New ARB Awning for My 80!

[VFRMAN]

So for it's 200,000 mile anniversary, I treated my 80 to a new ARB 2500 awning from Jacque(Go Overland/trdparts4u). Awesome deal and looking forward to using it tomorrow night at the kids BMX races. (Technically this is a "BMX expense" so it doesn't come out of my Cruiser budget.

Note the Backwoods mounts I "fabbed" up in the garage to see how it fits. Just utilizing my Yakima towers and the bike mount attachments clamps I had for a different Yakima rack.

Will make some heavier duty mounts this week sometime. Surprised how solid it is with just the light gauge bracket material I found laying around. Drove the interstate and it didn't budge a bit. And I only have 2 sets of the supplied 6mm bolts in place. Ultimately it will be attached with the 3rd set too.

Thanks again Jacque!

 

[VFRMAN]

couple more pics

 

[Cruisin']

Well, it looks cool and tidy in the closed position. How does it look open? Any idea how solid it is if a moderate wind picks up?

 

[Paul_L]

How does it look open?

 

[VFRMAN]

Only had it open for a couple minutes before I left and ran out of time to take pics. I guess I was more worried about how the brackets would make it going down the road, than deployed and staked down in place.

With the wind that was whipping tonight, maybe that will be more of an issue than I thought. Though with new HD brackets, attached in roughly the same way, I don't see how there's anyway the brackets will be the weak point.

We'll see soon enough I guess.

I'll take some pics tomorrow of it fully set up.

Thanks.

 

[Aussie cruiser]

Well, it looks cool and tidy in the closed position. How does it look open? Any idea how solid it is if a moderate wind picks up?

I have the Iron Man brand awning. Looks exactly the same, Just been up North Queesland fo ra trip and got some crap weather the first night and the camps that had free standing awnings set up had to pull them down during he night but mine was fine.

 

[VFRMAN]

Few pics from tonight. I really don't think it's going anywhere once staked down, but heavier duty mounts will still be in the works. Using it to block the setting sun tonight, I wish it was bigger, but for a quick and easy set up it was awesome. It was nice to be able to lower the front poles and dip the edge to block more sunlight. Didn't take pics at bmx but it worked very well.

 

[VFRMAN]

few more

 

[Paul_L]

Looks great. I know an awning is in my future.

 

[96r50]

Looks good. I'm also thinking about getting an awning for use when camping, paddling and the like. I'm leaning towards a Shady Boy though, as it is freestanding as well as having optional downdraft poles.

 

[VFRMAN]

Looks good. I'm also thinking about getting an awning for use when camping, paddling and the like. I'm leaning towards a Shady Boy though, as it is freestanding as well as having optional downdraft poles.

That looks pretty slick too.

I just got sick of looking and wasting hours researching this awning and that awning and finally just bucked up and bought one Jacque had on sale. I think they all work pretty good. 50 mph winds will make a mess out of anything probably.

I like mounting it via Yakima mounts so I can just swap it onto the minivan like a bike mount if wife wants to go somewhere and have the awning capability. Same for any awning though so whatever works.

 

[96r50]

That looks pretty slick too.

I just got sick of looking and wasting hours researching this awning and that awning and finally just bucked up and bought one Jacque had on sale. I think they all work pretty good. 50 mph winds will make a mess out of anything probably.

I like mounting it via Yakima mounts so I can just swap it onto the minivan like a bike mount if wife wants to go somewhere and have the awning capability. Same for any awning though so whatever works.

Yeah, I read a lot of threads here and on ExPo about awnings. It seems like everyone has a different one, and they're all the best

When I get one, I'm also going to set it up for use with my Yakima bars (I don't have a big basket rack, as I don't need it). I'm thinking about using a piece of angle iron to span between the rack crossbars since the Shady Boy case is only 4' long.

 

[VFRMAN]

That would keep it solid for sure.

 

[Tapage]

nice .. but you should check your bumper lights .. aren't aligned ?

 

[VFRMAN]

nice .. but you should check your bumper lights .. aren't aligned ?

Piece of crap Hellas I put on before I went with the HIR high beams in both lows and highs. Can't even tell when they're on. Just decided to leave them on in case I need extra lights to aim left or right someday in the middle of the night. Lenses cracked, don't stay put very good. Waste of money for the most part, but I was young and naive.

Kind of like the damage multiplier I had on before MUD "enlightened" me. (Part of which is still attached to the front of my truck, holding the lights.

 

[VFRMAN]

Few more pics "live from camp". Can't get away from MUD. even up here in the woods.

Spur of the moment trip with stop at Wally World to pick up some junk camping stuff on the way. Shakedown run for the awning/tent/Eccotemp/Shurflo/ElCrapo screen tent, etc.

So far found out the awning brackets I made interfere with the tent supports on the drivers side. Makes it hard to stick them in. Need to re-do the bracket so the awning moves out a little farther. Or just slide the tent to the passenger side a bit. I have a few inches I could go over I suppose. Good thing to find out now on a one nighter.

Screen tent for $20 from Wal Mart is about what you'd expect for a $20 Wal Mart screen tent. The pic on the box shows a full floor. Guess what? No floor. Try sealing mosquitos out with a 6" gap around the bottom where the grass/weeds get in the way.

Got in late so haven't played with the Eccotemp yet. Why? Because in my haste I forgot to fill up my water jug. Nice.

Anyway, Sunday night in the woods and there aint nobody around anywhere. AAAAHHHHHHHH......................

Sure is peaceful once 4 kids and a Yorkie finally go to sleep up top.

 

[VFRMAN]

Forgot to add:
we've got BB guns, a bow and arrow, a .22LR and enough Mt Dew, Jerky, and chocolate to take northern MN by storm.

 

[98 SNAKE EATER]

very cool

 

[Natty]

why not just make one?

 

[4dmalamute]

VERY nice! I will keep this on my list of items I might just have to purchase one day!!