Awning rail

[KugaJohn]

I have a 1998 Elddis Hurricane GTX which I have had for about 15 months. Following the very wet summer of 08 and the coldest winter for many years I fear that the frost has lifted the rail a little in places.

Do any of you more experienced caravanners have any advice on re-sealing the rails? I intend to use the older style mastic sealant, not Silkoflex, and I wonder about the following;

1, best way to remove rails

2, best tools for cleanig rail and van of old sealant, and lastly

3, Is it better to apply the new sealant to the rail or the van?

I appreciate the need to check for damp ingress and security of screw hole when the areas are exposed.

All tips welcome please.

Thanks.

 

[Peter_374350880]

Hi John

I had similar damp issues on my 96 Avondale last year, I thought the service guy had dropped his tester in a bucket of water rather than used a probe on my walls!! 100% damp reading not good!!

Basically removing the rail is simple enough you just have to remove rather a lot of screws. Hopefully Eldiss will have had the sense to use stainless screws rather than the mild steel screws my Avondale had. If yours is like mine be prepared to have to drill or grind the heads off some of them. Gently prise the rail off the van trying not to twist or bend it, best to have two pairs of hands if you can. Clean off all the old sealant with white spirit till spotless (you dont want to do this job twice!!) then wash spirit residue off with meths. I used a plastic scraper myself you could use something metal but what happens when you slip?. ALWAYS use new stainless screws when you put it back. I get mine from Screwfix and they are only a little more expensive than mild steel.I did a bit of belt and braces on mine, I used both roll mastic and liquid sealant to be 100% sure. I applied it to the rail then put all the screws through the mastic then offered it up (4 hands or more again!) screwing the screws in one by one till they were all in then tightened them all down with a cordless screwdriver. You might find that the screws are a bit difficult to get throughthe mastic, I found dipping them in white spirit allowed them to make a hole easier. GOOD LUCK!!

 

[KugaJohn]

Thanks Peter.

I'll take all that on board when I do the work. What I really need now is an indication that the weather will be dry for a few days and nights.

Thanks again.