How the separate the top from bottom on a 2008 Towlite 24T ?
 

We bought a towlite 24T last year and love the concept and how it can fill our needs. Shortly after the honeymoon with this unit, we realized that it has rail issues and that someone did quite a bit of work dressing it up in a way that it wasn't really apparent to a armature (that would be us).

They must have had an "event" with the awning. The lower L brackets had been really bent up and reshaped back (for sale) somewhat. The rail where the front bracket attaches under the window (and near the cable anchor) is significantly cantilevered out. From many posts I've read here in this forum, I probably have some wood rot issues as well.

In inspecting each of the cable attachment points, it is clear that each "rail" is bowed outward. This if further evidenced by the fact (observation) that the bulb seal meets up nicely at the pulleys, but sags downward as you distance from the pulleys.

My expectation at this point is that a structural reengineering to the rail may be in order. I've read sooo many posts that point to that, and the building of a new 2x3 rail (some notched). I've seen posts that describe how aluminum tubing is combined in ways to create a lifting structure. All fantastic things!

I'm ready to dig in.

I would be so grateful to anyone that can give me instructions on how to separate, raise to a working height, and brace the two halves safely.

Thank you advance for your consideration to my request for information.