Bongo Fury

You can get a rivnut kit cheaply which might also do the trick:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Laser-0979-Nut- ... 034&sr=1-2

I've used it for several jobs around the van and highly recommend it.

Thanks Stuc.

Rivnuts, I like that idea, as long as the rail is thick enough to countersink.

If it doesn't work, I have gained another useful tool. Result!

Kitchen finally finished indoors, Bongo Fettling to the fore. I have finally got round to the awning. Did a trial fit dry last night, had to slot a couple of the holes in the rail because my drilling for the rivnuts was a bit sloppy and ran out of time. next step is to refit it with Sikaflex. The bag is a bit long so I have a bit sticking out at the back, might need to fab a bracket up from the tailgate shut to take the thrust from the stretcher pole, but I may get away with it or even make something portable that I can just fit as needed.

I have to say Rivnuts was a great tip. I also used them to fix a metal clad 13A socket on the sliding door pillar (sans trim panel) for the fridge and will use them in future anywhere I would have used a self tapper. Withdrawing the mandrel is the only PITA, I need someone with a lathe to make a twiddler as the one on the tool is unkind to my bony old fingers!

Rail's on, bedded in Sikaflex and screwed down with Stainless steel countersunk M4 screws. Going to leave it 48hrs for the Sikaflex to set as the last 125mm of rail is fixed solely by Sikaflex as you can't get the drill under the AFT right at the back.