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Dono Be
Samba Member
Joined: November 26, 2023
Posts: 16
Location: British Columbia
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 Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2024 8:36 pm Post subject: Re: ARB Awning, Making your own NO WELD gutter mount! |
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New paint on the plate extension brackets
Installed easily and set with a little less rake.
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Working on a 1988 T5 Vanagon Westfalia...Loved and lost A 1966 VW Sundial Camper, A 1966 Transporter, and Three 1967 VW Beetles. |
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Dono Be
Samba Member
Joined: November 26, 2023
Posts: 16
Location: British Columbia
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| Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2024 7:31 am Post subject: Re: ARB Awning, Making your own NO WELD gutter mount! |
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I should have raised the awning with a suspension lift.
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Working on a 1988 T5 Vanagon Westfalia...Loved and lost A 1966 VW Sundial Camper, A 1966 Transporter, and Three 1967 VW Beetles. |
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Dono Be
Samba Member
Joined: November 26, 2023
Posts: 16
Location: British Columbia
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2024 5:56 pm Post subject: Re: ARB Awning, Making your own NO WELD gutter mount! |
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I found this thread very helpful
Hence the resurrection.
I am doing and extended Bracket on my awning to achieve a little more headroom....
also the rake on this awning can not be adjusted for some reason. I did find the install diagram and a video of the install.
Here are a couple shots of the progress today....
I plan to use a few washers between the brackets with longer bolts.
I managed to get 3 inches higher.
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Working on a 1988 T5 Vanagon Westfalia...Loved and lost A 1966 VW Sundial Camper, A 1966 Transporter, and Three 1967 VW Beetles. |
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Jamo7
Samba Member
Joined: September 25, 2014
Posts: 124
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2019 8:59 pm Post subject: Re: ARB Awning, Making your own NO WELD gutter mount! |
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Like Dave, I made my own No WELD gutter mount for an ARB awning. (It only took me two years to get the awning and make the mounts!)
I purchased 3 feet of 0.1875" x 3" hot roll rectangle, and one foot of 0.1875" thick 2" x 2" hot rolled mixed steel angle from OnlineMetals.com. I used a MAPP gas torch to heat and bend the 3" bar. I cut down one side of the angle for the lower gutter bracket. Dave's measurements were a great starting point, but since my bends of the 3" bar were slightly off, I just adjusted the length of the non-bolted angle as needed. I tried to create the S-bend out of the 3/16" angle, but the bent and hammered leg started to crack. When I looked closely at my 1984 gutters, I saw that my upper gutter bracket could fit very well in the recess of the gutter as a simple angle. I apologize for the poor lighting in the photo, but if you look closely you should be able to see where my design differs from Dave's. The uppermost bracket that stabilizes the upper gutter bracket is copied straight from Dave's design.
I used M8x1.25 Allen head bolts throughout and purchased M8 riv nuts (one/mount) to secure the lower end of the awning mount to the van. I feel the resulting mount is very secure.
Thanks for the idea, and as I said before GO SAMBA!
James
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'84 Westy 2.1 wbx |
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Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 9618
Location: Western WA
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| Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2016 4:26 pm Post subject: Re: ARB Awning, Making your own NO WELD gutter mount! |
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A word of warning.
I opened my poptop with a LOT of weight in the rocketbox (ontop). Apparently during the fuss, the poptop moved over a little and the seal hooked on the awning bolts. My awning mount is approximately straight up vertical of the gutter. Some other awning mounts are "tighter in" than mine. From this I would recommend that the mount should be flush to the gutter, or even outward a little.
So I cut them off flush at the nut. Anyway don't assume the poptop always goes STRAIGHT up (vertical).
_________________
'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 9618
Location: Western WA
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| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 9:54 pm Post subject: Re: ARB Awning, Making your own NO WELD gutter mount! |
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| dhaavers wrote: |
Newest Samba moniker: "DIY Dave"  |
Dave is pumping out the projects!
_________________
'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32632
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15144
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 1:46 pm Post subject: Re: ARB Awning, Making your own NO WELD gutter mount! |
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Dave it's to relieve the strain on the rain gutter.
it's 50% more (or 33%) surface area for the same weight/strain.
I've seen more than 1 van with the rain gutter seam tweaked and cracked.. so more is better right? they carry alot of static weight while bouncing down the road.. and with the high vantage point, exert plenty of weight based leverage.
| djkeev wrote: |
Whoa! Humbled! 🤔
Thanks for the kind words.......
Anyway.....
A third mount.
I totally get the WHY of a third mount. If one should fail, two still hold the unit.
But honestly, I don't see a failure here especially because once the mounts are painted they will be fastened into the B & D pillars as well with 5/16-18 fasteners.
While the possibility of a complete catastropic failure does exist, in my risk taking assessment of this happening, that probability is quite minute.
Dave |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32632
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 9618
Location: Western WA
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| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 9:06 am Post subject: Re: ARB Awning, Making your own NO WELD gutter mount! |
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| kamzcab86 wrote: |
Nice DIY job, Dave! 
| djkeev wrote: |
A third mount.
I totally get the WHY of a third mount. If one should fail, two still hold the unit. |
I don't think it's so much out of a fear of failure, as it distributing the weight more evenly across the gutter. |
2 mounts=25 lbs per mount. 3 mounts = 17 lbs per mount. No significant difference to a gutter.
Three mounts is for safety factor not for distribution. With two mounts....if the front mount was disturbed and came loose, the rear mount would be torn off a few milliseconds later. Of course if the rear mount was the one that came loose that would be a less exciting failure.
The front mount is the one that could get caught by a tree-branch wedging into the slot above the passenger door (possibly bending / loosening it).
Some people don't drive in the bushes but I do if the campsite demands it. Thanks for bringing this up. As a 2-supporter, I think I'll build a little 'fairing' that bolts to the awning - that would deflect a branch from getting in there. Maybe it can perform a minor amount of support as well (2 1/2 supports). This could be more useful if a 10-footer becomes available.
_________________
'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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dhaavers
Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 7757
Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 4:11 am Post subject: Re: ARB Awning, Making your own NO WELD gutter mount! |
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Newest Samba moniker: "DIY Dave"
_________________
86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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kamzcab86
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 7924
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2016 2:19 pm Post subject: Re: ARB Awning, Making your own NO WELD gutter mount! |
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Nice DIY job, Dave!
| djkeev wrote: |
A third mount.
I totally get the WHY of a third mount. If one should fail, two still hold the unit. |
I don't think it's so much out of a fear of failure, as it distributing the weight more evenly across the gutter.
_________________
~Kamz 
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
 1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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djkeev
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Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32632
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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DwarfVader
Samba Member
Joined: July 28, 2015
Posts: 646
Location: Missoula, MT
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| Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2016 11:59 am Post subject: Re: ARB Awning, Making your own NO WELD gutter mount! |
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| danfromsyr wrote: |
Wow, what a great endorsement.
Dave, some have added a 3rd mount to the space at the back of the sliding door. you know more stays to hold the structure.
also while I know you don't want to go into business, your intention is to demonstrate the DIY economical approach. but some (many actually) don't have the time or space or basic skills other than installation of product.
yours are looking worth everypart more than the $$$ Gowesty and such get for them. maybe like jack bombay hatch lift struts a small batch on occasion can return a reward for your innovation and efforts at a price below regular retail for such an item.
anyways thanks for the informative post.. it's very similiar to the mounts we made to hold the giant 8x12 house awnings on our family fleet of vans |
what he said! I concur in spades!
I need to find someone around here with a garage that owns a westy, and likes beer... I will buy them all the beer just to hang out with them while they work on their rig. (Best way to learn is to watch and do.)
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I'll find my van someday, or it will find me. |
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15144
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2016 11:53 am Post subject: Re: ARB Awning, Making your own NO WELD gutter mount! |
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Wow, what a great endorsement.
Dave, some have added a 3rd mount to the space at the back of the sliding door. you know more stays to hold the structure.
also while I know you don't want to go into business, your intention is to demonstrate the DIY economical approach. but some (many actually) don't have the time or space or basic skills other than installation of product.
yours are looking worth everypart more than the $$$ Gowesty and such get for them. maybe like jack bombay hatch lift struts a small batch on occasion can return a reward for your innovation and efforts at a price below regular retail for such an item.
anyways thanks for the informative post.. it's very similiar to the mounts we made to hold the giant 8x12 house awnings on our family fleet of vans
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| Abscate wrote: |
| These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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Jamo7
Samba Member
Joined: September 25, 2014
Posts: 124
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2016 11:35 am Post subject: Re: ARB Awning, Making your own NO WELD gutter mount! |
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Dave,
Thank you so much for all of the time and detail devoted to this thread. While I plan to sometime soon get an ARB awning, the inspiration I get from this thread makes my day.
I knew I had found the right hobby when I realized how the VW (Turning drivers into mechanics...) Camper Van (the camping self-reliance ethic) combines things I was already passionate about. This thread personifies these ethics.
I have already learned so much by reading and am excited to learn more by doing. Thanks for the inspiration. Go Samba!!!
James
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'84 Westy 2.1 wbx |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32632
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2016 5:46 am Post subject: Re: ARB Awning, Making your own NO WELD gutter mount! |
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I am over my infatuation with a sexy sleeker mount.....
I like these mounts I made, so much so that they are in the Soon to be painted line up.
I have some steel wheels to paint black (Ford F-150 black). I use an epoxy primer and singke stage auto body paint on steel wheels, tough stuff! Easy, Fast, quality, cheap.
I am debating going Black or Savannah Beige Metallic...... (Van color).
I did pick up some sleek button head Allen screws to replace the hex heads I have there now. Not theft proof but does require more than a pair of pliers to grip them.
These will go on before paint.
5/16-18 x 1/2" (8 ) for the fuxed mounting points
5/16-18 x 1 1/2" (4) for gutter clamp
6mm x 1.0 x 16. (6) for awning to mount
If anyone want any 6mm or 5/16-18x1/2" I had to purchase those by the box so I have extras. PM me, I'll slip them into an envelope for you.
Dave
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Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos
Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473
Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537
Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32632
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32632
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 9618
Location: Western WA
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2016 10:04 am Post subject: Re: ARB Awning, Making your own NO WELD gutter mount! |
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Very nice. I set mine as forward as possible to cover more slider door opening. I put (split) fuel hose over the ends where they contact the paint in the gutter and a flattened section below the gutter.
_________________
'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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