$99 NAPA Awning- Copy of ARB?

[calsurf]

I tried ordering one a few weeks back, Napa online wouldn't let me order it. I went in to my local store, no dice, said it's no longer available to my area (SnoCAL)?

[Silverghost500]

@calsurf-Same situation here in Georgia. No NAPA store in my area has it, whether I try to get it from the web site or call multiple stores in my area. All of them that I call don't seem interested in finding one, or letting me know if/when they're available again.

At this point I'm kinda over it. I know it's a good price (even with the price increase) but I'm fed up with their lack of availability. Worse than trying to source Taylor Swift concert tickets!

I've been looking at Ironman 4x4 awnings as a solution. I've seen a couple of YouTubers use them, and they seem to be of good quality for a price point between the NAPA awning and an ARB awning.

https://ironman4x4america.com/camping/awnings-rooms/instant-straight-awnings/
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1986 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia "Von Westy"
Honda K24A conversion
3-Speed Automatic

Von Westy YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbhyZYxJEQrUuLnMbLleeIA

[4Gears4Tires]

It looks exactly like the same awning.
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'87 Syncro Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition
'85 Westy Sciuridae Domus Edition

[Sodo]

Here's a pic of how the NAPA awning skimps on aluminum.
ARB skimped on rivets back in 2014, but at some point they changed from rivets to bolts. If you have the old single-rivet you should add more rivets. I added 3 rivets to each one (on each side of the gutter-mounts)

Maybe NAPA is out of stock because a lot of people had to buy new units for 2023 Van season?
Which is not ill-logic, seeing as they cost about 1/3 of ARB, how long will it take to go thru 3 NAPA awnings?
In some ways, this is valid cost-savings.
Except for the waste of materials.
And if you're super-careful about wind and stuff.
Or maybe you seldom un-furl it.

But the biggie is.....
If my awning was a wadded up twisted mess on the side of the van, during a week-long trip..... I'd be wishing I chose the ARB.
The ARB above is 2014, 9 years old (now with 8 rivets where you see two)

I've had the ARB out in some fierce winds.
But, you do have to be careful and tie it down properly etc.
Stakes wiggle loose, you have to tie it to bushes etc if it's risk of wind.
Much wiser to roll up if there's a risk of wind or un-attended.
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'90 Westy EJ25, NEW oil rings (!) 2Peloquins, 3knobs, SyncroShop pressure-oiled pinion-bearing & GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox.
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered original gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[Van den Broke]

Thanks for those comparative pictures, Sodo.

It's great to actually see the difference between the parts. It helps people to consider if the very flimsy cheaper part is worth it, even at the low price.
But aren't they obsolete from Napa anyway?

Edit: Re-reading some recent posts, I guess they still appear to be available.

[69aircooled]

I wanted to report that these awnings are still available.
I tried to order online, but on the NAPA website I saw the “call your store for availability”. This was 2 weeks ago. I called, spoke with someone who ordered it for me. I was told it would be a few days which ended up being right at 2 weeks. That was not a problem as I’ve had lots of other issues to tend to. We’ll see how well this all works out.

[69aircooled]

Installation was pretty straightforward using the MaxiTrac provided stainless hardware. I used the North Westy stainless bracket and followed suite with revolution337’s earlier post. I also cut about 4mm off of the bolts to clear the pop top, though that may not have been necessary.

[Sodo]

[shagginwagon83]

[Timwhy]

[69aircooled]

I didn’t think about the slop in the opening and closing so much, especially on an inclined camping spot. The button head screws would seem better suited for this. Thanks!

[4Gears4Tires]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/192325011323?_trkparms=am...p_homepage

I found the awning on ebay.
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'87 Syncro Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition
'85 Westy Sciuridae Domus Edition

[Timwhy]

[4Gears4Tires]

It looks excessively similar to the NAPA owning I own. The only things I noticed different are that the end caps allow an ARB Add a Room to be slid in without removal, which is nice, and that the pins now use bolts. Which could be due to different manufacturing runs with these cheap awnings.
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'87 Syncro Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition
'85 Westy Sciuridae Domus Edition

[Alluvial Van]

These seem to be available again. Just ordered from a Napa in San Diego. And they're 20% off right now.

[Sjwillis]

I bought this, with the RMW mounting brackets which with a tiny mod work fantastic. Just wanted to note this guy's YouTube videos which are Arb-specific but work for the NAPA one as well. He's got a great demo for how to put it up/take it down yourself but also built some additional leg's out of painting extensions.

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5PTTWXx63I

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JozB9Yu_qGM

For $40 I feel like these really add some stability to the awning. Also the cam locks he references are game changers. Worth watching both of these videos. Here are the reinforcements I built:

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1986 Wolfsburg Weekender
1972 MGB

[deadaheadub]

Got my RMW awning brackets from Van Cafe today.
Does anyone have a pic of how they mounted the NAPA awning onto the brackets on their poptop? Do I need to use the L brackets that came with the NAPA for height? Or does the awning frame mount directly onto the RMW bracket resting on the gutter? A pic of the awning attached to the bracket on the gutter would be most helpful. Thanks!
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Grateful daily,
Ryan
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Past loves: '65 Bug, '70 Westy poptop, '64 Squareback project, '76 Westy tintop "Loose Lucy", '76 Westy tintop "Sharee"
Current:'84 Westy poptop "Ramblin' Rose- Rosie" w/ 2003 Subaru EJ25 conversion

[Xevin]

[deadaheadub]

[Xevin]