ARB Awning

austinindian · Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2015 9:47 am Post subject:

Hey Kourt,

Can you tell me the length of the bolts you picked up from Breed's hardware? The length I'm looking for is indicated in this modified picture from this thread. I'm hoping to stop by Breed's during lunch today. I'm on the scooter and I have my drilled GW brackets. I went with three holes each bracket, in a V formation. Figured the bottom bolts are less important so went with one below. Hardened steel bolts from Breed's should be as good as the bolts supplied by ARB. I'll inquire. BTW. Everything I'm writing here is not trademarked.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Home Team Van · Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2015 10:29 am Post subject:

austinindian · Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2015 12:20 pm Post subject:

Picked up various sizes of stainless steel bolts from Breed's here in Austin, TX - USA. The screw and nylon nut on the right is the one (of 6) that ships with the ARB 2500. The guys in that store are knowledgable and you can find more obscure parts here than in the big-box stores.

Once I get this installed I'll follow up.

SHOULD OF PULLED OUT A DREMEL HERE.

BlueGrasser · Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2015 2:54 pm Post subject:

Looks like GoWesty will soon be carrying the ARB 2500 awning. This was in their monthly newsletter:

Coming Soon
ARB Awning

If you're looking for a no-frills awning that won't break the bank, the ARB 2500 will fit the bill nicely. This lightweight awning will include custom-made mounting brackets for an easy and secure installation. Operation generally takes two people, and it is recommended that the vertical supports be secured with included guy lines. Optional bug screen room is a nice feature. The bottom line is that this lower-cost, lightweight awning will appeal to a number of folks who don't need the more robust, easier-to-deploy Fiamma model!
_________________
Going to where the grass is bluer...
1985 Vanagon Westfalia Camper with 1.8T

austinindian · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2015 11:23 am Post subject:

Finally installed the ARB 2500 on the '84 Westy. It's solid up there. Just use the two brackets and I would only use the six bolts provided by ARB. It's more than enough to hold it. Instead of buying bolts at size, use a Dremel tool to trim off the excess of the bolts provided.

Corwyn · Posted: Sun May 10, 2015 12:39 pm Post subject:

Finally - a company that stands by their product!

I bought an ARB 2500 awning a year ago and have deployed it maybe three times since. Rain started weeping through the canvas and especially at the seams. I informed ARB of the issue and within a week, they sent me a new canvas started, no questions asked!

GO ARB!
_________________
'90 White Westy ("The Longship")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja

"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~

4x4BNB · Posted: Sun May 10, 2015 1:44 pm Post subject:

They are awesome....did u talk to Mitch?

Home Team Van · Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 11:44 am Post subject:

infoforjt · Posted: Fri May 29, 2015 11:07 am Post subject:

Has anyone seen the ARB 1250 or 2000 mounted using the GW brackets. I may have an opportunity to snag one of these sizes used for a good deal and the lighter options are appealing despite less cover. But I'm concerned on how they would mount since I wouldn't be able to mount the rear bracket between the rear window and vent as most people are doing with the 2500.

Does anyone know if it's possible to mount a GW bracket just in front of the rear window, behind the sliding door? And would the door clear the bracket as it's moving out and back? I'm assuming I couldn't mount the GW bracket over the rear window since it seems the bottom of the bracket would push against the window seal which I guess would be bad.
_________________
'89 Westfalia

highaltidude · Posted: Sun May 31, 2015 3:20 pm Post subject:

ledogboy · Posted: Sun May 31, 2015 7:42 pm Post subject:

The announcement was in their April newsletter pictured below. At the bottom they make a request:

"We kindly request that you refrain from emailing and/or calling our sales staff regarding availability of these coming-soon products. They will be live in our New Products section as soon as they're ready! "

So perhaps they will not respond until the product is ready to roll...

_________________
1986 Westy Weekender
Now a full camper
1.8t Syncro conversion
Some people call him Maurice...

highaltidude · Posted: Sun May 31, 2015 8:01 pm Post subject:

pnwkayaker · Posted: Sun May 31, 2015 10:45 pm Post subject:

BlueGrasser · Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2015 4:13 pm Post subject:

They may not have listed the ARB awning on their website yet, but they did alter their awning mounting brackets to be pre-drilled for the ARB.

Check out the item description now too:

danfromsyr · Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2015 5:55 am Post subject:

DO NOT skip the rivnut, you will get greater damage than just a neatly plugged hole in your westy.
the rivnut is a required item.
the rivnut keeps the awning from uplift and flipping up over your roof.
the other clamping force is for down force..
each has their place in the grand play of leverages when you mount a potential sail onto the side of a vehicle.
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BlueGrasser · Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2015 9:54 am Post subject:

These guys don't even have a rivet nut in their kit, and they seem pretty legit. (I love to hear Brits say aluminum by the way Laughing

)

Link

It also appears that the NorthWesty bracket does not use the rivet nut either:

Both are different bracket designs than the GoWesty, but it seems like the same concept. I'm just not sure a rivet nut is necessary with such a light awning, especially cinched down tightly on the gutter.

I'll certainly evaluate it if and when I get it to see if the rivet nut is really necessary. I'm not terribly opposed to drilling it out and installing the rivet nuts, just not if I don't have to. I do tend to err on the side of caution, so if it doesn't seem solid I'll install them.
_________________
Going to where the grass is bluer...
1985 Vanagon Westfalia Camper with 1.8T

danfromsyr · Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2015 10:01 am Post subject:

argue all you want
physics and time will tell.
will it work w/o sure.. maybe
awning brackets clamping on the rain gutter have a 'thumb' of sorts for down force. but only the clamping force of the bracket for up force.

sure I have a minimalist and anal about any modification friend who doesn't have a lower rivnut hole in his van carrying a dometic (or transawn?) awning and it's been good for some time.. but only takes once to twist the bejesus out of the rain gutters. cracking the paint and allowing water to seep and sit in the length of the gutter seam.. (yes his paint/seam) is cracked but not rusted (yet)
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austinindian · Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2015 7:33 am Post subject:

Did not think about the up force possibility. I've been in many storms that would easily do that to this awning. I still have my rivets from GW and have no problem doing it. I just wan to test out a rivet somewhere as I've never installed one. One more project to add to the list. Smile

BlueGrasser · Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2015 10:03 am Post subject:

So I contacted GoWesty to confirm that their brackets are now fully pre-drilled for the ARB awning mounts, and they confirmed it. No drilling of the bracket is necessary for ARB.

I also asked about the rivet nuts, and they still recommend it even for the lighter ARB awning to alleviate pressure off the rain gutter.
_________________
Going to where the grass is bluer...
1985 Vanagon Westfalia Camper with 1.8T


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