Moving my Awning

[iampatman]

Hi All,

I have a Fiamma F45ti awning fitted to my van. Problem is that it's been fitted toward the rear of the van and when rolled out doesn't cover the habitation door which is just behind the passenger door. This wasn't a problem until we bought a privacy room to use when we park up in Spain for the winter (see attached pics). Ideally I'd like to move the awning about 700mm forward, which in itself would not appear to be too much of a problem. But what do I do with the original fixing holes? How can I seal and cover them to prevent water ingress? I could sikaflex a thin rectangle of alloy material but it's going to look pretty ugly. Most of the original fixing holes will be covered when I move the awning forward so I'm not too fussed about the cosmetic appearances there but the rear fixing points will be exposed and I'd prefer those to look neat and tidy. Any suggestions?



Cheers,

Pat

 

[witzend]

Pat I recently saw on here I think, where someone had put a small vent cover over holes to hide them. Smaller than but like the fridge vent

 

[sasquatch]

Did you fit it yourself or did a dealer do it,if a dealer,what a clot the fitter must have been!

 

[Tezza33]

When I changed the position of the bike rack on the rear of my van I was left with four holes (two sets of two) I filled them to make them flush then put small decals over the top, if you pick decals a similar shape and colour to the ones on your van it would look OK, or put a light over the holes

 

[iampatman]

Did you fit it yourself or did a dealer do it,if a dealer,what a clot the fitter must have been!

I bought the van from a dealer but he didn't fit the awning. I suspect the original owner or sales outlet fitted it. "Clot" isn't the word I'd use
Pat

 

[QFour]

I would have thought that it was the only place they could fit it. If they moved it forward perhaps there is nothing to fasten it to. They also have to put fittings on the inside in some cases to strengthen everything up. Suppose you could buy a longer awning and sort out the overhang by putting packing pieces behind but that would then give you another problem as the awning you have bought would be the wrong size. Perhaps after much debate the previous owner was happy where it was.

I have a few spare bricks round the back of the house. You could just brick the door up and move it further back.

..

 

[horshamjack]

I bought the van from a dealer but he didn't fit the awning. I suspect the original owner or sales outlet fitted it. "Clot" isn't the word I'd use ��
Pat

Starts with C ends in T ?:anyone:

 

[iampatman]

I would have thought that it was the only place they could fit it. If they moved it forward perhaps there is nothing to fasten it to. They also have to put fittings on the inside in some cases to strengthen everything up. Suppose you could buy a longer awning and sort out the overhang by putting packing pieces behind but that would then give you another problem as the awning you have bought would be the wrong size. Perhaps after much debate the previous owner was happy where it was.

I have a few spare bricks round the back of the house. You could just brick the door up and move it further back.

..

I've looked at the outside and the inside of the van. If I move the awning 700mm forward it will still be flush to the bodywork along the length. I will use the original fixing brackets and internal plates. I have no idea whether the original owner was happy or not - perhaps he/she wasn't and that's why they sold it? Thanks for the offer of the bricks, I'm removing my sink and hob as we speak so I can relocate the door
Pat

 

[iampatman]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I like the idea of self tappers and mastic but the current fixings are M6 bolts and I doubt I'll find round head S/S self tappers that size. We're getting there though. Just need a straight edge (I've got a spirit level) a fine day (plenty of those here) and a deep breath.
Any more suggestions will be gratefully received.

Pat

 

[jeffmossy]

Why not use dome head bolts with a smudge of sealant just inside the head then use white touch up paint on them

 

[voyagerstan]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I like the idea of self tappers and mastic but the current fixings are M6 bolts and I doubt I'll find round head S/S self tappers that size. We're getting there though. Just need a straight edge (I've got a spirit level) a fine day (plenty of those here) and a deep breath.
Any more suggestions will be gratefully received.

Pat

M6 s/s coach bolts

 

[grantandjan]

My awning is also a Fiamma, it hangs on 3 fixing brackets and is fixed in place with screws from the underside of the casing into the 3 brackets. If yours is the same you might find that if the rear bracket is 700 mm in from the end of the awning you have no need to move the brackets, just remove the fixing screws, slide it along and re fix with the screws after drilling new holes in the casing to locate the original holes in the brackets.

Grant.

 

[Tezza33]

Pat I recently saw on here I think, where someone had put a small vent cover over holes to hide them. Smaller than but like the fridge vent

Hymers have a small vent for the hob extractor fan and one where the drop down bed is, there are others like these
View attachment 35211View attachment 35210

 

[Nemos Dad]

Will you still be able to open the habitation door sufficiently with the awning in it's new position and the Safari Room fitted? We had a similar situation on a previous van where the door opened against the wall of the Safari room and it was very annoying as the door never opened fully - and habitation doors are not very wide at the best of times... Might be worth checking this before you make the move.

 

[iampatman]

Will you still be able to open the habitation door sufficiently with the awning in it's new position and the Safari Room fitted? We had a similar situation on a previous van where the door opened against the wall of the Safari room and it was very annoying as the door never opened fully - and habitation doors are not very wide at the best of times... Might be worth checking this before you make the move.

I reckon if I move the awning the habitation door will open to 90deg before it hits the privacy room. Not ideal but better than the current arrangement I think. After all, if the Hab door opens to 180deg the opening isn't any wider.

Pat

 

[iampatman]

My awning is also a Fiamma, it hangs on 3 fixing brackets and is fixed in place with screws from the underside of the casing into the 3 brackets. If yours is the same you might find that if the rear bracket is 700 mm in from the end of the awning you have no need to move the brackets, just remove the fixing screws, slide it along and re fix with the screws after drilling new holes in the casing to locate the original holes in the brackets.

Grant.

I thought of that, just remove the rear bracket, slide the awning along and refix the rear bracket at the front. Unfortunately the fixing spaces won't allow for that so I'll need to take the awning off completely, fill/tidy up the existing holes in the bodywork and then relocate the brackets and refix the awning. Looking at the Fiamma instructions there are recommended fixing points so the awning is supported correctly, particularly at each end.
Pat

 

[trevskoda]

Rubber grommets from motor store and a we bit of mastic to seal water tight

 

[David & Ann]

Hi All,

I have a Fiamma F45ti awning fitted to my van. Problem is that it's been fitted toward the rear of the van and when rolled out doesn't cover the habitation door which is just behind the passenger door. This wasn't a problem until we bought a privacy room to use when we park up in Spain for the winter (see attached pics). Ideally I'd like to move the awning about 700mm forward, which in itself would not appear to be too much of a problem. But what do I do with the original fixing holes? How can I seal and cover them to prevent water ingress? I could sikaflex a thin rectangle of alloy material but it's going to look pretty ugly. Most of the original fixing holes will be covered when I move the awning forward so I'm not too fussed about the cosmetic appearances there but the rear fixing points will be exposed and I'd prefer those to look neat and tidy. Any suggestions?

View attachment 35205View attachment 35206

Cheers,

Pat

I think you will find it impossible to move your awning to cover the Habitation door due to the form of the plastic above the door where there is a light. It is not flat.

 

[iampatman]

I think you will find it impossible to move your awning to cover the Habitation door due to the form of the plastic above the door where there is a light. It is not flat.

Hi David & Ann,

I understand what you're saying but I think I'll be ok. The first fixing at the front of the awning will still be on the metal part of the van which is flat.

Pat

 

[Sharon the Cat]

You should be able to do it. Sitting in the Red Lion Llangynidr I just checked pics of Percy on my phone and ours us over the hab door.

Not that we have ever wound it out.