Yet another problem!

Jul 18, 2017
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We recently collected our caravan from the dealership after they had done a damp repair under warranty to the front offside battery locker. This also involved replacing the offside awning rail. When we collected it, it was raining so unable to fit the front towing cover for the return journey.

On Wednesday we went to the storage to collect the caravan for the long weekend and to fit the towing cover. It was then discovered that the gap to fit the beading for the towing cover was too narrow and we could not get the beading into the awning rail so were unable to fit the towing cover. I asked the AWS technician at the storage compound if it could widen it slightly. He advised he was reluctant to do this as more than likely the paint would crack. We had to travel without the towing cover in place.

If it was the awning rail on the nearside we would have been unable to fit the porch awning unless we used the rear awning rail which is what we would have done if desperate. However it is impractical for us to use the rear rail to fit a front towing cover.

Can we assume that resolving the issue will be covered under warranty and if they do crack the paint when widening the gap, it is their responsibility to make it right as at the moment it is not fit for purpose?
 
Jun 20, 2005
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OMG! Have you broken a mirror😜
Tell the dealer. CRA applies to repairs too. The specialist tool for increasing the rail gap is very simple but expensive. Hand made because not many are sold each year. Will the Dealer send an engineer to your storage? Widening the gap will take him ten seconds with the correct tool. It shouldn’t cause damage but in your case I suspect the paint may have been applied after the initial widening
 
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Nov 11, 2009
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When the dealership replaced my rear panel they omitted to put the wider opening that allows an awning to be slotted in. Fortunately they had done it on the nearside so as the omission was only on the offside I waited a month until I had to take the caravan back to have its failed axle replaced.

Oh the joys of caravanning

Yours is more important given you can’t fit the towing mirror. I shouldn’t even think CRA 2015 need enter the discussion as a responsible dealer will put it right. But whether they will reimburse fuel costs will be interesting. Good luck on yet another issue.
 
Jul 18, 2017
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When the dealership replaced my rear panel they omitted to put the wider opening that allows an awning to be slotted in. Fortunately they had done it on the nearside so as the omission was only on the offside I waited a month until I had to take the caravan back to have its failed axle replaced.

Oh the joys of caravanning

Yours is more important given you can’t fit the towing mirror. I shouldn’t even think CRA 2015 need enter the discussion as a responsible dealer will put it right. But whether they will reimburse fuel costs will be interesting. Good luck on yet another issue.

Not sure why you think I need to fit a towing mirror to a caravan? Wed cannot fit the Specialised towing cover as cannot get the beading into the gap. DD's remark was regarding our run of bad luck has something to do with breaking a mirror. :D
 
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Nov 11, 2009
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Not sure why you think I need to fit a towing mirror to a caravan? Wed cannot fit the Specialised towing cover as cannot get the beading into the gap. DD's remark was regarding our run of bad luck has something to do with breaking a mirror. :D
Oops I got brain hacked by Dusty post. Should be cover.
 
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Jun 20, 2005
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Now you know why only Dealers and some engineers have this tool.
488988E2-2886-41DC-8C90-277C66C4B39F.jpeg


Awning Rail Opening Tool
Product code: LPX626



£93.29
£111.95 (inc. VAT)
 
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From new, my van has not had wider access points at all. But the start and end of both rails is widened to allow access. This has worked, but not as easy, particularly with a large Fiamma.

I recently had the nearside rail replaced. I asked if the would add an access point. That was no problem and no extra charge. With the right tool it should be a quick job. I have done it in the past with a bolster chisel.

John
 
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Nov 11, 2009
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It may be £111.95, but will it prevent the paint from cracking as that is our concern.
Difficult to say but when my rail had to be opened up I did not notice any paint deterioration in the remaining 2 years I owned it. And I think I would have noticed it when cleaning the caravan. Considering that it’s not an uncommon procedure I would have expected to read if problems on caravan forums. If the dealer does the job you are at least safeguarded against future deterioration in the vicinity. After all if they had done the rail properly in the first instance would you have had these concerns?
 
Jun 20, 2005
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Is your awning rail bare aluminium or painted white?
My AWS engineer opened my new rail up with the above tool five years ago. As I said , takes 10 seconds or less. The painted panel to which the rail is attached should not be damaged. The tool is a very clever design which avoids putting stresses where they shouldn't be.
 
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JTQ

May 7, 2005
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Is it the rail is too small, or locally it has not a beading entry exit widening point?
[I can also enter my beaded awning etc from the end of the rail, though a tiresome way.]

If just the entry point, then any paint cracking, grazing etc ought to be quite nicely repaired with a dab of touchup paint.
If the whole rail needs the gap eased, then knocking through an expander "bullet" tool is very likely to leave a mess, IMO.
 
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Jul 18, 2017
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It is the entry point for the beading that is too small and the beading will not go into the rail. Even tried using silicone spray, but to no avail as gap is too narrow!
 

JTQ

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It is the entry point for the beading that is too small and the beading will not go into the rail. Even tried using silicone spray, but to no avail as gap is too narrow!

Thanks for the clarification.
Therefore, any paint cracking damage is surely going to be very confined, and IMO well resolved with a couple of dabs of touch up paint?
 
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An awning rail which does not accept an awning is not fit for purpose.

Was it a new rail? With mine they replaced the old one, but then a Lunar rail will probably not be available. But no doubt yours will.

John
 
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An awning rail which does not accept an awning is not fit for purpose.

Was it a new rail? With mine they replaced the old one, but then a Lunar rail will probably not be available. But no doubt yours will.

John
It was a brand new rail fitted when they did the warranty work.
 
Mar 14, 2005
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Can we assume that resolving the issue will be covered under warranty and if they do crack the paint when widening the gap, it is their responsibility to make it right as at the moment it is not fit for purpose?

You don't need to assume anything, just ask the companies involved and see what their response is before making another mountain out of a molehill.
 
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Some years ago a dealer showed me how to do this with a large screwdriver. very simple twisting motion but the specialist tool is probably safer.
Not sure how far away the dealer is but if he repaired the caravan and missed this point then he should be required to put it right but the cost of going back might be too large to justify it.
 
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Some years ago a dealer showed me how to do this with a large screwdriver. very simple twisting motion but the specialist tool is probably safer.
Not sure how far away the dealer is but if he repaired the caravan and missed this point then he should be required to put it right but the cost of going back might be too large to justify it.
By chance at the end of the month we are booked into a site about a mile away from the dealer so will get it done then.
If you look at the top picture you can hardly see the opening gap however the opening higher up is very obvious and wider. Unfortunately cannot use the one higher up for a Specialised front towing cover.
Awning rail issue.jpg

Awning rail issue1.jpg
 
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IMHO. With the tool and 2 mins, that is easily opened up. If the paint cracks then they will need to correct that. Unfortunate but not a big job. It really depends on whether the dealer want to do a proper job, fit for purpose, or a bodge.

As I said above. Mine was recently opened up in a painted rail. No cracking. And that was in an up opened rail.

John
 
Jul 18, 2017
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IMHO. With the tool and 2 mins, that is easily opened up. If the paint cracks then they will need to correct that. Unfortunate but not a big job. It really depends on whether the dealer want to do a proper job, fit for purpose, or a bodge.

As I said above. Mine was recently opened up in a painted rail. No cracking. And that was in an up opened rail.

John
I appreciate it is a very simple job, however it makes you wonder why the rail never had the proper opening gap in the first place.
Sadly I am unable to try it myself and the AWS technician did not want to try it in case of the paint cracking. Apparently sometimes the paint cracks and other times it does not.
 
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