Awning rail installation - Fiberglass RV
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 06-01-2003, 08:11 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
Awning rail installation

We have covered tents, screened rooms, add-a-rooms, awnings, tarps, and other do-dads for attaching space-makers to our trailers. What I'm trying to find out is if anyone has ever installed an awning rail themself.

I talked to Casita and found out that an awning that uses an awning rail would be fine for my older trailer. They advised that I rivet it about every four or so inches.

Surely, this cannot be that difficult to do, right? So, have any of you every put on your own awning rail? Anything other than silicone/caulk? Did you put washers or any other support with your rivets?

As a reminder, the Casita does have carpet on the walls, so if all I have to do is rivet it, then it shouldn't even show from the inside. I recall reading about rivets that actually spread open (much like a dry wall anchor). If I can find them in aluminum, I think this would work.

Experience and other pertinent information would be greatly appreciated before I start on this.

Thanks



Legacy Posts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2003, 08:27 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
Hi Suz
I would use butyl tape.That putty like stuff under rail.Put in fasteners every 4 inches and also add hold down straps under rail.Here are photos of my 13 Boler that i am working on.Note on this unit that fasteners are 8 inches apart.

<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3eda0cc213143rail1.jpg/>

<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3eda0cd75ee56rail2.jpg/>



Legacy Posts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2003, 10:24 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
Quote:
Orginally posted by Chester Taje

Hi Suz
I would use butyl tape.
Hi, Ches. I'm glad you said that. I have some and had wondered about using it. I just didn't know if the additional adhesion from the silicone/caulk would be more beneficial in the overall longevity of it.



Legacy Posts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2003, 11:13 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
Hi Suz
I think after you got it installed you could put a nice bead along the top. Just a thought.:)



Legacy Posts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2003, 08:28 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
awning rail

Rivets that spread out:
Uh... all rivets spread out - the things that don't spread out are called bolts. :)

I had to replace several rivets on my Boler when I was fixing it up. On the inside, I used small washers (they'll be on the same rack as the rivets at the hardware store). The Boler originally had acorn nuts on the backs of the rivets, but I didn't bother with that.

When installing the rivets, I coated the shaft of the rivet with caulk, put some caulk into the hole before inserting the rivet and after the rivet was popped, I filled the center hole with still more caulk.

I wonder if this might be a circumstance when a bolt might be better though. I used bolts when I was installing my new running lights and the door holdback. Easier to get it tightened down.

mkw



Legacy Posts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2003, 09:37 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
Different rivets

Quote:
Orginally posted by Mike Watters

Rivets that spread out:
Uh... all rivets spread out - the things that don't spread out are called bolts. :)

mkw
True, but the two that I'm refering to spread out differently.

The one on the right is the standard one that is mostly use. Sometimes it is used with a washer, hex nut, or plain. It has a more bulbous effect when applied.

The one on the left is the one that I was asking about. This one is partially closed. When fully closed it spreads out flatter.

I was just wondering if one was better than the other for this application.

<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3edb6efc18cd3rivetedit.JPG/>



Legacy Posts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2003, 11:20 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
canopy

Suz:

Yur gonna put about 30 holes in the roof and thread that canopy?

Not hard to put on, but if I had a trailer with no holes in the roof I'd sure think seriously before drilling. I like modifications as much as anybody, but drilling holes in the roof is akin to open heart surgery.

FWIW, you can get 'sealed end rivets'.



Legacy Posts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2003, 12:19 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
Quote:
Orginally posted by Suz
We have covered tents, screened rooms, add-a-rooms, awnings, tarps, and other do-dads for attaching space-makers to our trailers. What I'm trying to find out is if anyone has ever installed an awning rail themself.

I talked to Casita and found out that an awning that uses an awning rail would be fine for my older trailer. They advised that I rivet it about every four or so inches.
Suz, I remember Morgan used a product on his Casita that seemed to be excellent for attaching to Fiberglass.

They were called “Thread Serts”. What I like about this is that it to is aluminum and has a larger surface. It also has threads so you can remove and replace.

It might be worth a consideration.

<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3edb94eae112dthread-sert.gif/> <img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3edb959f87e74threadsert.gif/>
[b]THREAD SERT

http://www.jcwhitney.com/productnoitem.jht...requestid=29030



Legacy Posts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2003, 12:37 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
The rail

Yeah, Don, I know. Why the heck you think it is taking me so long to do it. It's very painful....:o I have stewed on this about a year.

Michael - Thanks. I have bookmarked it and plan on looking into it.



Legacy Posts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2003, 12:40 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
Screened room and EZ ups

I have thought about them....and I like the idea. Problem is, that sometimes I stay in private campgrounds and they are adament about tents of any kind. I might be able to get buy with a non-walled shelter, but some of them will not allow things like that. I'm still thinking about do that.



Legacy Posts is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
adding Awning rail and awning to Surfside ericmarlo Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 7 04-27-2022 06:45 AM
Awning Rail elgin Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 2 04-04-2010 06:15 PM
Awning rail charlenep Care and Feeding of Molded Fiberglass Trailers 5 08-30-2009 01:45 PM
Awning Rail Patty S. Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 1 07-01-2009 01:08 PM
Awning Rail Installation Ed Harris Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 4 05-31-2009 11:44 AM

» Upcoming Events
No events scheduled in
the next 465 days.
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:39 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.