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Topic ClosedGreasing the Grooves
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pmjensen View Drop Down
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Posts: 179 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Greasing the Grooves
    Posted: 30 Jun 2011 at 9:54am
Mountain Mist, I don't want to make you feel bad, but I put ours up by myself last weekend, without any problems.  It may go up so easy since we have put it up almost every time we go camping. (About every other weekend.)

Happy Podding
2011 R-176 Nuestro Pod
2014 Silverado
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HuronSailor View Drop Down
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Posts: 704 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jun 2011 at 10:42am
Originally posted by mountain mist

I either do not have the needed pressure to get the screws to tighten (and still concerned with slipping and gouging) or they need the power drill to tighten them down. 

Don't use a power drill to tighten them down, hand power should be more than adequate. With a power drill it's too easy to overtighten them and strip the hole out. You may need to remove the screw, and "countersink" the screw hole a bit in the aluminum channel to give the screw head more room. You can use an actual countersink for this, or a drill bit the same diameter or slightly larger than the screw head. If you use a drill bit, just go very slowly, apply light pressure, and only drill down a tiny bit. If you press too hard or go too fast, the drill will end up going all the way through the aluminum channel before you can blink an eye.

Someone else mentioned cutting a taper on the ends of the plastic awning rope that goes through the aluminum channel. It's easy to do with a pair of scissors, and makes a big difference.
.: Mark & Beth :: Silverado 5.3L :: 2018 rPod 180 :.
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TIDALWAVE View Drop Down
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Posts: 315 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jun 2011 at 11:06am
If you countersink the screws, don't forget to put a dab of waterproof sealant into the hole or on the screw.  If not, you are allowing water to possibly migrate into the Pod's structure.
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Snowbound View Drop Down
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Posts: 270 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jun 2011 at 12:28pm
With or without your dome, I'm glad to hear you are finally getting out camping, Mountain Mist.
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Tom and Bette
in our 177 "The Gastropod"
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mountain mist View Drop Down
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Posts: 426 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jun 2011 at 7:22pm
Still struggling with getting the awning through the c channel.  I trimmed the ends, put silicone spray in the channel (again) and get it in about 10 inches before it hits a screw head, tugging just does not get it.
The husband did some hand tighting and said that some of the screws were just turning loosely in the holes and of course others have those rounded heads in the way. Why was flat head screws not used for thisOuch
I have been the last several hours sitting on my deck , trimming the entire runner on the awning with a box cutter. Tomorrow is another day,will get out and see if that works at all. Glad I started working on it here at home instead of first time at the campground.
Short of taking it to my dealer and having them replace the screws, I just may put an umbrella over my head and call it an awningSleepy
 
 
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pmjensen View Drop Down
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Posts: 179 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Jul 2011 at 9:39am
Sorry for your problems.  As you well know, it seems until recently this has been an ongoing issue.  I hope you can get yours working.  It really is worth the effort.

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techntrek View Drop Down
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Posts: 9059 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Jul 2011 at 10:13am
One option for a screw head or two that won't go in further, would be to shave off the top using a Dremel and a sanding disk.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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mountain mist View Drop Down
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Posts: 426 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Jul 2011 at 4:14pm
Well, I have been shaving. Shaving the rubber runner on the awning. It works, so far as I have shaved. Then I rub some of the silicone spray on it.
As for shaving the screw head, I am challanged in that department. I would be afraid I would take it right down to the groove to screw it in. Don't know if that makes sense.
I plan to keep whittling away, then it should work.
 
And , No, I had not realized this had been an ongoing issue, but there are so many things to have issue with in the construction of these or any other RV unit.
 
pmjensen: As far as I can get it to slide in, it will be not so hard if I get it all sliding in. I am sure I would be able to put it up myself (and will have to since I will be camping alone, thus need to know how to do things for myself). Pod just has the flaw, and I am working to correct
 
The campgrounds here in G'burg are full to running over. Park ones too. With less to spend, looks like camping has grown fat. Makes a nice holiday for a lot of people, for me, I am holing up in my house!
'11 Forest River r.pod 171
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change here, Trudi has gone, Austin now has a small black schnauzer buddy, Bentley
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Tri-Pod View Drop Down
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Posts: 112 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Jul 2011 at 8:29pm
When I first read how to do this I was scared I would screw something up, but after you do two or three you get the hang of it. I didn't use my Drimel tool, but just used very fine sand paper to take the rust off of the screw heads, then counter sunk the whole with a larger drill bit , added a drop of silicone and hand screwed the scews back in. Ours goes on so smooth now. Try a couple and get the hang of it. Clark
2010 PR 176 sold 2012 replaced with
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mountain mist View Drop Down
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Posts: 426 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jul 2011 at 9:36pm
FINALLY, I can put the awning in the channel myself.StarLOL
 
I reinforced the corners with some of the material that I had requested, then put grommets into them.
Then I got a length of rope to put through the grommet on the leading edge, get up on my small ladder at the back side of the Pod and PULL. Slides right in. When I need to pull it out I thread the rope in the opposite side and Pull. Slides right out.
 
Best ideas come just before I go to sleepSleepy
'11 Forest River r.pod 171
'10 Ford Edge
ESCAPE POD
Trudi and Austin mini-schnauzers
change here, Trudi has gone, Austin now has a small black schnauzer buddy, Bentley
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