After nearly 5 years of owning VolksCamper the T5 Campervan we finally decided to fit a Fiamma F45s wind out awning. It’s a fairly simple process once you’ve purchased the correct mounting brackets for the type of roof you have on the Transporter. Volkcamper has a pop top roof from www.poptoproofs.co.uk so we opted for the “Kit VW T5 Multivan UK Version” brackets from Fiamma (see below).
Here’s a gallery of photos showing the process.
These are the Kit VW T5 Multivan UK Version brackets that bolt into the existing roof rack mounting bolts on a T5 Transporter.
Existing roof rack mounting holes on a T5 Transporter (front).
The pop top roof hinge covers the rear mounting hole but the next hole along is accessible.
Place the adaptor bracket on to check clearance before applying glue.
This shows how the pop top roof closes over the bracket.
Checking the clearance on the rear bracket.
The pop top roof hinge covers the rear mounting hole so the bracket needs to be mounted to the next hole along the channel.
Apply Sikaflex 252 to the rear of the brackets. This is a bonding adhesive – not basic silicone.
I used some tape to catch any over-spill.
These brackets were left for 24 hours to allow Sikaflex 252 to fully harden before putting any weight onto them or fully tightening the bolts.
Slot the awning onto the brackets (two person job) and unwind the awning to get access to the base plate. Mark the two holes using a punch, remove the awning and drill through the base plate. Offer the awning back up to the brackets, insert the bolts and tighten them from the inside.
Now we’re all set for some instant shade in the South of France or rain cover in the UK 😉
Update: We’ve now been away a few times with the awning and it’s been fantastic. Here’s a few pics …
Brilliant post on fitting the F45S awning, nice work
Can any one tell me it a f45s 260 will fit on to a Vw transport lwb think I have brought the wrong one
did it in the end? I may have the same problem
this is a great post – i’ve been going all round the houses trying to figure out which combination of awning and brackets i need to get for my T5. I also have a poptoproofs.co.uk roof so hopefully i can just follow your lead. Thanks! Paul
Completely agree with Paul’s comments. I have spent ages trying to work out what I need, and how much extra it will cost to have someone fit it once bought. Now that I’ve read this, I can see it is very straight forward, so going to get the stuff ordered and give it a go myself. Thanks very much for posting.
Thanks both for your comments. I originally had a job working it out so am really pleased it’s helping others. Good luck with the installs. Rich
Hi , Eric Buys here in Scotland. Just bought same van and awning as Volkscamper…maybe should be Kamper :-))), thanks for all your effort, another great post from an enthusiast, really appreciated. Just one question; since your rear bracket is so far from the recommended attachment point at the back has there been any noticeable flex or distortion? I was thinking of glueing a length of reinforcing aluminium strip along the back of awning. Is it necessary?
Please txt if you can bother 07753597606 as I’ll be fitting it this weekend.
Kind regards
Hi mate did you ever get this answered? As I’m due to install this and was wanting to know the same thing.
No problems with mine, its been over a year now.
John.
Great write-up on fitting the F45S. Looks daunting until you read this. Much appreciated.
Tony
Great post , just bought a black f45s , and confirmed with guy who was selling who was not sure on brackets, showed him your post and matched the brochure. Cant wait to get if on .. much appreciated. Nice one.
I have a long wheelbase transporter and the holes for the brackets are in the same place as the short wheelbase do you think that there would be to much overhang as the case is 3 meters long instead of 2.6?
Hi Stephen, are you able to use the furthest roof holes? I think the 3 meter version needs a central mount too.
Hi rich thanks for your reply,the front and middle holes are accessible but the rear hole they have covered up with the pop top hinges so I’m not sure what to do,any ideas would be good.the middle hole is in the same place as yours just past the sliding door.
Steve
Hi Steve, I personally wouldn’t want any more overhang than I currently have (already voiding Fiamma warranty due to incorrect fitting) so you could consider fitting the 260cm version if it has the same hole placement as a SWB. The other couple of options are to modify the rear bracket by cutting away the top part of the bracket and drilling two new 9mm holes. Then use two rivnuts in the van roof – also ensure you use the proper glue.
See this image:
https://www.vwt4forum.co.uk/picture.php?albumid=18350&pictureid=192545
Or, fit an awning rail to attach the F45 to:
https://www.vwt4forum.co.uk/picture.php?albumid=8956&pictureid=55871
Hope that helps, Rich
Thanks rich for your help,I’m going to opt for your first option and cut and rivnut the bracket so it sits further back.
Many thanks again for your help.
Steve
Please can you tell me if you fitted a rain guard to your awning as I am puzzled as to which is best for VWT5 lwb with pop up and f45s awning.
Christine
Hi Christine, I have used a strip of plumbers foam pipe lagging. It just slips into place and is a cheap solution. I may purchase a proper rain guard at a later date but this is working fine so far. Rich.
About to fit a F45ti to my T5 SWB, the kit used here looks like it will do the job but I have roof rails and the feet of the roof rails already utilise the holes that would be needed for the fiama. If I move the mounting brackets to the spaces between the roof rail feet and drill a hole in the gutter and rivnut, then fit fiama bracket to the new holes. Seem sensible? Or is there an easier way to mount and keep your roof rails?
Hi Craig,
I think that when your mounting holes are already taken (by the roof rails) then I think you have the following options (click the “Brackets Installation” on each page for detailed instructions) ….
1. Fit a Multirail or Reimo rail and then use this bracket >
https://www.fiammastore.com/Fiamma-F45s-Ti–and-Zip-Awning-Adapter-Brackets/Fiamma-Kit-Multirail-Reimo-VW-T5-and-T6
2. Fit a Brandrup rail and then use this bracket >
https://www.fiammastore.com/Fiamma-F45s-Ti–and-Zip-Awning-Adapter-Brackets/Fiamma-Kit-Brandrup-VW-T5-and-T6
3. Go down a custom route. It seems it must be possible to install without the need to add a rail as these brackets for the Renault Trafic demonstrate (but would probably have the wrong curve on the bracket) >
https://www.fiammastore.com/Fiamma-F45s-Ti–and-Zip-Awning-Adapter-Brackets/Fiamma-Adapter-Kit-Renault-Trafic-and-Opel-Vivaro-and-Nissan-Primastar
For peach of mind, I’d probably go for option 1 although it is extra expense to get the rail installed.
Hope it helps!
Rich
Great post Rich, did the two brackets line up ok considering that you used the hole/nut forward of the poptop hinge? I’m just about to mount mine and note that the rearmost bracket is angled offset to allow for the roof curve at the back. I’m thinking that I’ll get enough adjustment in the bed of sikaflex to allow proper line up.
Please ignore my last question, just realised the kit I have is different.
OK Phil, good luck 🙂
Hi, great site. Is your Awning a 1.9m or 2.6m.
Hi David, thanks. It’s 2.6m. Rich
Hi, Congrats on a very informative site.
Just one question, does your awning sometimes make a whistle type of sound when driving at speed. Not every time but when it does happen it usually starts at 55/58 mph but almost every time over 70mph?
Hi James, thanks for your kind comment.
It does add a bit of buffering noise at speed but it doesn’t whistle. I have foam pipe lagging in the gutter to stop the water dripping down so maybe this has sealed a “whistle gap”? or perhaps it could just be an unlucky angle of one of the mounting brackets. Might be worth sticking on a few bits of gaffer tape on to see if you can locate where the wind is getting in and then use some Sugru to fill the gap?
Good luck! Rich
Hi Rich,
Really informative guide on how to fit this great piece of kit!
Thanks again,
looks great, im also really interested to know where you store your table and chairs ?
Hi Alan, thanks! We store them against the bench seat using a cargo net … here is a pic … https://flic.kr/p/ei84SC
Hi there, good article. I’m also wondering where you got the bike rack from
Hi David,
I got the rack from homestead caravans in 2015
Looks like it’s gone up a tenner since I bought it …
https://www.homesteadcaravans.co.uk/accessory-shop/caravan-motorhome/tv-aerial-satellite/fiamma-carry-bike-vw-t5-d.htm
Hope this helps
Rich
Thanks for this – youve answered quite a few questions that Fiamma dont seem to answer. Like one of your readers i too have roof rails and want to fit my brackets into the same gulley roof holes under the rail brackets. Ive ordered the same Fiamma brackets as yours and am hoping to drill them so I can fit bolts all the way through both them and the rails in one go. I may have to use threaded rod and two layers of nuts in order to fasten both items per hole. If it doesnt work then its only the brackets that ive wasted – although Im reasonably confident it can be done. I dont have the problem of a pop top to contend with. Your photos are most helpful and have given me the inspiration to have a go at this!! Cheers!
Thanks for your comment Dave. Good luck!
Hi, Thanks for this post. I’ve just fitted my fiamma f45s canopy as per your post. I have a S.W.B. camper with a Austops elevating roof. The rear bracket just about fitted before the elevating roof hinge as your pictures, the clearance between hinge and bracket closing on the roof is 2-3mm! So, it’s a tight fit! On another note in relation to the rear bracket, when fitting the bracket in the correct place, you are supposed to put 2 spacer washers on both bolts that attach the mounting bracket to the bracket that connects to the gutter fixing. This is to to bulk up the roof spacing due to the roof curve (it’s in the fixing kit instruction leaflet, if you can be bothered to read this). If your going to fit the rear bracket as per instructions here, my tip would be to use 1washer (possibly 2? – have a play and see what you think before putting sikaflex on the bracket) on the left hand side bolt only that sticks up in the rear bracket. This just improves the fitment slightly and gives a better fit when the awning drops onto the bracket. I hope this makes sense.
Hey Arfon, that makes complete sense, thanks. Yes, I forgot to mention the spacers! Hopefully your comment will help others. Cheers, Rich
Hi. Great post. I’ve just recieved my fiamma but it does’nt have the bracket that you are holding so i cant fix it to the existing holes. It comes with the main brackets that the awening fits onto but not the ones you are holding. Any idea where i can just get those?
Cheers
Paul
Hi Paul,
I’m not sure if you can get these on their own, they should have come with the VW T5 Multivan UK Version brackets (OEM Part Number: 98655648) which was a separate purchase to the awning.
You could try searching for Fiamma 06877-01
Good luck
Rich
Great post. What it doesn’t mention in the instructions from Fiamma is that you need to use LOTS of sikaflex to fill the gap in between the rear bracket and the van, since the bracket profile is not a match for a T5! Plus, I beveled the edges of the brackets because I found them to be razor sharp and I was worried about them scratching my paint…
Hi Ewan,
The bracket I have matches the T5 profile and curves around it. Is this the bracket you received? …
https://www.volkscamper.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2017/06/KIT-VW-T5-adapter-98655-648-300×259.jpg
Rich,
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
These things are expensive, and I spent a lot of time surfing the Internet and reading forums to make sure I got the right one…with the right fixing system.
I ordered through a local van fitters, and they inspected my van, to ensure they ordered everything I needed.
I finally got hold of my awning and started to fit it, when I realised something wasn’t right. I didn’t have a C tube in the roof gulley, it looks like yours, and despite looking through the bits I couldn’t make anything fit.
I nearly lost my sh*t with the fitters and Fiamma, but decided to google “Fiamma brackets, VW T5, gutter mount” and low and behold your wonderful pictures appeared, and I immediately identified the missing brackets. Luckily the fitters have some lying around, but they did say that they could get them from Fiamma.
My point is this; there are hundreds of combinations of awnings, rails and gutter mounts and you need to be very, very specific with both your suppliers and Fiamma, as to which combination you require.
Thanks for taking the time to photograph and explain each stage. Someone had to take the “Voyage of Discovery”, so others don’t need to. It saved me a lot of time and swear words.
Pecky
So glad to have found this post. I bought a F45 and a Reimo multirail last year but could not get the brackets to line up with the van roof at the locations on the instructions for the awning so it’s been sat in my garage for a year. I’m going to start fitting mine this week, weather depending. The front bracket locates ok (approx 300mm in from the end of the awning) but the rear bracket, which is supposed to go right at the rear of the van, only lines up with the van when I move it nearly 600mm from the end. I have had rubbish help from Fiamma but have been told that brackets cannot be fitted more than 300mm from the end of the awning otherwise the casing will deflect when the awning is wound out. Have any of you fitted the mounting brackets this far from the end and have you had any problems with the casing bending or twisting?
Hi Dave, due to the pop top roof brackets I had to move the Fiamma brackets further in – so this will be affecting any Fiamma warranty, but I have not experienced any bending or twisting of the case. It feels rock solid, but I guess only time will tell (It’s been on for 2 years). Good luck! Rich
What a first class post!
I have been looking all over the net, so many options, but so little once you fit a pop top!!
I’m now sorted and ordered all the bits in your pictures!
Very many thanks for taking the time to do this!
Regards,
John.
(Tintagel Cornwall)
Hi John, thanks for the comment. Glad it helped. happy camping! Rich
Hi,thanks for a superb description on how to fit this fiamma,My t5 is a swb,and the same year as yours,but the awning I have is a 3meter one.My brackets arrived today exactly the same as yours,my question is will two brackets be ok?I don’t have a pop top so it looks like I can use the end gutter hole.Thanks again for a really helpful post.
Hi Howard, Thanks for your comment. The installation manual shows only two brackets for the 300cm version but obvioulsy designed to go on a LWB T5 so they are spaced out a bit further. It has 40cm extra length so my thoughts would be to try a dry run and offfer it up before drilling to see what the extra 20cm on each side looks like. It would probably still have less overhang than my end bracket if you are using the end gutter hole. Let me kow how you get on. Rich
Hi rich,false alarm,it wasn’t a 3m after all.The guy i got it off said it was but I’ve just measured it and it’s 2.60,so I’m having it painted black next week then I’ll have a go at fitting it.thanks for your help.
Hi Rich, thanks for this write-up, I’m in NZ and it’s hard to find the correct parts here. Your photos are reassuring, so at least I now know what to order.
One thing I’m concerned about: Does the awning increase the over all height of the van + pop-top? Have you measured the height of the fitted awning from ground by chance? I’m a bit concerned that I’ll lose the ability to get into some parking lots (and my car port)…
Thanks again, Norman
Great post – Going to fit one myself and save £200!
Hi Rich,
Thanks for the write up, this really helps answer a number of questions that many others didn’t seem to be able to answer.
One quick question however; are you able to easily open and close your front passenger door with the awning extended? I would prefer to use the same side bracket which you have used, but I read somewhere that, when extended, the awning can foul the door. I understand there is a higher bracket which avoids this but it doesn’t look as good and will make the clearance higher for getting under parking barriers etc….
Many thanks,
Simon
Hi Simon,
Glad it helped 🙂 You can extend the awning leg and open the passenger door – but you have to remember to do this! sometimes small children open the door without realising. I’ve seen a YouTube video somewhere where the instructions are to lock the passenger door when using the awning!
The answer is, yes it fouls it, but I personally wouldn’t have the higher bracket. I can just get through car park barriers at the moment and the passenger door isn’t used that often when the awning is out.
Hope that helps,
Rich
(P.s I don’t have upgraded alloys – a friend isn’t able to get through some barriers with their large wheels and standard suspension height)
Hi rich a brilliant and detailed blog. I’m looking at fitting the f35pro. I also have the pop top hinges in the way. Would you know that if I move the bracket to the next hole it will be strong enough to take the privacy room on the awning. Thanks
Thanks Steve. I would personally think it would be fine but I don’t have experience of that. It wouldn’t be covered under warranty and I’d probably want to check if there is any flexing going on. I don’t think the privacy room is very heavy is it? Rich
Hi,
I’ve got a T6 which is set up the same as your van from what I can see, but looking at the brackets when “dry fitting” without the Silka Flex to test it all out it’s looking like there will be a gap between bracket and the base fixing plate, did you have this? Did you have to use the shim washers to fill the gap? It al looks straightforward but I want to make sure that there are no gaps between the bracket and baseplate once all fitted up and to do that I’ll have to put the shim washers on first then stick brackets on, not quite sure if I am making a big deal of this but any advice would be really appreciated.
Thanks
Ian
Hi Ian, I’m trying to remember, but I think I did use the washers – it was a nice fit with no gap once assembled. Hope that helps? Rich
Awesome post! This is a massive help in the fitting of this system. I have a SWB with a poptop roof so the same set up as you have. Not sure whether to go for the 2.6m or 2.3m length.
Would you do the same again or drop to a 2.3m?
Hi Andy, thanks! I would stick to the 2.6, it hasn’t been a problem and the extra shelter is useful – especially in the rain! Rich.
Thanks for this excellent article, my Skyline Aurora poptop hinges block the rear roof mounting hole so I may use your method on my SWB T5.1 camper, I don’t want the further expense of a Reimo rail just to add a Fiamma F45s. I plan on attaching my Vango Hexaway airbeam awning to the Fiamma using Kador once its fitted, can you foresee any problem with the rear mounting bracket allowing too much flex in windy conditions ??
Hi Adam, sorry I thought I answered this! the awning attachment is usually a bit flappy in the wind and not load bearing. The guy ropes that allow the “drive away” aspect of the awning take all the strain so I’ve not noticed a lot of pull on the end of the awning. Did you fit it OK? Rich
hi adam how did you get on fitting your awning iv got a fiamma 45s awning on alwb 3 metre one useing the last roof hole but in the next few weeks im haveing a skyline aurora top fitted so i think i have to take my brackets off then refit them afterwards but not to keen on bringing in the bracket and not haveing one towards the rear ,any ideas ,thanks steve ,and thanks every one for al your post
The instructions show no washers under the mounting bracket at the front, and 2nr washers on each bolt at the rear; this pushes my rear bracket away from the side of the van. is this correct??
Hi Mike, I’ll be honest and say that I can’t quite remember. However, I think the washers just allowed for the correct spacing of the bracket and as I used different mounting holes I just made sure that the bracket sat firmly with enough gap available for the glue. Hope that helps! Rich
Hey! Thanks for this post, it’s really helpful 🙂 I was about to pull the trigger on paying someone to do this for me… I have a LWB with the same issue (last hole covered by pop top hinge). I’m stuck between either getting the 3m or the 2.6. Giving that the LWB is 40CM shorter, I should technically have the same amount of overhang on the 3M, right?