RE: AAR Self Install Help/Advice!

[Joe Gleason]

 
Bought the Coleman Niagara w/AAR " Add a Room" ..
 
 It s still in the box (as well as the toilete tent)...
 
 Thinking of Brining the AAR on this next trip... Looking for advice some someone who s installed this on there own...I ve  heard Horror stories...
 
 Wondering what top 10 secretes and tools I should know about?
 
 Ie.. Do you set up the camper all the way 1st...
 
 Thanks
 
 Joe

[kathybrj]

 Joe Gleason
Joe- is the velcro and the hooks already on the camper? (I ask this because we had to install the velcro and hooks ourselves, after purchasing the AAR after purchasing our camper).

[Joe Gleason]

 Joe Gleason
No Velcro or Hooks - are those extra purchase Items?

[fivegonefishing]

 Joe Gleason
Hi Joe, now I have a Jayco but I believe the principal is the same for all AAR s (which are worth their weight in gold!) we had to install dome fasteners onto the underframe, very easy to do.  Check your owners manual.
 
 I recommend doing a dry run in your driveway to get the feel of it.  The last thing you want is inclement weather and trying to get the AAR together for the first time.  BTW, your right about half way up...it s way easier to put out the awning and the AAR with the roof only cranked half way up!
 
 Tammy

[kathybrj]

 Joe Gleason
Well, in our case, we purchased an AAR from another Pop Up Times member. There is velcro that runs along the bottom of the camper to hold the " skirt"  on (the part that keeps stuff from coming in under the camper). There are also 2-way zippers that zip into the side of the bunk end and then zip onto the AAR. The hooks are drilled into the top part of the camper box and some small elastic hooks go on them, to keep the AAR tight to the camper side. There are also hooks that we had to install under the lip of the bottom of the camper. (The printed instructions for doing all of this are a real trip in themselves).
 
 When you got the AAR, did your dealer indicate that they would put on the velcro and hooks? Have you looked in the box for them? We ended up getting the hooks, zippers and velcro from Coleman directly.
 
 Once we had all that stuff on, the AAR went up very nicely. There may be folks here that don;t have all the velcro, hooks, etc., on their camper and do just fine with the AAR, so see what other responses you get.

[tlhdoc]

 Joe Gleason
I installed the hardware for my AAR 2 years ago.  It isn t hard, but the directions are bad.  Things I would do are look at the directions and every where the directions are for the Destiny series trailer cross them out.  They give you different choices for the style trailer.  Make sure that you clean the metal where you are attaching the velcro.
 
 The basic steps are to put velcro along the awning rail.  You will also have 2-screw snaps that install into the rail.  The front of the AAR will attach with the velcro and snaps.  The 2 side panels of the AAR will tie and velcro to the awning (both have the velcro on them).  You might want to hang the panels up so you can get a better idea of where the 4 hooks get placed.  The AAR side panel has a bungi corded section that goes up and down on the body of the PU.  This helps attach the AAR to the trailer. You will need to install a hook on the metal rail of the PU box and another one under the PU.  The side panel will be held against the side of the PU by attaching the bungy cord to the 2 hooks.  You will repeat this on the other side.  If you have the AAR panel hanging you will see what area the hooks need attach to.  There are also 2 zipper pieces with velcro that zip into the side wall of the PU (where the wall of the PU box meets the wall of the bunkend), this also attaches the side of the AAR to the PU.  You will also need to attach velcro all along the bottom of the side of the PU.  This may take some time.  You have to go around the area where the stepper door is, so that the door can be raised and lowered.  The AAR skirt has slits in to so it will make the corners without wrinkling up.  There is vel-stick which gets screwed into the wheel well.  The skirt of the AAR will go straight across the wheel well.  There are 1 or 2 small squares of material with velcro on it that cover the hole where the wheel well is.  Good luck and if you have any questions ask.[]