Awning Cradle

[Lhinaz71]

Another person's freestanding canopy hit my new trailer and caused damage. Quite a bit actually. But, that's another story.

One of the things that broke is the awning cradle was pulled out. I tried to screw it back in, but it just pulls out.

I can't wait for insurance and dealer to fix so I need to fix it myself. Does anyone know what is behind the fibreglass where this screws into? If it's a block of wood I can either get a wider screw or glue in a dowel, redrill and use the existing screw. I like the dowel method better as I don't have to drill out the metal cradle to fit a bigger screw. But, either way, this only works if there is wood back there.

Anyone know? It's at the storage facility so I can't check it out right now, and not sure I'd be able to tell anyway.

Here's a pic of what I'm talking about. Note the top screw.

Thanks in advance.

[howson]

Lhinaz71 -- behind it is EGS, or Electro-Galvinized Steel. GD embeds strips of the metal wherever reinforcement is needed.

I just went through a similar situation but mine was self-induced. I went up one size screw and used stainless. (The original was 1/4 so went to 5/16.) Others have used other methods. Check out https://gdrvowners.com/forum/exterio...ling-an-awning and also the link to the Roof Gutter Inspection thread as there is conversation related to what you're working on.

Howard

[acoleman43]

Another person's freestanding canopy hit my new trailer and caused damage. Quite a bit actually. But, that's another story.

One of the things that broke is the awning cradle was pulled out. I tried to screw it back in, but it just pulls out.

I can't wait for insurance and dealer to fix so I need to fix it myself. Does anyone know what is behind the fibreglass where this screws into? If it's a block of wood I can either get a wider screw or glue in a dowel, redrill and use the existing screw. I like the dowel method better as I don't have to drill out the metal cradle to fit a bigger screw. But, either way, this only works if there is wood back there.

Anyone know? It's at the storage facility so I can't check it out right now, and not sure I'd be able to tell anyway.

Here's a pic of what I'm talking about. Note the top screw.

Thanks in advance.

There SHOULD be an aluminum stud with a wood core inside to screw into. Try a larger diameter screw. If it doesn't work I'm deleting this post

[Lhinaz71]

Thank you both.

[Lhinaz71]

Just to post an update. I went and fixed it today. There's no stud behind it. The fiberglass sandwich (for lack of a better term - maybe includes the EGS if that's part of the sandwich) is about 3/8 inch thick by my estimate. Behind that is white foam.

I had to go up 2 screw sizes to a 3/8 inch screw. All good now.