Gutter Mounts for ARB Awning: GoWesty vs. NorthWesty vs. RMW/VC?

[eeberhar]

[Vanuber]

[CherryPi]

[plummerdesign]

This summer I mounted the ARB Touring awning (aluminum case) on (2) NorthWesty stainless steel brackets to my 1984 Westfalia. Could not have been easier.
: )
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It is old and green and it makes me grin.
1984 Westfalia 1.9

[Franagon]

I gave them a call. They seemed pretty certain it would work with the rack that I have. I will mock it up at home and get a better visual. The key is to remember to post the finished product with the canopy and rack so others can see as well. Thanks all again!
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84 Westy Wolfsburg Manual - RG6 Bostig

[sphet]

[kamzcab86]

[mikemtnbike]

Franagon- I have the wide body mounts on my poptop and there is no interference between the rack and the mounts, the awning is canted out slightly.

I also have the plunger style riv-nut tool, it's very nice kit, recommended.
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1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual

[Franagon]

Thank you for the input, after looking at my van last night, I didn't really know where the 3rd mount would even go! Also, one main concern I have is the existing rack I have on my pop top which looks like this:

https://www.yakima.com/widebody-brackets

Does the rack mounting clear the awning? (when the pop top is down) I don't have my rack mounted due to head clearance in my garage at the moment. I can certainly check. I am assuming the awning projects straight up from the edge of the rain gutter, maybe further away from the van? Forgive all the questions, just don't want to miss anything and hopefully this will help someone in the future. Thanks again!
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84 Westy Wolfsburg Manual - RG6 Bostig

[sphet]

[valvecovergasket]

that astro tool set is the exact one i have. its well worth the money and youll inevitably find uses for the rivnuts on other projects.

once you use the tool and realize how much force it took to properly collapse the rivnuts that go with the awning youll wonder how people can manage to do it with the double-nut method and not having them get loose later on down the line.
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MegaSquirt resource - SpitfireEFI.com

gone, but not forgotten: '83 tdi westy - swap thread

[Franagon]

Yes, I like the idea of the added structural stability of that next mounting point into the van, just hard to bring myself to it. Here is a tool I spied on Amazon, that looks pretty good and would be WELL worth it for me:

https://www.amazon.com/Astro-Pneumatic-Tool-1442-S...s9dHJ1ZQ==

Thanks for the input! Getting closer to getting this project going.
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84 Westy Wolfsburg Manual - RG6 Bostig

[Franagon]

Great tip! Those do look nice. Thanks again for the feedback!
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84 Westy Wolfsburg Manual - RG6 Bostig

[valvecovergasket]

[mikemtnbike]

I can't speak for Northwesty's offering, but two RMW brackets have wored great for a few years of hard use for me. This includes quite a bit of forest service road driving and some high wind conditions. No drilling for them either.
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1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual

[Franagon]

I am looking to add a ARB 2500 to my 84 Westy, and would prefer not to drill holes in it, if possible. My other thought is going with 3 GW brackets they offer. Those of you with earlier vans, did the brackets work well? I see the North Westy brackets look good and do not require the drilling into the van, sold as a pair. Those of you that used the North Westy brackets, did 2 brackets seem to be substantial enough? Thanks all, always want to ping this group to get some last minute guidance. Thanks again, Fran
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84 Westy Wolfsburg Manual - RG6 Bostig

[IdahoDoug]

813402 is the part number for the ARB awning mounts I chose to mount my awning directly to my Thule roof rack. This raises the awning 6 inches or at the van for a considerably roomier feel, plus no hole drilling, etc. In addition, we have 4 other vehicles the awning goes on from time to time, so all I do is move the entire rack to the other vehicle with the awning on it and adjust the width to suit. I also remove the ARB awning for winter to reduce weathering. At $12 per bracket they are a good value as well.
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[dgbeatty]

We use and recommend Northwesties hand down. We also strong encourage the use of three mounts as ARB recommends. For the early style gutters we simply weld a small stainless bar to the backside at no charge. It is a 5 minute job. Overall much much better than the "universal" versions.
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Schau in das Buch

[cmayna]

Hmmmmmmm. Maybe so
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'90 Westy / automatic.
If I'm not working on the camper or my '50 Chebbie truck, I'm either fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.


Craig

[eleven]

Hey "Private Marty"... It looks like you got the gutter clip in upside down. See screenshots below: