adding sail track to a pop top van
Submitted: Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 15:45
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PatrolEv
G'day,
I want to put a piece of sail track along the front edge of my van (pop top roof) so I can raun a tarp across the front of my van and attach to my awning. I have seen many vans with this in caravan parks and want to do the same for a bit of extra shelter.
My question is how to best attach the sail track to the roof - glue(sika), pop rivet or screw?
Thanks
Ev
Reply By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 15:51
Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 15:51
Most Sail Tracks are screwed on, the Sail Track on our Roll Out Awning is screwed on, I haven't seen any Pop Rivited.
Cheers
AnswerID:
440466
Follow Up By: PatrolEv - Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 15:53
Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 15:53
Thanks Daza
FollowupID:
712358
Follow Up By: Patrol22 - Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 17:32
Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 17:32
My camper has the sail track pop-rivetted on with lots of sikaflex. Not a poptop van but this job was done during manufacture of the camper.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: PatrolEv - Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 17:35
Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 17:35
Thanks mate, at this point all 3 options are covered
FollowupID:
712377
Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 15:56
Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 15:56
If you don't want any leaks use Sikaflex 11FC.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome
AnswerID:
440467
Follow Up By: PatrolEv - Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 16:56
Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 16:56
Thanks Peter
Where are you these days? Did you end up going to Fiji?
Regards
Ev
FollowupID:
712372
Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 05:38
Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 05:38
Yes Ev.
Been in Fiji for 6 months and having a great time.
Cheers,
Peter
FollowupID:
712444
Reply By: woodie3 - Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 17:53
Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 17:53
Hi, I attached both awning and sail-track to my camper with pop-rivets, if you can fix to the frame screws would be the way to go, but in my case I popped to the skin which is fibreglass, I used a pop-rivet that expands like an umbrella and so gives a much better spread of the load, ordinary pops do not give the same fixing and especially in fibre-glass which tends to give way, I also used Sikaflex as the sealer and with this it is important to key the surface of the roof, cheers Bill
AnswerID:
440478
Follow Up By: PatrolEv - Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 18:13
Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 18:13
Thanks Woodie
Pardon my ignorance but by "Key the surface" I presume you mean rough it up for grip??
Cheers
Ev
FollowupID:
712394
Follow Up By: Shaker - Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 18:45
Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 18:45
Sikaflex have & recommend a primer.
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712396
Follow Up By: woodie3 - Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 19:01
Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 19:01
Hi again, as Shaker points out Sikaflex have a primer, and that should be used, Bill
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712398
Follow Up By: PatrolEv - Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 19:01
Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 19:01
Great, thanks
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712400
Follow Up By: Member -Dodger - Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 22:30
Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 22:30
When you purchase the Pop Rivets get the blind ones.
And do use sika for the sealer. 2 b sure of sealing.
FollowupID:
712430
Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 05:43
Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 05:43
Sikaflex 11FC should be adequate for this job without rivets or screws.
Roughen up both of the surfaces with course paper and clean with acetone. A primer won't be required.
This all assumes that the skin you are attaching it to is of adequate strength.
Cheers,
Peter
FollowupID:
712445
Reply By: Member - barry F (NSW) - Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 20:11
Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 20:11
Hello PatrolEv,
We have a pop Top & our side Sail track for the awning is fixed with stainless steel self tappers.
The Sikaflex 11FC as recommended by Peter is the way to go, if you want to create a waterproof seal, but if you decide to go that way, there is a preparation chemical that you should apply first. Sorry, cant help you with its name but Bunnings sell the Sika & the pre prep chemical in their paint section.
But I must ask, given that it is a Pop Top like ours which is a Jayco, and you want to attach your sail track to the front leading edge of the "bullnose" (if yours is the same) then this area is
well outside your wall upper skirts?
If that is the case, and I'm assuming that it is, then the use of a quality water proofing agent such as Sika may not be necessary. If so I would just stick a bit of Selleys Roof & Gutter silicone around the attachment points, whether the be self tappers or Pop Rivets.
Maybe their is another purpose for the use of Sika in your particular application, such as preventing the two metal surfaces rubbing together? I'm happy to be corrected. Good Luck with your project.
AnswerID:
440495
Follow Up By: PatrolEv - Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 07:43
Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 07:43
Thanks Barry,
Yes, it would be like yours and does sit outside the wall skirts so leaking shouldn't be an issue, just looking more at the strength factor to put some reasonable tension on the tarp.
Thanks for your reply.
Regards
Ev
FollowupID:
712450
Follow Up By: woodie3 - Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 19:38
Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 19:38
Hi , I have quite often been told I overbuild,I'm in the building trade, but because of the strain that will be exerted on the track I would not trust just an adhesive fixing to hold it ,a mechanical fixing, ie. pops/screws with Sikaflex would give you more peace of mind,and if you go into the Sikaflex website you can download data sheets regarding their products, cheers, Bill
FollowupID:
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