TheSamba.com :: View topic - Clamp your awning brackets onto your roof rack?

Mon Apr 24, 2017 8:58 am

So, I bought an ARB awning from Van Cafe and they let me know that some people successfully avoid drilling by using U bolts to clamp the brackets onto their roof rack cross bar. I would like to do this as I will be moving it from vehicle to vehicle at times.

I have been to several stores looking for these and cannot find U bolts to fit. I found some at Ace Hardware but the threads end too far away from tightening down tightly. Other places are the same.

Anyone find a source for these in their home town store so I can go pick up a few? Thanks in advance.

Doug

Mon Apr 24, 2017 9:21 am

Doug - I do remember seeing some information somewhere and even someone that sold the proper hardware. Maybe some photos will help with some ideas:
https://www.google.com/search?q=ARB+awning+u+bolt&...=679#spf=1

or this topic: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=651108

or a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS3gnxlKqgQ

Another post - Go to page 19 and scroll down: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...;start=360

Good luck!

Mon Apr 24, 2017 9:30 am

Perhaps a stack of fender washers can be added as spacers?

Mon Apr 24, 2017 9:57 am

I tried the u-bolt method and had a hard time getting it to fit the way I wanted it to too; I couldn't figure out a way to not have a big gap between the inside edge of the awning and the van.

If you have the hi-rise towers, the pictures in the big ARB thread showing how to "sandwich" the awning around the tower rather than the bar basically show what I ended up doing. It's rock-solid and no gap.

Mon Apr 24, 2017 10:28 am

Thanks PDX - great links.

I couldn't find anything on the sandwiching against the towers mentioned above. At your convenience, I'd love it if you could post or link a picture. I went through that 22 page thread and saw a lot of people clamping to the round cross bars but nothing attaching directly to a tower. That seems like a really good idea!! Since the towers are angled slightly, I'd love to see how anyone solved that.

Doug

Mon Apr 24, 2017 11:06 am

Page 19. Not sure if the copy/paste will work for specific page.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8105264#8105264

vonkeswik's post [Moderator edit: ^Link changed to take you direct to that post.]

I'm at work (and I really am on lunch break...) so can't take a pic of what I did. It's held up really well and is very similar.

Mon Apr 24, 2017 11:13 am

Mon Apr 24, 2017 11:20 am

That's it, thanks pdx.

Mon Apr 24, 2017 11:06 pm

Ah. OK. I see how that would work. Crudsky though, I have Thule towers and they are a single piece of curvy sloped metal and there is a tightening handle in the way of doing something like that. I may be able to figure something similar. Hmmmm.....

Mon Apr 24, 2017 11:35 pm

IdahoDoug wrote: So, I bought an ARB awning from Van Cafe and they let me know that some people successfully avoid drilling...Thanks in advance.

Doug

Avoid drilling...

I don't know if this is relevant, but the ARB mounts to the rain gutters w/out drilling using GW or other (Northwesty) brackets.

I'm sure I'm missing something so I'll leave it at that.

Tue Apr 25, 2017 10:52 am

The arrow shows where some people drill a hole and fasten the gutter mount to the body. Otherwise, on bumpy roads, the weight of awning will move the awning and will wobble the bottom of the mount back and forth, away from the body, and deform the gutter.

Tue Apr 25, 2017 1:15 pm

[Moderator edit: ^Link changed to take you direct to that post.]

Take them straight to the post with your link!: the subject line of every post begins with a little image that precedes the word "Post". That image is a link TO THE POST. Aint that amazin' and handy? Also if you change the search parameter from 'topic' to 'post' you'll get a link straight to the post. Also super handy!

Tue Apr 25, 2017 6:33 pm

Thanks for the tip! Now the quality of help I get around here will sure to be closer to my expectations of perfection!!

Tue Apr 25, 2017 9:04 pm

Here's some brackets that cost almost as much as the awning:
https://overlandequipped.com/products/awning-mounting-brackets-awn-lock-from-bomber-products

Here's another one:
http://www.rhinorack.com/products/shade/accessories/foxwing-arb-and-tjm-bracket-kit_31103

Tue Apr 25, 2017 9:13 pm

PDXWesty wrote: Here's some brackets that cost almost as much as the awning:
https://overlandequipped.com/products/awning-mounting-brackets-awn-lock-from-bomber-products

Here's another one:
http://www.rhinorack.com/products/shade/accessories/foxwing-arb-and-tjm-bracket-kit_31103

Trouble is all it takes is a wrench to walk away with them and your awning.

Tue Apr 25, 2017 9:14 pm

Man, those things could double as recovery hooks if you bolted them to the frame! Insane. But in certain circles I have no doubt they are a badge of prestige, like blue rock lights on the leased Wrangler Unlimited....

Tue Apr 25, 2017 11:59 pm

Jon_slider wrote: The arrow shows where some people drill a hole and fasten the gutter mount to the body. Otherwise, on bumpy roads, the weight of awning will move the awning and will wobble the bottom of the mount back and forth, away from the body, and deform the gutter.

I have these on without using the body screw arrangement GoWesty includes.. Been on serious washboard/rough dirt roads for many hours at a time. Just took them off to install poptop shocks, and don't notice any bending of the rain gutter.

Wed Apr 26, 2017 10:08 am

I have also used the GW brackets without drilling a thing and have had no problems with it wobbling or deforming the rain gutter. I've put about 35k miles on it in the past year on many rough/washboard roads through the US and Baja with no bending or damage to the vehicle.

On the other hand, if you've got a tintop with a rack then mounting them there may be easier/cheaper anyway.

Wed Apr 26, 2017 10:59 am

From GoWesty listing:

***Note for hardtop model owners: These brackets will not work in conjunction with a gutter mounted roof rack kit.***

But I want cake and ice cream!

Wed Apr 26, 2017 5:30 pm

why wouldn't they work? clearance for the towers? if the nobs are in the way then replace the knobs with bolts

but really if I had a roof rack, I'd mount the awning to the roof rack.