Date:         Fri, 16 Jun 2006 16:45:28 -0700
Reply-To:     Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Fiamma Awnings Parts Support
Comments: To: Mike Elliott <j.michael.elliott@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <4493147D.6060405@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

 Responding to two responses to my post
First, was I dealing directly with Fiamma USA in Florida? Yes.  And if you
look at their website now you will find no way to order from them, they
refer you to RV dealers.  I discussed this very issue with the parts manager
at Leisure Time RV, another  Florida business that has been doing business
with Fiamma for several years.  She said that Fiamma has recently, within
the last few weeks, changed some of their policies and the way they do
business with vendors, and this is part of the changes.

Second, the center rafter for rain on the Fiamma awning.  On the large
awnings like I have, the center rafter, advised for use by Fiamma in the
rain, actually can make the problem of water pooling in the awning worse.
By putting the barrier in the middle, no matter how much you slope the
awning, there will be a pool of water on the high side, created by the
rafter.  I my case this time, I just didn't have the awning sloped enough
and water built up across the whole thing.  The awning itself didn't fail
but the rear mount did, pulled off of the rain gutter on the van.  And the
front was about to go also, the rain gutter on the van was bent almost
flat.  That tells me that the awning held a hell of a lot of water without
breaking.  I'm sure the part that broke went when the awning detached from
the van and the back end dropped putting some weird loads on everything.