Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2007 11:16:49 -0600
Reply-To: Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Subject: Re: Anyone ever use standard awning rails on a vanagon?
In-Reply-To: <vanagon%2007022220314041@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
On Feb 22, 2007, at 7:29 PM, Jonce Fancher wrote:
> Hi Ive not been follow this link but the item in the picture is
> called Awning "C" Channel and comes in about 5 profiles or angles
> that the C is open. Ive got
> some in stock if interested.
I'd love to have a scan--or even have actual samples about an inch
long--of all the available options. What I'm trying to do that's
different from what others have done is to run my C-channel the
length of the gutter. This would allow me to do two things: position
the awning well over the front opening of the sliding door and even
over the front door window, and to use the awning whether the top was
up or down.
I think I can do this by clamping the vanagon gutter between the C-
channel and an aluminum backing piece. This would not require
drilling into the car. I may have to tap the backing plate, or may
have to use pop rivets, but if I can find (or create) the right shape
for the backing piece, it should work.
I'm waiting for next week to get started looking around locally
because the RV guy that is normally use is not in until then. I also
need to find a source for long pieces of aluminum backing material--
the stuff available at the home stores is 6 feet long at best, and
the selection isn't that good.
I like the C-channel and bag awning we use on our regular old pull-
behind camper. It is simple, it doesn't leak at the C-channel. It is
relatively quick and easy to put up, and it endures some very windy
conditions.
Jim
> also the item to fill the channel is called filler rail and another
> called Keder Welt and usually in your choice of black or white. It
> will
> slip into the C Channel. Also the C channel is Aluminum and the
> filler rail is a hard plastics and Keder Welt is like a Fabric
> covered hard plastic tubing. that
> can be sewn with a commercial machine. Keder welt is usually used
> in Large commercial and industrial applications and Plastic filler
> rail is the norm for RVs
> and Lighter duty items.
> Now if it were me and I had a C channel installed. I would make a
> filler rail and attach to a separating Marine Zipper. Then Just
> leave one half with the Bus
> and the other to just Zip on when needed. You could even put one on
> each side and just zip on one side of the bus or the other. Not a
> Big deal Standard
> Marine Goodies. Ive not made one since I don't like putting holes
> in Roofs. Issues with Dissimilar metal corrosion and leakage. I do
> it all the time for
> customers but have a tough time doing it for myself.
> Hope I helped instead of confusing more.
> C-ya Jonce
>
>
>> OK, I get it now that I have seen the pictures. Thanks so much. My
>> original intent was to affix the rail so that the awning could be
>> used with the top up or down. I see that that is probably not
>> possible to do a top-down option on the poptop westy. It looks as if
>> your configuration mounts the rail so high up that the top and seals
>> don't even touch it when they close, but close over it so that it is
>> accessible only when the top is up. That's OK by me, though if anyone
>> can figure out how to install an awning rail to work both up and
>> down, let me know.
>
>> To comment on Loren Busch's post that followed this one, no, you
>> probably can't use a metal rod. I have had canvas roof repaired that
>> went to old-school campers. The only thing you can do is take a tarp
>> to (or buy material from) a canvas shop and have them sew in a
>> flexible piping made for a system like this. They will know what you
>> are talking about and will have the right stuff.
>
>> This system makes a great seal, by the way, and is very easy to
>> install and take down. You just slip one end in the rail and walk
>> down the length of the van. That's it.
>
>> Jim
>
>> On Feb 21, 2007, at 12:50 PM, Richard A Jones wrote:
>
>>> Jim:
>>>
>>> I took some pix with the top popped and with it almost
>>> closed. Pictures are worth a 1000 words--plus, I didn't
>>> remember very well how the rail was installed. I would
>>> have said the flange was up, not down!
>>>
>>> At the rear, when the top is closed, the flange of the
>>> rail is right behind the rubber of the seal. Farther
>>> forward, I think it is just above the rubber. It comes
>>> down at the rear end, I think, because of the poptop
>>> hinge, or maybe it is just the shape of the roof.
>>>
>>> See:
>>> http://jones.colorado.edu/jones/VWAwningRail
>>> for the five pix.
>>>
>>> To answer an unask question: I had my Carefree Sidewinder
>>> on my '81 and just moved it to the Syncro. If I had not had
>>> the Sidewinder, I would have explored using the awning rail.
>>>
>>> Richard
>>> Boulder
>>>
>>>
>
>
> Jonce Fancher
>
> 56 Single Cab
> 66 Sunroof Bug
> 66 Variant Squareback
> 66 Porsche 912
> 71 Sunroof Bus
> 84 Vanagon "Gottfried"
> 85 Vanagon Westi
> 2003 10 Passenger Sprinter
>
> Fancher's Upholstery Inc. - www.fanchers.com
> Not-A-VW Club- http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jaransont3/notavwclub/
>
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