At the last endurance ride I attended the wind kicked up and my awning began to move a bit too much so I brought it down. As I took it down I noticed that the bolts that hold it to the trailer at the bottom, were basically stripped. Now, I had an 8 hour drive home and was worried. I managed to get one of the bolts to "grab" something on the other side of the wall but the other would not cooperate. So, I dug in to my abundant supply of bungy cords and wrapped that bugger up nice and tight and secured it to the outside horse tie ring to make sure it was not going to take flight while I drove home. Question is, now that I am home, how can I get that one bolt fixed? I think it had a nut inside the double wall, where I cannot access but who knows. It is too high to have been screwed in to the floor boards. Would it work to use a round headed bolt and go from the inside horse area, to the outside and use a good lock washer and nut. I am not very experienced at these kind of puzzles. I just want something that will keep it attached and not interfere with the horse in the last stall, which is where my horse rides.
Posted 2008-09-05 8:51 AM (#91020 - in reply to #90992) Subject: RE: Awning issue
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 383 Location: Texas
Go to http://www.mcmaster.com/ and do a search for "rivet nut" that's probably what you need based on reading your post. I don't know how good you are at DIY but they aren't too hard to install, drill out the right size hole for the size you need and use the appropriate installation tool which you can find searching "rivet nut installation tool" the manual wrench drive works well and is cheapest. A bolt all the way through would work also I would think.
Posted 2008-09-05 9:07 AM (#91021 - in reply to #90992) Subject: RE: Awning issue
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
If it were my trailer, I would drill a hole through the inner wall, and purchase a round headed bolt, two fender washers and a self locking nut, all stainless. Bolt the bracket to the wall, being careful not to over tighten things and crush the panels. After installing the nut, cut the bolt flush and file the burr. The fix should last as long as your trailer.
Awning issue
