lower awning reinforcement
 

We have a 27 ft hilo made in 2006 and one of the lower awning bracket attachment screws is loose and cannot be tightened. I was thinking of drilling through to upper wood plate from the bottom and replacing screws with bolts and a steel plate to reinforce the bracket. Is this feasble, and is there anything in the way of doing this?

Dave and Caryl Kuchler
Apache Junction AZ

On my trailer, I don't think there's any way to get to the top of the wood beam to perform a bolt, plate and nut fix. But I agree this would be the best kind of fix.

If I had this problem, I think I'd try filling the hole with epoxy, or maybe Bondo, then reinserting the lag screw, before it cures. There is a type of Bondo that's designed to adhere to wood, but maybe it would not adhere to the metal of the screw. However, it would mold to the thread pattern and should provide a firm grip.

- Jack

Fix it for reattaching bracket by a HiLo service advisor.
 

Credit goes to Sam Shields for this post. The awning screws go into a strip of wood. If the wood is to damaged to bad for the screws to reatach the bracket. Try bolting the bracket to a flat piece long enough to reach past the bad wood on each side and screw to good wood. I have used this procedure many times and you end up with a working repair that does not look bad. I sugest you paint the metal white so it does not rust. Hope this helps you.

my thought exactly could use alu flat stock and or alu angle /no rust

Lower awning reinforcement
 

Who is Sam Shields?

Beach

"sam", on this forum.

- Jack

Sam Shields
 

He was a service manager of a RV dealeraship that worked on HiLo's. He is from Louisiana.

He is one of the original forum members.

I had same problem on my 1990 and I just ran a larger diameter screw in with screw gun. Still working.

THats surely a great option...I never mentioned it just took for granted he tried it...

Thanks for all the replies. You've been very helpful.

I drilled4holes straight up and opened up small area directly above to access the bolts 1/4 . I inserted from the bottom and tightened the nuts on the top inside the unit .Covered the nuts with a small piece of paneling making the repair almost invisible.I have a 2000 17 ft tow light
Just a note re awning replacement. Hilo awnings are shorter than standard which Camping World found out the hard way !
Don S in GrandRapids MI
T
A