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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
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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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4Gears4Tires
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2018
Posts: 4361
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.
_________________
'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 2:00 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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Xevin 
Samba Member
Joined: January 08, 2014
Posts: 8815
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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 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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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.
[/quote]
Awesome, thanks, Xevin, these are a big help!
cheers!
_________________
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: 8815
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| Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2025 1:19 pm Post subject: Re: $99 NAPA Awning- Copy of ARB? |
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| deadaheadub wrote: |
| Xevin wrote: |
| deadaheadub wrote: |
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! |
Take a look at my post on page 13. If you need more pictures. Let me know
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...;start=240 |
So that pic is looking down from the perspective of the poptop? Just 3 holes drilled into the NAPA frame, attached directly to the top of the RMW bracket, do I have that right?
Did you NOT drill a hole to bolt the bottom part of the bracket into the pillars? I would like to not drill.
Did you use the VHB tape as some have suggested?
Do you use the tape everywhere the bracket contacts the van, in the gutter and on the pillar side?
I know, a lot of little detail questions.
Thank you |
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.
No holes in to pillars for me. Thats your call. If I did a bunch of off road roads. I probably would. But do research this thread for excellent guy line examples.
_________________
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: Tue Jul 01, 2025 12:39 pm Post subject: Re: $99 NAPA Awning- Copy of ARB? |
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| Xevin wrote: |
| deadaheadub wrote: |
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! |
Take a look at my post on page 13. If you need more pictures. Let me know
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...;start=240 |
So that pic is looking down from the perspective of the poptop? Just 3 holes drilled into the NAPA frame, attached directly to the top of the RMW bracket, do I have that right?
Did you NOT drill a hole to bolt the bottom part of the bracket into the pillars? I would like to not drill.
Did you use the VHB tape as some have suggested?
Do you use the tape everywhere the bracket contacts the van, in the gutter and on the pillar side?
I know, a lot of little detail questions.
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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Xevin
Samba Member
Joined: January 08, 2014
Posts: 8815
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| Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2025 12:25 pm Post subject: Re: $99 NAPA Awning- Copy of ARB? |
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| deadaheadub wrote: |
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! |
Take a look at my post on page 13. If you need more pictures. Let me know
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...;start=240
_________________
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: Tue Jul 01, 2025 12:02 pm Post subject: Re: $99 NAPA Awning- Copy of ARB? |
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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!
_________________
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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Sjwillis
Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2014
Posts: 63
Location: New Jersey
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| Posted: Sun May 19, 2024 5:45 am Post subject: Re: $99 NAPA Awning- Copy of ARB? |
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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 |
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Alluvial Van
Samba Member
Joined: November 10, 2012
Posts: 149
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2024 4:56 pm Post subject: Re: $99 NAPA Awning- Copy of ARB? |
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| These seem to be available again. Just ordered from a Napa in San Diego. And they're 20% off right now. |
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4Gears4Tires
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2018
Posts: 4361
Location: MD
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| Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 12:01 pm Post subject: Re: $99 NAPA Awning- Copy of ARB? |
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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 |
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Timwhy
Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2009
Posts: 4096
Location: Maine
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4Gears4Tires
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2018
Posts: 4361
Location: MD
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69aircooled
Samba Member
Joined: August 04, 2004
Posts: 255
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Wed May 03, 2023 12:26 pm Post subject: Re: $99 NAPA Awning- Copy of ARB? |
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| 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! |
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Timwhy
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Joined: January 01, 2009
Posts: 4096
Location: Maine
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shagginwagon83
Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016
Posts: 4359
Location: SWVA
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| Posted: Wed May 03, 2023 11:19 am Post subject: Re: $99 NAPA Awning- Copy of ARB? |
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| Sodo wrote: |
If you pop the top on an incline with the awning mounts on the downhill side the poptop can slop over into the bolts effing-up your poptop seal. |
^ Yup happened to me. Trim the bolts. If you don't have a brushless cordless dremel I highly recommend one.
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Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 10701
Location: Western WA
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| Posted: Wed May 03, 2023 10:54 am Post subject: Re: $99 NAPA Awning- Copy of ARB? |
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| 69aircooled wrote: |
| I also cut about 4mm off of the bolts to clear the pop top, though that may not have been necessary. |
Its a safety.
The poptop hinge pivots are real sloppy side-to-side.
Push on it left/right sometime when the top is going up or down
(before the canvas is tight) that hinge can flop around.
If you pop the top on an incline with the awning mounts on the downhill side the poptop can slop over into the bolts effing-up your poptop seal.
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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
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69aircooled
Samba Member
Joined: August 04, 2004
Posts: 255
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Wed May 03, 2023 8:50 am Post subject: Re: $99 NAPA Awning- Copy of ARB? |
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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. |
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