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Mac_Daddy_Westy
Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2011
Posts: 154
Location: San Antonio, Tx
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61Scout
Samba Member
Joined: November 06, 2011
Posts: 1297
Location: Shoreline/Yakima WA
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 Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2017 10:21 am Post subject: Re: Yescom awning - ARB alternative? |
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Oh good! I looked at this just a few days ago and thought that it had potential. Looks like a reversed engineered ARB clone. That's an incredible price for an awning if it turns out to be of decent quality. Amazon has the same one for $145.00. No one has reviewed it and that's good. It always seems like once a couple dozen good reviews are up on Amazon they jack the price up. Anyway, I'm glad a Sambanista has bought one, and I look forward to the full report! Hopefully it's awesome!
-Kevin
_________________
1986 Westfalia Weekender Wolfsburg, RJE 2.3
1985 Tin Top, Subie 2.2 + 5MT
Floppy Mirrors no more: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=653018&highlight=
Remove the front spindle nut with ease: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=679567&highlight=
Remove the rear wheel bearing housing without messing with the big 46mm nut: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=679507&highlight=
-Nec Spe, Nec Metu |
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Mac_Daddy_Westy
Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2011
Posts: 154
Location: San Antonio, Tx
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| Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2017 10:45 am Post subject: Re: Yescom awning - ARB alternative? |
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| ok, Glad to see that I am not the only one that noticed this Yescom awning. I initially went with Amazon price, but after surfing the net, I found a lower price at Jet.com ($125.99), then even lower price at Walmart.com ($119.95), both offer free shipping and return policy. it looks promising and probably worth risk of investment. All of these awnings are made in China, even the ARBs, so I am hoping it is somewhat decent. I ordered the Rocky Mountain awning brackets, at the very least I know it will be a quality item. stay tune for my review once I receive. |
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dhaavers
Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 8378
Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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| Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2017 4:17 pm Post subject: Re: Yescom awning - ARB alternative? |
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Nice! Having no intimate experience with the ARB, how similar does this appear in materials/construction/assembly, etc?
- Dave
_________________
86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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jimf909
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 8163
Location: WA/ID
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| Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2017 10:22 pm Post subject: Re: Yescom awning - ARB alternative? |
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From the photos, it looks very similar to the ARB. Extruded aluminum plus fabric. Costs can be reduced with fabric choices (although it appears the yescom seams are taped and I'm guessing the fabric, no matter how cheap, will work). Likewise, the pole spec may yield some cost savings (although ARB pole finish and materials is average at best, cut edges at just plain unfinished). The zipper on the bag is a suspect for cost savings.
But in the end, it's extruded aluminum, some locking poles and some fabric. My guess is that the Walmart job will serve most folks' needs for half the price.
But wait, what happens when a pole gets bent in a hailstorm? If it's an ARB purchased at Mule Expedition, the most friendly folks on the planet will have pair of them waiting for you for a ridiculously low price. Walmart will sell you a new awning.
The hail and wind storm came up fast. The ARB was not staked down. The pole failed. Replacement cost at Mule Exped? $10. Try that at Walmart.
Also, the Walmart job doesn't appear to have reinforced corners. FWIW.
_________________
- Jim
| Butcher wrote: |
| This is the main fault with DIY'ers, they get together on these forums and pat themselves on their backs spreading bad information. |
Guilty as charged.
Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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yiucycle
Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2007
Posts: 421
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| Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 10:41 am Post subject: Re: Yescom awning - ARB alternative? |
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Im pretty sure all the pole and legs and attachment is the same for arb and off brand awning so that should be interchangeable. I got a Smittybilt awning for $185 shipped. I was look at the pic comparing both ARB and Smittybilt and they look similar in term poles and materiel. Maybe ARB have a plastic over here and there but doesn't justify the extra dough for the name. You can use the $ you saved and buy something else for the van. Or buy two awning and put one on the other side.
_________________
1980 2.8LV6 Fiero ASI/Riviera Vanagon
"there is no point in being embarrassed of all the stupid shit i done and will continue to do"
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
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Mac_Daddy_Westy
Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2011
Posts: 154
Location: San Antonio, Tx
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| Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 6:13 pm Post subject: Re: Yescom awning - ARB alternative? |
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Mac_Daddy_Westy
Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2011
Posts: 154
Location: San Antonio, Tx
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| Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 6:21 pm Post subject: Re: Yescom awning - ARB alternative? |
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So my feedback of the cheap Yescom awning.
easy mounting with couple of minor issues. I recommend using the GoWesty mount, its a bit cheaper and you have to drill the holes anyway. I ordered the RMW mount thinking it was a direct fit, well it wasn't, I had to add one hole in the middle (see pics on the mount bracket).
- awning is somewhat decent, not bad for the price
- corners are reinforced with additional fabric
- poles are telescopic and twist lock
- horizontal crossbar has a double channel for additional shade attachment
overall, I think it is pretty good for the price, definitely not as the same quality as the ARB awning.
this awning would be a good additional second awning for the price. |
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Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 10627
Location: Western WA
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| Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 7:11 pm Post subject: Re: Yescom awning - ARB alternative? |
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| jimf909 wrote: |
| The pole failed. Replacement cost at Mule Exped? $10. Try that at Walmart. |
FWIW the pole did not fail, it functioned per design, and was lightweight in the meantime. It was destroyed by wind.
If Das Mule provided spare poles for $10 either Das Mule or ARB USA ate the cost so that their customer will have a good experience. They know awnings will get torn up, because wind happens. Sometimes you just forget or don't expect the wind to come up. Lots of awning customers won't comprehend how staking is important, until it costs them an awning to learn.
One thing to "learn" is that the wind jerks your awning a few hundred times which will loosen a stake & pull it out. Tying to a bush is probably a better way if theres any wind.
I like the ARB zippered casing, it's made of truck-tarp material. ARB's prob gonna look good (outside) for longer. But you guys are storing your valuable vans under cover right? 
_________________
'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 |
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jimf909
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 8163
Location: WA/ID
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| Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 7:49 am Post subject: Re: Yescom awning - ARB alternative? |
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^^^ All good points! Das Mule does provide darn good service.
Great photos of the walMart awning. The tarp material alone would cost that much or more at retail $. It looks like a decent product.
_________________
- Jim
| Butcher wrote: |
| This is the main fault with DIY'ers, they get together on these forums and pat themselves on their backs spreading bad information. |
Guilty as charged.
Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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Timwhy
Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2009
Posts: 4091
Location: Maine
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Ahwahnee
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 10214
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 5:13 pm Post subject: Re: Yescom awning - ARB alternative? |
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Nice. Does everything end up in that enclosure on the van? Or do you have some poles that get stowed elsewhere?
| WalMart wrote: |
| Note: Car in the picture is NOT INCLUDED... |
Never over-estimate your audience. |
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Timwhy
Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2009
Posts: 4091
Location: Maine
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jimf909
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 8163
Location: WA/ID
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| Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2017 9:36 am Post subject: Re: Yescom awning - ARB alternative? |
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^^^ Looks like a productive morning! It also looks like you’ve got some sunshine! We have a pleasant cast of grey here in Seattle.
I think someone on the ARB awning thread was looking for a black bag. This might meet their needs.
_________________
- Jim
| Butcher wrote: |
| This is the main fault with DIY'ers, they get together on these forums and pat themselves on their backs spreading bad information. |
Guilty as charged.
Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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Forthwithtx
Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2014
Posts: 717
Location: Fort Worth
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| Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2017 12:35 pm Post subject: Re: Yescom awning - ARB alternative? |
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I also said "yes" to Yescom. Installed it yesterday. A couple of issues:
I have a tintop with a full Megawarrior safari basket and Yakima bars. I used some stainless steel u-bolts to clamp it to the bars. Replaced the standard nuts with SS Nyloc nuts. I had to cut about 3" off the ends of the two brackets to get them to fit where I wanted them.
Also: The bolts that came with it would spin inside the channel when I tried to tighten the nuts on, so I purchased some 3/8"x3/4 SS bolts that had bigger heads. The open slot in the extrusion was too small for 3/8" so I removed the thread up close to the bolt head with a grinder to reduce the diameter and they slid in after that. Added Nyloc nuts there as well. Of course the brackets had to be drilled out larger to accept the larger diameter bolts.
If I stay happy with the location, I may drive some self tappers through the extra holes in the brackets into the bars for a little insurance, but they are very secure as it is right now.
So far, so good. Happy with the price/quality so far, based on what I see.
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Cheers!
-Karl
'84 GL with 2001/2004 Subaru 2.5L |
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SteveVanB
Samba Member
Joined: June 01, 2008
Posts: 1645
Location: This side of Daytona
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| Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2018 1:24 pm Post subject: Re: Yescom awning - ARB alternative? |
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$96 on ebay  I like it so far. Not the highest quality but very decent for the coin.
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91 CARAT |
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SCM
Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2011
Posts: 3365
Location: Bozeman MT
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| Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2018 2:33 pm Post subject: Re: Yescom awning - ARB alternative? |
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| jimf909 wrote: |
| I think someone on the ARB awning thread was looking for a black bag. This might meet their needs. |
Funny, that was me and I had the same thought the second before I read your post.
But, despite all the great things I hear about awnings from my friends, it's still pretty far down the list of things I feel like buying.
_________________
'91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32987
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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joetiger 
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005
Posts: 5239
Location: denver
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| Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2018 12:42 pm Post subject: Re: Yescom awning - ARB alternative? |
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I try to avoid knockoffs, but for only $32 I gotta try it out:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Outdoor-Car-Awning-Fold.../514086491
I'll report back when it comes in...
_________________
Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'91 Wolfsburg Carat "Barchetta"
'02 Baja-ish Beetle "Bubbles"
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Justice for Megan: https://linktr.ee/justiceformegantrussell |
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dhaavers
Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 8378
Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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| Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2018 1:16 pm Post subject: Re: Yescom awning - ARB alternative? |
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^^^ WOW!!! ^^^
That's certainly worth the risk to see what it looks like... Possibly (probably?)
a mistake & I won't be surprised if order[s] get cancelled, but I'm in for one!
Like I've said before...I'm CHEAP!!! ...(but with discriminating taste)... 
Thanks for the link!
- Dave
_________________
86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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