Broken awning anchor

[slimetime]

Sigh, another day of trip planning leads to another disappointing discovery on our 2017 Isata 3. The anchor has completely pulled away from the wall, water can probably get in there now.

Second pic is the back one starting to go.

All of the bolts were loose.

Is there a backer plate or wood in the wall?

Frustrating part is I took it to my dealer last month to look at a clunk during use of the awning, and they gave it the all clear.

I'm sick of these issues on my brand new rv.

[bclemens]

There is backer there, typically a 1/4" aluminum plate as recommended by the awning mfg. I have asked them to add wood as well. I've never been a fan of metal plate for backer as I don't think there is enough material for the screw to bite. Too easy to strip.

Enough wind could pull that as well.

[slimetime]

So what's the normal prescription for repair?

Go bigger with screws? Filled the hole with epoxy and set again?

Both the front and back brackets had several loose screws, that seemed stripped. If the backer is aluminum, then I bet the lag screws got over torqued.

This was the second time I have ever opened the awning, and both times I rolled it back up right away because of the clunking noise it made.

Actually now that I remember, it wasn't plugged into the fuse terminal when I picked it up and I had to attach those wires myself.

The outer skin of the exterior wall buckled out a bunch when the screw pulled out as well.

I'm leaving for a 3000 mile trip on Wednesday, and this could be dangerous on the road.

[bclemens]

I'll find our. What's your location?

[slimetime]

Chicago

[bclemens]

Where's your trip headed?

[slimetime]

Canada/ BC

[bclemens]

Wrong direction from the plant unfortunately. If there is a chance you can get it here before (we're in Elkhart, IN about 2.5 hours east of Chicago), I can have someone repair that pretty quickly. Otherwise you would have to use a larger diameter or shift the whole thing over 3/4". Not sure if someone locally could sneak you in for a simple repair...most everyone is slammed right now.

[steve32409]

Just don't over tighten the new screws and do it by hand , I had same problem - found that probably half of screws had been broke from start . Too tough to gauge with power drill .

[slimetime]

Yeah, I think over torque was the culprit on mine.

Brian, I will take you up on the repair offer- I can bring it down later today or first thing tomorrow. Who should I call?

Many thanks, it would be sweet to have the awning working for this trip.

[bclemens]

We'll double check the backer to be sure. Tomorrow would be better... Production plant leaves pretty early. Not sure if we'll have service or production handle the task so maybe just ask for me, Brian Clemens and I'll grab one of the two.

[slimetime]

Great, I'll be by first thing tomorrow.

What time do you open and what's the address?

Thanks!

[bclemens]

The shop is here by about 6:30AM. I get in 8ish. I do have a staff meeting tomorrow at 8:30 so most will be unavailable for about 30-45 minutes.

2745 Northland Dr. Elkhart, IN 46515 888-295-7859

We are 1 hour ahead of you guys.

[slimetime]

Many thanks to Brian and his staff.

I showed up at 7:30 and the gentleman at customer service was ready for me.

A few hours later I was back on the road.

Thanks for squeezing me in before my trip, and it was nice to be able to sit in the quiet lounge and get some work done on my computer.

Thanks again!

[bclemens]

Sorry I missed you. When I told my guys in staff that you were coming, they were like "already dropped in, already back in final finish getting repaired". I was heading that way when we had another customer drop in. Your repair took a little longer because I asked them to make sure there was no chance of a repeat. So they plated the back side and used nut/bolt combo.

Today turned out to be a pretty fortunate day.

1. Your turn around was pretty quick...sorry you had to come this far for repair, but a dealer could have been a couple of weeks.
2. I had a customer just randomly email me from Anchorage. Their coach door lock broke. I referred them to ABC in Anchorage (long time dealer friend from Sunseeker days and now Dynamax). I didn't even call..., just gave them ABC's name. ABC repaired the door in 15 minutes,no charge.
3. Had another customer come in on the way to a west coast trip..."just to get the slide stops reprogrammed, so we thought". I'm so glad they did. Before I can even finish explaining the navi system, Greg determined it wasn't the stops, thought it might be the brain, swapped the brain he had spare and the slide was operating as normal. Took about 5 minutes. He was also able to demonstrate the over ride and stop adjustment. Then when we went to show the water heater operation we were not getting hot water. No light on the control knob. Fuses checked out. Greg pulled the main gray plug inside the Truma door. Just behind that is the communication plug (looks like phone cord) to the control knob. He unplugged that and replugged it in until it clicked. Plugged in the gray plug, light came on the knob. Turned on the hot water and it fired right up. Just a connection that wasn't seated properly.

[slimetime]

That was a busy day!
The drive was fine (about 125 miles from where we live) , especially going down - hit lunch traffic going back. I agree on the dealer, they are so busy this time of year and also I felt better about you guys looking at it.
I would have stopped I the office to buy a hat or something, but I had to be back at my office for a 12:30 (central) meeting.

Thanks again.

[Kenny kustom]

Originally Posted by bclemens

. So they plated the back side and used nut/bolt combo.

.

What a great idea!

[flycer61]

You said they "plated" the back side. I need to make this repair on my 2016. How easy is it to get access to the back side to install a plate? What needs to be removed to get in that area?

[bclemens]

On this particular unit we just had to pull the TV to access the wall area behind that spot.

[flycer61]

Ok thanks for that info. Can you say whats involved to get to the rear mount?