STEVEnBETTY Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 According to the fiamma web site the awning should not be left up in the rain, would the addition of privacy room change that? STEVEnBETTY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenLukens Posted January 17, 2017 Author Share Posted January 17, 2017 From the Fiamma site. Q - Can I use my awning to protect me from the rain? A - Our awnings are designed to shelter you from the sun and not the rain. Therefore we highly recommend closing the awning in case of rain, snow or winds. In case of light to moderate rains, install the center rafter, lower one leg and raise the other to allow for water runoff. If it is raining hard enough for water to pool on the fabric, roll it in! Water pooling can stretch the fabric causing the awning not to close properly. Stretched or damaged fabric due to water pooling or any type of storm damage is not covered under warranty. So they highly highly recommend not leaving it up in the rain... According to the fiamma web site the awning should not be left up in the rain, would the addition of privacy room change that? Obviously it's not going to change anything other then you will be dry coming outside :) What happens with the rain is that it will pool on top, in the center of the awning, if it's left unattended and out flat on top. If the awning is left out without the center brace in and the water is allowed to pool on the awning, the pool will grow as the awning will start sagging deeper in the center to create it. The more the water, the more the sagging until you can actually have a deep pool of water up on top that can block the front door. So caution needs to be used in the rain and the center bar must be used along with one of the legs being shortened to increase the angle of the awning so that no rain can start pooling. I have seen more then 1 awning stretched out and ruined from water but these were caused by unforeseen circumstances. Once the water starts pooling, you need to have a ladder to bail it out if the pool is to big and heavy to push out... How do I know this? My son took his friends down to spend the weekend in my motor home years ago, and not being responsible, he put the awning out and left it when they were done. It rained hard that week and when I went down there to check on everything a few weeks later, I had a new bathtub, where my awning used to be. Once the water starts collecting in the center, all water flows to it as the rain continues... I couldn't even open the door and there was a few hundred pounds of water on top. It was amazing to see just how far the awning could stretch without pulling itself out of the mounts... Anyway, this was an extreme example for my son to learn and the awning never did roll back in after that. I learned my lesson as well because he later told me that he had lost his keys and that it had been him that broke a window to get in that day... I sure am glad that kids grow up :) 1 Happy Camping, Reed & Karen Lukens with Riffles our Miniature Poodle 2017 Oliver Legacy Elite II Standard, Hull #200 / 2017 Silverado High Country 1500 Short Bed 4x4 Past TV - 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 4Matic BlueTEC Diesel Click on our avatar pic above to find the videos on our Oliver Legacy Elite II Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVEnBETTY Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 If you were to buy the privacy room what options would you get? I can see use of the tie downs but are the kit magic (side bars) really necessary? Thanks STEVEnBETTY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overland Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 Yeah, they say don't do it. But they also say that the awning allows you to "keep windows and doors open during rainy weather". And they advertise rain gutters, sell drip caps and rain guards and tell you in the instruction manual how to set it up for rain. Search on other forums and you'll find that pretty much no one reels them in unless the wind kicks up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVEnBETTY Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 I'm leaning heavily towards the privacy room mainly for the extra room it provides for our 12 year old beagle, he gets restless and has to "find another place" to sit. Does the center rafter come with the awning? I to have had awnings bow in the middle from rain. 1 STEVEnBETTY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overland Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 The rafter is an extra - there are a couple of different ones on their website - one is more of a bar that goes across the awning front to back. That one rests on the 'elbows' of the arms so to me it seems like it could damage them in a gust of wind. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator+ ScubaRx Posted January 17, 2017 Moderator+ Share Posted January 17, 2017 ...Does the center rafter come with the awning? I to have had awnings bow in the middle from rain. Yes, there is a center rafter that is included with the awning that is installed on the Oliver. You will not need another rafter for the Fiamma Privacy Room. 1 Steve, Tali and our dog Rocky plus our beloved Storm, Lucy, Maggie and Reacher (all waiting at the Rainbow Bridge) 2008 Legacy Elite I - Outlaw Oliver, Hull #026 | 2014 Legacy Elite II - Outlaw Oliver, Hull #050 | 2022 Silverado High Country 3500HD SRW Diesel 4x4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overland Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 Oh, that's interesting - is it the curved Rafter Pro or something different? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator+ ScubaRx Posted January 17, 2017 Moderator+ Share Posted January 17, 2017 Oh, that’s interesting – is it the curved Rafter Pro or something different? No, the included rafter is straight. It is, of course, adjustable in length. There are brackets mounted inside the closet for its storage. Steve, Tali and our dog Rocky plus our beloved Storm, Lucy, Maggie and Reacher (all waiting at the Rainbow Bridge) 2008 Legacy Elite I - Outlaw Oliver, Hull #026 | 2014 Legacy Elite II - Outlaw Oliver, Hull #050 | 2022 Silverado High Country 3500HD SRW Diesel 4x4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenLukens Posted January 17, 2017 Author Share Posted January 17, 2017 If you were to buy the privacy room what options would you get? I can see use of the tie downs but are the kit magic (side bars) really necessary? Thanks To me, the magic side bars are great. I would get these either way to secure the edges of the awning during a wind storm, over just using paint poles any day. You could always make something but this is probably the one item that sold me on it over everything else. Happy Camping, Reed & Karen Lukens with Riffles our Miniature Poodle 2017 Oliver Legacy Elite II Standard, Hull #200 / 2017 Silverado High Country 1500 Short Bed 4x4 Past TV - 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 4Matic BlueTEC Diesel Click on our avatar pic above to find the videos on our Oliver Legacy Elite II Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVEnBETTY Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 They strengthen it that much? Ok, thanks. STEVEnBETTY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overland Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 overland wrote: Oh, that’s interesting – is it the curved Rafter Pro or something different? No, the included rafter is straight. It is, of course, adjustable in length. There are brackets mounted inside the closet for its storage. O.K.. Looking at the manual I found online, it says to use the Rafter Pro only temporarily. From the pictogram, it looks like that means only in the rain - I guess that constant use would stretch the fabric. It also indicated that the straight rafter is to be installed in the rain, though I assume that, without the warning, it can be used regularly if desired. I can't find any information at all on the recommended use of the Magic Rafter or Magic Rafter Pro, other than to limit usage at high temperatures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenLukens Posted January 18, 2017 Author Share Posted January 18, 2017 curved Rafter Pro Yea, the curved rafter pro looks like a gimmic being that even Fiamma says that the canvas will stretch when it's used in the sun - From their web site - "The Fiamma Rafter Pro is a curved tension rafter to fit Fiamma F45 and F65 awnings which fits from front to back of the awning (from vehicle outwards). The curved Rafter Pro pushes up the centre of the awning fabric which helps eliminate water pooling and noisy flapping of fabric in the wind. The tension Rafter PRO is easy to install without making any holes in the awning. It helps keep the fabric tight plus, it increases clearance of the motorhome doors. The Fiamma Rafter Pro is made of two sturdy anodized aluminium telescopic bars. Ideal for Fiamma awnings with extension up to 250cm, it adapts from min 144cm to max 265cm length. Complete with rubber ends so it can be installed on other awning brands. Important: The awning material can stretch if the Rafter Pro is used for long periods during high temperatures. Therefore please limit usage during hot weather." I don't see a need to carry another rafter when I can drop a leg some. I'm looking at maybe getting just the front or the "Blocker Pro" - http://www.fiammausa.com/products/awnings.asp?fam=A3&page=2 and then building my own sides. I'm going through the learning process anyway, our Olli #200 should be done in a few weeks :) Happy Camping, Reed & Karen Lukens with Riffles our Miniature Poodle 2017 Oliver Legacy Elite II Standard, Hull #200 / 2017 Silverado High Country 1500 Short Bed 4x4 Past TV - 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 4Matic BlueTEC Diesel Click on our avatar pic above to find the videos on our Oliver Legacy Elite II Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator+ ScubaRx Posted January 27, 2017 Moderator+ Share Posted January 27, 2017 Hi Steve...If you get a moment, could you post a pic of the hole which you drilled in the bottom of the rafter? I assume you drilled two holes, one for each rafter. Do you remember the size of the drill bit? Any issues while you were completing this task? Does the result leave a gap in the top corners for skeeters to enter? Also, is the skirt a work-in-progress? Any guidance and pics? Thank you, Buzzy Buzzy, about an hour ago Miss Tali and I pulled into the Dome Rock area just outside of Quartzsite Arizona. We will be here for several weeks and tomorrow we will finalize the set up of the trailer. We will be putting up the Fiamma Privacy Room in the next day or so, depending on the winds, which are blowing quite fiercely at present. I will indeed post some pictures with descriptions of what we did for modifications when everything is set up. Reports say that there are between 500,000 and 1,000,000 campers here in the desert around Quartzsite currently. On the way into the area on Interstate 10 they were parked along the sides for miles. The fiberglass rally here will start around February 6 and go for a week or so. Steve, Tali and our dog Rocky plus our beloved Storm, Lucy, Maggie and Reacher (all waiting at the Rainbow Bridge) 2008 Legacy Elite I - Outlaw Oliver, Hull #026 | 2014 Legacy Elite II - Outlaw Oliver, Hull #050 | 2022 Silverado High Country 3500HD SRW Diesel 4x4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator+ ScubaRx Posted January 29, 2017 Moderator+ Share Posted January 29, 2017 The Fiamma Privacy Room is now set up. It's gonna be a real bitch to un-attach it when we need to take the trailer into town to dump. The modifications to the rafters involved drilling an extra hole to accommodate the straight vertical pole against the side of a curved Oliver. The new hole is about 1.25 inches away from the original. I first drilled a small pilot hole and then enlarged it to 5/16th inch. There are two layers of aluminum to drill through. The pilot hole will keep the larger drill bit from wanting to wander all around. The new hole will allow the pole to be placed in a perfectly vertical position without touching the side of the trailer. 2 Steve, Tali and our dog Rocky plus our beloved Storm, Lucy, Maggie and Reacher (all waiting at the Rainbow Bridge) 2008 Legacy Elite I - Outlaw Oliver, Hull #026 | 2014 Legacy Elite II - Outlaw Oliver, Hull #050 | 2022 Silverado High Country 3500HD SRW Diesel 4x4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators topgun2 Posted January 30, 2017 Moderators Share Posted January 30, 2017 Buzzy, Two things - 1. I have one of those "tanks" and IF you are going to tow it in the manner described, one must do so at a VERY slow speed. I have found that I use mine such that I do not ever fill it over about half full. That way I can lift it into the back of the truck, take it to the nearest dump station or regular toilet and empty it. By using regular toilets (either pit or flush) I greatly expand the number of places that I can use. This meathod is particularly useful when traveling out West and regular dump stations are not necessarily easy to find. 2. I trust that pictures of the new little one are soon to follow! Bill p.s. sorry for the slight highjack. Back to talking about awnings? 2023 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5EB FX4 Max Towing, Max Payload, 2016 Oliver Elite II - Hull #117 "Twist" Near Asheville, NC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overland Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 The Fiamma Privacy Room is now set up. It’s gonna be a real bitch to un-attach it when we need to take the trailer into town to dump. How long did it take to set up? Buzzy, we're still debating adding one to our order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator+ ScubaRx Posted January 30, 2017 Moderator+ Share Posted January 30, 2017 Don't get me wrong, it is a very nice add on to our trailer. Yes, it does take some effort to set it up and, at about 65 pounds, it is heavy so there are weight concerns in just taking it along with you. Set up is not long nor laborious, however, it would be difficult for one person to do alone. Because of the modifications that I was doing yesterday and the photos that I took as I went along, we probably spent over two hours setting it up. If you look at the video from Fiamma it appears to take the couple only about 20 minutes, and once you get the hang of it, I think that time would be accurate. The most time consuming aspect is staking out all the hold downs along the bottom both inside and out. This is actually the first time we have ever done that but due to the unpredictable winds that we might encounter here, I felt it was a good idea. After doing so the walls are taut and I am confident it could withstand a pretty good blow. Here in the desert outside of Quartzsite, though the temperature is only going up into the low 70s, the sun is unrelenting and sitting in the room it is noticeably cooler than standing outside. 2 Steve, Tali and our dog Rocky plus our beloved Storm, Lucy, Maggie and Reacher (all waiting at the Rainbow Bridge) 2008 Legacy Elite I - Outlaw Oliver, Hull #026 | 2014 Legacy Elite II - Outlaw Oliver, Hull #050 | 2022 Silverado High Country 3500HD SRW Diesel 4x4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overland Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 Thanks - so long as it's under 30 minutes to put up or take down, then I'd be O.K. with it. I wonder if it would be advantageous to attach a clip of some sort to the belly band of the Oliver so that you could velcro the pole to the trailer and give it some midpoint bracing. I'm just thinking about wind hitting the side panel and wanting to bend the pole. Though I guess if it proved to be a problem for that pole you could easily run a guy line to the middle of the pole and stake it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenLukens Posted January 30, 2017 Author Share Posted January 30, 2017 Buzzy, even if you do fill it only half way, it will take 2 people to lift it. We had a large 30 gallon one that was given to us and filling it was always a mistake that was to easy to make. If you're thinking about one then I wouldn't get one larger then the 15 gallon because 15 x 9= 135lbs. Personally, now I just use 3 to 5 gallon buckets, it's a few more trips, but I can do it alone and walk right into any bathroom. I'll dig a hole to set the 3 gallon into and then put 4 gallons into a 5 gallon bucket and put the lid on. Reed Thanks Steve and Tali for all of the great info on the privacy room. Jason got promoted to service, and Anita is now our sales lady :) Jason never did get back to us with a price, so if we do buy one it will be through Fiamma USA I guess. Being that it takes so long to get them, we're going to talk with Anita in person when we get there in a few weeks and see what happens. It seems like there is a lot of personnel changes going on right now at Oliver with Tom having left and people are all changing positions and moving around while learning their new jobs. Reed Happy Camping, Reed & Karen Lukens with Riffles our Miniature Poodle 2017 Oliver Legacy Elite II Standard, Hull #200 / 2017 Silverado High Country 1500 Short Bed 4x4 Past TV - 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 4Matic BlueTEC Diesel Click on our avatar pic above to find the videos on our Oliver Legacy Elite II Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator+ ScubaRx Posted January 30, 2017 Moderator+ Share Posted January 30, 2017 Buzzy, the most difficult task in assembly of the Privacy Room is introducing the cord sewn to the top of the side panels into the track that holds them up. This track is built into the rafters that clamp to each edge of the awning fabric. It is the same type track that is common to the front of every awning structure. This is entirely doable with just two hands, it's only more cumbersome. Although I have not tried it you might try that assembling it in this fashion. Put the awning out loosely at minimum height. Thread the sides onto the edge rafters BEFORE raising them up to their position. All othe aspects is assembly can easily be accomplished by one person. 1 Steve, Tali and our dog Rocky plus our beloved Storm, Lucy, Maggie and Reacher (all waiting at the Rainbow Bridge) 2008 Legacy Elite I - Outlaw Oliver, Hull #026 | 2014 Legacy Elite II - Outlaw Oliver, Hull #050 | 2022 Silverado High Country 3500HD SRW Diesel 4x4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVEnBETTY Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 Steve, thanks for the posts, can you share what you have done for skirting on the trl? STEVEnBETTY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator+ ScubaRx Posted January 31, 2017 Moderator+ Share Posted January 31, 2017 Steve, thanks for the posts, can you share what you have done for skirting on the trl? As yet, nothing. We bought the vinyl material to have it made but like so many other projects, I have not gotten around to it yet. Camping here in the desert where there are no insects, there's not really a need for it. The room, I discovered yesterday, stays amazingly cool sitting in the Arizona sun. Admittedly the outside temperature is only in the low 70s but if you stand outside in the direct sunlight it can feel quite fierce. On an additional sidenote, the inside of the trailer is resisting the heat to the point that it is several degrees cooler than the outside temperature. We are not running the fan, although we do have the windows open. One thing that I forgot to mention in the set up of the Privacy Room is where the left sidewall meets the trailer. You will want to make sure that it is clear of the furnace exhaust. At the very least it could possibly melt the vinyl. This is not a problem, just something to be aware of. 1 Steve, Tali and our dog Rocky plus our beloved Storm, Lucy, Maggie and Reacher (all waiting at the Rainbow Bridge) 2008 Legacy Elite I - Outlaw Oliver, Hull #026 | 2014 Legacy Elite II - Outlaw Oliver, Hull #050 | 2022 Silverado High Country 3500HD SRW Diesel 4x4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overland Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 I hadn't thought of that. I wonder if with the skirt you could ever seal up the privacy room so tightly that the exhaust could become a health concern? It would have to be an extreme situation - middle of the winter with snowfall sealing the bottom and the furnace running all night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVEnBETTY Posted April 21, 2017 Share Posted April 21, 2017 Hi Ollie Owners, Anyone planning to buy their Fiamma Privacy Room in 2017? If so, I would value any insights on your ordering process. Since several parts need to be special ordered from Italy, I thought the delivery timetable could be challenging. Your experiences (good and not so good) from start to finish would be very helpful. It looks like Steve will be able to help us understand how to adapt the installation to the Ollie hull. Valuable information to have! For me, it looks like my new puppy, Buddy, will eat up most of my 2017 budget. Oh well, I suspect he will be worth every penny. Buzzy .Buzzy, we ordered a fiamma privacy room about the same time you did, have you heard anything at all from them? We're taking deliver of our Oliver on may 1. Scubarx have you completed your skirting solution? Thanks STEVEnBETTY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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