Awning rail kit

[Gazza]

I used 3, front, middle and back.

You could also stick one vertically so that the awning is fastened to the front door if you thought it would help.

When you get your magnets, just use as many or as few as you need. Beauty about these are they're flexible.

 

[Gazza]

Hi Syl

 

Here's an idea for you. If you have a sewing machine, then why not get some fabric and make a pocket for the magnets to slot into? We did this and made them about four inches longer than the magnet, so that it made it easier to pry the magnets off the van. You'll find that once these magnest are on, they are hard to remove, which is great when the wind is strong or the awning is under stress.

 

Hope this helps.

[SYL]

36 minutes ago, Gazza said:

Hi Syl

 

Here's an idea for you. If you have a sewing machine, then why not get some fabric and make a pocket for the magnets to slot into? We did this and made them about four inches longer than the magnet, so that it made it easier to pry the magnets off the van. You'll find that once these magnest are on, they are hard to remove, which is great when the wind is strong or the awning is under stress.

 

Hope this helps.

Hiya Gazza,

 

Magnets arrived yesterday and today after work I will be getting my machine out and sewing them into the awning rail thing. Me and hubby tried them last night and omg 😲 it works! Ordered another smaller magnet which will arrive today to go on the curved part of the roof. I do believe it will work. I will try to document it and post it on here to help other members. Thanks for the tip on leaving room to manovre the Magnets so you can get them off the roof!

 

Cheers Gazza 

[Gazza]

Hy Syl

Awesome, so glad it works for you.

 

[Charlie Brown]

Hello. I followed this topic with keen interest as I also did not want to have anything permanently fitted. I bought several of the Parkside magnets. They really do work. Our awning was up in a filthy storm last weekend and the magnetic rail on the roof did not move at all.

 

One mod I have done is to cut some slots in one of the magnetic bars and bend it slightly to follow the curvature of the roof at the front, see picture attached. It now sits firmly on the roof along its whole length. I think I might curve one for the rear, as it doesn't quite sit flat.

 

I do love this forum for the ideas you get. Thanks All.

[Gavins]

I retrofitted C rail to van, I screwed the rail onto the plastic water gutter and used a bit of duck tape for security. Please note that because of the dimensions of our rock roll roof the C rail conveniently is hidden behindroof when closed. Admit may not stand up to gale force winds but dont  intend being out in those conditions

 

[kazarp]

We have a calfornia Coast Air beam awning for our alphard and we bought the corresponding magnetic roof strip that is solid. We just peel it off, drive away and when we get back we back in and reattach the magnet strip.

[mm123]

On 7/6/2023 at 10:45 AM, SYL said:

Hiya Gazza,

 

Magnets arrived yesterday and today after work I will be getting my machine out and sewing them into the awning rail thing. Me and hubby tried them last night and omg 😲 it works! Ordered another smaller magnet which will arrive today to go on the curved part of the roof. I do believe it will work. I will try to document it and post it on here to help other members. Thanks for the tip on leaving room to manovre the Magnets so you can get them off the roof!

 

Cheers Gazza 

Hi Syl/Gazza, how did you get on  with the awning/magnets? Do you think it w could hold  a sun canopy?

[Neil H]

I have an Alphard conversion with a poptop.  I have bought 'stick on' rail to attach to the van roof for the awning together with a drive away strip.   Where is the best position to stick the rail to the van?

I need about 2.2 meters of rail to attach to, thus the length I need would fit on the roof just inside the foot print of the pop top and thus be hidden when the top is down, it would fit on the roof alongside the poptop and be visible all of the time or I might remove the back strip that covers the gutter on the roof and stick the rail in the gutter.

 

Any thoughts?  

 

Thanks

Neil