SMB's solution for awning cracks (and Eli's custom brackets)

[daveb-SMB]

SMB did their thing on Friday and here is the fix. Not the best fit and finish and I do have concerns about the 4 holes that sit so close to the edge of the plate. I hope the water will not creep in. I now have water coming in around this area, but have not varified it's from this repair. Being this was the first time I have ever seen water inside at this location I am skeptical though. I plan to hit the car wash and will post on if I actually have a new problem or if I just left the window slightly cracked. To me it seems the holes should have been further inward on a larger plate.

Dave Boyer

 

[kzemach]

Yeesh. You sure are correct that the "finish" aspects of it are pretty poor.

 

[Greg In Austin]

wow..... I am now hoping that a new install has a better look.... but it will be a while before I know....

 

[jage]

I'd say the screws are superflous except as extra holes in your van. The only possible benefit is on the out flex (making the wall convex) and then they might be doing more harm, although the edge is a better place... all in all it seems like it might just spread the cracking out, but it's hard to say.

 

[daveb-SMB]

I'm on my lousy 56 hr shift and was unable to do the water test yet, maybe Friday evening. Leo called today and I told him of my "concern" and will get back to him. I just feel that the worst part is how close the screws are to the edge and feel it's a spot where water will come in. I also think there should be a plate on the inside, and good God, it looks like a kid cut it out the back plate. Almost wish I would have had the thing removed and the holes plugged.
DaveB

 

[jage]

Almost wish I would have had the thing removed and the holes plugged.
DaveB

It's not too late. Just a little bigger sand and paint area. I'd still like to put an awning on my van, but I'm planning on coming up from the aluminess bumper, or (considering how much the bumper twists) possibly boxing the whole PH area from the gutters and having the ability to put an awning on each side. Basically find some alternative way to secure it.

Then again it's $$$ and time and I really like the clean look of the van with no awning.

 

[daveb-SMB]

Well my fears are correct. I have water coming in from SMB's FIX! Aint too happy at this point. I plan to make them re-do-it with some suggestions. At this point in time I would want:
>A larger plate with the same bolt pattern.
>A plate on the inside of the van.
>Have someone who can cut metal straight and cut the corner around the window to FIT.
>Possibility of a heavy rubber gasket.
>Deal with the overspray around the plate.
>Take into consideration the body's form, because it's not flat, it's slightly curved plus there is a creaseline that runs along the side to the back.

If anybody has any ideas, I'm sure SMB will listen.

 

[jage]

The way I finally got SMB to fix my top (after two different SMB locations had "attempted" it) was to do it myself. They did send me 70% of the needed hardware, but even that took haranguing on my part. :a7:

So I'm certainly biased to the opinion that it isn't worth the drive if you want it done right.

If you do, I would have them leave the screws out completely. Especially if you have a nearly-form fitting plate on the other side, they don't do anything but make holes.

 

[mmocken]

My 2 cents...

With the rust and cracked gutter on my 1995 SMB, I wound never get an awning from SMB until they find a real solution.

A cast, contoured plate would fair much better than the flat plate spanning the gutter and curved body side.

 

[daveb-SMB]

I am wondering if SMB did some damage to the gutter. I now have a stance that I would delete the awning in the future on a new van. Hell maybe I will have one for sell soon off an old van. Crap! Believe it or not, a salesperson warned me about this. Big mistake on my part.
DaveB

 

[jage]

Donate it to, uh, the forum. :a1:

 

[mmocken]

Actually, I have mine in the garage...will sell on craigslist this spring after a mild cleaning...too heavy to sell on eBay.

I am wondering if SMB did some damage to the gutter. I now have a stance that I would delete the awning in the future on a new van. Hell maybe I will have one for sell soon off an old van. Crap! Believe it or not, a salesperson warned me about this. Big mistake on my part.
DaveB

 

[PecksTank]

Awning Brackets

Go to Fiama's web site and order the gutter braket mounts for the VW. The front one will need to be cut and welded to fit around the front door, but ohter than the slight mod, there are no holes drilled in the vans. I showed mine to SMB, but I guess that they would rather put holes in your vans and fix leeks. I am not the greatest at posting pics, but I could e-mail them if you want to see how mine mounts. I have an 11 foot awning.

Eli
2006 Transformer :c1:

 

[pjpvi]

Time to resurrect this thread.

When cleaning up my van after our Alaska trip, I noticed I now have the body cracks caused by the awning bracket.

Eli, could you email pictures of the mounts you are using to phil@pacificventures.net? Are they working out well for you? If you could also provide the part number you ordered from Fiamma would be helpful.

Anyone with a recently delivered van that can send photos of the current mounts SMB is using?

Any other good awning mount solutions floating around out there??

Thanks -
Phil

 

[Joanna-SMB]

I had Austin take off my awning. I started getting rust stains around the plate and in the constant salt air, I just couldn't stand the tension of it getting worse. Kevin treated the holes and then plugged them and then was kind enough to offer to sell it for me. It had never been unfurled in 5 months. No water inside even through Dolly.

 

[daveb-SMB]

Phil, SMB did re-mount mine and did a better job. Not the best but much better. At least the plate fits around the window now. I looked at the web site Eli posted and there are a few good mounts to consider if they will fit on our rigs with the PH tops. As I posted before, my concern about SMB’s repair is in how close the holes are to the edge of the plate. If water is able to penetrate around and/or under the plate the screw threads could be a way for water to get in. Vibration could be a problem and more support might help. As far as my repair, no water has entered (at least it hasn’t showed up where it was before) but I have not put the stress test to it. I just got back from a 3000 mile trip and never used the thing once. If I have any more problems with it I will consider removing it. Too bad there wasn’t an easy on/off mount. Personally, the only time I need it is when it’s hot. It works great as a shade and one of the reasons it’s still on. I wish that SMB would have designed the plate with at least ½ inch around the screws. It would be worth it to have a machine shop make the plates to follow the contour lines of the body. I plan to post some pics of the repair.
Dave.

 

[pjpvi]

Dave -

Please do post pictures of the re-repair by SMB. The pictures you posted of their first shot at it were less than impressive. Did they charge you for the fix or "warranty" it?

I really like having the awning. Especially after the Alaska trip I just took. I bet we used it at least 50% of the nights to provide some escape from the rain.

Thanks -
Phil

 

[PecksTank]

Fiamma Brakets

I am trying to post pics of my Fiamma braket fix. I am also in the process of havining them fabricated in quanity. The back braket is a stock Fiamma VW gutter mount. The front one has been coustomized. I am meeting with a guy next week to have them reproduced for the masses. I will post more when I have more.

Eli

:f3: [/img]

 

[charlie56]

Here are a few photos for you. The first is the original bracket (middle) mount showing a crack that developed after one trip. Granted that trip was Saline Valley Road which was 40 miles of heavy washboard, but still it shouldn't have happened. The next two are the replacement brackets that SMBW provided for no charge. (Especially since I had asked for them in my original build and it kind of slipped through the cracks so to speak.) I had seen pictures of Dave's original bracket and had told them I would not settle for that quality of work. These brackets were better. I need to clean up the sealant someday.

The brackets work quite well. I pulled and tugged on them, taken them on heavy washboards, and they significantly cut down on the vibration which was causing the cracks in the body. Liz had asked me if they SMBW should stop selling awnings on 4x4's. I said they should not go out of the door with the original brackets, they are just too flimsy for a 4x4 application.

 

[BroncoHauler-SMB]

Is the plate intended to just spread the load? I don't like that the plates are attached with Philips head screws. I'd rather see bolts and corresponding nuts on the inside.


Herb