I have an LFD rack on my GX and I was thinking it would be cool to have a small awning mounted on the back that I could quickly deploy so I could have a place to stay dry when I'm changing into and out of my wetsuit before and after surfing. I live in the PNW so it rains a lot and something like this would be very useful for other circumstances as well I reckon like making coffee or food on the rear door mounted table. I've been unable to find anything that is quite what I'm envisioning. All of the smaller awnings I've found require more setup than I can see myself wanting to bother with in a parking lot or alongside a road. I have a side awning but it's not freestanding. If I can't figure out something to offer some protection for the rear hatch I will probably go for a full batwing awning. Any help or thoughts is appreciated.
Does anyone make a 4 ft. self supporting awning?
- Thread starter Kesson
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No help here, but that is a cool idea.
watching…
EDIT…Ironman 4x4 has a 4.5’ wide, 6.5’ deep awning if that would fit. Pics on their site show it on the back of a Jeep.
I have 2 of their awnings…8’ wide on vehicle, and 6.5’ on trailer, and I’m very satisfied with them for the quality and price. And their US headquarters and showroom is in Tualatin…
Good Luck…
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I have a Batwing 270 on my four wheel camper. It's huge. Honestly... its the one thing I never use. Complete waste of money on my end. Pain to set up and they won't do much for rain... barely do anything for the sun unless it is like middle of the day and it's high in the sky.
I guess my only point is that you might be very disappointed with one that is 4' wide. Mine is like 6x that size and doesn't do s***.
I guess my only point is that you might be very disappointed with one that is 4' wide. Mine is like 6x that size and doesn't do s***.
You have some choices to make when it comes to a self supported awning.
Your two main options are a "180" or a "270".
Just to name a few, look up these companies/awnings:
Darche - Eclipse 180 & 270
Alucab - Shadow 270
Overland Vehicle Systems - Nomadic 180 & 270
The Bush Company - 180 & 270
23Zero - pereguine 270
ARQ4WD - 180 & 270
All these will pop out and put away with one person. Some are more stout to stay up without the poles dropped down.
Your two main options are a "180" or a "270".
Just to name a few, look up these companies/awnings:
Darche - Eclipse 180 & 270
Alucab - Shadow 270
Overland Vehicle Systems - Nomadic 180 & 270
The Bush Company - 180 & 270
23Zero - pereguine 270
ARQ4WD - 180 & 270
All these will pop out and put away with one person. Some are more stout to stay up without the poles dropped down.
We have an Alucab 270 and love it’s quick, one person opening and closing. Don't even have to put my beer down.
I have a Shady Boy awning on both my vintage trailer (boler) and my GX 460
The Shady Boy Awning is a little known but excellent awning. The Shady Boy awning is a lightweight and compact self supporting bat-wing type awning. It does not need any support poles, it stores in a 4' long aluminum case but opens up to an impressive 6' deep by 10' long awning that only weighs 14 lbs..
I do recommend guide ropes to prevent the wind from getting under it, I secure mine to the front wheel and hitch, but no support poles are needed.
The Shady Boy Awning is a little known but excellent awning. The Shady Boy awning is a lightweight and compact self supporting bat-wing type awning. It does not need any support poles, it stores in a 4' long aluminum case but opens up to an impressive 6' deep by 10' long awning that only weighs 14 lbs..
I do recommend guide ropes to prevent the wind from getting under it, I secure mine to the front wheel and hitch, but no support poles are needed.
I found the Shady Boy Awning video on how it works. Pretty interesting. Would be cool to see how someone makes it work over the rear barn door of the GX470.
That is actually the video I made for Shady Boy using my boler (no affiliation to them)
I don't see any reason it wouldn't work over the rear hatch, I considered installing mine there but I am using the stock roof rails and they are located too far forward. As long as you have a mounting location close to the back like an aftermarket roof rack that extends to the back edge of the roof.
Here are some pictures of of how I mounted the awning. I custom made the cross rail saddles by 3D printing them in PETG, a UV resistant material. The top is designed to accept T-channel to allow for some adjustments. The awning and bracket are attached to the cross bar brackets using 1/4"x20 T-bolts and star wheels. I used the ARB awning bracket with gusset, part number 813402, secured these to the back of the awning case using 1/4" stainless steel round head bolts with washers. The awning is easily removable by kust unscrewing the four star wheels.
