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Thu Aug 15, 2019 6:00 pm

Daverham wrote: Quick edit here:

I just watched the ARB video and that one is off the list for the following reasons:
• It packs up in a canvas bag like the Smittybilt. That just looks odd to me. I'd rather have a hard shell.

ARB makes an aluminum case version; GoWesty (among others) sells it.

Daverham wrote: Also, the Fiamma is the only one that I've seen with a "rain strut" (see video, above), which is exactly what I was talking about with the water pooling up.

Center rafter is the official name... extra $35 for it. :wink:

My parents' '89 came with a Fiamma... it is quite nice for sure. My dad ended up shortening the crank handle to work better.

Daverham wrote: Poking around on YouTube also turned up this one ($600) called the "Eezi-Awn Series 2000" - interesting.

It's actually a 98% duplicate to the original Dometic Trans-Awn 2000. So, if anyone out there has an ancient Trans-Awn needing parts, contact an Eezi-Awn dealer. 8)

Fri Aug 16, 2019 5:10 am

Seems like using any one of the attached awnings would be a pain for you if you need to drive the bus for some reason. Even if it is attached to the Bus, you still have to deal with folding legs and rolling it up or whatever. And that might still include ropes and all that.

I would suggest one of the EZ-UP style if you want to be able to drive away, since they are completely free standing. Downside certainly is overall size for packing.

Though, doesn't Bus Depot sell extra legs to make their awning free standing? Maybe that is your best bet since you've got that awning already.

Fri Aug 16, 2019 7:42 am

vwwestyman wrote:

Though, doesn't Bus Depot sell extra legs to make their awning free standing? Maybe that is your best bet since you've got that awning already.

Yes, they do. I bought the extra legs.

Sun Sep 06, 2020 2:18 pm

I suppose this is an old thread, But it seemed like the "official awning thread". :?

Got my awning configured and put up.

It's an 8x10 heavy duty tarp ($8 at Ocean State Job Lot, just a discount store.)

Horizontal poles are 3/4 emt conduit from Lowes ($6 for a 10 foot stick, bought 2)

I cut them in half and used an external sleeve made from a piece of tubing I had, and hitch pins ($3) to hold them together. One side bolts to the roof rack. The other side I flattened the ends of the emt 3" long and drilled a hole that slips over the pin on the top of my vertical poles.

The vertical poles and stakes and ropes I had. Those poles come apart for storage also.

So it all folds in half and all the poles get rolled up in the tarp, and it can store in the bus or on the roof rack.

For a total of about $23 8) it seems good, we'll see how it works when i get camping in a few weeks.

Sun Sep 06, 2020 5:40 pm

HoboBus wrote:

I really like that, and the simplicity. I've got a Westy, so I would have to figure out how to attach to the Bus without a roof rack to bolt to.

Sun Sep 06, 2020 7:55 pm

Definitely happy with this awning.
Overland vehicle systems 270*

Mon Sep 07, 2020 8:29 am

Nice, looks like it would really help keep the interior cool on a sunny day.

Wed Apr 20, 2022 9:41 pm

https://www.daylodge.com/

I’m bringing up this old thread on awnings, there are several of them!
But I got to see one of these inflatable awnings today and was blown away with what a good concept this is. Personally I love the original side tents, but if I needed just an awning this just makes sense to me.
Real light and easy to stow away.
No poles to bend, store or scratch the car with.
Could be used on either side or the rear of the bus
Easily stored in a bag
Wind doesn’t hurt it
Snow loads don’t hurt it
Sets up in I’d guess 5 minutes.
Seems like an ideal awning to me. Check out the link I posted.

I wish I could just post a picture but the link is the website.

Fri Apr 22, 2022 4:34 pm

I have inflatable boats and paddle boards that I can stand on with both ends up on chairs and they won't fold.
It looks like the same construction used on that awning and should work great.
One requirement for me though is that my next awning mounts to the Bus.
Also, I would like it to be 10 feet wide which would probably require a third rib and I'm not sure how that would work.

Anyway, I just bought two of the ARB style awnings from NAPA for 200 bucks and I will have to live with them.

Fri Apr 22, 2022 5:46 pm

jakokombi wrote:

Anyway, I just bought two of the ARB style awnings from NAPA for 200 bucks and I will have to live with them.

Those are quality awnings. Pretty much a direct door of the ARB. Had I know about them, I would have purchased one instead of the ARB. Not to take anything away from the ARB, it’s a great awning. But, the NAPA one is just as nice.

Sat Apr 23, 2022 4:22 pm

Rich, I'm told that the difference is that the ARB has plastic hinges that are less likely to break, that's why I bought two of the NAPA ones. The second one is for parts.

I really don't understand how they could sell these at $100 per copy.

Sat Apr 23, 2022 6:54 pm

Yes, the NAPA awning has aluminum hinges. From my observations those seem stronger than the ARB hinges. All in all I think the Napa awning is a better buy then the ARB awning. Excluding the fact of the ARB comes with a built in light and the NAPA does not.

Sat Apr 23, 2022 8:48 pm

71whitewesty wrote: https://www.daylodge.com/

I wish I could just post a picture but the link is the website.

easy to snag any jpg off a website. right click on it and open image in new tab. then copy the image url. this one had some resizing stuff after .jpg, just delete it.

Sun Apr 24, 2022 3:49 am

vwwestyman wrote: HoboBus wrote:

I really like that, and the simplicity. I've got a Westy, so I would have to figure out how to attach to the Bus without a roof rack to bolt to.

Dave

Two big harbor fright fishing magnets might work here. No drilling or glue required

Sun Apr 24, 2022 7:22 am

KrisBalfe wrote:
Im super curious, why the awning over the radiator?

Sun Apr 24, 2022 11:47 am

^^ Table ?

Sun Apr 24, 2022 3:42 pm

Just FYI I bought the awning from NAPA today and got 20% off for some reason because I ordered 3 items and free shipping over $100. So, $80 for the awning. Seems like a win if anyone else is in the market.

Thu Apr 28, 2022 3:13 pm

nemobuscaptain wrote: KrisBalfe wrote:
Im super curious, why the awning over the radiator?

Yeah it was for the table, and I had two stools that also attached to the push bar on the front of the bus. Plus I preferred having the front of the bus shaded instead of the rear.

Fri Apr 29, 2022 10:57 am

i created my own awning setup inspired by the original (rare/optional) riviera awning.

stealthy and practical.

here it is, deployed:

here it is, stowed :) (and no, that's a fire pit and bbq on the roof rack, not the awning)
hint: you can't see it. it's kept completely concealed underneath the top - canvas, poles and all :)

it's mounted in a C-channel extrusion, simply using VHB 4950

the poles roll up in the canvas and they cinch down with some strapping i captured underneath the rail (p.s. it really only needs the outer 2)

i've been really happy with it. i think it came out ok for a first iteration.

the focus next will be devising a self-supporting pole system (perhaps using marine bimini hardware on the side step/rear bumper) ..
so that it can just unroll and plug into receivers mounted on the bus body itself (not unlike how the split bus A-frame awnings work) ..
thus making deployment that much faster and frequent usage even more practical (making ground-staking optional)

after that, i think that adding an optional, easily-attached sidewall system would be very snazzy.
then it could transform into something resembling a full side tent with little effort...

Fri Apr 29, 2022 4:25 pm

metahacker wrote:

hint: you can't see it. it's kept completely concealed underneath the top - canvas, poles and all :)
.
That is pretty damn cool, hacker.