Caravan Awning Rail Too Tight

[Senex]

So, we are getting close to our dreaded annual summer holiday in our caravan.

My big problem is putting the awning up. I have to do it on my own because my wife is disabled.

The beading on the awning is a really tight fit in the awning rail and it takes me hours to get it up, a millimetre at a time.

Should I just take a big screwdriver to the rail and open it up a bit?

[LouD86]

Grab yourself one of these, i did for mine after the previous owner had left it in weird shape.

Bit of wd40, and run through the rail, spreads it nicely and evenly, and makes putting the awning up now much easier.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275338039876?epid=12126...1kAAOSwtc9lv96p&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8FEYJps917LJYIQxMCp9XEcWeATtqNW5Yj0l10c2ROShPVgqdl73D%2B1RLVzDhPaUe3h1%2B7SXFlSM5qoDHgJVuI5V9MPuIC99m1WWjjkhPMTZbVnP47A9ZD0lpSWF%2BLW6B8pRtUmFVxfa6g7e3ZaE1PpMrLQlgA3QMYyEPiUOQGfoo7hRthShfvtJk5h8%2F1vYCb4Wu9C5ANcv8RGg07I4lAB5v2%2B%2FRFp1EzAq7gdGv8w1%2FGpdDaENkf7xiDCvtbMp6QjRIEronc%2BV%2FxHAwbLsGIWhX3%2BSjOwmyaTW%2FKZfQ0JrED5vUqm7dz6Q7pY8uvj05A%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR6CqpvmUZA

[Senex]

LouD86 said:

Grab yourself one of these, i did for mine after the previous owner had left it in weird shape.

Bit of wd40, and run through the rail, spreads it nicely and evenly, and makes putting the awning up now much easier.

Yes, I've seen those and they look like the ideal tool.

However, they get very poor reviews on Amazon. But it worked for you I guess.

Did you use a parallel punch and hammer to tap it through?

[Dunclane]

Can of silicon spray should do the job

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Holts-Multi-Purpose-Lubri...

[jfdi]

Dunclane said:

Can of silicon spray should do the job

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Holts-Multi-Purpose-Lubri...

^This, silicon spray and it slides along easily.
I just use a old can of the hideous dashboard spray that used to leave dashboards extra shiny.

[oblio]

Another vote for silicon spray. I use it threading our porch awning to the guide rail on our MH. Mrs O has to pull the awning through and it's a tough job without the spray.

[MElliottUK]

I squirt washing up liquid in the rail, works great.

[Stevemr]

If you get a length of that plastic drip rail that you slide in. Cut off about 20 cms and push that through with a rag in front of it and plenty of waterless cleaner. Then use plenty of silicone based awning rail spray.
If your wife can push/ feed it in from the bottom that helps.
Also if there are cut outs part way up the sides feed it in from them first until you get it across the top then feed it down the sides.