This is why I don’t buy new things!!!

[Pikespeakfamily]

So. My kids were closing the awning on the brand new 174BH and a table was pushed under the awning arm. Now the awning arm is bent. Help!!!

[Siamese]

Well, at least you have kids to blame.

I'm no real help, but I think I see a new arm in your future.

[muckinfuss]

I don't know how old your kids are, but usually they keep doing these kinds of things until they are grown and using their own money to buy stuff that their kids will screw up.

[THE MEEKER]

I am the third oldest of 9 kids. Every time we break something, Dad would yell "For crying out loud in the sink! We can't have anything nice!"

[Pikespeakfamily]

Hahah. Man. If you didn’t laugh about stuff like this. You might just..... cry!!! Tried bending it. No dice.
Son of a!!!!

[Pikespeakfamily]

Gotta be a way to bend this thing. Hard thing is it is attached together in some sort of grommet type bolt that is weird.

[muckinfuss]

If you tried bending while on the tt, you won't have much luck. If you feel handy (by the way, even if you don't, you have to replace the arm anyway) try the following as long as there aren't creased folds in the arm:

Put a 2x4 under the extended awning near the bend end so it stays up and proceed to remove the bent arm...carefully. It will take awhile. Once you have the arm in hand, you will need to measure or estimate the amount of deflection that it is crowned by laying on the driveway with the crown up and check the deflection. For example... if it's 2 inches. You need two things large enough for the ends of the arm to set upon and thick enough, say 3 inches. With the arm setting with the crown towards the sky, press, gently by only going to a 2 inch deflection back to what 'normal' was. Stop and check to see if you decreased the measurement. Keep pressing. Stop and check each time going a little further past 'normal' flat until you get to a good place to stop.....or you ruin it entirely. Sometimes, close is good enough when perfect is in the vicinity of $400.

[Pikespeakfamily]

Originally Posted by muckinfuss

If you tried bending while on the tt, you won't have much luck. If you feel handy (by the way, even if you don't, you have to replace the arm anyway) try the following as long as there aren't creased folds in the arm:

Put a 2x4 under the extended awning near the bend end so it stays up and proceed to remove the bent arm...carefully. It will take awhile. Once you have the arm in hand, you will need to measure or estimate the amount of deflection that it is crowned by laying on the driveway with the crown up and check the deflection. For example... if it's 2 inches. You need two things large enough for the ends of the arm to set upon and thick enough, say 3 inches. With the arm setting with the crown towards the sky, press, gently by only going to a 2 inch deflection back to what 'normal' was. Stop and check to see if you decreased the measurement. Keep pressing. Stop and check each time going a little further past 'normal' flat until you get to a good place to stop.....or you ruin it entirely. Sometimes, close is good enough when perfect is in the vicinity of $400.

This.
Is.
Brilliant.
Even if it doesn’t work! Thanks man.
The awning does close. Just about 2 inches short of the side of the trailer. So. Damn close.

[muckinfuss]

I forgot to deal with your 'grommety' things. Those are a standard item with a 3/8" hole available at Home Depot, Lowes, True Value, Ace, Menards, etc. and also from your RV shop. You could even call Dometic customer service and they would most likely send you an envelope with a few in it for free if you tell them your story so you make the agent laff. Anyway, I have an old Boy Scout knife from 1960 that I slide the blade under those and twist a little to remove them. They pop off and are usually not reusable since they are a one and done part. If you don't have a Boy Scout knife from 1960, then a good quality blade that's thin enough to slide under should work. Don't try this with a flat blade screwdriver or the scab you leave will irritate you for the rest of the time you own this trailer...even if your kids run away from home first.

[RAurand]

Ouch!

[jim44646]

That's why they are called rv's.
Repair vehicles

[Tunce the traveler]

At least you didn’t ask one of them to back the trailer up.

[gypsmjim]

Funny title. This is exactly why I don't buy anything used. All too often the previous owner screwed half of the things up and now its my turn to fix them.

[JFlightRisk]

Originally Posted by Pikespeakfamily

Gotta be a way to bend this thing. Hard thing is it is attached together in some sort of grommet type bolt that is weird.

I don't think that arm is available as a separate replacement part, unfortunately. Here's a link to the parts, if it's a Smart Arm awning. It also shows all the weird fasteners you're seeing.

https://lci-support-doc.s3.amazonaws...cd-0001551.pdf

[Pikespeakfamily]

Originally Posted by JFlightRisk

I don't think that arm is available as a separate replacement part, unfortunately. Here's a link to the parts, if it's a Smart Arm awning. It also shows all the weird fasteners you're seeing.

https://lci-support-doc.s3.amazonaws...cd-0001551.pdf

Yeah. It’s part C. Looks like separate part number. I’ll give em a call.

[Colorado]

Originally Posted by Pikespeakfamily

So. My kids were closing the awning on the brand new 174BH and a table was pushed under the awning arm. Now the awning arm is bent. Help!!!

Try using several C clamps and some 2 pieces of flat steel and compress it. I’m in Colorado Springs if you need a hand.

[Pikespeakfamily]

Originally Posted by Colorado

Try using several C clamps and some 2 pieces of flat steel and compress it. I’m in Colorado Springs if you need a hand.

I have thought about doing this - even with some 2x4's or something it's bent - not creased.

[Jagiven]

If there is a crease in the metal anywhere, it is shot(past yield point), and must be replaced.

If the price of a new piece is crazy expensive, checkout a local metal distributor. I bet there is nothing special about that piece of aluminum. Figure out the wall thickness, and dimensions. Contact your local metal distributor, and see if they have a piece in stock. You might be able to go with a heavier gauge wall, as long as the outside dimensions are the same.

[Pikespeakfamily]

It actually looks like the gas strut seized up which caused the bend. The table was a plastic lifetime little table and turned out to be unscathed. Trying to see if my garage camera caught it.

[Pikespeakfamily]

Originally Posted by Pikespeakfamily

It actually looks like the gas strut seized up which caused the bend. The table was a plastic lifetime little table and turned out to be unscathed. Trying to see if my garage camera caught it.

My kids swore up and down they didn’t hit anything. Camera confirmed!!!