Awning support fell off!

[ButIfIWasYou]

2020 Flying Cloud FBQ with bunk

The center support arm on our manual awning came off, bracket and all, in Atlanta traffic. We were able to safely retrieve the arm and tape the holes. Now we navigate repairs.

What would be behind the skin here?
Is this a repair you would trust to an authorized dealer?

[ROBERT CROSS]

Well, all dealers are "authorized", sadly some more than others.

What I would do...drill out the rivets, once out you'll be able to determine whether there is a backing or not, being so close to the windows I would think so.

Having a riveted trailer, a tool to rivet should be in your tool kit, buy quality.

Good luck...

Bob
🇺🇸

[Fungus]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

Well, all dealers are "authorized", sadly some more than others.

What I would do...drill out the rivets, once out you'll be able to determine whether there is a backing or not, being so close to the windows I would think so.

Having a riveted trailer, a tool to rivet should be in your tool kit, buy quality.

Good luck...

Bob
🇺🇸

Yep. What Bob said.

I'm moderately handy. But DW and I installed the manual awnings ourselves (and in Texas summer heat). That first hole I drilled in the aluminum was full of dread. But after another 40 or so holes you get used to it. Buy the rivet kit that contains the most common Airstream rivets and the manual gun. Don't bother with the electric or pneumatic gun. Buy right-sized bits for each rivet and place the bit in the bag/box with the corresponding rivet. If you must, practice a couple of times on a piece of sheet metal you might have laying around but practice probably isn't necessary. Riveting is a very simple skill.