Fiamma Awning Accesory slot -Not Standard USA RV

ZekenSpider · 07-06-2013, 07:48 PM

I recently learned the accessory slot that runs the length of the Lead Rail on my 2010 3326 awning is not a standard found in the USA RV industry. It is much smaller and the usual accessories will not fit in the slot.

My awning is a Fiamma F45 S 4.0 meter (13' 1") long. It was built in 2009 and has a single slot. Newer TM's have the same model awning but they have two slots. Naturally the Fiamma accessories fit (the screen room and the SunView drop front panel) but accessories made in the USA do not (drop shades made by Dometic for instance). The piping is too large in diameter to fit in the Fiamma slot entrance.

Has any one solved this problem yet? Maybe I'm all wet. Any ideas?

Jerry

07-07-2013, 05:08 AM

Interesting, never thought about it. I don't consider the Fiamma to be substantial enough to hang stuff from, and we typically don't leave it open like we used to with our fifth wheel.

You can buy smaller diameter tubes to run through awnings and such. I can't recall where I saw them, but they are out there.

countrygirl · 07-07-2013, 11:27 AM

I knew I had seen a pic of HarveyRV's Tm with a sun screen in that channel. It was very easy to find and it shows me he figured out how to get something in that channel. I bet you could just buy some wide vinyl screen and sew a narrow casing on one end and maybe try something like the most narrow weed wacker cord and slide it in. If a sun screen/block is what you are going after. BTW try the product to see if it would fit before you do the work.

I sure there are other things you chould use in the casing/channel but that seems like it would be rigid enough to maybe do the trick.

Recently we have considered rescreening the 13 1/2 by 24 back porch and so I have been researching rolls of screen and was surprised to find out they come in various colors and widths and lengths.

forgot the photo!

http://www.trailmanorowners.com/foru...ad.php?t=11087 look at the fifth post.

ZekenSpider · 07-07-2013, 12:48 PM

That picture of HarveyRV's TM is exactly what we are trying to do and I have already experimented with different diameter cores. I have received a few samples from: <http://www.arizonarvpartscenter.com/>. They have lots of colors and screen densities available. They will make my screen any size I want and with any size core I want as long as I can get them the core. So far I have tried various plastic screen spline diameters (used to attach window screens into the frame). The best so far is 1/8th " diameter spline but it is more floppy than I like.

Maybe your idea of weed whacker cord will work. Thanks! I will look for some that is about 1/8th" dia.

Fiamma has a screen available that will fit their awnings but is pretty pricey and has to come from Spain (6 weeks).

Thanks again.

Jerry

ThePair · 07-07-2013, 10:39 PM

I found clips to go into that slot, but it was a very, very tight fit. They're annoying, and it was the third or fourth set I got before I found the ones that finally fit. I think I needed to shape them a little, as well.

Please let us know what you figure out, I'm sure there are a few around here that would like to know the results of your experimentation!

Wavery · 07-08-2013, 07:26 PM

I bought this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/19-Brown-RV-...item19d193aa65
I cut it to 11' long and hemmed the cut end.

ZekenSpider · 07-08-2013, 11:46 PM

Thanks for the quick reply!

Do you recall any difficulty threading the top end into the slot on the Fiamma awning Lead Bar? The ones I have looked at at Camping World are too fat to fit in the slot. I will call the eBay seller and ask what size the top bead is on their product.

Best regards,

Jerry

07-11-2013, 05:25 PM

Any further info Jerry? I just saw this thread and it's exactly what I've been wanting to get

Oh BTW-I see this same ebay also has those in 10', 13' and 15' lengths (same price though)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZekenSpider

Thanks for the quick reply!

Do you recall any difficulty threading the top end into the slot on the Fiamma awning Lead Bar? The ones I have looked at at Camping World are too fat to fit in the slot. I will call the eBay seller and ask what size the top bead is on their product.

Best regards,

Jerry

ZekenSpider · 07-11-2013, 08:08 PM

HarveyRV (Wayne Harvey) replied that he had no trouble with his ebay purchase. It slid right into his slot. He bought a 17' x 6' on ebay and trimmed it to 11', hemming the trimmed side. Fabric thickness also has an effect. The 80% fabric is .020" thick and the 90% fabric is 0.03" thick

The ebay dealer told me the smallest bead the sell is 3/16" spline . That size is really tight for my awning but it works OK on the newer model Fiamma F45 that has two slots. My F45 has only one slot and the entrance hole is a little too small.

Attached are pictures of both Fiamma awning types, The top slot is 4mm with a 6mm entrance hole and the bottom slot is 6mm with an 8mm entrance hole.

The single slot awning has a 4mm slot with a weird sort of 6mm tall by 5mm wide entrance hole.

I have not yet decided what to do but will probably have my shade custom made to 12' 8" long x 6' wide. I plan to use a 0.140 spline inside the bead.

When I get it all to work I will post the results.

Jerry

OneMoBear · 03-16-2014, 01:30 PM

After spending a month in Arizona, we decided to order a shade for the awning for next year.

We ordered this: http://www.shadepro.net/product/Shad...hade_drop.html and installed it today. I can't remember the last time I was shocked by super good quality and service. It is one foot narrower than our awning but 10' better that we were and with absolutely no hassle. We are trying to decide if we want to order the side panel, which according to them, would require considerably more creativity (with the Fiamma).