Installed the KickAss brand awning on my 2023 320s Boondock

TourDeForth

I looked at the bonnet style awnings that slide into the Keder rail and decided that just wasn’t for me. I prefer a simple traditional style awning. So I purchased this awning from KickAss Products USA. https://kickassproducts.com/products/kickass-2-0m-x-2-5m-heavy-duty-awning-with-led-light-strip It’s 6.5 x 8 feet and uses built in poles with a couple tent stakes. I like the way it looks and the ease of setting up. It has a LED light strip that plugs into USB as a bonus. It was tricky to install on the Keder rail but came out real well.

Yoshi_TAB

Hi,

Could you provide a few details and/or photos of how you attached it.  TY

TourDeForth

I attached it to the Keder rail and also used double sided tape. It’s on there pretty solid. 

First, I took the awning completely apart, which was very easy, a couple bolts and two screws. (But I left the black weather cover on due to rivets.) Once I decided where I was going to mount it (high enough to let the LED strip hang down without touching the porch light.) I put two layers of double sided tape on the awning bracket between the Keder rails. I used a level and stuck it on. There is a little less than a 1/4 inch gap between the awning bracket and the wall which is why I used a double layer of tape. The tape is strong and the awning bracket is light aluminum.

Second, (the tricky part) I eyeballed where to drill four holes to reach the Keder rail slots (two on each side.) Then I slid two Keder rail stoppers on each side,  up under the awning, using a plastic rod to slide them in place and screw the bolts in. I applied blue loctite (but still plan to check them periodically.) I reassembled the awning. I also ran a bead of silicon clear caulking across the top of the awning bracket and trailer wall to keep water from pooling on the double sided tape and running down the wall of the trailer. 

The parts I used were from Amazon and Lowes. I ordered these Keder rail stoppers from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D3WRRCN1?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title and some double sided tape from Lowes Scotch-Mount Extreme Double-Sided Mounting Tapes 1-in x 5-ft Double-Sided Tape 

Would I do it again? Absolutely, but a lesson learned: eyeballing where to drill the holes was a dumb idea on my part. I missed by an 1/8 of inch on two of the holes so there is a bit of scarring hidden under there, doh! I would have been better off making a template out of wood or plastic in the shape of the awning bracket and then mounting that first to draw the kedar rail slot on to it so I could precisely drill the holes. Oh well, next time!

Yoshi_TAB

Tks.. I like it a lot .  Great mod.  One follow on, was the purpose of the 2 sided tape to hold the bracket in place while you found the location of the keder  rail bolts, or does it also provide holding power. I think it’s just to find the location of the keder rail bolts..but wanted to double check.    How many keder rail bolts secure it in place ? We use a walker tent and 10 x 10 , but that looks so easy for overnight stops which we do a lot of in getting to our destinations.     TY

SLJ

I agree, most Keder rail awnings take too much time to set up, however I found the small awnings don't give enough shade or protection in the rain so I went with a Moonshade XL. Sits just over the top so there's no chance of a leak on the door side and just ties to the front and rear handles. The door can stay open. Quick easy set up and a lot of shade/rain protection 9'x12'.

TourDeForth

A little of both, I didn’t want to just rely on four little M4 size bolts to hold it on there. For day to day street use it would be fine, but for going down a trail I wanted the extra security of the double sided tape. Probably overkill because that tape sure is strong enough, and with the four screws it is on there very secure. I can setup the awning in under 5 minutes, probably two minutes if I wanted to time myself. I just wanted something simple that I can easily setup by myself. And since it was so easy to disassemble the awning, I can replace any or all of it when it wears out.

Yoshi_TAB

@TourDeForth

Just curious….were there other brands you looked at or considered that might attach to the keder rail?  Or was the removable bracket the attraction on this brand?  This concept intrigues me.

TourDeForth

I just picked one. I liked the tan color for the shade from the KickAss product line. I might add a rail on the other side for their outdoor shower awning. Maybe the Yakima Road Shower tank too. Also, the 6.5 foot width of the awning seems to be about right, I didn’t want to go any longer to reduce the protrusion out each end. But I could have chosen any brand to do the same mod, I think. They all seem to be fairly similar. 

bubbazanetti

This looks great to me. 

One question. If you bolt the aluminum base plate of the awning to the Keder rail, it would not be flush with the side of the trailer. How and where did you use the double sided tape to attach additional support? 

bubbazanetti

I should have added that my trailer is older and the Keder rail is nearly 3/4 of an inch. 

TourDeForth

With the awning flush to the Keder rail on my 2023 320s the gap is just under 1/4 inch. The double sided tape was about 1/8 inch thick. So I stacked two layers of double sided tape between the back side of the aluminum awning and the azdel wall of the trailer. I cut the length of the tape to fit between where the awning touches the Keder rail.

If I had been faced with a 3/4 inch gap like you describe then instead of stacking the tape I would have used a 1/2 inch piece of wood or other material and used that as a spacer with double sided tape on each side of the spacer.

bubbazanetti

Thanks. After I sat and thought it through, I came to the same conclusion. I picked up a 5/8th 2 x 14 inch aluminium bar, bolt that to the rear of the awning plate and put the 3m double sided tape on double. That will give the desired contact. The surface area will be sufficient to hold over 75lbs from what I’ve read. The Keder rail, will add stability and a few more lbs of support. 

This will work out well for us.