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Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: Tikvah on September 15, 2011, 06:34:02 AM

Title: How to mount an Awning to an MCI
Post by: Tikvah on September 15, 2011, 06:34:02 AM
I want to start shopping for an awning for my coach.  Mine is a 102 A3, however I would guess it is identical to the MC-9.  Not a raised roof.

Those of you who have done it, how do you mount the awning?  What length?  It seems I have to go 24' to clear the baggage bays, and that seems awful extreme.

Do you mount above or below the clearance lights? 

If I need some strong supports, I want to get that in before I insulate and finish my ceilings.

Dave
Title: Re: How to mount an Awning to an MCI
Post by: luvrbus on September 15, 2011, 06:45:59 AM
24 ft awnings are nothing but trouble I don't care what brand you buy and I mount above the lights some states frown on awning covering the lights check the up right tubing going to the roof that tell you where to mount and size you see some with 2 awnings looks tacky to me but that is the way it is on some.
The rail is very important on the top I use a good stainless self tapping on the cross brows and water tight stainless rivets for the roof part and buy good rail don't buy the plastic junk 

good luck
Title: Re: How to mount an Awning to an MCI
Post by: grantgoold on September 15, 2011, 07:42:15 AM
I have mounted two girards to the 9 and they both went easy enough. I would make sure you have access to the interior ceiling panels. I followed the installation instructions from Girard and it went fine. Of course the awnings do not have arms that drop down so I did not have to worry about attaching to the side of the bus below the drip rail.

When both awnings are extended I have almost 400sq ft of covered area for kids, tables and cots. We have had almost 20 people under both awnings at one point.

Good luck!

Grant
Title: Re: How to mount an Awning to an MCI
Post by: Bill B /bus on September 15, 2011, 05:33:49 PM
102A3 one awing, 24 feet. Goes from just aft of the door to aft of third bay. We used AE with the Airstream curved arms. It has a center support when extended. If you mount the awning above the side clearance lights then the the entire weight of the awning is on the roof and the arms  have no weight when stowed. The cost is about a foot of awning width when extended.  The side markers are still visible so you won't be questioned on that. I had to move two solar panels back towards the centerline to mount the awning rail.

I only use the big awning when I can anchor it properly. The window awnings are always out when parked.

Bill
Title: Re: How to mount an Awning to an MCI
Post by: jmblake on September 15, 2011, 07:43:09 PM
I used a carefree 21' awning, I also have a 8" roof raise and mounted it below the gutter rail. I would like to get a smaller one to mount over the door sometime but they don't make my color of fabric now. Good luck Jason
Title: Re: How to mount an Awning to an MCI
Post by: Hi yo silver on September 20, 2011, 03:00:02 PM
Dave,
Gotta 20' on my MC9. Can't open the rear bay door when the awning is out, but that's no big deal for me. If you want any pics, I can email, don't know how to attach, I'm computer illiterate.
Dennis