SJVWC Forums
Archive => Archive board => Westfalia Tips and Tricks => Topic started by: Baha (Shawn) on January 15, 2014, 08:45:21 pm
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I've wanted an awning since I got the Syncro, but the most popular unit The Fiamma 45 are $800 bucks!
(http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u350/CREGANWESTY/MirrorsAwning002.jpg)
Don't get me wrong. These are high quality units with aluminum enclosures and a crank out mechanism, but damn they're pricey
The alternative and complete polar opposite is the Shady Boy.
This compact awning also stows in an aluminum enclosure that is only 3' long.
The down side (IMHO) is its a nylon umbrella style canopy, and a bit flimsy using fiberglass poles with essentially no side support
They're great for car shows and guaranteed fair weather events, but the thought of going to sleep and leaving it up scares me
(http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/751428.jpg)
(http://schoolagain.com/images/ShadyBoy1-o.jpg)
I actually aquired a used one, not sure if I'll ever use it.
I have been looking for an alternative for 2 years and I stumbled across this on Amazon
The description is AW-FULL. Terrible photos. But at $235 shipped on Amazon Prime I had to give it a shot
I assumed it was Chinese and figured it was going to be crap
It arrived and I slid it out of it's shipping tube and to my surprise, its an Australian made ARB brand and it is really well made.
What a nice surprise...a not so nice surprise is when I found out that awnings don't have mounts. #banghead
I ordered a set of Vanagon awning mounts from GoWesty.
(http://www.gowesty.com/images/ec/products/thumb/thumb_49de8a4cc19a934000e73d881fe727f9.jpg)
So they finally showed up the other day and I installed them (and the awning) on Eeyore
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3wvCTkiWYsU/Utcpr0O-PfI/AAAAAAAAhBk/0L6gxbVqYp8/s640/IMAGE_803.jpg)
The "compromises" that make it so inexpensive weren't wort paying nearly 3 time the price for sure.
No aluminum enclosure. Instead theres a HD UV resistant vinyl zippered "bag" cover
No crank mechanism, the awning just rolls up and stores in the cover
That's it... the only drawbacks.
The legs have twist-locks built in. and it has side support bars just like the crank outs so it free stands just like the big boys do.
I set it up tonight and it's relatively easy. A little clumsy with just one person, but not hard to do.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M_34nHYLuuE/UtcptQnGy_I/AAAAAAAAhBw/lf2pE1aoX4A/s640/IMAGE_805.jpg)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oU6disr6ZHA/Utcpt4CCsiI/AAAAAAAAhB8/UvxYRxo_mVE/s640/IMAGE_806.jpg)
When set-up, it's exactly the same look and function of the Fiamma. Definately worth it!
When I took it down I realized that setting the sides before dropping the legs would make one man set-up a snap
GoWesty has awning brackets for the Bus too!
(http://www.gowesty.com/images/ec/products/thumb/thumb_1ce7914cda71dc725c5e5674bed13ab0.jpg)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0028PRXQY/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0028PRXQY/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
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It looks good. When it's rolled up you don't notice it, nice. thumpup)-
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Great find Shawn! I will be checking it out at FYBO. It looks like a great (inexpensive) alternative to the fiamma. It would be great on those hot summer days in a festival parking lot. Very Cool! 2@@cool
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BTW they have roof rack mounts also, in case you want one for the family Truckster
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BTW they have roof rack mounts also, in case you want one for the family Truckster
Family Truckster! #@rofl3
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Great find! thumpup)-
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I'm going to get one. Its on my wishlist along with 50 other things.
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I'm going to get one. Its on my wishlist along with 50 other things.
Jack.. Your like a Kid in a Candy Shop.... Stop-ppppppp B4 you spend your children's inheritance &^rofl
.
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Shawn is rubbing off on me. #@rofl3
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Shawn,
That looks really, really nice! Goes really well with Eeyore
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How did it fair with the wind? Thinking about one for Mildred. You must've seen my canopy blowing all over the place. Granted I didn't have it tied down to anything.
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This is for you Matt. http://www.amazon.com/ARB-ARB3101-Simpson-Brown-Rooftop/dp/B001RDLGG6/ref=pd_sim_auto_8
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How did it fair with the wind? Thinking about one for Mildred. You must've seen my canopy blowing all over the place. Granted I didn't have it tied down to anything.
I was pretty impressed with the idear of yours. It probably would have been fine if the ropes in the corners were staked down.
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Just found the sitting. Meant to post last night
How did it fair with the wind? Thinking about one for Mildred. You must've seen my canopy blowing all over the place. Granted I didn't have it tied down to anything.
not enough wind to do anything... Your ultra-light awning MUST be tied down no matter what.
hint: Its made from parachute material #@rofl3
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This is for you Matt.
http://www.amazon.com/ARB-ARB3101-Simpson-Brown-Rooftop/dp/B001RDLGG6/ref=pd_sim_auto_8
I think that would squash Bob!
That would be a BIG sucker to fly off his roof! & can't imagine cars running over that thing!!
Need some very pretty 2@cent too! - but thanks for the idea, thumpup)- I'll save it just in case......
M
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Ugh oh... Link says currently not available!
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Never mind....
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Greg, I got mine here http://www.jeep4x4center.com/arb-awning-2500-arb-3108us.html
Go here first and get a coupon code http://couponists.com/index.php/store/index/id/865
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Awesome jack! Thanks.
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Dang the brackets are 86 bucks.
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Dang the brackets are 86 bucks.
I think Shawn, or someone said they seen them for $79 on Amazon, and DreamWeaver said he had some when Jack was putting his together.
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He's right... Brackets from GoWesty only. It is what it is
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is it what it is?
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I thought this was interesting... for under 400, no fancy zipper bag tho...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007MFAFE2/?tag=linksert573-20 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007MFAFE2/?tag=linksert573-20)
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the awning is exposed to the elements when stowed and wind while you drive.... Retractables are not worth the money IMHO
I can set mine up twice as fast as Joel & Jay because I don't have to:
crank a little, move the legs,crank a little, move the legs,crank a little, move the legs,crank a little, move the legs,crank a little, move the legs
2@cent
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the awning is exposed to the elements when stowed and wind while you drive.... Retractables are not worth the money IMHO
I can set mine up twice as fast as Joel & Jay because I don't have to:
crank a little, move the legs,crank a little, move the legs,crank a little, move the legs,crank a little, move the legs,crank a little, move the legs
2@cent
I feel ya, however this is, a RV awning, no legs to mess with...
Most likely heavy...
Yupp, exposed, wind drag...
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51xwhcu6RbL.jpg)
all that said, a legless RV awning for that price is a good deal. And I'd digg no legs!!! they even have a 12 X 10 one.... &$hmmthin_+
LOL I have much bigger fish to fry right now!!! My ez up 10 X 10 canopy will do just fine for the season !
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Hmmm... No legs...
I could have an awning and still drive to Shawn's campsite!
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Shawn and Jack's awning is the way to go for me. Cheaper, easy to setup, compact, no moving parts to possibly break, and I have seen it in person so I know its good. I hope to be able to swing this by festival season, but Thing parts are the priority.
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the awning is exposed to the elements when stowed and wind while you drive.... Retractables are not worth the money IMHO
I can set mine up twice as fast as Joel & Jay because I don't have to:
crank a little, move the legs,crank a little, move the legs,crank a little, move the legs,crank a little, move the legs,crank a little, move the legs
2@cent
You forgot one, move the legs,crank a little
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Jack how fast was it shipped to you? I'm running out of paychecks and time before the Easter Egg Campout. I don't have Amazon Prime.
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Fast, one day,