Awning Brackets

[Robmac]

I have some awning brackets which I want to fit to the side of the van so the feet on the legs go to the van rather than the ground.

This gives me a problem in that the left hand one can only go in one place which is on a thin metal pillar between the passenger door and the sliding door (2012 Renault Master 2.3 DCI). The problem being that if I drill into this pillar, I can't tell if there are any electrical wires inside which would be a major headache if I damaged them with the drill/screws.

The other option would be to Tiger Seal the left hand bracket onto the van which I think would be strong enough providing the paint holds out?

Any suggestions gratefully received.

 

[wildebus]

You also maybe need to consider the seat belt that will run inside the B Pillar, with the reel at the bottom. That would be something you don't want to interfere with.

 

[n brown]

just glue it Rob ,if it fails you could try drilling it , but glue should be ok

 

[Robmac]

You also maybe need to consider the seat belt that will run inside the B Pillar, with the reel at the bottom. That would be something you don't want to interfere with.

I hadn't considered that David!

Just checked though and the seat belt appears to run into a plastic moulding inside the van rather than in the pillar itself which I think would be too narrow for the belt.

Not sure if this photo makes it clear;

 

[Robmac]

just glue it Rob ,if it fails you could try drilling it , but glue should be ok

Sounds like it would save a lot of fretting Nigel, and Tiger Seal is pretty tough stuff.

 

[wildebus]

The B Pillar is quite a void. I am not familar with the Master's wiring, but what I CAN say is that the passenger (on RHD) B Pillar on a VW T5/T6 houses a major part of the wiring loom. and there are countless wires going down and up it, bundled together. Other vans/brands could be similar?

I would have thought adhesive would be good though (never used Tiger Seal - I am a "CT1" person - but heard it is very good) and I guess you could use a very short self-tapper (to avoid a drill bit going right into the area) into the pillar for extra mechanical security?
Interested to see how you go as I have had some of these van-mounted awning leg supports for years but never got round to fitting them for precisely the reasons you are thinking about.

 

[n brown]

don't suppose you've got an endoscope knocking about ?

 

[Robmac]

don't suppose you've got an endoscope knocking about ?

Strangely enough Nigel I do have one that plugs into my 'phone but God knows where it is.

 

[RichardHelen262]

I presume you will be fastening it below the fuel filler, if so open the flap then remove the plastic/ rubber that surrounds the filler, then you should be able to look down the pillar and see if there is anything in the way.

 

[witzend]

You've more faith in glue than I have surely there's a lot of stress on that mount looking at the angle those poles are at. How about carefully drilling so as to just go thru pillar then using pop rivets and glue to be extra secure

 

[jagmanx]

Beware the passenger side.
As David posted a wiring loom is behind the plastic cover which houses the seat belt gubbins.
Noticed this when the wires from my solar power controller were routed to the battery.
The feed goes at ceiling level and through the bulkhead then down to floor level.
Ps my Renault metal is sound so Hammerite for now

 

[Tezza33]

Could you drill a hole with a depth stop collar on the drill bit to stop it going in too far?
Then you could put a couple of rivnuts in

 

[Robmac]

I presume you will be fastening it below the fuel filler, if so open the flap then remove the plastic/ rubber that surrounds the filler, then you should be able to look down the pillar and see if there is anything in the way.

I was hoping to get it above the fuel filler Richard but I don't know what scope I have with the angle of the legs until I get the awning on the C-rail.

If it was below the filler the opposite (right hand) bracket would fall on the back wheel unfortunately.

 

[Robmac]

Could you drill a hole with a depth stop collar on the drill bit to stop it going in too far?
Then you could put a couple of rivnuts in

Having just bought a rivnut gun Terry, that's not a bad idea.

 

[Robmac]

You've more faith in glue than I have surely there's a lot of stress on that mount looking at the angle those poles are at. How about carefully drilling so as to just go thru pillar then using pop rivets and glue to be extra secure

Ordinary rivets do not really lend themselves to fitting the bracket too well, but rivnuts and short bolts would.

 

[st3v3]

Pulling trim off to have a look will be a lot easier than fixing wires

 

[RichardHelen262]

If you pull the inner plastic trim off, it will most likely have some larger holes in the B pillar behind the trim

 

[Robmac]

Pulling trim off to have a look will be a lot easier than fixing wires

I know what you are saying Steve, but I don't think removing the plastic trim will give access to the pillar.

There does seem to be a wiring loom under the overcab floor which then runs into the bodywork but it is a bit away from the pillar and who knows where it runs from there.

I think when I have determined where the bracket can go I will drill a 3mm pilot hole and then gingerly expand it to 10mm so I can see what I'm up against.

 

[Robmac]

If you pull the inner plastic trim off, it will most likely have some larger holes in the B pillar behind the trim

I did think that Richard. It's a faff removing the trim and seatbelt but might be worth it in the long run.

 

[Tim120]

Apart from the ability to have your awning out no matter what surface you are parked on, I don't see the advantage.
What am I missing?