If RAIN is forecast, PULL IN your AWNING! - Page 5

RifRaff · 07-31-2014, 01:41 AM

Had ours repaired when awning drive gear broke. Repair team used #8 screws to hold awning to RV, U got to be kidding. Now I have to repair the mounting. BTW THE awning DRIVE WOBBLES LIKE A drunk duck when extending or contracting.

TNTBaker · 07-31-2014, 01:50 AM

The awning bolts are like good brakes... sure they may seem like they are good enough, but when you really need them to HOLD... Lookout! Sorry to hear that they didn't get that with yours. It isn't the weight of the awning... it's the force of a wind gust that they need to be able to withstand. YES I know we bring them in when it's windy, but they are still going to withstand the odd freak gust here and there. Somebody seems to think that they can be built like popsicle sticks.

travelin' texans · 07-31-2014, 03:12 AM

Helped my good friend & fellow RW owner with the wobble on his awning & found the end caps on roller tube were screwed on crooked, loosened one end at time & remounted. Also from reading installation instructions there are 2 cotter pins sticking out of head that are to be removed after installation, but neither his nor mine were removed, that also reduces some of the wobble.

Diesel chaser · 07-31-2014, 03:29 AM

Danny, thanks for the info on the cotter pins, just went out and checked and sure enough they were still in ours too. Head still wobbles though.

ksaltman · 07-31-2014, 03:30 AM

I checked our awning and totally not installed as required. I will be up at the factory before the rally and am going to treat this situation as precedent that they must fix ours.

Thanks.....

Railcat · 07-31-2014, 04:42 AM

I also checked mine today, It was installed with 4 bolts on each arm about and inch long self tapping so even less threads. They were only in the plywood on the exterior. I got lucky on most of them there was an aluminum stud behind the holes, so I used a 2.5 inch self tapping bolt to secure them adding a washer on the outside. On the ones with no stud behind I used a 5/16 x 1.5 inch wood lag with a couple of washers to secure. I did buy some anchors that would have worked nicely but I figured they would be a last ditch effort as would have to drill a large hole for them. I guess time will tell kind of scary all I know is I won't be leaving the Redwood with the awnings out.

NW Snowbirds · 07-31-2014, 08:37 PM

thanks for the info on the cotter pins, just went out and checked and sure enough they were still in ours too. Head still wobbles though.[/QUOTE]

Ditto for our awning. Also, the fabric is starting to disintegrate after 1-1/2 yrs. Will have it looked at by a Carefree dealer next week.

Foxfire · 08-04-2014, 03:54 AM

Stopped by Home Depot today and picked up some 1/4" x 1 1/2" lag bolts. We're you able to just pull the old screws and put these in or did you need to drill new holes and start over? Are the 1/4" lag bolts big enough or did you need 5/16" lags? Plus they need washers as the threads really don't go all the way to the head and we really need them threaded like sheet metal screws.

lwg · 08-04-2014, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foxfire

Stopped by Home Depot today and picked up some 1/4" x 1 1/2" lag bolts. We're you able to just pull the old screws and put these in or did you need to drill new holes and start over? Are the 1/4" lag bolts big enough or did you need 5/16" lags? Plus they need washers as the threads really don't go all the way to the head and we really need them threaded like sheet metal screws.

I put Stainless Steel versions of the size you put in. Mine had 8 originally, I went ahead and put 2 additional bolts in. I also think you could get one size larger in there if you tried.

Foxfire · 08-11-2014, 09:53 PM

I attempted to replace the awning screws today. If you are going to try and use the existing holes 1 1/2 x 1/4 is to small. Either go with 5/16" lags or drill new holes.

TNTBaker · 08-11-2014, 09:55 PM

Great info Steve; THANK YOU for providing!! I highly recommend they be replaced if they are too small.

ksaltman · 08-11-2014, 09:57 PM

So you know when we got service at the factory before the rally the service manager had the Carefree rep in the area come by and do an OEM audit on our rig. The audit came out that ours is installed as required by Carefree. If anyone wants a copy of the audit form PM me and I'll send it to you.

brenkco · 08-11-2014, 10:11 PM

Ken,
I tried to send you a PM and the system wouldn't allow me to pm you. Let me know as I'm interested in seeing the results!

Thanks!
Ken

ksaltman · 08-11-2014, 11:06 PM

Brenkco,

Oops I turned off the "receive only from contacts" in my profile. Anyway, here it is.

CarefreeAuditForm 1.jpg

CarefreeAuditForm 2.jpg

CarefreeAuditForm 3.jpg

CarefreeAuditForm 4.jpg

CarefreeAuditForm 5.jpg

brenkco · 08-11-2014, 11:10 PM

Thanks Ken!
Going out to the coast to dry camp tomorrow to test my new inverter(s). I'll check the awning too.

TNTBaker · 08-11-2014, 11:19 PM

Is it just me? I don't see where they confirm the SIZE of the "self tappers". That's the whole story. Can someone help me understand? I think we can all say we do have screws in our awnings, that doesnt mean they are the right ones. Maybe I am missing it? THANK YOU for sharing this!

lwg · 08-11-2014, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TNTBaker

Is it just me? I don't see where they confirm the SIZE of the "self tappers". That's the whole story. Can someone help me understand? I think we can all say we do have screws in our awnings, that doesnt mean they are the right ones. Maybe I am missing it? THANK YOU for sharing this!

Bingo! I bet they didn't pull any out to investigate what size fasteners were used.

ksaltman · 08-11-2014, 11:52 PM

I'll ask at service tomorrow. Coach going back for some more work on the a/c.

TNTBaker · 08-11-2014, 11:58 PM

Yes, ask them if they TOOK THE SCREWS OUT to check them. Mine are only 1/2 inch long!!

ksaltman · 08-13-2014, 01:52 AM

So I talked with the tech today about the Carefree audit and he did say the guy wanted to see what screws they used so they took one out and showed him. Ours has a 1 1/4" lag bolt. Image attached as an example.

One thought about having really short screws is that there is basically 1 person at the factory who installs the awnings but he is helped by a 2nd to attach it first with just a couple small screws. The 2nd guy helps long enough for it to be put in place and then the 1st guy finished up the install with all the other screws etc etc.

It could be that the small screws never got replaced after the awning was initially mounted. Hard to say, but it was a theory.....

Here's the sample bolt next to my key so you can see the size.

CarefreeBolt.JPG

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