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Thu Jul 28, 2011 12:09 pm

i was looking to buy a bus depot awning. I saw one of their small ones in daytona campground last year and liked how simple it was to put up. My question is ; has anyone had the small one and then graduate to the larger size ? how much more trouble is the larger one to put up for one person or should i just get the smaller one? are the support poles that hook onto the jack supports worth the extra ??...thanks

Thu Jul 28, 2011 1:27 pm

Not sure what you mean by big and small awnings. I have their ezy awning. I love it. It sets up easily.

Thu Jul 28, 2011 1:59 pm

pb24ss wrote: Not sure what you mean by big and small awnings. I have their ezy awning. I love it. It sets up easily.

they made a full length ezy awning

Thu Jul 28, 2011 3:25 pm

I like mine - but its the smaller version - 8' by 8'. Bus Depot also got some larger ones that were 11' by 8'.

Funny story - a want ad for a Westfalia awning was posted on Halifax kijiji site for the last couple of months - they showed a picture of an EZ Awning, and they were offering $300.

http://halifax.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-RVs-campe...Z287188844

I should have sold them my used one, but didn't have the heart. Finally I replied to the ad and informed them that they could get a brand new one at Bus Depot for $119, and provided the link to it.

They thanked me.

Thu Jul 28, 2011 4:29 pm

I have had the EZ Awning for over a year now with the jack point attachments. It's nice once put up but the jack point setup gets in the way. Also I am not real impressed with the gutter clamps. Over all I find myself using my EZ Up more often than the EZ Awning

Wed Aug 24, 2011 4:49 pm

speaking of which, one of my spring poles decided to no longer be so springy. Anyone know where I can find replacements other than buying a new set?

Wed Aug 24, 2011 7:21 pm

2VWs1BMW wrote: speaking of which, one of my spring poles decided to no longer be so springy. Anyone know where I can find replacements other than buying a new set?
http://www.polesforyou.com/

Wed Aug 24, 2011 7:54 pm

Hi,

The large is an easy setup, tho if it's a bit windy I recommend help attaching to the bus, as it can be a bit of a handful if it catches a breeze. The overall quality appeared excellent.

The first issue I had was that the portion of the tubing that should seat in the rain gutter over my front passenger door doesn't, as there isn't enough space between my Riviera-type top and the gutter for the pole to rest nicely. My bad; if I'd known it would be an issue, I'd not have purchased the large.

The second, more important issue was with the seams on my first setup... Since there isn't much to go wrong and instructions are straightforward, I don't believe anything was over-tensioned by mistake, so the gap at the seams was disappointing.

Sun Oct 23, 2011 5:37 pm

thanks for the info, anyone else got some close up pics of the awning clamped in place?

Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:26 am

Bump. I'd like to see a picture of the clamping section as well if someone has one.

Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:54 am

Grandpa, I actually just received our large Bus Depot awning late last week, and put it up for the first time yesterday (you know it was pretty breezy here yesterday too. I set it up by myself in about a half our, that was taking my time and reading the instructions step by step. I feel I could do it in 15 minutes now.

Overall I'm very happy with it so far. We'll be camping with it this weekend at Wild Weekend so swing by and I'll give you the grand tour.

Wed Apr 25, 2012 11:52 am

Mr. Unpopular wrote: Grandpa, I actually just received our large Bus Depot awning late last week, and put it up for the first time yesterday (you know it was pretty breezy here yesterday too. I set it up by myself in about a half our, that was taking my time and reading the instructions step by step. I feel I could do it in 15 minutes now.

Overall I'm very happy with it so far. We'll be camping with it this weekend at Wild Weekend so swing by and I'll give you the grand tour.

If you could take a couple pictures of the attachment to the rain gutter this weekend and post, I would appreciate it. mark

Wed Apr 25, 2012 3:03 pm

I'll try to remember to get pictures. Its pretty straightforward on our late bay westy. It fits better with the top up but settles in at the front fine.

Thu Apr 26, 2012 12:24 am

mr unpopular..great to hear that you are up and running :) ...I will be visiting the campground friday night,then setting up for the day saturday...looking foreward to seeing your "monstrosity" :roll: ...took 2 hours today in the woods in tennesee to get an original slide roller track cover for the 69...........headed home tomorrow 8)

Thu Apr 26, 2012 9:11 am

Mr. Unpopular wrote: I'll try to remember to get pictures. Its pretty straightforward on our late bay westy. It fits better with the top up but settles in at the front fine.

Thank you.

Tue Jul 24, 2012 9:14 am

Just a quick update to let you know the Ezy Awning has been improved. It is now available a second color option (beige/brown), and you can add optional walls to create a screen room or enclosed shelter. (The walls can be retrofit to older models as well for those of you who already have one). The new shipment is coming this week, along with a new $69 rear hatch shelter. Details at http://www.busdepot.com/details/awning/

Tue Jul 24, 2012 10:25 am

That rear hatch privacy shelter looks interesting.

- Andrew in Austin, TX -

Tue Jul 24, 2012 10:58 am

I'm pretty excited about it, especially for $69. I tested the prototype out on several camping trips this summer. (That my Vanagon in the picture.) Five of us (2 adults, 3 kids) camp in our Westy, so it gets a bit crowded. Being able to offload all our stuff out the back hatch and still keep it covered and protected was really useful. We also used it for changing, and at night we opened the door but kept the screen closed so we had ventilation out the back hatch while keeping bugs out. It's also available in beige/brown.

The only downside, on a Bus, is that it's a little baggy as compared to on a Vanagon (but still completely functional). Using my '78 Westy I sized it to work on both Buses and Vanagons, as making separate ones for each wasn't economically feasible. There is a slit on each top corner to allow it to push further forward on the Bus since its hatch is a bit shallower, and a couple of ties so you can secure it there.

Tue Jul 24, 2012 11:04 am

Hello Ron,

Does the rear hatch shelter have a floor?

Looks like a creative way to add some room!

Tue Jul 24, 2012 11:08 am

No. It does have a skirt that goes all the way to the ground.