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Subject Topic: Damaged awning rail Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonOvingtonbongo
25/6/2014 at 11:02am
 Location: Norfolk
 Outfit: Kia Sorento and Elddis Crusader View Ovingtonbongo's Profile View Profile   Reply to Ovingtonbongo Reply   Quote Ovingtonbongo Quote  
Joined: 16/11/2011

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Hello all.

I gateposted the nearside rear of my Crusader Supercyclone and have deformed/crushed the bottom 50mm of the awning rail. The bodywork is ok. It's not a big problem as we only use a porch awning but it looks unsightly. Has anyone replaced/repaired such a small section as I don't want to get in to replacing the whole rail with all that entails. Thanks in anticipation for any advice.


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Ovingtonbongo


Personalbee
25/6/2014 at 11:46am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered View albee's Profile View Profile   Reply to albee Reply   Quote albee Quote  
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hi, straighten rail best you can open out crushed section by making small wooden wedge { like a door stop } and tapping it round the channel. smooth off any sharp edges with a small fine file. It is easy to replace a small section, if you can find a matching rail. Just release rail a little past the damage to allow a piece of wood to slide behind to protect caravan while damaged part of rail is cut off and hole drilled in end of existing rail. then screw back existing rail, cut new section to length and screw into place. put sealant behind rail before final fixing.


PersonOvingtonbongo
25/6/2014 at 1:03pm
 Location: Norfolk
 Outfit: Kia Sorento and Elddis Crusader View Ovingtonbongo's Profile View Profile   Reply to Ovingtonbongo Reply   Quote Ovingtonbongo Quote  
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Thanks for this Albee. I had though along similar lines but it's always good to get a second opinion that matches your own!

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Ovingtonbongo


Personmoppetsdad
25/6/2014 at 1:40pm
 Location: The foot hills of no
 Outfit:  A full biohazard su View moppetsdad's Profile View Profile   Reply to moppetsdad Reply   Quote moppetsdad Quote  
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Just to add a little when you cut the damaged bit out if you end up doing that, instead of a small bit of wood behind it to protect it use a spatula or paint scraper that why you are less likely to cut through unnoticed. Also you will not have to release so much of the undamaged rail.

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David

    

I've stood on Lego and didn't even cry!!


PersonJTQU
25/6/2014 at 1:47pm
 Location: Hampshire
 Outfit: Hymer Nova S View JTQU's Profile View Profile   Reply to JTQU Reply   Quote JTQU Quote  
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I just ground away the bruised bit with a dental burr type bit in a Dremel drill. I found I could not straighten the alloy without putting more strain on it than I wanted and the anodizing was damaged anyway and would look unsightly.


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PersonOvingtonbongo
25/6/2014 at 2:14pm
 Location: Norfolk
 Outfit: Kia Sorento and Elddis Crusader View Ovingtonbongo's Profile View Profile   Reply to Ovingtonbongo Reply   Quote Ovingtonbongo Quote  
Joined: 16/11/2011

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Thanks for all the replies. This will be a job for the week-end. My main concern is the "workability" of the alloy (as mentioned by JTQU) so it may be a case of camouflaging the ding as best I can. If I decide to cut the damage out and infill a section, I am struggling to match the rail profile at the moment even though the van is only a 2008. Certainly not worth a whole rail replacement. Any suggestions on a supplier? I wouldn't want more than a metre.

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Ovingtonbongo


PersonCortinaMatt
25/6/2014 at 6:52pm
 Location: West Midlands
 Outfit: None Entered View CortinaMatt's Profile View Profile   Reply to CortinaMatt Reply   Quote CortinaMatt Quote  
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I've just straightened a very badly damaged rail on my new van. It was bad and yes it still looks unsightly but it will now accept an awning where it had no chance before. My intention is to try and replace the front half of the rail if I can get one as there is a join at the top about halfway down the length of the van.

Just be careful the aluminium doesn't crack. I noticed as I was straightening mine I could see stress marks appearing in the metal. It didn't crack but came very close as I had to bend it back a lot, it was flattened in places. I also used one of those metal awning rail spreader tools and used it as a dolly to try and hammer some shape back into it.

Good luck with yours.


PersonOvingtonbongo
25/6/2014 at 7:44pm
 Location: Norfolk
 Outfit: Kia Sorento and Elddis Crusader View Ovingtonbongo's Profile View Profile   Reply to Ovingtonbongo Reply   Quote Ovingtonbongo Quote  
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Thanks for all the feedback. I have ordered the double ended rail spreader as suggested and also found this: http://www.amazon.co...=welding clamps

If one "flat" of the clamp is thin enough to go in the centre of the rail this might help to straighten the edges and realign the rail.

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Ovingtonbongo


PersonFoxFurry
26/6/2014 at 1:56pm
 Location: Ealand
 Outfit: Viking Fibreline 2 View FoxFurry's Profile View Profile   Reply to FoxFurry Reply   Quote FoxFurry Quote  
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Sounds like you've got it sorted. An awning rail spreader can be got from Towsure, item number A268.



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