Possible Bigger ARB Awning?

vanagonjr · Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 7:19 pm Post subject: Possible Bigger ARB Awning?

Want to see who would be interested in a possible group buy for an ARB awing. Either 10 or 11.5'. This poll is to gauge interest to see if this idea has merit.

Please don't clutter this discussion with ARB vs. Fiamma (or home made awnings), there other threads for that. OF course statements such as "only interested if price if less than say 60% of the same size Fiamma" ARE relevant.

I have contacted ARB about producing a 10' or 11.5' ARB awning. They did not say no, but a min run of 200 is necessary for a different size - and "to get my friends together"! They "possibly" would produce the awing with less than 200 orders, but likely would need a strong showing to go ahead. Whether that is 50, 100, 150, or even the full 200 is not known by me, or them, at this point.

And no, I do not know pricing at this time, but I am figuring 50% the cost of a Fiamma. The 8' x 8' ARB is approximately $300 for comparison. I'm hoping for $500 for this bigger one.
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climberjohn · Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 7:32 pm Post subject:

Perhaps another polling question is needed"

"I already have an 8 foot ARB awning, and I think it's great."
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vanagonjr · Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 7:40 pm Post subject:

msewalson · Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 9:10 pm Post subject:

ThankYouJerry · Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 9:23 pm Post subject:

Perhaps another polling option is needed:

"I have a 10' Shady Boy awning (in a 3' case), love it, and wouldn't want: a heavier, bulkier, awning that has metal legs to walk into/around that are attached with brackets that are drilled into the van."
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Corwyn · Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 10:34 pm Post subject:

How about 12' or 15'? Maybe 20' would be big enough?
You left out the option for "I don't care".
8' is enough for me and my rain gutters.
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vanagonjr · Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 4:36 am Post subject:

vanagonjr · Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 4:40 am Post subject:

Here is the coverage that an 11.5 footer Fiamma provides and the picture that inspired me to contact ARB (Hope Abel is OK with me posting his sweet van Laughing

)

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

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John - 86 Wolfsburg Westfalia "Weekender"
Flint reversed 1.8T W/Passat 5-Speed
LiMBO (late model bus club) www.limbobus.org
LiMBO is on Facebook too! https://www.facebook.com/groups/
FAQ thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=525798

Alex Proulx · Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 5:46 am Post subject:

I like the idea of a full van lenght ARB awning. I always tough the ARB was the best concept but didn't like the short length. But at 11.5 feet I would seriously consider buying one. I am currently using a home made tarp system and was planning to upgrade to a proper system over the winter.
Alex
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insyncro · Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 5:49 am Post subject:

I would want a 11.5 on each side of my vans.
Looks great.

smurfpike · Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 2:20 pm Post subject:

I am interested in the 10' and the 11.5' but would want to know the weight difference between those and the ARB 8' model.

Something else to think about is contacting other off road forums for example the Land Cruiser forums and they might be interested and can hit that 200 number easier. Worse case scenario(depending on minimums) you can sell them on eBay, amazon etc.
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kamzcab86 · Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 3:10 pm Post subject:

vanagonjr · Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 3:31 pm Post subject:

dart330 · Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 6:50 am Post subject:

I currently have the 8' model and have found it to be too small when it rains. I would be interested in upgrading if the price is right and it is light enough that you don't need a third center bracket for mounting.

danfromsyr · Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 7:17 am Post subject:

Kudos to you for taking some initiative and trying to improve yours and our vanagons..

shame on those who come in and shyt their opinions that their option is best when you are just trying to find/create a source for another vanagon improvement project.
I mean WTF guys.. this thread is "possible bigger ARB awning" and yer like:
"bugger you, my XYZ is da bestest cause it's not $$$$ and suits my minimalist self sufficient lifestyle perfectly I couldn't imagine anyone wanting anything else"

hey I'm cheap too.. so cheap that I have a $200 12ft awning that looks like I stole it off a house or restaurant.. but it is a house/restaurant awning.. and I like the free standing (no poles/ropes) 12ft of shade/rain protection.

and if they can source a proper self enclosed van awning for ~$500 that's a STEAL.. heck Go-Westy gets $100 for 3 bent mounting brackets.

John, possibly talk with Go-westy or Bus depot if you need to make it to 50~100 units. but some vendors get weird in fronting capital investments.
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HoustonPhotog · Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 7:35 am Post subject:

HoustonPhotog · Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 7:45 am Post subject:

it's also worth mentioning I think ARBs were mainly designed for jeeps, land cruisers and other smaller off road suvs hence the 8' length limitation. I think the Vanagon community just jumped in and started using them, even though Vanagons were not the target audience.

Fiamma on the other hand caters to RV's... Big ones and small ones so they have the longer ones designed and available for those RVs and again the vanagon community has also jumped in to became a secondary market for them.

Not sure ARB would consider a longer 10' or 11'6 model since our (vanagon market) is a such a small piece of the overall pie.

just a thought as to why longer ones arent available.
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vanagonjr · Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 10:47 am Post subject:

This poll is just to see how many Vanagon owners would be interested in larger, reasonably priced awning-that all folks. I do plan to check a few other groups (Non-VW) as well.

If it look like it has some legs, then I would get pricing from ARB. It is not fair to get them to cost out an item before then, and they probably wouldn't anyways.
After that; a group buy, convincing a company (or companies) to order & sell and/or convincing ARB to sell them themselves (or split a min. order with a vendor(s) )are all possible roads.

I don't expect to order and re-sell awnings to make a profit or even get a free awning out of this. If I had the money to place the minimum order, I would have had a Fiamma on my van by this point Laughing

Hey Fiamma's are great - spent time under one in the rain a month ago. They just too much cash for me at this point, but I would never discourage someone from getting one. You like your Shady Boy - that's cool too. I know someone with one, and it just isn't going to give me what I am looking from in an awning. Again, a great option for some.

HoustonPhotog · Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 11:09 am Post subject:

danfromsyr · Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 12:39 pm Post subject:

not everyone over at Expedition portal drives a heep..
so maybe alot of potential there

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/forums/30-Camping-Equipment
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