|
|
05-04-2021, 05:13 PM
|
#1
|
2 Rivet Member
1981 31' Excella II
Tallahassee
, Florida
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 61
|
Did I just make a huge mistake?
I am renovating a 1981 Excella II. When purchased, it was missing the main (Curbside) awning. The previous owners also put silicone all along the original aluminum mounting strip. I cleaned off the silicone & removed the mounting strip.
Today I buck riveted all the holes left in the exterior where that mounting strip was installed - but without re-installing the awning mounting strip.
I DO eventually want to buy another, new awning. Do the new awnings use the same mounting strip?
I am just kicking myself! If Airstream/Zipdee are still using the same mounting, then I probably need to drill out all those new rivets, & put the old awning strip back on. Geez!!!
Am I right, did I just waste my entire day & make more work for myself?
|
|
|
05-04-2021, 05:20 PM
|
#2
|
Rivet Master
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor
, New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Happy2BeHere
. . .
Am I right, did I just waste my entire day & make more work for myself
. . .
|
Maybe . . . maybe not IMO.
Probably a good idea not to obsess over every little thing like this IMO.
There will be missteps and mistakes . . . lucky fortuities . . . pleasant surprises . . . and other odd-ball hiccups over the next few years . . .
All to be expected . . . all cool . . . happy to be here . . .
|
|
|
05-04-2021, 05:28 PM
|
#3
|
Rivet Master
2021 30' Flying Cloud
2020 25' International
minneapolis
, Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,468
|
This is where I’m going to say...don’t look back.
__________________
- Stewart
|
|
|
05-04-2021, 06:52 PM
|
#4
|
Rivet Master
1956 22' Safari
2015 27' Flying Cloud
Vintage Kin Owner
Conifer/Evergreen
, Colorado
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 12,702
|
Two steps forward, one step back...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Happy2BeHere
Do the new awnings use the same mounting strip?
|
Yes, sorry. Could be worse...
Shari
|
|
|
05-04-2021, 06:56 PM
|
#5
|
2 Rivet Member
1981 31' Excella II
Tallahassee
, Florida
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 61
|
OTRA15 & s1000pre, thanks for the encouragement. Think I'll go make myself a cocktail. Tomorrow morning I'll start removing rivets so that I can install that awning rail. Live & learn.
I got so wrapped up in the process of buck riveting & working with my teenage daughter that I lost sight of the big picture. We live in Florida & I need to get the shell water-tight & back on the trailer frame by June so that we can move the Airstream away from large trees if a hurricane threatens.
Thanks again[emoji4]
|
|
|
05-05-2021, 02:23 AM
|
#6
|
Rivet Master
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor
, New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
|
Slantia!
|
|
|
05-05-2021, 10:31 AM
|
#7
|
2 Rivet Member
Cedar Hill
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 59
|
For what it's worth, I would put a good quality aluminum caulking in each hole before replacing the awning mounting strip. That's just me. Maybe over kill but I HATE leaks.
|
|
|
05-06-2021, 07:12 AM
|
#8
|
3 Rivet Member
2021 27' Globetrotter
Tallahassee
, FL
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 123
|
My question would be what if you didn't have an awning to begin with and how would it be installed? Would the installer just.reposition the mounting strip? I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be removing rivets.
|
|
|
05-06-2021, 07:34 AM
|
#9
|
Rivet Master
1988 25' Excella
1987 32' Excella
Knoxville
, Tennessee
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,118
|
I do not think the original awning installation was with bucked rivets. Mine was not. And yes, you will need the awning rail to install an awning.
|
|
|
05-06-2021, 11:28 AM
|
#10
|
Rivet Master
1973 21' Globetrotter
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,322
|
Well, now is the time to fix the mistake and reinstall the awning rail.
Don't feel bad, though. I have made so many mistakes during my rebuild that I have dubbed my trailer (unofficially) as "The Err-stream."
good luck!
|
|
|
05-06-2021, 11:49 AM
|
#11
|
Rivet Master
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor
, New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Belegedhel
. . .
. . . "The Err-stream."
. . .
|
Good one!
|
|
|
05-07-2021, 08:57 PM
|
#12
|
2 Rivet Member
1981 31' Excella II
Tallahassee
, Florida
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 61
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Belegedhel
Well, now is the time to fix the mistake and reinstall the awning rail.
Don't feel bad, though. I have made so many mistakes during my rebuild that I have dubbed my trailer (unofficially) as "The Err-stream."
good luck!
|
Err-stream, I love it!
|
|
|
05-09-2021, 11:51 AM
|
#13
|
Rivet Master
1977 23' Safari
Niagara on the Lake
, Ontario
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 984
|
There are no mistakes when working on an airstream, just lessons.
Good luck
__________________
1977 Safari Land Yacht
2005 Toyota Tundra SR5
2022 Toyota 4Runner SR5
|
|
|
05-09-2021, 02:09 PM
|
#14
|
1 Rivet Member
1981 31' Excella II
Tucson
, Arizona
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 15
|
I don't know anything about the rivets and stuff . I just wanted to say that the awning of my 1981 Excella II sure does shake (it shakes the entire trailer) in even minor wind, like above 16mph. So, if you are already 'fixing' the awning, you might consider a more secure attachment of the Zip Dee at the trailer. Living alone, and it taking 2 people to retract the awning, I, unfortunately, seldom open the awning, dang it.
Also, I read on the forum that when it rains be sure to have one side of the awning at a lower notch so the rain spills off one end.
Best,
Lynne
|
|
|
05-09-2021, 03:55 PM
|
#15
|
Rivet Puller
2003 28' Safari S/O
Atlanta Burbs
, Georgia
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,006
|
Its All In Technique
Heads up LynneC... awnings and wind never mix and that is because the awning basically becomes an unbridled sail in breezes above 12mph. Although 'LandYacht' is an Airstream term, they certainly aren't intended to mimic sailboat rigging!
Put the awning away whenever the wind kicks up or you are away from your trailer or else you risk thousands in damage.
The proper technique deploying or collapsing your awning will reduce the effort to a single person task rather than the gargantuan effort you describe. Instructions can be found here:
https://bit.ly/3y0EYXm
__________________
"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."
Sir Tristan
Air #48582, S/SO #003, WBCCI #4584
|
|
|
05-09-2021, 07:20 PM
|
#16
|
Rivet Master
1987 32' Excella
Nepean
, Ontario
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,414
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Happy2BeHere
I am renovating a 1981 Excella II. When purchased, it was missing the main (Curbside) awning. The previous owners also put silicone all along the original aluminum mounting strip. I cleaned off the silicone & removed the mounting strip.
Today I buck riveted all the holes left in the exterior where that mounting strip was installed - but without re-installing the awning mounting strip.
I DO eventually want to buy another, new awning. Do the new awnings use the same mounting strip?
Attachment 394897
|
Actually, the mounting strip in all likelihood has changed. However, a new awning from ZipDee will include a new railing. You can buy the awning complete with all the hardware (railing, arms, supports, etc.) directly from ZipDee.
__________________
VE3JDZ
AIR 12148
1987 Excella 32-foot
1999 Dodge Ram 2500HD Diesel
WBCCI 8080
|
|
|
05-09-2021, 07:27 PM
|
#17
|
Rivet Master
2016 25' Flying Cloud
Sunnyvale
, California
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,894
|
I second notion of caulking along mounting strip as that is place where water will sit for long periods in rainy weather.. Bad place for water to get in and flow down inside walls to wooden sub-floor..
Also agree Zip Dee should provide new mounting strip as part of awning assembly or kit.. Also good to add caulk or sealant around lower awning support mounts.. Typically hose are riveted to hold in place with single rivet, and then heavy sheet metal screws in remaining holes for stronger shear strength..
And yeah, Zip Dee's are very good at being "flexible and adaptable" if mounting geometry off just a tiny bit, but if wind gets under awning fabric and lifts hard, upper "rafters" will fail and you will have miserable remainder of your trip.. Always plan to retract awning at night anywhere wind or storms are remotely possible, and whenever you are leaving the trailer in one of those locations...
__________________
Condoluminum
In Theory, there's no difference between Theory and Practice, but in Practice, there is usually a difference...
|
|
|
05-09-2021, 07:29 PM
|
#18
|
Naysayer
1968 24' Tradewind
Russellville
, earth
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,968
|
Man, if that is your idea of a huge mistake, come live in my world for a while. That will realign your perspective.
|
|
|
05-09-2021, 10:50 PM
|
#19
|
1 Rivet Member
1981 31' Excella II
Tucson
, Arizona
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 15
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by SeeMore
Heads up LynneC... awnings and wind never mix and that is because the awning basically becomes an unbridled sail in breezes above 12mph. Although 'LandYacht' is an Airstream term, they certainly aren't intended to mimic sailboat rigging!
Put the awning away whenever the wind kicks up or you are away from your trailer or else you risk thousands in damage.
The proper technique deploying or collapsing your awning will reduce the effort to a single person task rather than the gargantuan effort you describe. Instructions can be found here:
https://bit.ly/3y0EYXm
|
Sir Tristan, thanks for the link but that awning is way shorter and a much newer version from my 31' 1981!! I've had plenty of grown men cuss when retracting my awning
|
|
|
05-10-2021, 05:23 AM
|
#20
|
4 Rivet Member
2019 30' Classic
2021 Atlas
Charlotte
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 302
|
In any of my projects, it’s not what I know is broken or needs fixing, it’s what I break while fixing things that takes most of the time. Luckily, I like projects.
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|