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Author Topic: Inexpensive, Quality Awning  (Read 18305 times)

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Baha (Shawn)

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Inexpensive, Quality Awning
« on: January 15, 2014, 08:45:21 pm »
I've wanted an awning since I got the Syncro, but the most popular unit The Fiamma 45 are $800 bucks!



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





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.



So they finally showed up the other day and I installed them (and the awning) on Eeyore



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.





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.amazon.com/gp/product/B0028PRXQY/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


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vwtrike (Rich)

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Re: Inexpensive, Quality Awning
« Reply #1 on: January 16, 2014, 06:33:11 am »
It looks good. When it's rolled up you don't notice it, nice. thumpup)-
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Celly

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Re: Inexpensive, Quality Awning
« Reply #2 on: January 16, 2014, 09:11:46 am »
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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Baha (Shawn)

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Re: Inexpensive, Quality Awning
« Reply #3 on: January 16, 2014, 02:13:55 pm »
BTW they have roof rack mounts also, in case you want one for the family Truckster
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grungeant (Anthony)

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Re: Inexpensive, Quality Awning
« Reply #4 on: January 16, 2014, 10:41:54 pm »
Quote from: Baha (Shawn) on January 16, 2014, 02:13:55 pm
BTW they have roof rack mounts also, in case you want one for the family Truckster

Family Truckster!  #@rofl3
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kvbug (karen)

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Re: Inexpensive, Quality Awning
« Reply #5 on: January 16, 2014, 10:59:32 pm »
Great find!    thumpup)-
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lovebus (jack)

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Re: Inexpensive, Quality Awning
« Reply #6 on: January 17, 2014, 11:08:56 am »
I'm going to get one. Its on my wishlist along with 50 other things.
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Re: Inexpensive, Quality Awning
« Reply #7 on: January 18, 2014, 06:48:34 am »
 
Quote from: JackWagen   (jack) on January 17, 2014, 11:08:56 am
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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lovebus (jack)

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Re: Inexpensive, Quality Awning
« Reply #8 on: January 19, 2014, 05:47:59 pm »
Shawn is rubbing off on me.  #@rofl3
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matt

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Re: Inexpensive, Quality Awning
« Reply #9 on: January 20, 2014, 07:13:54 pm »


 Shawn,

  That looks really, really nice! Goes really well with Eeyore

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Beetleboi -Greg-

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Re: Inexpensive, Quality Awning
« Reply #10 on: January 20, 2014, 09:46:15 pm »
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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ROUTE 66 MAY 2014

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You buy your own bus, and do what you want to your bus. I'll do what I want to so with mine. Pissing off purists one modification at at time.

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lovebus (jack)

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Re: Inexpensive, Quality Awning
« Reply #11 on: January 20, 2014, 10:49:51 pm »
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grungeant (Anthony)

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Re: Inexpensive, Quality Awning
« Reply #12 on: January 21, 2014, 04:44:23 am »
Quote from: Beetleboi -Greg- on January 20, 2014, 09:46:15 pm
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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Baha (Shawn)

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Re: Inexpensive, Quality Awning
« Reply #13 on: January 21, 2014, 02:07:31 pm »
Just found the sitting. Meant to post last night

Quote from: Beetleboi -Greg- on January 20, 2014, 09:46:15 pm
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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matt

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Re: Inexpensive, Quality Awning
« Reply #14 on: January 29, 2014, 05:43:08 pm »

        
Quote from: JackWagen   (jack) on January 20, 2014, 10:49:51 pm
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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Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.?
― G. Michael Hopf
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