Alu-Cab Shadow Awning dilemma

[Camodog]

I posted this in another forum, however I thought fellow 4Runner owners could chime in and help me through this.

I was just a click away from buying the shadow awning 270, when the better half chimed in with her infinite wisdom. I will do my best to describe our dilemma.
Because we have a 4runner, which has a rear liftgate style hatch.
The wife is correct in that we wont be able to lift the rear hatch while the awning is open and we also wont be able to open the awning while the hatch is opened.
Although we have a powered rear window, she, wouldnt be able to pick things up and through the rear window. She is short. This also makes a future fridge on slide, and other rear cargo boxes obsolete when used with the shadow, unless we closed and reopened the awning everytime.

My question is this, does anyone have the shadow awning with a 4runner or similar vehicle with an opening rear hatch that is not a swing door?
Is it as much of a PITA as the wife suggests?
Am I over thinking it?
What would you do?
Any ideas, tips, suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I spent months picking out the perfect awning, and then BAM, the wife shot it down with her forward thinking.
Help please.

What are my alternatives?

 

[Camodog]

For the record, it doesn't have to be the shadow awning.
How could I do this with ANY 270 degree awning.

Does anyone here use a 270 awning with their rear tailgate open?

 

[MeanoTorino]

I don't have an awning, but I'm wondering if you could use a "limiting" strap to keep the hatch from opening to full extension. I know some have used this setup to be able to open their hatches in garages with a low ceiling height.

 

[Camodog]

I don't have an awning, but I'm wondering if you could use a "limiting" strap to keep the hatch from opening to full extension. I know some have used this setup to be able to open their hatches in garages with a low ceiling height.

Good suggestion. I actually use my limiting strap for my garage. We measured for it and there is only about one foot of opening before the spoiler would hit the awning.

I think the bigger issue is the rear spoiler, it is so large that it would impede on the awning too much.

 

[1engineer]

Good suggestion. I actually use my limiting strap for my garage. We measured for it and there is only about one foot of opening before the spoiler would hit the awning.

I think the bigger issue is the rear spoiler, it is so large that it would impede on the awning too much.

I'll tell you the solution I use: EZ Up 10X10 Shelter. You can move it anywhere, set it higher so you can open the tail gate, move it on either side or away from the vehicle. Cost is minimal. Sets up in less that a minute. I load and move it by myself. I either strap it to the rack or load it in the back, depending on the trip. I used it many times last year.

But of course, it doesn't look as cool or nearly as inefficient as having an awning strapped to your 4Runner all the time...

 

[High_Country]

I have a 'typical' ARB awning that I mount to the roof rack prior to trips (no need to keep it on all the time).
Think about it this way: the 4Runner's rear lift gate is like a built in awning for the rear. Get you a typical side awning and let the lift gate be your weather protection for the rear when you are actually back there doing something. It's the easiest and quickest deploying awning on the market - promise. ; )

 

[alirawk]

I was just talking to Brian at GooseGear about this very issue a few hours ago. Apparently they recently installed an AluCab RTT and awning on a client's 4runner, and he said that you can get about 70-75% opening of the tail with the awning on. The is the potential of mounting the awning higher on the tent because of its aluminum construction, but it will affect the sleekness of the look.

 

[JSparky]

Here's another option I came across while researching awnings for my own rig. It's not as sexy as a swing-out style awning but it solves the tailgate issue.. affordable too relative to others on the market. Not sure what kind of weather conditions you need protection from but you could combine it with a side awning for more protection.

Dome 1300 Awning - #32125 | Rhino-Rack

 

[alirawk]

I just discovered this...

Eezi-Awn Bat 270 Degree Awning Right Hand Side

Based on some of their pics, it appears to not interfere with the opening of the tail. I'll be calling them later to confirm.

 

[alirawk]

The interference is not that bad. You still get about 80% of the opening without problem. I'm about 5'11" and have no issue standing underneath the open rear door with awning deployed. I just have to get under from the side, rather than straight on because of the downward curve of the rear door. Will post some pictures tomorrow. This was definitely something I deliberated a lot and had to see in person before pulling the $1500 trigger on awning. So glad I did.

 

[stikky]

I've been looking into the 270 myself.. and i really can't think of a logical method of still being able to open the rear hatch with the awning opening...

and i may honestly resort to a small trailer.. with tent and awning on that instead.

 

[3wbdriver]

I tried for 3 years to justify a Foxwing awning, but the rear hatch dilemma kept stopping me. I finally just asked for an ARB 2500 last Christmas.

 

[alirawk]

I've been looking into the 270 myself.. and i really can't think of a logical method of still being able to open the rear hatch with the awning opening...

and i may honestly resort to a small trailer.. with tent and awning on that instead.

Don't give up just yet. I actually watched a youtube video of a guy who quite simply added a couple pieces of aluminum to the brackets to raise the awning. He wasn't trying to clear the hatch, but the concept will work just the same. He added a full 12-inches, which is more than needed for the hatch.

I'm actually doing this Monday. Will post pics as soon as I do. But it really is a super simple solution. A 6-inch piece of 3/16 steel for both the front and rear awning brackets. And boom. Problem solved. It's so obvious, I'm surprised others haven't thought of it before. Or perhaps, because it's so obvious?

 

[stikky]

Don't give up just yet. I actually watched a youtube video of a guy who quite simply added a couple pieces of aluminum to the brackets to raise the awning. He wasn't trying to clear the hatch, but the concept will work just the same. He added a full 12-inches, which is more than needed for the hatch.

I'm actually doing this Monday. Will post pics as soon as I do. But it really is a super simple solution. A 6-inch piece of 3/16 steel for both the front and rear awning brackets. And boom. Problem solved. It's so obvious, I'm surprised others haven't thought of it before. Or perhaps, because it's so obvious?

Will be interested to see photos.

 

[Titanpat57]

I would make a mount that is hinged, lays flat on the roof rack until you need it. Make it high enough to clear the rear hatch opened.

When you get to where you going, fold it up into the opening position, lock it in place and unfold to the 270 degrees..

 

[alirawk]

awning bracket

Just finished making and mounting these brackets. They work perfectly. The awning now opens almost exactly above the opening of the rear lift gate. Perfect.

 

[007nco]

Doing the exact same install this week. Thanks for the riser brackets idea. Looks pretty beefy (1/2"?) plate? Didn't happen to have dimensions or pattern that worked out by chance?

 

[alirawk]

Doing the exact same install this week. Thanks for the riser brackets idea. Looks pretty beefy (1/2"?) plate? Didn't happen to have dimensions or pattern that worked out by chance?

Sorry for the delay replying.

The pattern is really simple. I used 3/8" thick stainless steel. 10" high by 3" wide. Used a grinder to give a round to the sharp edges. Then painted them black with rustoleum.

For the bolt pattern, I simply used the brackets to trace the bolt pattern on the bottom of the steel extension piece and again on the top. There should be a 4" gap between the bolt patterns, which is about all the additional height you need.

Here are a couple pics for reference. Let me know if you need any more help/insights.

 

[007nco]

Thanks for that. Lining it all out to do in the next few days as converting the liftgate to a side swing like the FJ looks daunting. :lookout:

 

[alirawk]

Thanks for that. Lining it all out to do in the next few days as converting the liftgate to a side swing like the FJ looks daunting. :lookout:

Whoa! Had no idea that's what the FJ did.

Two pieces of steel with 18 drilled holes seems far more convenient. Definitely post pics when you're done.