches how I actually cook:
fresh meals
frequent baking
occasional defrosting
Logged here so it’s documented — and so the next person doesn’t have to guess whether this fits or what it takes to make it work.
