Awning usefulness

[rhyary]

Those who installed Awning and side walls; can you report some practical experience ?
1. Would you buy it again?
2. Do you deploy it frequently
3. Is it a hassle to use
4. Did it hold under windy, rain, sand conditions?
5. Did you sleep in it as substitution to tent or RTT?
6. Did it interfere with wheeling, got caught on branches?

Thanks in advance

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[AdventureToolCompany]

Those who installed Awning and side walls; can you report some practical experience ?
1. Would you buy it again?
2. Do you deploy it frequently
3. Is it a hassle to use
4. Did it hold under windy, rain, sand conditions?
5. Did you sleep in it as substitution to tent or RTT?
6. Did it interfere with wheeling, got caught on branches?

Thanks in advance

Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD

Great questions. I've had awnings of two off-road vehicles with the current one being on my 60. I'll share my experiences.

1. Would you buy it again?
A. Yes. I've found them to be useful not only in the back country, but also tailgating or car shows to get out of the weather, sun, heat and it always becomes the place for people to hangout when it starts to rain.

2. Do you deploy it frequently
A. Not really. Since it mounts to my RR via small receiver hitches/pins I put it on when I think I might need it and remove it when I'm done. I hang it in my basement when not in use.

3. Is it a hassle to use
A. Not really. Once you've put it up a couple of times you'll do it with your eyes closed. But...if it's windy don't bother. No matter how many tie downs you use it only takes one updraft and it becomes a sail. Also, if you have it deployed and are going to leave the camp for any period of time make sure to put it away...otherwise the wind will kick up while your away and you'll return to it sitting on the ground.

4. Did it hold under windy, rain, sand conditions?
A. See above...Nothing like seeing and hearing the sound of awning poles smack the roof of a vehicle when the awning catches air! Mine has worked great in the rain. Makes a great place to cook, sit and chat during light rains. Once the wind picks up and starts pushing the rain under the awning the fun ends and you end up inside the truck or in the tent because you never seem to park your truck down wind.... My first one had side curtains that acted like small sails, it didn't really keep the sand out, but kept some of the rain out.

5. Did you sleep in it as substitution to tent or RTT?
A. No. Since I've had RRT's I've napped, sat and cooked under the awnings but never slept all night under one. I'm sure it would be comfy as long as the wind didn't kick up at night and then your rushing to put it away.

6. Did it interfere with wheeling, got caught on branches?
A. Yes. When running some trails in Moab it snagged on some trees on some tight trails. The cover got cut a little. Also, if you lean your truck up against a tree/rocks it'll defiantly snag on something...

Hope my limited experience helps.


Good luck

 

[FMKV]

I'm not going thru all those Questions ,but the one I have on my 100 (full length arb on a front runner rack) is perfect for rain and if your in direct sun out at camp or lunch break. Very easy to set up , can do it my self in a minute and a half , about the same to take down.

 

[rhyary]

Thank you both
Birtklr, do you think your observation are vendor depended, or all awnings behave the same no matter what the vendor claims are?

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[TemboTusk]

I had one for years and rarely used it. It is not a hassle to use.

I think it depends on your style of camping. We are always on the go and just did not take the time to deploy the awning. Its best use would be on trip through Baja where you might spend time during the day on sunny beach or any other location where you stop for a length of time and need shade.


Birtklr, I like your idea of attaching the awning to the roof rack with pins, receiver hitch style. I would leave the awning frame on and remove the awning material when not in use. Now that was a hassle. I may revisit the awning if I can install or remove it from the vehicle easily.

 

[spressomon]

I bought a Fiamma 45 last year, mounted it to the Front Runner rack and use it all the time. Sometimes even during a trail-side lunch stop on a warm sunny day. The Fiamma is a little different in that it cranks out...like fully deployed in 30-seconds (a little longer if the wind is blowing and it needs to be guyed out...). So that adds to its usefulness for us.

Wouldn't be without it.

 

[nuclearlemon]

not on my rig, but treeroot has both awning and veranda area for his rtt. on the killpecker run, the awning was great at lunchtime to get out of the really hot bright sun. at camp, the veranda was helpful one night when we showed up just before a torrential downpour and having a rtt without one, i found myself wanting one for things like muddy shoes and clothes.

 

[atomicshawn]

spressomon- I have to say thats a tough looking 100 and cool place to be chillin. Did you get hassled by park service?

 

[spressomon]

spressomon- I have to say thats a tough looking 100 and cool place to be chillin. Did you get hassled by park service?

Thanks! We didn't...we got lucky.

 

[Corey]

1. Would you buy it again?
I have the Campinglab large 79" one, and yes I would.
Although I would like to see the Fiamma 35 also.

2. Do you deploy it frequently
Only during camping trips.

3. Is it a hassle to use
I can set it up by myself in under 5 minutes.
Breakdown is a little harder.

4. Did it hold under windy, rain, sand conditions?
Have had it in both wind and rain, and it did very well.
I always stake it out with the guylines too.

5. Did you sleep in it as substitution to tent or RTT?
No, I do not have the side room package for it.

6. Did it interfere with wheeling, got caught on branches?
So far it has not yet.

 

[AdventureToolCompany]

Thank you both
Birtklr, do you think your observation are vendor depended, or all awnings behave the same no matter what the vendor claims are?

Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD

Sorry, but I can't really say that it's vender specific. I've had the ridged/rafter fold-out style (ARB style), the crank-out style (Lance Truck Camper), the fold and wrap style (Camping Lab style) and the large tarp style (Backpack ultralight style and blue tarp style....) over the past 20 years and they all have their pro's and con's....as long as you tie them down and watch the wind you'll enjoy having the usable space.

Good luck

 

[wildsmith]

I have a Foxwing on my 100 and use it quite a lot, for camping and family day trips, to shelter from the rain mostly because we get quite a bit of that I've used it in some quite high winds and it's been fine but I use 400mm long T section rock pegs to hold it down not normal tent pegs and they work well even on the beach Sets up and takes down really easy and it's nice to have cover round the back as well as the side. Never slept under it myself but a friend put his 2 second tent up under it once for some extra shelter with a couple of the extension panels fitted as blockers, I was in the RT though.

 

[freepowder]

I don't like rig-mounted awnings.

I have two dining flys. One is 12' square. I don't much use it anymore.
The other is a 12' x 20' tarp that uses the corner poles from the old one and two 8' surplus poles for the middle.
It goes over the table and my camp kitchen, with room for my chairs should it rain or the sun come out.
I have three 12' wide sides leftover from the busted EzUp, that I deploy if it's windy or rainy.

It's not a lot harder to set up--couple more poles and guy ropes--and if I decide to run up the mountain to see what those odd lights in the sky are, I don't have to knock down the awning to do it.

 

[concretejungle]

Any more experience with the foxwing awning? I've been looking at those pretty hard. It looks like they have accessories for it like walls, a floor and even a tent that attaches to the awning. It appears to deploy quickly and pack up pretty quick too and offers a lot of coverage.

My two main questions regarding the awning are: 1. how is it while driving down the highway? Wind noise and does it move around? I'm worried that it's really going to be loud and flapping around running down the highway at 75mph.

2. Has anyone actually used one and had it deployed while still having the rear hatch of your 80 up? That's my biggest concern actually. I would like it to be deployed and still allow me to open the rear hatch to access the fridge, cook on the tailgate or whatever I need to do.

 

[wildsmith]

I'm on my 2nd foxwing, 1st one went with the 100 when I sold it, now back in an 80 and needed another one. I have never noticed any wind noise but it mounts on the PS so not near my ears and there are roof bars and a tent making noise anyway. The cover is quite stiff so it won't flap about. Tailgate clearance depends how low you mount the foxwing. Mine is quite low and with a ladder on my upper tailgate I can't quite open it fully, but enough to clear what I need. Without the ladder or if I raised the foxwing 2" it wouldn't be an issue.

I have a couple of the rectangular extension panels which make good weather blockers, I haven't tried the newer side panels you can zip together but they look handy as well.

For reference this is how min sits, bottom is just below the roof bars mainly to clear the RT fly supports on that side otherwise it could sit higher.

 

[oilbrnr]

spressomon - Nice looking 100! Where did you get the Fiamma? I have a couple of powered ones on my RV and l really like them. It is fully encased in a hard shell when retracted, correct? And the legs stay attached to the front frame so they don't need to be pack separate?

 

[spressomon]

spressomon - Nice looking 100! Where did you get the Fiamma? I have a couple of powered ones on my RV and l really like them. It is fully encased in a hard shell when retracted, correct? And the legs stay attached to the front frame so they don't need to be pack separate?

Thanks!

I special ordered the black (Ti45), from Martyn & Mario/AT Trailers, and had it shipped direct from Fiamma USA. Yes it is the Fiamma style awning typically found on the side of RVs; completely encased in aluminum with integral attached legs and crank out awning. Its been a super awning. Its nice to be able to use it even for short lunch breaks from the sun...because as you know its literally 30-seconds to crank out and maybe all of a minute or two max to reverse.

And the awning case has deflected hundreds of low hanging pinyon pine branches...typical of the remote Nevada and Utah trails we seem to like to roll on.

I had the wall/window/door kit for it and even though it was a very high quality kit I found the bulkiness a negative for the limited amount of cargo space in an LC.

 

[concretejungle]

Wildsmith, thank you for the reply!!

Looks like a lot of coverage and comes in a nice small package.

 

[TXLX100]

spressomon - Nice looking 100! Where did you get the Fiamma? I have a couple of powered ones on my RV and l really like them. It is fully encased in a hard shell when retracted, correct? And the legs stay attached to the front frame so they don't need to be pack separate?

I like that setup, if I ever get an awning for my truck, that might be it. My camper has a rollout awning that has the top support arms and legs that fold into the front frame, so it's all one unit.

 

[MANUCHAO]

i have the shadyboy awning. it weights about 15lbs.I use a swing arm to move it from the side of the rig to back. when deploy it is about 10' x 6'. it takes about 5 min to deploy or put away, but who's counting when you out there?
I havent used it much but the times I have it has been great......
I do use aftermarket poles as the stock pole were too short.

This is my first awning, and would def purchase one again.....
having to finish you cooking under heavy rain was a new experience that I dont care to repeat...