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deadaheadub
Samba Member
Joined: April 18, 2004
Posts: 797
Location: New Mexico
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 Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2025 1:23 pm Post subject: Re: $99 NAPA Awning- Copy of ARB? |
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Only hole drilled is the single bolt on the RMW bracket. See how it is offset from the two holes on each side of it? Just a tad higher. A punch is your friend before you drill that hole. No need to drill anything in the Napa frame. The jam nuts slide into the track and then tighten down. I found an allen head easy to fit a wrench down in there.
I used the tape wherever it touched the paint of the van. Acorn nut for covering exposed threads after the fastening nut, to prevent snags.
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Awesome, thanks, Xevin, these are a big help!
cheers!
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Grateful daily,
Ryan
______________________________________
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 |
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deadaheadub
Samba Member
Joined: April 18, 2004
Posts: 797
Location: New Mexico
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| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2025 8:12 am Post subject: Re: $99 NAPA Awning- Copy of ARB? |
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Xevin: I used the tape wherever it touched the paint of the van. Acorn nut for covering exposed threads after the fastening nut, to prevent snags.
Did you use VHB tape, or are you referring to the 3M paint protection film supplied by RMW with the brackets?
_________________
Grateful daily,
Ryan
______________________________________
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 |
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Xevin 
Samba Member
Joined: January 08, 2014
Posts: 8830
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| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2025 9:47 am Post subject: Re: $99 NAPA Awning- Copy of ARB? |
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I just use the tape that came with it. I check and clean under the brackets each year. On the 76 bus, Tim Baker includes a firm piece of foam rubber on the feet.
I’m showing these for Early Vanagon owners. I mentioned this in a “Bracket thread”
| Xevin wrote: |
For early 83 vanagon and bay channels I use these. So far good and no signs of flexing or metal fatigue. Got them in June. The toughest off road I do is fire roads and some washboard like terrain. The brackets seem strong in the wind. I also use spring buckles on my guy-lines. Tim Baker who makes these brackets and other custom VW suspension parts has not heard of any issues yet. The brackets are sold as a three pack and have a hole for a rivnut option. I use an ARB knockoff style awning.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2665175
On the 85 Vanagon with later style channels I use The Rocky Mountain Westy brackets |
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Keep on Busin'
| 67rustavenger wrote: |
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!  |
| Clatter wrote: |
| Damn that Xevin... |
| skills@eurocarsplus wrote: |
I respect Xevin and he's a turd  |
| SGKent wrote: |
My God! Xevin and I 100% agree  |
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deadaheadub
Samba Member
Joined: April 18, 2004
Posts: 797
Location: New Mexico
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| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2025 2:00 pm Post subject: Re: $99 NAPA Awning- Copy of ARB? |
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So I do need to pry off the black end caps of the awning mounting rail to get the heads of the bolts to slide in, correct? They're firmly attached and seem like they're not designed to come off. But I can't figure any other way to get the heads into the slots of the mounting track.
Thanks
_________________
Grateful daily,
Ryan
______________________________________
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 |
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4Gears4Tires
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2018
Posts: 4369
Location: MD
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| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2025 2:12 pm Post subject: Re: $99 NAPA Awning- Copy of ARB? |
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Use a drift and a mallet to tap them off.
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'87 Syncro Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition
'85 Westy Sciuridae Domus Edition |
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deadaheadub
Samba Member
Joined: April 18, 2004
Posts: 797
Location: New Mexico
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| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2025 2:16 pm Post subject: Re: $99 NAPA Awning- Copy of ARB? |
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| 4Gears4Tires wrote: |
| Use a drift and a mallet to tap them off. |
Thank you
_________________
Grateful daily,
Ryan
______________________________________
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 |
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