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Topic: Awning rail gasket

Mickcaro

04/2/2017 at 8:03pm
Location: Durham
Outfit: Abbey freestyle 500 SE

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Hi everyone,
Just started the outside work on our caravan yesterday, interior has been stripped in the damp affected areas for 2 weeks and I've been drying that out, while I waited for a area in our workshop to become free so I could get it indoors.
Looks like the area the water has been entering from was about 6 inches up from the bottom of the rail and behind the bottom awning rail. The end of the main awning rail and a corner trim underneath the side skirt in the rear corner had been sealed with silicone so any water that had got behind the rail had nowhere to go other than into the wood work.
I've removed the alu side skirts and removed the rotton plywood behind which was acting like a sponge and allowing the water to soak into the framework, thankfully this is just wet and should dry out, but parts of the floor will need repairing.
I've already had a bit of advice on this but was wondering about the gasket on the awning rail, this has come away from the rail during removal and it would be easer to replace with new rather than try to clean it up, but is it actually needed ? ? ? Just looks like another weak areas to me, and is either there to take up any uneven spots in the bodywork or its just cosmetic.
I was planning on using mastic tape and soudal fix all on the top and bottom of the rail to completely seal it so is the gasket necessary?
Thanks in advance

G7ACU

05/2/2017 at 10:34am
Location: West Mids
Outfit: Swift Ace Statesman & X-Trail 2.0

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Sounds like you have plenty to keep you occupied ...

As for the 'gasket', I've not encountered one fitted on any awning rail and they are usually sealed with mastic and/or Sikaflex in some cases.
Can you supply a photo somehow to clarify the exact part, but if it is just a simple gasket between awning rail and bodywork, I'd go with your plan.

-------------
Paul

Every day's a school day!

Mickcaro

05/2/2017 at 11:36am
Location: Durham
Outfit: Abbey freestyle 500 SE

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Yes unfortunately more to occupy me than I was hoping, nothing I can't fix with a little avicenna along the way.

I'll post some pictures for you shortly.

Mickcaro

05/2/2017 at 12:29pm
Location: Durham
Outfit: Abbey freestyle 500 SE

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Some pics

Awning rail attached to van

Awning rail with out gasket

Old gasket which has gone hard and has no real sealing properties any more

Gasket as it attaches to the awning rail

G7ACU

05/2/2017 at 5:00pm
Location: West Mids
Outfit: Swift Ace Statesman & X-Trail 2.0

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Ah, I see the stuff you mean now. Haven't seen that for a while. Personally, I would reseal with the mastic tape down the centre and Sikaflex (or the Soudal stuff) down the edges. I find that does the job very well.

This link might help you. I don't take credit for the contents, but it's a useful site for repair work reference.
Click here.

-------------
Paul

Every day's a school day!

Mickcaro

05/2/2017 at 6:02pm
Location: Durham
Outfit: Abbey freestyle 500 SE

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Thanks for the link, I've already got it bookmarked.

I was thinking it would be best to remove if possible

Any advice on replacing the external floor frame on the back corners its rotten at 90 degree corners its only soft for a couple of inches but access is a problem rear Plastic bumper is in the way from underneath and the wall frames are in the way from the top. its looking like I will have to remove some of the side framework and the back wall board and frame to get to it, which is a shame because its all dry and in perfect shape really. All the water damage is around the floor edge.

Picture may help

This is the affected area from underneath

Water has been getting in from here

I'm currently looking through wizards website to see if anyone has done something similar but it all seems to be damage higher up in the wall board and frames.

marg6

05/2/2017 at 9:07pm
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the Gasket you are referring to is called an awning channel insert, its available by the meter from most caravan dealer or online even on ebay! while it doesn't really have much purpose it does hide the screws that attach the the channel on, which also helps to stop things catch when threading the awning in place, when you have used the mastic to attach the awning channel its wise to go over the screw heads too, making sure no water can gain access, the insert will also deflect some of that water but doesn't stop any leakages

you say that the damage seems to be higher up? this could be from anything such as the grab handles, any light fittings or even the awning channel itself

Mickcaro

05/2/2017 at 9:30pm
Location: Durham
Outfit: Abbey freestyle 500 SE

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It's not the awning channel insert strip or ( Herzim strip ) it's called awning guide section and it goes on the outer edge of the awning rail between the rail and the caravan body.

The water has come through behind the awning rail at the bottom corner the lower rail as it was soaking wet behind it and the door and door frame. All the damage is to floor level and below apart from just under the door frame.

JuanHuNose

05/2/2017 at 9:47pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Volvo V60 & Swift Challenger 565

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We had the same gasket on an ABI Transtar (1989). When I resealed it (preventative) I used the same gasket with a thin smear of sealant on it in addition to the normal sealing of the rail. When tightened down any excess was squeezed out.
Seemed to be another layer of protection which worked well, the van was 18 years old when we sold it with no damp issues.

Mickcaro

05/2/2017 at 10:09pm
Location: Durham
Outfit: Abbey freestyle 500 SE

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It was sealed like you describe when I removed it, so the pvc gasket has completely come off the rail as it was sealed along the back of the gasket and was harder to get of the van than the rail it's self as it had mastic tape on it. Maybe it's been off before, my point was is it really necessary as it will.have to be put back on which will be a real pain.

Mickcaro

07/2/2017 at 7:59pm
Location: Durham
Outfit: Abbey freestyle 500 SE

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Hi everyone, yesterday I managed to get all the rotten sections of framework removed from the rear corner, so it just needs to dry a little more and I can start putting it back together 😃
Still not sure about the gasket issue though for the awning rail. The gasket seems to be there to help level out any unevenness to the bodywork especially on the back corner ( rear is made up of 3 parts plastic bumper, rear aluminium panel and finally the roof panel ) so you get overlapping joints in two spots, the pvc gasket levels this out.
I've offered the rail up and screwed it in with out the pvc and it's not bad, but it dose leave a couple of bigger gaps !
I've made a tool to put the new or old gasket back on so that's not a issue, but I'm still wondering if I'm just making work and cost for myself ?
60m of new gasket
30m of 4.5 mm thick mastic tape ( which I can only get a 10m roll for 29 quid a roll, eBay being the only place i can find it )
Plus the tubes of sealer needed.

Anyone done the same thing?

Ps if anyone needs the tool for the same job I'll happily post it to them once I'm done as they are very expensive to buy!!!

FoxFurry

06/3/2017 at 7:29pm
Location: Ealand
Outfit: Viking Fibreline 2

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Try this stuff, looks like it matches. Probably too late now though sorry.
http://www.magnummotorhomes.co.uk/en/Rubber-Seals-Trims/Awning-Rail-Backing........

Mickcaro

06/3/2017 at 9:24pm
Location: Durham
Outfit: Abbey freestyle 500 SE

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Hi Fox furry

Thanks for the reply anyway, all repairs have been more or less completed now. Just on cleaning and polishing ready for easter😀😀😀
It's been hard work but hoping well many years of pleasure from it.

Regards
Michael

FoxFurry

06/3/2017 at 9:49pm
Location: Ealand
Outfit: Viking Fibreline 2

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Michael
Just bumped up my thread on my somewhat stalled Viking Fibreline. Nothing a lick of paint won't cure

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