TheSamba.com :: View topic

Tue Jun 07, 2011 3:07 pm

Classicvibe wrote: PDXWesty wrote: The Kelty Carport is a sunshade only. It is not waterproof and does not protect from rain. Mine was ripped up in some moderate winds also. Don't expect it to do more..

No dis' on the Dave Vickery model, but I would guess the carport will outperform it? It seems quite versatile.

If it isn't waterproof that is a deal breaker here in the PNWet. And $200 is getting really close to the price of this discussed earlier in the thread.

Tue Jun 07, 2011 3:21 pm

For me the big advantage of the DV is that it stores in previously unused space and is always there. I've a 7x9 tarp in transit and am looking forward to taking my shot at a version.

Tue Jun 07, 2011 5:08 pm

Kelty Cartarp for about the right price ($66 shipped):
http://www.bobwards.com/KELTY---Car-Tarp-Shelter--...leproducts
Its got taped seams and rolls up about 4"x23" including two poles, guy lines and stakes (the stakes that come with it are useless IMHO).

Wed Jun 15, 2011 7:58 am

Fernando at Camping Lab sent me a picture of how his awnings are meant to attach to bar ends.

I have a spare 2 rain gutter clamps and a bit of Yakima bar around...

I'm thinking that I could install the Yakima raingutter clamps solely for the purpose of putting the awning on them. Use ~6" (maybe less) of the bar to provide the surface area for the Camping Lab attachment and go from there.

I'm worried about the torsional force from the weight of the awning being too much for the rain gutter - what do you guys think? Would that be too much for the rain gutter or should it work without damage?

Wed Jun 15, 2011 9:10 am

I don't see how that could work. The raingutter mounts are designed to work as a pair with the full bar attached to join them. They will not have very much torsional support by them selves.

Wed Jun 15, 2011 10:24 am

For those of us with poptops, the yak bars would be mounted to the poptop and unusable for awning mount when deployed.

I have a Big Agnes awning thats pretty much the same as the BD. How do you guys attach the BD awning so that there is not a 'water gap' between the van and the awning?

Wed Jun 15, 2011 12:23 pm

dobryan wrote: I don't see how that could work. The raingutter mounts are designed to work as a pair with the full bar attached to join them. They will not have very much torsional support by them selves.

After going out and looking at it closr - I agree. It needs something that extends below the gutter for torsional rigidity (a la the Fiamma mount).

Wed Jun 15, 2011 12:35 pm

For my Camping Lab awning, I used the GoWesty brackets and am happy with the result.

I can get some decent pics of it later today.

Edit: Here are the photos:

Track profile:

This is how I mounted the GW brackets to the CL awning; hex head bolts supplied by CL.

How the mounts sit on the Van. You'll need to do some test fitting to make sure the bracket clears the door, but it isnt that difficult:

Close up of the bracket:

Wed Jun 15, 2011 7:41 pm

MacFhearguis, thanks for posting the additional photos. That looks very workable at a third of the price of the Fiamma.
A couple of questions for you. Do you have the 70 or 79? I see from the Camping Lab website http://www.campinglab.com/awning.html that they offer screen rooms for both models, and the privacy enclosure for just the 79. Which length do you think would work best from your experience? Lastly, I saw from your photos posted on the first page of this thread that you had it set up on concrete without any pole ropes. Does this work out if there isn't any wind to speak of?

Thu Jun 16, 2011 5:30 am

epaddler wrote: MacFhearguis, thanks for posting the additional photos. That looks very workable at a third of the price of the Fiamma.
A couple of questions for you. Do you have the 70 or 79? I see from the Camping Lab website http://www.campinglab.com/awning.html that they offer screen rooms for both models, and the privacy enclosure for just the 79. Which length do you think would work best from your experience? Lastly, I saw from your photos posted on the first page of this thread that you had it set up on concrete without any pole ropes. Does this work out if there isn't any wind to speak of?

I've got the 79" model; went with this one for the availability of the screen room and the privacy enclosure.

I think the 79" works just fine and proportionately is perfect for the Westy.

I had no issues on concrete. The ends are spikes, so they could be set in dirt too for a quick setup, without the guy ropes.

HTH

G

Thu Jul 14, 2011 12:30 pm

Torrential downpours yesterday, our DV awning v1 saw major action first time out. Beyond a half inch the soil still thought it was summer and would not accept my weenie stake so I did not get a taut surface, but tying a corner to a tree and sticking a pole in the center and it was 50 or so square feet of valuable dryness. :)
Having proved its value I think I'll invest in some of the nice aluminum poles and explore putting in a more rigid front edge. I tried to upload a pic off the phone but I'm not there yet.
For those of you playing the home game a tarp that works is Outdoor Products 7x9 off amazon.

Tue Sep 06, 2011 2:06 pm

anyone know anything about this awning?

http://www.rhinorack.com/AccSubCategory_Sunseeker-Awning_57.aspx

Tue Sep 06, 2011 2:11 pm

oops, that's the extension to the awning. this is what i meant
http://www.rhinorack.com.au/AccSubCategory_Sunseeker-Awning_57.aspx

but now i'm seeing it's for an already existing rhino rack, rack. hmm.

Sun Sep 11, 2011 6:41 am

Well my really neat NASCAR heavy metal accordion 10 X 10 X 10 bit the dust during a viscious rain storm Labour Day Sun in Pa. When I put it up I noticed that two of the upper elbows didn't snap into place. Well when the heavens opened AND the water was coming up thru the ground in the pavilion, the tent collapsed. one broken strut on 3 sides and many bent struts near the top ends of the 4 corners. Without those two elbows locking up the heavy rain pooled. I emptied it several times and lowered one corner but during the night heavy rains once again and inward it fell. Never heard a thing and had a hard time opening the slider without scratching it but mission accomplished. So I have this great canopy and no stand for it. Stared at the broken stand most of the day, thinking it could be fixed but when I saw the bent shoulders, I knew its integrity was lost. Lesson, DON"T ignore those non locking elbows.

Using a tarp for now. Funny thing is you can buy the canopies separate but you can't buy the stand separate OR does anyone know where I can just get the stand or shall I put the NASCAR canopy up for sale.?

Sun Sep 11, 2011 7:42 am

Same thing with my EZ Up. Legs bent in a sudden gust, was really calm, then POOF came the wind. Legs were available, but needed more info than I could find. So,if you just get another canopy, you get an extra cover.

Tue Sep 13, 2011 7:26 pm

Here are a few pics of my awning. Really works great, is stable and would withstand a decent amount of wind I believe. Actually these pics were made before I had the sleeve sewn in for the conduit that goes into the gutter and gets clamped on - That is why it looks sloppy where it attaches to the gutter. With the sleeve sewn in place and the proper length conduit it is perfectly taut and looks like a factory unit. Also you can see in these pics the extra awning material hanging down from the gutter. That is the zippered "case" that the awning was originally rolled up into when attached to the pop up camper that this awning was originally installed on. I removed that when I had the sleeve sewn on. When not in use I just unclamp and roll it up with the conduit inside the sleeve. It fits inside the camper fine. Setup time is about 5 minutes solo and 2 minutes with help.

Also - in the picture you notice that the right bar is on the door. If you want to you can just move the entire setup to the left to eliminate this. I dont really care as I dont use the door when camping.

I am a pretty picky kinda guy and am happy with this - would not want anything else. :D

Sat Sep 17, 2011 7:01 am

Anyone know a source for rubber endcaps of the sort that are on the ends of the support bars of my awning? They are similar to what is found on the bottom of cructhes.

Sat Sep 17, 2011 7:09 am

medical supply store? I think I've seen chair leg ends at hardware stores. awning looks very nice!

Sat Sep 17, 2011 7:21 am

crutch tips at bigger pharmacys like Walgreens, CVS.

How are the ends here attached at the door?

I find udisnt the poles vertical it is easier to mive around, in and out, especially when you hang a skeeter net.

Sat Sep 17, 2011 10:03 am

debbiej wrote: medical supply store? I think I've seen chair leg ends at hardware stores. awning looks very nice!

Thanks for the compliment