Important Safety Issue: Check your Awning

cellularSTEVE · 12-24-2007, 11:01 PM

In installing my lights up on the roof this afternoon I was shocked to see that my awning bolts were not holding. The awning was simply sitting on the rain gutter and the bolts which have these rubber expanding washer-type things that are supposed to attach to the sheet metal were not holding. I simply lifted the awning right off the rear of the SMB. Imagine hitting a pothole and the whole rear of the awning pops right off-very dangerous.

I simply tightended the bolts and the rubber washer-type things expanded and held tight.

I suggest that those of you with awnings check this before you drive.

Peace.

Steve

Buji · 12-25-2007, 11:50 AM

Dear lord have you had any rain lately in your area? God fobid you develop a leaky top as a result.

I thought these were siliconed into place?

Jeffrey · 12-25-2007, 12:01 PM

How can that be? Mine is bolted to the body as well as rain gutter clamped.

Buji · 12-25-2007, 12:05 PM

It's too cold for me to go crawl up there right now

I'll have to check before I hit the road tomorrow though.

cellularSTEVE · 12-25-2007, 04:14 PM

The raingutter part just sits in the rain gutter. There are 2 bolts in the rear, 2 in the center and one in the front. the front one seems to be bolted with a nut on the back. However the middle and rear do not have nuts on the back! They have these rubber expansion type things that if not tightened enough will not expand. It appears that they eitehr were never tightened to begin with or have loosened up over time. If you unscrew one (I dont recommend this unless it is loose) you will see what I mean. Luckily it doesn't rain too much here in SoCal. Water could have worked its way in.

Anyone else have this problem? if not, I suspect they just never tightened the middle and rear to begin with. From some of the other sloppy work I wouldn't put it past them to just not have done it.

Steve

cellularSTEVE · 02-19-2008, 09:25 PM

Just a follow up to my post in December...
After going to the Death Valley excursion, my awning loosened up again. none of the rubber "grommets" held. So basically only the rain gutter was holding up the awning. Jeff helped me strap the awning down (tied it to my Yakima rack). I finally got around to calling Peter up at SMB West. He was very nice and said he had not heard of the rubber "grommets" coming out. He sent me 4 new ones (they are called Wellnuts, brand) right away and I put them in yesterday. They are very snug. The old ones were really tweaked and just looked worn out. I will keep an eye on the awning after doing some offroading and washboard, to make sure the new wellnuts don't slip out.

steve

**daveb** · 02-19-2008, 10:06 PM

I don't know if I like that. When the rubber expands will it push outward on the hole? With the flexing, I wonder if this is causing the crack in my body panel. I'm due for some work Friday and SMB says they are adding a larger plate. Hope it works.
Dave

cellularSTEVE · 02-19-2008, 10:33 PM

Dave,
On mine it did not appear to push back on the sheet metal. Instead the wellnuts seemed to have shrunk and lost the expansion behind the sheet metal. Then the awning was only held up by the gutter. There was no issue with the sheet metal or the paint. However, I have never used the awning other than to test it out. Maybe when in use the wind pickes it up and somehow flexes the sheet metal.

Keep us posted after you go to SMB West.

steve

**daveb** · 02-21-2008, 09:05 PM

Yea Steve, I can see that happening. After I saw the crack starting, I grabbed the awning and shook it. It really flexes the body bracket in the middle. When I told the shop guys at work, the first thing they asked was what was on the inside to back it. I said "nothing" and they couldn't believe it. I too thought there had to be some kind of plate on the inside of the body panel. I will get some pictures from SMBW in the morning.

Dave.

mmocken · 02-22-2008, 09:56 PM

Here is a good example of the bolts coming loose and the damage cause.
- There is a short metal plate the previous owner slide in the back of the bracket to bridge the cracked off gutter.
- I don't plan of using the awning anyway, but I have a gutter to repair.
- Sorry for the poor picture, looked much better on the 2" camera screen.