2021 Tag - Offgrid Outdoors Awning Fix

Triton46

On a recent trip home, our awning separated from its base plate attached to the teardrop roof rack.  The awning itself is attached to an aluminum plate and that plate is riveted to the base plate attached to the roof rack. 5 out of the 8 rivets had broken.

https://cyc-engineering.com/products/roof-top-awning-8-2ft-x-6-5ft

I contacted the manufacturer on instructions.  Warranty was generous for the original owner.  Since I am second owner my only options was to repair myself or replace (they had a deal for $115).  Our awning is in good shape so I opted to fix the original.

Manufacturer indicated the rivets are 1/8" x 1/8".  I found these to be too short and the hole for the rivet was much larger than the rivet body. I had purchased a Pittsburgh 17 1/2 Rivet gun from Harbor Freight for the repair and it came with 50 blind rivets, the largest were 1/4" x 1/2".  I drilled out the existing holes to 1/4" and then popped the rivets in.  Fixed!



https://www.harborfreight.com/17-12-in-hand-riveter-with-collection-bottle-58612.html