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jodyjg
Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2007
Posts: 146
Location: Reseda, CA
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 Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 11:13 pm Post subject: |
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heres a few pics of mine set up and being used last weekend at Lake Casitas CA. It held up great in the wind and since it was to close to the fire pit we just set the legs down and it was fine.
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Jody
1969 Bus
1971 Squareback |
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RIOMX
Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2005
Posts: 1234
Location: La Crosse, WI
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| Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 9:55 pm Post subject: |
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Yet another Wal-Mart awning bus! We absolutely loved it. It held up in a rather harsh thunderstorm 9,000 ft high in Colorado thanks to the stakes!
It might be cheap, but it's effective. We managed to secure it very well to the gutters with some unbelievably tight clamps from a hardware store (they are so tight, they instantly cut off circulation when you pinch a finger - yes, I tried it, and it hurt. A lot.)
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Klaussinator
Samba Member
Joined: June 17, 2008
Posts: 1111
Location: Virginia
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| Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 5:29 am Post subject: |
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Awsome to see this idea is working for most of us!
Hey RIOMX, I just noticed your front "ground effects air scoop" . . . Embarrassed to say I hadn't seen that before in your posts. Way cool! 
-Klauss
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I have taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money!
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the Klaussinator - `73 hardtop Bay custom-built camper |
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RIOMX
Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2005
Posts: 1234
Location: La Crosse, WI
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| Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 8:27 am Post subject: |
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| Klaussinator wrote: |
Awsome to see this idea is working for most of us!
Hey RIOMX, I just noticed your front "ground effects air scoop" . . . Embarrassed to say I hadn't seen that before in your posts. Way cool!
-Klauss |
Haha the previous owners added that to the bumper. In all likelihood, it's probably coming off. There are holes where some inserts are missing and there are bulbs on the corners that have been cut at the wires. I've kept it for the purpose of deflecting rocks, but I'm not a huge fan of it  |
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hatfulofhollow
Samba Member
Joined: October 01, 2007
Posts: 282
Location: idiot out walking around...
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| Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 7:06 pm Post subject: |
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earlier this summer...trying it out in the back yard.
I used four clamps from the hardware store. You can see how i move one corner towards the windshield so that i dont have a gap. I can also still open the doors easily. It has held up well in the wind and rain so far!
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1972 Squareback fuel injected--Daisy (sold)
1973 Westy Automatic--Abbey (Road)
ex-TOOB Member
Eventuality takes its toll |
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timo78
Samba Member
Joined: July 03, 2009
Posts: 931
Location: Overcast and Loving it
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| Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 8:52 pm Post subject: |
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| That's cool, I had to go get one Bought the Last one @ WalMart in Renton WA. Restock! |
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skid
Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2009
Posts: 1329
Location: Vancouver, BC
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| Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 10:08 am Post subject: |
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Bah I wish they carried those at the Walmart up in Canada. They're so cheap and rad.
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'71 Westfalia |
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NinetyEight
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2008
Posts: 420
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| Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 10:57 am Post subject: |
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Here is mine from last May camping in Rogers, Arkansas.
It worked great. I bought some of the same material I am planning on sewing to the end so it won't allow rain to enter between the bus and the awning.
I'll post some pics when I get that sewn on down the line.
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Otto Bus - 1978 Daily Driver
Rico - 1975 Bay
http://www.FromTheEyesofABus.Blogspot.com |
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timo78
Samba Member
Joined: July 03, 2009
Posts: 931
Location: Overcast and Loving it
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skid
Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2009
Posts: 1329
Location: Vancouver, BC
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| Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 5:57 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, but I had to get my passport...now I'm waiting for it to come in the mail. Also, I tried the online thing they won't ship it up to Canada. I'll probably do the trip when my passport comes and stuff my face with burritos and load up on cheap American breer!
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'71 Westfalia |
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RIOMX
Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2005
Posts: 1234
Location: La Crosse, WI
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| Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 8:07 pm Post subject: |
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| skid wrote: |
| and load up on cheap American breer! |
Now why would you subject yourself to such senseless pain?
If you're going to get beer, get the good American stuff. Buy New Belgium
www.newbelgium.com |
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skid
Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2009
Posts: 1329
Location: Vancouver, BC
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| Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:59 am Post subject: |
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| RIOMX wrote: |
| skid wrote: |
| and load up on cheap American breer! |
Now why would you subject yourself to such senseless pain?
If you're going to get beer, get the good American stuff. Buy New Belgium
www.newbelgium.com |
Because its so cheap! Paying $10-$13 for a six pack all the time sucks.
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'71 Westfalia |
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Dead 1
Samba Member
Joined: October 31, 2005
Posts: 1374
Location: Burning shores of Lake Michigan
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| Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 12:41 pm Post subject: |
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| skid wrote: |
| RIOMX wrote: |
| skid wrote: |
| and load up on cheap American breer! |
Now why would you subject yourself to such senseless pain?
If you're going to get beer, get the good American stuff. Buy New Belgium
www.newbelgium.com |
Because its so cheap! Paying $10-$13 for a six pack all the time sucks. |
Yeah but you have free health care 
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"I reject your reality and replace it with my own"
"The American Dream - true enough because you gotta be asleep to believe it"
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71, 1776 cc. |
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RIOMX
Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2005
Posts: 1234
Location: La Crosse, WI
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| Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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| skid wrote: |
Because its so cheap! Paying $10-$13 for a six pack all the time sucks. |
Hell if you want to drink something that tastes like rotten feet (Miller, Budweiser), I'll soak my feets in water, bottle it up and send it to you for free! |
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Hippopotabus
Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2004
Posts: 1600
Location: Miwuk Village, CA
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| Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 1:25 pm Post subject: |
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The Shady Boy.
Pro's - Easy to set up, Light weight, contrary to popular belief it doesn't whistle or rattle during driving,
Con's - NOT NOT good in wind (even the slightest wind), material is susceptible to staining.
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Celer, Silens, Letalis
www.2dreconbn.net |
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Klaussinator
Samba Member
Joined: June 17, 2008
Posts: 1111
Location: Virginia
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| Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:26 pm Post subject: |
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Hippopotabus,
Nice setup! Looks like good times . . . 
I've seen those in pics before - What do they cost?
-Klauss
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I have taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money!
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the Klaussinator - `73 hardtop Bay custom-built camper |
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skid
Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2009
Posts: 1329
Location: Vancouver, BC
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| Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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| RIOMX wrote: |
| skid wrote: |
Because its so cheap! Paying $10-$13 for a six pack all the time sucks. |
Hell if you want to drink something that tastes like rotten feet (Miller, Budweiser), I'll soak my feets in water, bottle it up and send it to you for free! |
Hmmmm that's pretty tempting!
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'71 Westfalia |
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lucasrusinak
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2009
Posts: 168
Location: staten island, ny
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| Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 8:17 pm Post subject: |
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sorry to bring back this thread, but i just recently bought this awning and had a little trouble putting it up as well as some of the people who posted here. it seemed alittle flimsy when i put it up and i just searched and found this thread, and this other thread on it:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=408545&highlight=awning
my question is, which way works best? it seems to me like the way in the other thread would be pretty sturdy, but alittle more work. what do you guys think? |
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Desertbusman
Samba Member
Joined: June 03, 2005
Posts: 14655
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 3:03 am Post subject: |
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| Klaussinator wrote: |
***Pics or you didn't do it!!!  ***
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OK, here's mine since this topic is back up again. BTW these awnings just plain couldn't be nicer considering the cost, simplicity, light weight and real compact. Too bad more bus accessories arn't like this. Does WM still have them? Havn't seen them in the stores in quite a while. Thanks Klauss for all the good mod info and also Blackdawg.
I found some matching waterproof material at a fabric store and sewed it on about like you did. But put a full length pocket or sleeve in the gutter side.
Had some lightweight 3/4" OD slip-together thin wall steel tubing from a wind destroyed gabazo.
Made the ends to accept the plastic sockets that are used with the normal awning poles. The ends are 45 degree copper fittings from the hardware store. And had a piece of old tubing laying around to shim the diameter to fit.
So with the tubing in the long fabric sleeve the corners plug snugly into the end fittings and that whole side is stretched fairly tight. It lays snugly and nicely into the gutter.
Got some strong spring clamps from Harbor Freight. The important thing about them is they are real flat and don't interfere with opening and closing the door and the slider. I tried another type of clamp and they interfered with the door plus they wern't as strong and could pull off fairly easy.
Considering what a high wind might do I also put a clamp in the middle.
The whole thing is tight and well secured. Actually a strong gust hit it and I didn't have the hold down cords on the 2 outer legs. The sucker flopped up over the bus, and the dome popped opposite and it looked like the awning was installed over the bus and not to the side of it. The connection to the gutter didn't budge. Could have cut off the corner flaps but wanted to keep them for freestanding use.
Now the clamp in the center was not done correctly as I cut the fabric to allow the clamp to clamp on the steel tube. I should have cut the fabric differently. During a real heavy thunderstorm water came gushing out that little opening. Right in the middle of the slider doorway. Apart from that everything stayed real dry and drip proof. Except the rain formed a gulley right down the middle of the ground under my bus. Scrambled to get my rug and other things picked up. Next time I'll pay more attention on where and how to park. Having to deal with rain here is very uncommon.
The drawstring in the very center of the peak is a nice place to hang a light and it illuminates the whole area. The light has to be lightweight. Next time I'll probably just solder a double conductor wire directly to a light bulb.
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71 Superbug
71 Westy |
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BusterBrown
Samba Member
Joined: December 15, 2009
Posts: 1397
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 8:12 am Post subject: |
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| Desertbusman wrote: |
| BTW these awnings just plain couldn't be nicer considering the cost, simplicity, light weight and real compact. Too bad more bus accessories arn't like this. Does WM still have them? Havn't seen them in the stores in quite a while. |
DBM, these are still available at Walmart online. I ordered ours a few months back, and it was shipped free to our local store. Still only $30.
Before making the modification that you and Klauss have done by sewing a piece of fabric along one edge, I thought I'd try it as is. It worked just fine! Yes, the edge has a slight curve to it, but I just pulled/stretched it up to the rain gutter, and clamped it on. Couldn't have been easier, or worked better. Just thought I'd add this.
BTW, Stanley clamps are from Walmart too!
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1978 Sage Green Westfalia (Happy Trails, SOLD)
1977 Transporter
Life is short. Can I have some of yours? |
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