ARB Awning

[dart330]

I've had the awning in a bag for 8+ years, has worked great especially with the add on front wall for additional shade and wind blocking, but the bag is looking rough.

Been eyeing the new model with led lights and the hard case, so I would like to know as well. Amazon has the bag weight at 40 pounds and the hard case at 43 pounds.

Vancafe says 35 pounds for the hard case and nothing about 4 brackets.
https://www.vancafe.com/ARB814411-p/arb814411.htm
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Driving a 90 Carat since 2014

Previous Buses: 59 Westy, 60 Westy, 74 Bus, 82 Westy, 85 Westy, 87 Syncro
Checkout my Syncro Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JSWhLS7jLY

[Timwhy]

[dgbeatty]

This is how I adapted Northwesty brackets (3) to an ARB aluminium case.
Drilled four new holes in each bracket to lower the case as much as possible.
Using the top roller of a belt sander I contoured the bottom edge to match the window openings.
Completely satisfied with the results.
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Schau in das Buch

[Timwhy]

RMW / VanCafe say their awning brackets will work with both hard and soft ARB awnings. Nothing said about using more than two.

https://www.vancafe.com/RMW-8001701-p/rmw-8001701.htm

I changed my awning bracket to the RMW's version. There are a few different heights you can position your awning at.

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'15 Audi A3 Quattro
'09 VW Tiguan (dead)
'87 VW Westy
'91 Tin Top
'90 Cabby
What the Westy wants the Westy GETS


http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=Timwhy&show_results=summary

http://www.youtube.com/user/TIMWHY2?feature=mhee

[dgbeatty]

The admonition to use 3 brackets on larger ARB comes directly from ARB. Vendors that do not pass it along are doing a disservice. My worthless opinion.
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Schau in das Buch

[Xevin]

[djkeev]

I'Ve read reports on rivet failure.

I wonder if this can be due to the extrusion flexing as bumps are encountered and only two mounts were used?

If so, that could explain ARB requiring four mounting points.

Dave
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Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[pnwkayaker]

I've had the soft version of the ARB awning for 8-9 years (I believe it's 8 ft long) and been using 2 brackets from North-Westy without any problems (I've removed and reinstalled the awning and brackets several times to clean/wash/repaint the van with no problems). The brackets are rock solid.

I truly don't see how you can use 4 mounting brackets (too many windows in a Vanagon), the mod to use 3 is a good one.
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87 Syncro Westy EJ25 ("Tardis")

Seattle Meetup at Marymoor (link)
A collection of Simple Useful Mods (SUM) (link)

[Vanlife Geek]

I put together a little video about the ARB Screen Room that attaches to the ARB Awning to show how it goes up and how it looks after it's installed on a Westy. This is the regular screen room, not the newer "Awning Room" that has both the screen room and tent. Anyway, I found this footage I took a couple of years ago and thought I'd edit it into a video for those that are interested. The addition of a screen room really increases the protected living space of our small vans and makes for a great place to hang out when it's a little buggy outside.

Link

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Vanlife Geek
Current:
1986 Syncro Westy
Previous:
1983 Westy
1981 Westy
1972 Bug (Last year you could buy a new one for under $2,000)
1965/66 Bug (2 bugs from a junk yard combined to make 1 functional bug)
1959 Bug (Pre Gas Gauge Era)

[Xevin]

To follow up. North Westy emailed me back. It is 3 brackets as pictured in previous posts. Thanks for the pictures.

“Hello,
The third bracket goes behind the slider door on the C Pillar. You end up with four brackets because we don’t standard offer the aluminum awning, so we traditionally sell our brackets in sets of 2.

Thank you”
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Keep on Busin'

[TurtsMcSlow]

If you end up getting 2 sets of brackets you can use your leftover one to sell to someone who has a waterPORT to hang off of the drivers side gutters.

[Corwyn]

[Muftobration]

I just got the aluminum case awning from VanCafe with the two bracket add-on. Nice as it is not to have to drill into the van, I have a problem with them: when turning right, the awning leans to the left, lifting the front bracket foot off the van ever so slightly. It vibrates back and forth a little, making an annoying sound that I originally thought was a steering or suspension issue developing. Does anyone else have this problem? Does a third bracket solve it? I can add video if my explanation isn't clear.
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1985 Westfalia full camper - Bostig v2.0 with several updates

[dhaavers]

^^^ I'd shim that sucker with a rubber pad glued to the offending bracket...

<shrug>

- Dave
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[1988M5]

For those using more than 2 mounts, the roof isn't completely straight. You want to shim the front and rear some. See pics.

_________________
1991 tin top GL
2002 Winnebago Vista. VW VR6 24V Eurovan front clip powered class C 21' RV.
Some BMWs.

[tobloyd]

I have the shorter awning. Is it safe to have the rear mount positioned above the window like this and not screwed into the body?

[PDXWesty]

I wouldn't let the bracket rest on the window. It will apply pressure when the van bonces and the awning moves a little. You can move it over to the pillar and just let the awning cantilever back. It should be fine.
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89 Westy 2.1 Auto

[tobloyd]

[danfromsyr]

agree 100%
I would consider moving the whole awning forward to over the front door some too. it'll better shade the slider opening and better protect from rain..
Physics > aesthetics

[tobloyd]