WIND OUT AWNING STOLEN

[busbuddy]

I've seen quite a few awnings fitted without the brackets, my last german van had the omnistor awning (fitted in germany) bolted straight through the wall.......total PITA to get off the van

 

[TheBig1]

The theft of vehicle parts is indeed a big industry and nothing new at all. See the multitude of reports of stolen wheels and catalytic converters. Or as widely reported on this forum a few years back, the theft in a supermarket car park of the front bumper, grille and headlights from a motorhome, carried out by a gang of thieves in broad daylight

Put on a high viz jacket and nobody suspects anything if you are apparently fixing a vehicle in broad daylight

 

[TONCAZ]

They must have got inside it as the bolts are there.
As it has been so long now since last use have you looked on the other side of it, just to be sure, as the memory fades over time

This awning has three HD plates that bolt through the MOHO, then the awning hooks onto plates then secured by three bolts through the bottom, so easy removed.

 

[BILL 875]

I have no awning and do not want one if i need shade i will go to a bar.

 

[Richard n Ann]

They aren't self tappers, they are 15mm M5 bolts with a nylock nut.

So you have to wind the awning out a bit to get a socket on the nut.

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[Richard n Ann]

So a straight swap for these maybe unless Mr thieving bugger has a full torx tool kit..

 

[Richard n Ann]

With these on top it's never coming off it would have to be unbolted from the van

 

[Gents]

With these on top it's never coming off it would have to be unbolted from the van

View attachment 452016

so who actually is the seller, or am I being thick?

 

[Richard n Ann]

so who actually is the seller, or am I being thick?

It's just an ebay listing

 

[Northernraider]

They aren't self tappers, they are 15mm M5 bolts with a nylock nut.

View attachment 452008

View attachment 452009

So you have to wind the awning out a bit to get a socket on the nut.

Mine are self tappers and have been on the last 5 vans ...looks like someone changed yours

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[Richard n Ann]

Mine are self tappers and have been on the last 5 vans ...looks like someone changed yours

No we've had the van from New. The dealership fitted it though I think.

 

[busbuddy]

I've seen them riveted to the brackets as well

 

[TONCAZ]

They aren't self tappers, they are 15mm M5 bolts with a nylock nut.

View attachment 452008

View attachment 452009

So you have to wind the awning out a bit to get a socket on the nut.

Correct, that's what they did, no damage to fixing plates or MoHo, and also pair of step ladders to get it off

 

[Theonlysue]

You could try Rose awnings or hillside awnings.
They usually have 2nd hand ones in good condition.

 

[TONCAZ]

You could try Rose awnings or hillside awnings.
They usually have 2nd hand ones in good condition.

Will do thanks..

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[Gents]

It's just an ebay listing

Sorry, yes I was having a senior moment, yesterday, I think I was so angry, reading all the posts, that the Red most came down!
I remember thinking at the time we fitted ours, this looks vulnerable. Now I see I was right, I am going to speak to an engineering freind, to see if we can come up with a real humdinger of a plan, like welding razor blades all along the bottom.
(“Not seriously” , but would like too”).
We might lose an awning, but at least we would gain some fingers.!

 

[poppycamper]

The way I see it there are 2 answers to these types of incidents
1.. make it easy for them and therefore hopefully not damage your van...or
2.. make it difficult and therefore probably damage van BUT be assured they will get it regardless of damage caused.

 

[TONCAZ]

The way I see it there are 2 answers to these types of incidents
1.. make it easy for them and therefore hopefully not damage your van...or
2.. make it difficult and therefore probably damage van BUT be assured they will get it regardless of damage caused.

If they want it they will get it no matter what, option 1 seems the best (less damage)

 

[TONCAZ]

Sorry, yes I was having a senior moment, yesterday, I think I was so angry, reading all the posts, that the Red most came down!
I remember thinking at the time we fitted ours, this looks vulnerable. Now I see I was right, I am going to speak to an engineering freind, to see if we can come up with a real humdinger of a plan, like welding razor blades all along the bottom.
(“Not seriously” , but would like too”).
We might lose an awning, but at least we would gain some fingers.!

Great idea, cheers for that..........

 

[Gents]

If they want it they will get it no matter what, option 1 seems the best (less damage)

Yes I see your point, but if you make it too easy, they will be back every week.

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[Sapper520]

Looks like an opening in the market if someone comes up with a reasonably priced security idea.

Maybe a hole or two drilled in brackets to take a lock or padlock?

 

[TONCAZ]

Looks like an opening in the market if someone comes up with a reasonably priced security idea.

Maybe a hole or two drilled in brackets to take a lock or padlock?

Thinking caps on then...

 

[Northernraider]

There's an old saying " a rolling rock gathers no moss"

My van is always moving and im nearly always in it ....i find its the best security

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Omnistore awning looks nothing like that. Suggest you come and try and steal mine

sadly my omnistor looks just like the Fiamma photo

we had to change ours due to wind damage and was amazed to find mine was and is fixed to the bracket only by externally accessed self tappers off in 3 minutes

That would work for the bracket fixings but they wouldn't come off from the outside anyway. The awning is held in the brackets by a few self-tappers which are easily removed. If in a hurry two people could have it off in under a minute with no need to wind it out.

Now theres a challenge ..
Whats your address?

P.s my omnistore awning is exactly like that and i removed it and replaced it in under 10 minutes back in the summer

OK, just been over to the storage and there is nothing that can be unscrewed from underneath. The ONLY way is to wind out the awning a couple of feet (inverter needs to be on to do that) and with a spanner undo the three lots of nyloc nuts bolting it to the van

 

[tonyidle]

OK, just been over to the storage and there is nothing that can be unscrewed from underneath. The ONLY way is to wind out the awning a couple of feet (inverter needs to be on to do that) and with a spanner undo the three lots of nyloc nuts bolting it to the van

There are as many systems as there are installers. The one mentioned most often by both Fiamma and Omnistor / Dometic involves brackets bolted to the van side. The awning is lifted into an upper retaining channel then lowered slightly. It is held at the bottom by self-tappers / threaded fasteners / rivets to two or more of the brackets. Then there are installers that simply bolt the awning casing through the wall plus many custom brackets available to suit various roof-to-wall profiles. The system you have is arguably best of all: easy to remove for repair but more difficult for a thief.

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[Richard n Ann]

With these on top it's never coming off it would have to be unbolted from the van

View attachment 452016

If anybody fits these shear nuts, just put a small cut in each side of the nut with the junior hacksaw to weaken the shear point, otherwise it gets really tight and crushes the aluminium before shearing. Just fitted the middle one on ours and standard nylock nuts on each end with the tamper proof bolts.