Winds were calm today so I got a start on repairing my bowed awning. First you will find the information on the bowed awning here. https://gdrvowners.com/forum/grand-d...close-properly
My first job was to repair the striped screws I found. GD used self tapping screws, while Dometic recommended #14 sheet metal screws. I am attaching the Dometic installation manual.
installation_manual_64707.pdf
I extended the awning part way so I could support the base using a ladder as screws were removed. I did one side at a time. I used S10P320 Plusnut-Flat Head 10-32 steel and the L845-1032 insulation tool from these folks. https://www.libertyeng.com/
Ladder supporting awning with back channel pulled away from the trailer. All 4 lower screws were striped and replaced with Plusnuts. Other side was the same
Stripped holes - I clean these up with a razor blade before installing the plusnuts. The smear you see is the old butyl tape. GD had used black foam sealers and gray butyl tape a various locations. Notice the seal did not go around or below the holes.
Tool installing the plusnuts. On the back side the nuts deform creating a star pattern behind the backing material. The way the tool works is there is a threaded rod inserted into the plusnut, It is held tight to the trailer and while holding the hex key you use a crescent wrench to turn the nut that is against the brass colored spindle. As you turn the nut the rod is backed out causing the plusnut to expand. The first few turns are a bit tough, but the it eases up until it his home, then becomes very difficult to turn anymore. At that point you stop and then just turn the whole tool out of the plusnut.
My first job was to repair the striped screws I found. GD used self tapping screws, while Dometic recommended #14 sheet metal screws. I am attaching the Dometic installation manual.
installation_manual_64707.pdf
I extended the awning part way so I could support the base using a ladder as screws were removed. I did one side at a time. I used S10P320 Plusnut-Flat Head 10-32 steel and the L845-1032 insulation tool from these folks. https://www.libertyeng.com/
Ladder supporting awning with back channel pulled away from the trailer. All 4 lower screws were striped and replaced with Plusnuts. Other side was the same
Stripped holes - I clean these up with a razor blade before installing the plusnuts. The smear you see is the old butyl tape. GD had used black foam sealers and gray butyl tape a various locations. Notice the seal did not go around or below the holes.
Tool installing the plusnuts. On the back side the nuts deform creating a star pattern behind the backing material. The way the tool works is there is a threaded rod inserted into the plusnut, It is held tight to the trailer and while holding the hex key you use a crescent wrench to turn the nut that is against the brass colored spindle. As you turn the nut the rod is backed out causing the plusnut to expand. The first few turns are a bit tough, but the it eases up until it his home, then becomes very difficult to turn anymore. At that point you stop and then just turn the whole tool out of the plusnut.
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