Alert Girard Awning Mounts WRONG!!

[CaptainGizmo]

I am not sure if this is realted to bending / twisting of the housing, but my front awning makes a lot of screeching and moaning sounds as it moves in and out. The back one does not make near the sounds as the front does. Is this a maintenance issue, or sign of stress?

Ronnie,

PERFECTLY NORMAL!! We addressed this at Girard and the tech showed me where to lube the rails.

The squeaking is caused by build up of dirt and will cause that creaking/binding sound. Clean or wash the rails and glides. Then, using a dry silicone spray, give the rails some love, as well as the knuckles.

Should be nice and quiet after that.

 

[redbaron]

@MapNerd and @CaptainGizmo - Thank you for confirming my original suspicions. Prior to @CaptainGizmo posting about the issues with the awning, I was sure this was nothing more than maintenance. After his posts, I started to worry that this was a bent up awning ready to just fall apart!

Back to worrying about something else.

 

[Neal]

I do believe the VTDP awning is different from the DSDP and above and may weigh less and therefore have less moment arm / stress on the mounts.

 

[J&JD]

Ronnie,

PERFECTLY NORMAL!! We addressed this at Girard and the tech showed me where to lube the rails.

The squeaking is caused by build up of dirt and will cause that creaking/binding sound. Clean or wash the rails and glides. Then, using a dry silicone spray, give the rails some love, as well as the knuckles.

Should be nice and quiet after that.

I would definitely go with the dry silicone or dry Teflon spray. WD40 even wiped down would just attract dirt and quickly make matters worse.

 

[MapNerd]

I do believe the VTDP awning is different from the DSDP and above and may weigh less and therefore have less moment arm / stress on the mounts.

As far as I know, they are not. Girard Novas are Girard Novas. Different length coaches have different length awnings, but two coaches of the same length, regardless of Newmar model with Girard novas get the same awning.

 

[Neal]

As far as I know, they are not. Girard Novas are Girard Novas. Different length coaches have different length awnings, but two coaches of the same length, regardless of Newmar with Girard novas get the same awning.

Okay, I must have seen a Ventana without the Nova option as the girard awning just went out without the bend down, looked like my 2017 awning but roof integrated.

 

[MapNerd]

Okay, I must have seen a Ventana without the Nova option as the girard awning just went out without the bend down, looked like my 2017 awning but roof integrated.

That would have been interesting to to see. Going straight out like that, I imagine you’d need some serious structure to support it and keep light winds from destroying it.

 

[redbaron]

That would have been interesting to to see. Going straight out like that, I imagine you’d need some serious structure to support it and keep light winds from destroying it.

And that is the cheap option.

 

[CaptainGizmo]

STATUS UPDATE from NEWMAR on WED, SEPT. 9 @ 0800 PST:

My contact at Newmar just answered a couple questions/concerns regarding the testing and parts availability.

I had asked, "even though I trust engineering, why isn't aluminum plate wasn't secured at the top to give even more support to the awning?"

His answer was, "Engineering has been heavily involved with the design of the bracket support and they feel confident in the design that they have."​

I asked if the parts would be ready in time for my local servicing on Monday?

His answer was, "We are still waiting on some of the parts to come in. They have been putting pressure on the vendor but unfortunately we only had a couple of sets of prototypes. I will pass along more information once we have it. As of right now, I do not believe the parts will be in for your appointment.​

​

We will also want to put together work instructions so that we can send those out with the brackets and have them available for the Newmar and non-Newmar service centers. Those are in the process as well."​

That's all I got!

 

[MapNerd]

STATUS UPDATE from NEWMAR on WED, SEPT. 9 @ 0800 PST:

My contact at Newmar just answered a couple questions/concerns regarding the testing and parts availability.

I had asked, "even though I trust engineering, why isn't aluminum plate wasn't secured at the top to give even more support to the awning?"

His answer was, "Engineering has been heavily involved with the design of the bracket support and they feel confident in the design that they have."​

I asked if the parts would be ready in time for my local servicing on Monday?

His answer was, "We are still waiting on some of the parts to come in. They have been putting pressure on the vendor but unfortunately we only had a couple of sets of prototypes. I will pass along more information once we have it. As of right now, I do not believe the parts will be in for your appointment.​

​

We will also want to put together work instructions so that we can send those out with the brackets and have them available for the Newmar and non-Newmar service centers. Those are in the process as well."​

That's all I got!

Strange. It’s a steel C-channel and custom bracket. I guess I just assumed Newmar had a CNC or Laser cutting machine and cut the brackets from that. The C-channel could be cut to length by any well equipped metal fabricator.

 

[redbaron]

Strange. It’s a steel C-channel and custom bracket. I guess I just assumed Newmar had a CNC or Laser cutting machine and cut the brackets from that. The C-channel could be cut to length by any well equipped metal fabricator.

Newmar factory/service center has the raw materials there for custom fabrication, but not CNC or laser cutting. They use the typical saw/grinder method to cut the raw materials, and send it off to the paint shop to get sanded and painted. They will only do this for parts that the tech measures and cuts himself. Going to the factory, you get a custom, one-off fix.

The parts being shipped to dealers will go thru the entire product development life cycle. Engineering will use CAD to design it, and a vendor will supply it with mounting holes cut, and powder coating applied. They will be laser cut, mass produced, and all the same. At that time a part number will be generated, and distribution can begin.

We saw the same thing with the sanicon fix. The service department developed them and made the brackets. They tried to get a part number assigned, but engineering decided to change the entire setup and get rid of the sanicon 500/600. In doing that, they also made the decision that owners with the incorrect sanicon bracket where unable to get one made unless they scheduled a factory visit. No dealer was able to order the bracket, and my attempt to order direct from service also failed. I was there when @ARD had hers custom made, but I didn't want to add an extra week to have one custom made.

This issue is structural, and will be handled different than sanicon. Engineering will have to complete the PD phase and create a part number.

 

[scfarley51]

We have a 2019 DS 4369. We learned about the issue from another owner and brought it to the attention of the service rep at the factory last week (we were there for other things). They took care of it in a few days using the example previously shown. Good way to do it and no new holes in the roof.

 

[CaptainGizmo]

We have a 2019 DS 4369. We learned about the issue from another owner and brought it to the attention of the service rep at the factory last week (we were there for other things). They took care of it in a few days using the example previously shown. Good way to do it and no new holes in the roof.

The other person was John @MapNerd, who learned about it here. Apparently, you two got the only prototypes available...congrats!

As the person who rode point for this issue, I'm certainly hoping to get parts as soon as they're made.

 

[MapNerd]

The other person was John @MapNerd, who learned about it here. Apparently, you two got the only prototypes available...congrats!

As the person who rode point for this issue, I'm certainly hoping to get parts as soon as they're made.

Consider us beta testers for the production solution. Putting our awnings on the line...or c-channel rather, to prove it out before risking the wrath of @CaptainGizmo.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

I would definitely go with the dry silicone or dry Teflon spray. WD40 even wiped down would just attract dirt and quickly make matters worse.

I used to use graphite, now Teflon only, unless I am using WD40 to clean something that soap and water won't clean. The Teflon is amazing.

 

[scfarley51]

As mentioned in a previous post we were able to get the awning issue resolved during our scheduled service visit earlier this month. I attached some pictures of the work. Looks like a good design and has the strength to support the awning.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

As the person who rode point for this issue, I'm certainly hoping to get parts as soon as they're made.

IME, the "point man" is the first to take fire and the last to see a medic!

TJ

 

[CaptainGizmo]

IME, the "point man" is the first to take fire and the last to see a medic!

TJ

LOL TJ...well, I'm still bleeding on this one!!

 

[CaptainGizmo]

As mentioned in a previous post we were able to get the awning issue resolved during our scheduled service visit earlier this month. I attached some pictures of the work. Looks like a good design and has the strength to support the awning.

Thanks for posting some good pics of the fix.

I'm still in "conversation" with Newmar on this Repair Kit. They are working on the "Documentation" for service centers to make the retrofit. At this point, I still do not have the EXACT components that will be in the "final" version of the repair kit. The main example is that middle aluminum backing plate may not be needed.

 

[FLSteve]

I had the samething happen to my 2018 DSDP. I brought to Newmar attention in March 2020, and this it the reply I got back from them. At the time I had 3 bolts that did not grab into anything. I asked if that made changes to newer models to have a thinker backer material since the bolts only went into the fiberglass and about 1/4" plywood. I ended up putting a larger lag bolts.

Newmar runs an aluminum backer plate under the roof material the complete length of the coach to help hold the lag bolts for the brackets. Most likely what has happened with your coach (I think the picture you sent confirms this), is that the installer obviously missed the backer during install. Rather than following the previous directions you were given, I would recommend that you add a lag a few inches closer to the edge of the coach in order to reach the intended backer.

@flarider ... my brackets are located in the proper places, but I do have two (2) edge bolts that do not appear to grip anything like yours did. I am thinking about drilling new holes about 1" closer to the edge of the coach like Newmar indicated to you. Did you just use larger bolts in the current holes or did you drill new holes? Do you have any pictures of what you did?

FLSteve