Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Tech Forums > Repairs & Maintenance
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 01-03-2020, 02:40 PM   #1
ChuckS
Senior Member
 
ChuckS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Mountain Home, Idaho
Posts: 2,978
Dometic Awning rear rail screws loose

Easy repair using 3/16 x 1 inch trilock aluminum rivets... Took about 15 minutes to replace a few of the awning rail mount screws ... rail is tight and will d9mthe rest of the entire rail when spring gets here in Idaho.

Will source the trilock rivets hopefully at a better cost than $7 for 5 ...

The other 4 shanks snapped off flush with head like they should and I cut this one flush with pair of diagonal cutters. Installed each rivet with a dab of Dicor around the shank for weather proofing
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	1B759EE9-DD77-4DC3-9417-CCFD9C28C186.jpg
Views:	196
Size:	190.2 KB
ID:	24774   Click image for larger version

Name:	CE34BDA5-A390-4208-9B81-92B87F10F986.jpg
Views:	187
Size:	188.4 KB
ID:	24775  
__________________


2007 GMC Classic club cab 4x4 Duramax LBZ
2014 Alpine 3010 RE. 34 foot fifth wheel
ChuckS is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 01-03-2020, 04:14 PM   #2
GaryUT
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Northern, UT
Posts: 178
Never though of using rivets for this repair.

Some of my screws pulled loose on the front end of the rail on our trailer, the dealer tightened them up and added a couple of extras. I'm planning on removing them all and putting proflex sealer in the holes and re-installing the screws this spring.

McMaster-Carr has the rivets: https://www.mcmaster.com/tri-fold-rivets

Gary
__________________

2019 Laredo 255SRL
2009 GMC Sierra 2500HD Crew Cab
GaryUT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-04-2020, 07:18 PM   #3
ChuckS
Senior Member
 
ChuckS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Mountain Home, Idaho
Posts: 2,978
Thanks for the link... I order a lot of things from these folks. The tri lock rivets are a permanent repair. Screws won’t hold if filon is the only thing your going into.
__________________


2007 GMC Classic club cab 4x4 Duramax LBZ
2014 Alpine 3010 RE. 34 foot fifth wheel
ChuckS is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2020, 04:31 AM   #4
Weekender 1
Gone Traveling
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Palmyra
Posts: 62
https://www.amazon.com/YYST-Water-Tr...8227187&sr=8-2


I had mine pulling out after the second time I had the awning out.
Stupid factory puts in self drilling screws into luan. Out of all the screws in the awning only 8 were into a aluminum stud.


Now watch out for the rivet nazi's because the last time I mentioned this n the forum I was told, oh great tell someone to do this and now it'll pull the wall down.


Been 3 years now and I've added more window only awnings with the same fasteners.


These rivets also have a O ring to seal the rivet.
Weekender 1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2020, 07:06 AM   #5
ChuckS
Senior Member
 
ChuckS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Mountain Home, Idaho
Posts: 2,978
I’ll follow Dometic recommended fattening technique in their install PDF that clearly states use Oscar rivets... these have 3 times the holding power of the cheap screws that’s are just into the side of the RV and not any actual structure frame.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	8FC5F47B-D9A3-49D1-8FCE-5194F4A105C0.jpg
Views:	223
Size:	212.1 KB
ID:	24791  
__________________


2007 GMC Classic club cab 4x4 Duramax LBZ
2014 Alpine 3010 RE. 34 foot fifth wheel
ChuckS is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2020, 07:56 AM   #6
ctbruce
Site Team | Emeritus
 
ctbruce's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 3,878
LOL. Rivet Nazis. That's a new one.

It's always prudent to be cautious. Sounds like you found an alternate way to fix it outside of the common wisdom. New ideas are always welcome, Nazi's not included.
__________________

Chip Bruce, RPh
Kansas City, MO
2016 Impact 312
2017 Silverado 3500HD SRW
ctbruce is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2020, 09:34 AM   #7
Weekender 1
Gone Traveling
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Palmyra
Posts: 62
Quote:
Originally Posted by ctbruce View Post
LOL. Rivet Nazis. That's a new one.

Well, I just had to.


But anyway I did receive some guff over it. Go to bigger screws, add this and that to the holes. All most all awning detaching is due to weather etc.


Mine was new, second time out I could see the ends pulling out. Went along with a wrench and everyone that was not into a stud, spun. I'm like WTF, your screwing with self drilling screws into very soft, no strong wood. Talked to the dealer and they were gonna send someone out to do the guff things OK didnt work the first time and why would you think it would a second time. You mean all this detail and design of these units and you forgot to put a header on a 5th wheel designed to hold the awning,Sarcasm.
I do alot of fixing around my park. I'm a machine millwright of sorts.I go by, If I cant fix it ,it's not broke its F***** up beyond repair.


I've done a total of 6 Carefree window awnings for myself and others. Funny they give you the same self drilling screws and tell you to put the awning roughly 4 inches over the window. GUESS WHAT, fiberglass or even tin sided trailers, there is nothing to screw into with any strength. Have they not learned their lesson yet??
Weekender 1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2020, 09:54 AM   #8
chuckster57
Site Team
 
chuckster57's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,238
Factory uses self tapping screws, probably only buy one type for everything and by the barrel for a better price. all the awning and topper kits I have installed only have self tappers for the brackets that mount to the slide. all the rail screws are not self tapping. I drill very small pilot holes every three or four holes to align the rail and then go back and just screw in the rest. Its easy to slip and get the rail all crooked if you don't do something.
__________________

2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.

Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
chuckster57 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
awning, dometic

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 05:47 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.