Awning fitting

[Rick456]

Hi, I have a 2004 3L Alphard with pop top. There is a covered slot down each side of the roof, which I assume can fit an awning attachment? What sort of attachment fits into those slots? It looks like it is a single slot filler the whole length of the roof - how does that work if my awning only has about a 5ft bead to attach?

Many thanks

Rick 

[Rojie]

12 minutes ago, Rick456 said:

Hi, I have a 2004 3L Alphard with pop top. There is a covered slot down each side of the roof, which I assume can fit an awning attachment? What sort of attachment fits into those slots? It looks like it is a single slot filler the whole length of the roof - how does that work if my awning only has about a 5ft bead to attach?

Many thanks

Rick 

 

Hi Rick,

 

Welcome to the Forum.

[ThuMentaliss]

I believe your talking about the alphard roof rack channels, unfortunately there is no (current) production of awning brackets available from Fiamma and Thule that fit into these channels I would be very suprised if they were to come into production when one consider's that Alphard is an old vehicle and does not have the following of the likes of VW.    I have made up several patterns of roof fixing brackets but without the main awning Manufacture's assistance as to which model awning would fit onto the roof is a no, no ,  the only recommendation I can make is to contact Northstar conversions (Isle of Wight) who can make up side mounting brackets that allows wind-out awnings to fit with their pop-top roofs.

[Rick456]

Hi Larry, thanks for responding. I am told Autovan in Wimborne, Dorset can attach some sort of fitting which gives you  C connector you can slide the tent awning into. I think it is a permanent fixing once it is on though, and doesn't use the existing slot. I'll update once I have spoken to them. 

thanks

Rick 

[Arthur]

Hi. I think you will probably struggle with the available space to fit an awning rail due to the pop top mechanism. I have had a rail bonded to my 2007 Alphie as I didn't want holes drilling in the roof. It was relatively easy to remove the black plastic strip covering the drainage gulley but the awning rail didn’t fit well in the gulley so it’s been attached to the roof between pop top and gulley. The rail is hidden under the pop top when the roof is down and therefore has minimum exposure to the elements. If you particularly want a windout awning there are a number of postings on the forum dealing with the subject - check out Pritch who has had experience of fitting both rail and windout awnings to his Campard.

[ThuMentaliss]

6 hours ago, Rick456 said:

Hi Larry, thanks for responding. I am told Autovan in Wimborne, Dorset can attach some sort of fitting which gives you  C connector you can slide the tent awning into. I think it is a permanent fixing once it is on though, and doesn't use the existing slot. I'll update once I have spoken to them. 

thanks

Rick 

Sorry Rich, Im confused as to what you want  do you intend to use this fixing for a drive away Awning tent....As I said previously those channel's are for the alphard fitting of their roof rack bracket's not wind-out awnings or keder fixing rails  but of course you can fit Keder type rail's into these channels providing the rail base width are under 16.7 mm (channel width of the bottom of the rail) or you can just use the drive away awning tunnel straps, or KAMPA'S magnetic fixing strip all these systems have been around for several years you dont need to go to a specialist to fit these different types of fixing,   I have made up two such fittings to work within these channels mainly for the use of drive away awnings tent's tunnel system to join the tent to the alphard

[ThuMentaliss]

2 minutes ago, ThuMentaliss said:

Sorry Rich, Im confused as to what you want  do you intend to use this fixing for a drive away Awning tent....As I said previously those channel's are for the alphard fitting of their roof rack bracket's not wind-out awnings or keder fixing rails  but of course you can fit Keder type rail's into these channels providing the rail base width are under 16.7 mm (channel width of the bottom of the rail) or you can just use the drive away awning tunnel straps, or KAMPA'S magnetic fixing strip all these systems have been around for several years you dont need to go to a specialist to fit these different types of fixing,   I have made up two such fittings to work within these channels mainly for the use of drive away awnings tent's tunnel system to join the tent to the alphard

Click to enlarge

Awning Rail SMALL 1m, 2m & 3m Lengths

Ref EXTAWNALU

£6.90 £5.75 ex VAT

[Rick456]

OK thanks Arthur, I'll see if this is what Autovan do. Did you do it yourself or get it done by an expert?

Always long lead times to get these things done.

 

I did see a solution on here using magnets to trap the awning to the roof, which I might try until I can get something similar to yours done. 

[Arthur]

I went to HL Campers in Aintree, Liverpool to have the rail fitted. Took about an hour but a lot of that time was spent trying out various positions and rail sizes until I was happy with the overall appearance. It wasn’t particularly difficult to do but I preferred to have someone who had done the job a few times before rather than me spreading glue all over the roof and not achieving a firm fix. I had a look at the magnetic fastenings but there was insufficient roof space with the pop top mechanisms to allow for the magnets to attach properly - hence the bonding fix. I’m sure most local camper outfitters will be able to do the job for you relatively cheaply.