Lazy Daze Owners' Group

Securing Fiamma Awning (Bypass thumb screws)

July 28, 2019, 11:49:47 am

The recent post about tracking winds (great link, Colddog) reminded me of a recent hack I made to the Fiamma awning.  Short backstory is that the thumb screws used to secure the Fiamma awning arms in the deployed mode often failed in moderate breeze (or, even more irritating, when I am not looking and knock my head against one) and allowed one or both arms to come sliding down. 

Rather than replace the thumbies, I decided to go a more secure route using safety pins to hold the arms in place.   I drilled 1/4" holes through each arm -- two strategic holes per arm to allow two different lift positions -- and secure with 1/4" safety pins.  Now, I only use the thumbies if I want to deploy to a position not drilled for pins.  On my drill press, I drilled 90 degree perpendicular 1/4" holes in a guide block so that I could clamp the block in place on the awning arm to drill a perpendicular hole through both pieces of each arm slider.   I am very pleased with the results, and I no longer worry about awning collapse in moderate winds.  Here are a few pix.

Re: Securing Fiamma Awning (Bypass thumb screws)

Reply #2 – July 29, 2019, 09:33:59 am

Ah!  You're right!  I've created a monster.  Actually, I was never concerned about the bang to the head, just the slipping away of the arms.   My old, empty  head can take it. .  .

Re: Securing Fiamma Awning (Bypass thumb screws)

Reply #4 – July 29, 2019, 11:25:16 am

Ray,

First of all...great job and nice choice of LD’s. 😏 Second, yeah, I’ve had our RB awing come sliding in while inside the coach. Quite shocking.

My solution was to tighten the thumb screws sequentially working my way through the process a few times from one leg to the other always making certain the center leg gets good and tight. So far so good. 

I’ve banged my head once or twice on the outside legs but have learned to walk around or duck most of the time. I do, however, count on banging my head at least once a trip on the cabinet above the forward dinette seat. Happens every time. Now it’s a “rights of passage” or “toll” that I pay for the privilege of owning the LD.

Then there’s the custom cushion I put around the Back Up Monitor. That one’s perfect to protect the “noodle” of a passenger when they slip back into the coach from the cab. Ouch!

Water noodles are handy. I slipped one on the leg of the dinette and pulled a sock over it to hide the bright blue noodle. Got tired of splitting my toes open while passing the table. I also use the insulated water pipe tube in my driveway at the corner of my home. This helps to protect the coach door when I pull the rig in a bit too close to the house.

After a few hiccups, bruises and surprises, I believe many of us have leaned how to “idiot proof” our wonderful LDs.

Now it’s less about duck and take cover and more about “hitting” the open road. 😉

Kent