Awning Frame Attachment
I have a 2007 Keystone Cougar Travel Trailer with a power awning. I bought in 2009 and I have had problems with this awning the entire time. From the get go, I couldn't get framer on the right side to...
Forum Discussion
That is a Carefree of Colorado awning in the photo. Same as the one on our TT except we have a fiberglass sided trailer and was a factory option. If you extend the awning right out, there will be a couple of stickers on the roller tube at the forward end with the manufacturers name, serial no., and I think a part number. Installation info. is available on the Carefree website.
The vertical channel on ours screws onto the exterior wall with some butyl tape where the screws are. The screws appear to be #10 self-tappers, maybe #12 and have a hex head. There are 2 screws about 5-6" apart near the top of the channel, one in the middle and a couple at the bottom, also about 5-6" apart. It looks like the spacers used with the aluminum siding in the photo would be correct.
There is also the horizontal channel that secures the awning material against the wall. The gas struts exert a LOT of force against the roller tube to keep the awning material taut. If the horizontal channel isn't firmly anchored to the wall, it will pull away, as you have found out. No idea what size screws are in there.
If you have the awning out and a high wind comes along, there will a lot of force exerted on the vertical channels and horizontal channel so they must be well anchored to the wall. I have no idea if they typically have a backer plate pre-installed for the vertical channels or not but would guess yes. There will be rafter ends along the exterior wall (every 24"?) and maybe the horizontal track should be anchored into the rafters, or to top plate of the wall framing. In our TT, the horizontal channel is tight to the underside of the roof gutter.
I think you need to find out how the vertical channels are attached to the wall. Did they screw into a stud or something else? You'll need to pull a screw out and reseal the penetration afterwards. If there just into sheet metal, I'd say you've got a problem that needs to be addressed. Depending on the floor plan and where cabinets and other things are, it *might* be possible to install some wood or sheet metal backing.
Hopefully someone will come along with more info.
The vertical channel on ours screws onto the exterior wall with some butyl tape where the screws are. The screws appear to be #10 self-tappers, maybe #12 and have a hex head. There are 2 screws about 5-6" apart near the top of the channel, one in the middle and a couple at the bottom, also about 5-6" apart. It looks like the spacers used with the aluminum siding in the photo would be correct.
There is also the horizontal channel that secures the awning material against the wall. The gas struts exert a LOT of force against the roller tube to keep the awning material taut. If the horizontal channel isn't firmly anchored to the wall, it will pull away, as you have found out. No idea what size screws are in there.
If you have the awning out and a high wind comes along, there will a lot of force exerted on the vertical channels and horizontal channel so they must be well anchored to the wall. I have no idea if they typically have a backer plate pre-installed for the vertical channels or not but would guess yes. There will be rafter ends along the exterior wall (every 24"?) and maybe the horizontal track should be anchored into the rafters, or to top plate of the wall framing. In our TT, the horizontal channel is tight to the underside of the roof gutter.
I think you need to find out how the vertical channels are attached to the wall. Did they screw into a stud or something else? You'll need to pull a screw out and reseal the penetration afterwards. If there just into sheet metal, I'd say you've got a problem that needs to be addressed. Depending on the floor plan and where cabinets and other things are, it *might* be possible to install some wood or sheet metal backing.
Hopefully someone will come along with more info.
