41V15 3rd Awning

[Campingsxs85]

I was looking at adding a 3rd camp side awning on the big slide out or living room slide out. I was told by the dealer that this cannot be done and it is something that has to be done at the factory when the camper is ordered because additional structure has to be added to the slide out. Has anyone else run into this or done this? Just curious.

 

[George]

Finding a suitable 12vdc circuit and a switch location would be a hurdle, I would think. Maybe consider a non-powered awning?
Adding a C-channel should be easy enough. Attaching the arms should't be a problem either. Many on the forum have reported good luck using tri-fold (exploding) rivets for repairing the mounting of these parts.
As far as structure you could request a side-wall drawing from Alliance to see what structure exists. The drawing for my 310RL shows 3"-6" wide EGS (Electro Galvanized Steel sheet-metal) where the awnings are mounted. YMMV

 

[Jwtsg]

Finding a suitable 12vdc circuit and a switch location would be a hurdle, I would think. Maybe consider a non-powered awning?
Adding a C-channel should be easy enough. Attaching the arms should't be a problem either. Many on the forum have reported good luck using tri-fold (exploding) rivets for repairing the mounting of these parts.
As far as structure you could request a side-wall drawing from Alliance to see what structure exists. The drawing for my 310RL shows 3"-6" wide EGS (Electro Galvanized Steel sheet-metal) where the awnings are mounted. YMMV

Agree w George power & manual suggestions & asking for a sidewall drawing,,,keep us posted,,,🤞🍀

​

 

[Oregon_Camper]

I was looking at adding a 3rd camp side awning on the big slide out or living room slide out. I was told by the dealer that this cannot be done and it is something that has to be done at the factory when the camper is ordered because additional structure has to be added to the slide out. Has anyone else run into this or done this? Just curious.

A 3rd camp side awning? Where would this go? We have 2 camp side awnings on our 340RL. One that is from front to door (no slides out there) and the 2nd is on the dining room (camp side) slide out. Are you thinking of adding a awning that covers the slideout?

This is not our RV, but a stock image showing how ours are installed

 

[RockDr896]

I was looking at adding a 3rd camp side awning on the big slide out or living room slide out. I was told by the dealer that this cannot be done and it is something that has to be done at the factory when the camper is ordered because additional structure has to be added to the slide out. Has anyone else run into this or done this? Just curious.

This advice depends on if you would be doing the work yourself. It looks like the year of you valor is going to make a difference.

Lets say, you have the room to mount the hardware sides and the horizontal awning roll. My approach would be this:

1) I am not clear, whether you just want a slide topper, or a huge middle awning to truly cover the side of your Valor. Either way, I think you would need to remove trim and try a stud finder to determine actual vs a drawing, from inside the coach.

2) Buy seam tape from Alliance, so you can repair the inside wall, after exploration or installation. Meaning, if you need to add some areas to screw into, you can easily match what you currently have. They sell seam tape in (1", 12", and 24" rolls) and it is by the foot. Just buy some 1/6" or 1/8" board and throw the seam tape at your connection joints. You will notice, that is how they cover their plywood seams on a larger interior wall.

3) Once you are convinced you can make it happen from the inside of the camper, then the wiring issue will be no problem, because you will have the wall opened up. Working it from the inside, is very easy with the use of seam tape (drywall Spackle solution for rv paneling).

4) Addressing the aluminum frame, can be done with adding tubing where you want it and screwing in corner brackets. Don't skimp on the gauge of aluminum tubing or length of the brackets. I might even use a piece of tubing and make my own brackets, so I could make them longer and use more attachment points. Using angle as a bracket may even be easier. I would also use a metal screw that will go through both sides of the existing tubing you connect to. There is also a good argument, to use Steel instead. Both can be drilled and screwed.

Let us know if you actually do it!! I would love to see pictures as you go!!

 

[Oregon_Camper]

Let us know if you actually do it!! I would love to see pictures as you go!!

Heck yea...love to see the progress on this DIY project

 

[Chaseweston]

Looks like the 41V15's had a front awning from door to front cap and a rear awning from behind the couch slide to the rear, leaving the length of the couch slide uncovered by awning on the camp side. assuming this is the location you are wanting to add an awning, I'm willing to bet there is an aluminum structure at the edges of the slide box that you could attach an awning to. All the new modes have awnings like this as Jim posted a photo of. I have used an IR thermal camera to locate aluminum studs within the azdel many times and you could do the same to get a rough idea of the width of aluminum structure you have to attach to from the outside. As long as you can get the awning in a width that matches the substructure in there, the mounting would be solved and you're on to wiring which could take many paths depending on your desired useability.

 

[Campingsxs85]

To Your Response RockDr896.

This is what I am wanting to do. This is not my 5th wheel but same year make model as mine. (2022 Valor 41V15.) I have seen Valor's with the 3rd camp side awning on it. I just wasn't sure if these were an option from the factory or not. I didn't get a real great answer from the dealer. Is that something you can e-mail Alliance directly for to get build sheet or drawings so you can find structure?

I think getting 12V could be a problem even though there is lighting in that slide out. So a person could get power there but the switch would need to be put in the slide out to operate the awning if I decided to put a power awning on it. Otherwise we would have to opt for the manual awning.

Sounds like a really good winter project!

 

[RockDr896]

View attachment 5464

To Your Response RockDr896.

This is what I am wanting to do. This is not my 5th wheel but same year make model as mine. (2022 Valor 41V15.) I have seen Valor's with the 3rd camp side awning on it. I just wasn't sure if these were an option from the factory or not. I didn't get a real great answer from the dealer. Is that something you can e-mail Alliance directly for to get build sheet or drawings so you can find structure?

I think getting 12V could be a problem even though there is lighting in that slide out. So a person could get power there but the switch would need to be put in the slide out to operate the awning if I decided to put a power awning on it. Otherwise we would have to opt for the manual awning.

Sounds like a really good winter project!

To your first paragraph/question: You don't know until you ask. I would escalate the question to engineering/management and make sure they PROVE or CONVINCE you, as to whether it can be done. I can't imagine weight would be an issue, unless the wind is blowing and you try to put the slide in, with the awning out!! I think Alliance didn't do it, for the possibilities of owner understanding of what could go wrong!!

To your second paragraph/concerns: All of the wiring (Outlets) comes out at a single point at the bottom of the slide. Locate the wire bundle below the slide and is most likely connected/zip tied to a spring. So, you could do the inside removal of the paneling and use seam tape to put things back, after routing things to the underbelly. So, dropping the underbelly will need to happen, to put the switch where you want it.

Maybe ChaseWeston is right, however I doubt they used wide enough tubing at the corners to mount the awning vertical and horizontal pieces. Maybe you could watch a Valor factory tour youtube video and see the slide configuration. I think Alliance is going to be reluctant to advise one way or another, due to liability concerns. I am a bit of a animal when I go to build what I want, so I definitely want pictures, if you go down this road!!

My last and final thought. Slides have a lot of adjustment/play in them. Adding the possibility of wind and a new sail (the Awning), to the slide....could create a "lift" dynamic to the slide and possibly miss align somehow?? I simply don't know what could go wrong in strong winds, combined with not getting your awning in on time. Perhaps throwing a 10x10 pop up at that point, may be less work and accomplish what you are looking to do. Please let us know where you land on this!! I love the DIY dreamers...I am one!!