Exterior Attaching sail track to body.

[Dove]

I want to attach a length of aluminium sail track to the right hand side of my Starcraft. I want it above the fridge vents so I can attach a small sun awning to shade the vents and van side in hot weather. The sides of my van are aluminium.

I don't know what is behind the cladding? Can I just rivet a length of track to the side? Or am I likely to damage the wall when a awning is attached? Or is their electrical wiring behind that I might hit with a drill?

I have seen lots of vans with sail track on the right hand side but until I know what is behind my cladding, and how strong it is I am reluctant to start drilling holes.

 

[davemc]

Silicone and some screws was all that held on our annex sail track. I think the screws where there until the silicone dried

 

[peterg]

Pop rivets hold my awning end track on. At around 250 spacing. Bit of silicon seals them. I regulated the depth I drilled to suit my rivets so I go any deeper than necessary. It's stood up to plenty of gale force winds without issue.

 

[Jaybird]

I stuck mine on with a very high quality 3M double sided tape. Its been on 3 years now with no sign of letting go. It is on Fibreglass but in the sign industry we used it to mount signs on all sorts of substrate and had no problems so dont see why it wouldnt work on an alloy sided van.

 

[Capt. Gadget]

I'd run a thin bed of neutral cure silicone and pop rivet it, the rivets will hold it until the silicone drys then it will never come off

 

[Dove]

Thanks for the advice. I will try the double side tape. I have a length left over from another job.

 

[mfexpanda]

Thanks for the advice. I will try the double side tape. I have a length left over from another job.

Pop rivets and silicone I don't think double sided tape is any good

 

[dagree]

Pop rivets and silicone I don't think double sided tape is any good

*Try posting a bit more so your post isn't boring*...... Wouldn't want to see it fly off going down the highway at 100kmh

 

[Matty4]

If you want to go the double sided tape route, get some 3M body moulding tape.
This stuff rocks....it's used on automotive body moulds, obviously..

It's the best stuff I've found that will never fall off.