Fiamma Knock Off Awning

oldhuldy67 · Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 3:17 pm Post subject:

Oh, yeah...hated to drill into fresh paint. The GoWesty bracket kit comes with "rivet-nuts", my first time using these to install a captured nut behind a body panel (WHAT will they think of next?) ..I got an education on these at a local fastener store (they know I'm a mechanical "rube" but they talk to me anyway.) Check out at all the other great posts. My post and pics on page 11..I don't know how to reference it..But, really I just followed everyone else and that seemed like the best way to secure it using the GW brackets and fasteners...all the best

Gruppe B · Samba Member Joined: January 16, 2007 Posts: 1331

Just installed a 10'x6.5' on my 1985 Westy using 3 Gowesty brackets.

Pretty easy install, did not flatten the brackets, just bolted the two brackets together at the top using carriage bolts and lock nuts and used a spacer and 1/4" joint connector nuts for the side facing the poptop with countersunk bolts on the awning side.

These are joint connector nuts (home depot has them)

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

The nuts that hd sells has an allen head on the back to hold (doesnt allow the bolt to go all the way thru)

Using 3 Gowesty brackets does have problems. The drip edge on the 1985 has a slight arc or bend somewhere because I could get the center and front bracket to attach but the rear bracket was too far back by about 5mm to fit in the groove. I ended up putting some force on the rear of the awning and it popped in but I think that the front awning now needs a little persuasion to fully close. To fasten the awning to the brackets I used the allen bolts provided and just drilled new holes at the bottom of the aluminum brackets into the awning bolting them together (only the front and back awning).

For those who bought the awning but did not yet open it, there is an awesome stainless hardware kit under the foam cap at the front of the awning. I didnt find it until install and had replicated everything that was supplied from home depot.

I'm heading to Moab on Monday so I'll post pictures there. Way too cold here in Canada right now Very Happy

SCP_Austin · Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 2:19 pm Post subject:

Shameless plug...

PM if anyone is looking for a 10 ft blue fabric awning. I got a Fiamma on my recent acquisition of syncroness. I know there are some Seattle guys out there who might be interested.

I already did the brackets as shown in the thread.
_________________
#leftlanelife

SteelB12 · Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2014 4:58 pm Post subject:

Since it should be getting nice outside fairly soon, I decided to get ready to mount this up

Are these the brackets I need to order: http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=2542&category_id=277&category_parent_id=

From what I have read in this thread I should be able to get away with just the two, is that also correct?? I ordered the 10' awning.
_________________
1987 Westy

davevickery · Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 7:04 pm Post subject:

I'd start with 2. I used 3 on my first awning, but they fit no problem. These take more mcgyvering and may not be needed. I was thinking a short skinny piece of aluminum or a 90 degree piece from HD might fit either in the rail or under the rail and clamping onto it would spread the load somewhat. The welded extensions obviously are stronger but this might help and requires no welding. With a 10' awning I would think you will want to use the provided screws that go into the pillars for extra stablility. That would probably be enough on it's own and seems to be what most fiamma people do. So far with the 8' I am only using 2 brackets and havent' used the piller screws, but may.

shizzon · Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 9:26 am Post subject:

Has anyone purchased the 11 1/2 ft x 6 1/2 ft. awning?

Any thoughts on the two different geometries (10x8 vs. 11.5x6.5)?
_________________
1989 Bostig Syncro Westy

davevickery · Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 9:43 am Post subject:

I don't think there are any 10x8's left. The 10x8 patio awning is not the same as the Camp Out case awning. There is only one 11.5 x 6.5

If anyone is passing through Elkhart IN, here is another great close out deal (they only have 11.5 footers). Probably a better awning and the same price, just no shipping. Maybe that's why they have some left. These have not been made in at least a couple years.
http://www.factoryrvsurplus.com/products.php?product_id=1521

Zero419 · Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 5:15 am Post subject:

I just ordered the GW awning mounts.
21.00 shipping Shocked

_________________
1987 Westy Auto Bostig 2.0 Ztec

NxNWesty · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 11:13 pm Post subject:

Finally got around to installing my awning 10' 6.5'. I used washers as spacers between the GW and awning bracket.

The bolts were pretty close to the pop top seal, so I cut them down, now there is plenty of clearance. Forgot to grab a pic with the top closed.

I cut down the corners of the GW bracket, and drilled holes into the awning bracket to put the bottom bolts.

I only used two brackets and it feels steady both awning extended out, and in.
_________________
1985 Westfalia '92 EJ22 KEP Adapter

SteelB12 · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 7:00 am Post subject:

Zero419 · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 10:19 am Post subject:

I have the awning brackets bolted to the GW brackets now. I used the low profile fasteners pictured above.
I used a large nut for a spacer on the bottom.
Now I have to attach them to the van and then attach the awning to the brackets.
_________________
1987 Westy Auto Bostig 2.0 Ztec

Zero419 · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 5:15 pm Post subject:

I got it mounted to the van and it looks great. Now I just have to bolt it to the brackets.
I assumed it would stay fairly level while winding it out, instead it drops down at such an angle that I had my wife hold it up untill fully deployed with legs. Is this typical?
_________________
1987 Westy Auto Bostig 2.0 Ztec

davevickery · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 6:09 pm Post subject:

This is about how I set mine up. But mine is the shorter one so it goes up quicker.

Anyway looks like they have a different market in Germany. Laughing

Link

Zero419 · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 6:27 pm Post subject:

Aha.
Thanks.
_________________
1987 Westy Auto Bostig 2.0 Ztec

Steelhead · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 11:22 am Post subject:

yeah I've been a fairly carefully with mine...concerned the the weight might snap a hinge if winding out too far without the leg support.

Speaking of leg support, somehow that german woman really makes setting up an awning seem like a naughty activity.
_________________
'77 Bay Window / '89 Caratsburg (aka. the Stormtrooper)

shadetreetim · Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2014 6:57 pm Post subject:

My 10' Faux-Fiamma is still in the garage in its shipping box. I have been considering how to mount it as I want and need to keep the Thule Racks installed. Currently the big knob on the Thule Rack is right in the way, not to mention the cross bars "may" be sticking out too far and may cause the Faux-Fiamma to interfere with the slider.

What I'm thinking of doing is removing the knobs, cutting a piece of box tubing to fit vertically between the gutter mount and the cross bar. (Illustrated in yellow, red indicates the future Faux-Fiamma installed)

The vertical tubing would have a hole drilled in the outside large enough to place a nut inside to replace the big knob. (Nut illustrated in green)

Once I replicate that on all 4 Thule mounts, I could screw the factory Faux-Fiamma mounts directly to the square tubing. Due to the curvature of the side of the van, I thought perhaps a washer or two could go between the square tubing and the Thule mount on the front and rear locations, as needed.

The only question still unanswered is if I would have to cut the cross bars off to mount the FF high enough. My short rack mounts don't leave much room. I think this mount adaptation would give me a very sturdy base.

Thoughts, concerns, alternate ideas?

_________________
Tim Potts

Doing my best every time I drive it to dispel the myth these Vanagons have to be slow!

'89 Vanagon Bluestar/Country Homes 1.8T & .77 4th
'74 Jeep CJ5

dobryan · Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 3:05 pm Post subject:

So today I trial mounted the 10' x 8' burgundy model to my Westy.

It fits fine and is a nice awning.... but I already had an awning (albeit smaller) that I liked and though this was a great deal I was thinking I'd like it a lot more than my current awning. Turns out that my current awning gives me about 1 to 2 inches of additional headroom and at 6' 4" that makes a difference to me. The Aleko awning rubs my head and my current one doesn't.

So I've decided to stay with my current awning and sell this one with the GoWesty mounts at my cost.

Edit: The awning is sold. It went to a Baywindow Bus so I still have the three GoWesty brackets available. I'll put them in the classifieds.

Ad for brackets is here:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1621393

Thanks. Very Happy

_________________
Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794

TequilaSunSet · Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 3:35 pm Post subject:

Ahwahnee · Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 4:36 pm Post subject:

Steelhead · Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 5:22 pm Post subject:


Hello! Log in or Register \| Help \| Donate \| Buy Shirts	See all banner ads \| Advertise on TheSamba.com

Fiamma Knock Off Awning
Page: Previous 1, 2, 3 ... 12, 13, 14, 15 Next Jump to:

	Forum Index -> Vanagon	All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time Page: Previous 1, 2, 3 ... 12, 13, 14, 15 Next Jump to:
Page 13 of 15