Awning Rail Opening Tool

[Dustydog]

The only one I can find at the moment is from Bailey for £165.00 :woohoo:
I fitted a new awning rail and now need to open the front end to allow entry of the awning.
Does anyone know where I can buy a cheaper version or hire one? Could I get one made up at my local welder?

 

[Hutch]

Here is one DD, https://www.campingandleisure.co.uk/awning-rail-spreader-800041.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjw7Z3VBRC-ARIsAEQifZQLZT7IiRe7s8z9y6qB91HMo8ATX_I8YiNlMyM5Ye60NSe6Zz9Vfe8aAr2YEALw_wcB
If I am correct you want to make an opening to guide in the awning bead. You feed this tool in and then " Waggle " it about until the closed rail gradually open up for the size you want.
Of course practice on an old bit of awning rail first.

 

[Jaydug]

Here is one DD, .

That tool is just to restore the parallel opening in the awning rail after it's been damaged. The open end of the awning rail requires swaging - a gradual widening of the opening. You could possibly make a suitable tool out of a piece of hard wood or brass.

 

[Raywood]

One dealer showed me how to do this with a broad screwdriver, basically you can just push it open but it has to be done carefully. This method will open it out to what it should be if damaged, but not sure about the openings for the awning.

 

[Dustydog]

Hutch, if it was only so easy . The tool you mention only opens up a squashed rail . It will not make the gap for the awning bead.
I like Ray’s idea of the screw driver. Looking at the Bailey £165 kit I cannot understand why what looks so simple is so expensive. I have metalworking friends who could make this for peanuts.
Have I missed something

 

[Hutch]

DD, my thought was use insert the tool into the awning rail , bring it along to the point where you want the opening to be and gradually ease the tool backwards and forward until you slowly open the rail up until the gap is big enough to get the awning bead in.
Found this tool similar to Baileys, https://www.coh-baines.co.uk/products/BART-1-%252d-Caravan-awning-rail-tool.html. you could gently use a pair of pliers to start to open the rail.

 

[Dustydog]

That would do it . Still very expensive. I wonder what the end groove is for. Note the end part is not symmetrical from what I can see.

If I knew the dimensions I have a couple of friends who could make one.

 

[Hutch]

That would do it . Still very expensive. I wonder what the end groove is for. Note the end part is not symmetrical from what I can see.

The grove is to hook onto one side of the open awning rail and gradually prise the rail open. Then do the same to the other side. Once its opened up use a tapered punch to gently pull the edges up to get a smooth and rounded finish.

 

[MichaelE]

I made one out of a metal ruler. I cut 3 equal lengths around 6 cms in length and clamped all 3 pieces together using rivets. The centre piece of ruler was set back 5mm,The outher pieces i filed the edges to round so they didnt dig into the awning rail.The end result made a sort of U shape . I moved it to the area of the awning rail i wanted to widen and placed it over the outer edge of the rail. I used mole grips on it and bend it outwards. It worked a treat.
I can send you a pic?

 

[audiorob]

A bit cat among pigeons - but my rail has an opening for threading towards the front, but I thread my porch awning from the rear of the van where there is no wider section, so necessarily start off at the end of the rail near the ground without trouble!
My only experience of such a task was trying to straighten a small section of the awning skirt rail on a previous van after a child rode into it with his bike wheel - and it was not easy to get a smooth feel or appearance although it still served the purpose! So the specialist tool has a 'bullet' shape to tap through the rail 'nose first' to get a uniform finish.

 

[MichaelE]

A bit cat among pigeons - but my rail has an opening for threading towards the front, but I thread my porch awning from the rear of the van where there is no wider section, so necessarily start off at the end of the rail near the ground without trouble!
My only experience of such a task was trying to straighten a small section of the awning skirt rail on a previous van after a child rode into it with his bike wheel - and it was not easy to get a smooth feel or appearance although it still served the purpose! So the specialist tool has a 'bullet' shape to tap through the rail 'nose first' to get a uniform finish.

You find it easier to kneel down and feed an awning in from the lowest point? With feeding from the from halfway up you have a better straighter feed of awning surely?
Very difficult to feed a caravanstore in from the bottom?

 

[Dustydog]

Well a guys . Making some progress.
The “Official” Bailey price of £165.00 for the tool is an absolute rip off. A sad day for the caravan industry imo.
A welder friend of mine reckons he can make it for peanuts. We know the profile we now know , thanks to you guys, the alternative versions. I will be taking more photos and measurements and if I can afind a piece of crosssection of the rail. I threw my old one-away..
We can then make one for an absolute fraction of The Bailey price.
If anyone still a piece of old rail lying about let me know :cheer:

 

[Thingy]

https://www.coh-baines.co.uk/products/BART-1-%2d-Caravan-awning-rail-tool.html
£41.28 + VAT.

 

[Jaydug]

You don't need to spend any money on fancy tools to open up the end of a rail to allow easy access for the awning cord. A pair of long nose pliers and a few taps with a hammer and a file will do the job. I had a gash piece of awning rail in the garage and ten minutes later I had it done. See the photo

 

[Gafferbill]

.........10 minutes John?
You need a bigger hammer

 

[Jaydug]

....
You need a bigger hammer

Did you send that rude remark all the way from Torrox?... :cheer:

 

[bertieboy1]

You don't need a special tool for this,use pliers or pipe grips - works for me.

 

[AlexandriaUK]

Just a random thought, get a ball bearing that is the diameter of your awning rope, not what it's called but put the bearing in and tap it along all the way

 

[Jaydug]

get a ball bearing that is the diameter of your awning rope and tap it along

You wouldn't need to tap it. It would roll along freely. The awning cord is a comparatively loose fit in the channel. Back to the drawing board..

 

[AlexandriaUK]

So tell me please why are we looking for a way to open it further, I'm confused, the poster cannot get the initial part open yes, so use the ball bearing at that end

 

[Jaydug]

So tell me please why are we looking for a way to open it further,

It's only the end which is being flared to make it easy for the cord to be entered. Rather like using a funnel to pour liquid into a bottle.

 

[AlexandriaUK]

I see, I have never had a problem sliding it in maybe it's because yours is brand new, WD 40 or Mr Sheen is what I us every time, I hope you manage to find something that solves your problem happy caravaning

 

[Dustydog]

I see, I have never had a problem sliding it in maybe it's because yours is brand new, WD 40 or Mr Sheen is what I us every time, I hope you manage to find something that solves your problem happy caravaning

New replacement awning rails are supplied without the circa 50mm flailed openings at roughly waste level which allow entry of the awning into the rail. The openings are not at the rail ends. Hence the need for a special tool.