[Tonks]

I've had my T5 for 4 1/2 years, and it had a Fiamma F45S awning attached when I bought it. Until last summer it was silent when the van was on the move. No noise, rattle etc. Unfortunately last summer, when it was very hot, I left it rolled out on a camp site and while I was away there was a mega thunder storm with apocalyptic rain! When I got back the awning had partially collapsed on one side, and I was lucky that the 'z' bars hadn't gone through the actual awning. When I rolled the awning back in, the red button wouldn't clip in and I realised the front edge casing was slightly twisted. I was abroad at the time, and to get the awning to engage the red button involved a little 'gentle nudge' from a rubber mallet... Anyway, since then the casing has rattled, and it's blo... I mean very annoying. Reading through a couple of other posts here, some folk said they'd used velcro straps which had cured the problem, but my van has an infil between the van and the awning to stop water coming in between, so I can run a strap round it.
Are there any Fiamma specialists here who can advise? It's a good quality awning and I don't really want to have to get rid of it - or replace it, considering how much they cost! Plus, apart from the slight 'battle scar', it's in fully working order so doesn't make sense to ditch it.
But the rattle is aggravating...

 

[Tonks]

some folk said they'd used velcro straps which had cured the problem, but my van has an infil between the van and the awning to stop water coming in between, so I can run a strap round it.

Meaning of course 'I CAN'T,' not 'I can'...

 

[Edge-Effect]

Have you made sure it's not the folding legs that's causing the rattling against the casing?

 

[RogerP1952]

I have no knowledge of the Fiamma but can't you twist the front case back to where it should be? I spent a couple of fruitless afternoons last year trying to stop a sliding door rattle on rough roads, turned out it was the Omnistor awning needed an extra fraction of a turn winding it in.

 

[Tonks]

Have you made sure it's not the folding legs that's causing the rattling against the casing?

They clip in pretty tightly and nothing has changed with that since the 'before storm peace and quiet', so I don't think so, but it's worth double-checking, thanks for the comment.

 

[Tonks]

I have no knowledge of the Fiamma but can't you twist the front case back to where it should be? I spent a couple of fruitless afternoons last year trying to stop a sliding door rattle on rough roads, turned out it was the Omnistor awning needed an extra fraction of a turn winding it in.

Sadly not. It would mean accessing from behind, and would probably make the problem worse rather than better. Unless the awning was taken off entirely, but I'm not convinced I could get a smooth, flush finish without the entire length being held in some form of jig.

 

[Edge-Effect]

Mines about a year and half old and the legs tend to work loose from the clips and start rattling. With your casing being slightly twisted the legs may be closer\touching the casing when folded away, I'd try wedging some foam in there to rule them out.

 

[Tonks]

Mines about a year and half old and the legs tend to work loose from the clips and start rattling. With your casing being slightly twisted the legs may be closer\touching the casing when folded away, I'd try wedging some foam in there to rule them out.

Will definitely try that! Always good to start with the easy things first!
I'm SO annoyed about this with the awning, because it's the ONLY time I've ever left the van with the awning rolled out. Bah!

 

[triffic]

It's a few years since I last owned a Fiamma awning, but last time I did, I'm fairly sure it was possible to adjust (inside the casing) the red button at each end, to make it clamp properly?

 

[Tonks]

It's a few years since I last owned a Fiamma awning, but last time I did, I'm fairly sure it was possible to adjust (inside the casing) the red button at each end, to make it clamp properly?

Hmm, don't know but could be useful if so. But in my case the awning rolls right in, and the button engages, so it's secure at both ends. Just rattley!

 

[rogd]

Tonks.
If you type 'Fiamma awning faults' into the wibbly wobbly web it comes up with all sorts of advice and videos on how to make adjustments etc.
Roger