ARB 2500 Awning install

[Orlyg1521]

Here is my install of this awning onto my Yakima round bars I thought of a Foxwing (one on sale here: FS:Foxwing Awning - Expedition Portal and FS: Foxwing Eco 2.1 Awning w/ Lots of Accessories. - Expedition Portal) but seeing them at the NWOR I didn't think the rear hatch would be able to open, so I found this one in Bend and got a sweet deal.
My first issue was that the 48" bars I have been using was too short. I had them as far to the passenger side to mount the cargo box and wanted to mount the awning on the driver's side to maintain access to the box. I found a set of 78" bars on CG at a good price and cut them down to 66" which puts them about 2" inside the fenders. The second issue was mounting it onto the round bars. I got the idea from this Youtube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS3gnxlKqgQ).The awning mounted great under the bar and the door clears with about 2" to spare. The deployment is easy once you get the sequence of it. I angled the front end a few inches inward (might help with wind??). All the hardware was gotten at local hardware stores for less than $20. The awning feels super solid with 2 steel L-brackets front and back (4 total). I had to trim those down for looks. I cut, round-off and drill the straight mending brackets. I will be trimming the bolts down a bit. With this setup I have more room and will be fabricating a narrow version of a Baja rack or basket to add to the system. I will also try to design a bracket to pull the awning on/off quicker, I have a few ideas (or chime in with yours)

 

[Moto69Joe]

Nice! My only critique is get some shorter hardware for those horizontal bolts.

 

[Orlyg1521]

Nice! My only critique is get some shorter hardware for those horizontal bolts.

Said that

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[Orlyg1521]

Guy lines

This was how I rigged the guy lines. Works really well, easy to attach.

I apologize for the pics, don't know why they are turned 90 degrees, they are straight when I started loading them. Tried 3x's and it happens each time.

 

[Simpleman74]

Id mount it further back so when it rains you can still access the vehicle without rain coming in

 

[Orlyg1521]

Id mount it further back so when it rains you can still access the vehicle without rain coming in

saw that, will probably do that as long as it doesn't rub on the paint. Thanks

 

[RysiuM]

I would not trust the angle brackets to hold over time. The a significant weight of the owning would try to bend the brackets at the weakest point while driving (these brackets are made of bent steel with stress line at the bent) and metal fatigue eventually will cause a crack at the place shown by arrow. An you know what she said: "You are the weakest link - good bye" :bolt:

 

[Orlyg1521]

I would not trust the angle brackets to hold over time. The a significant weight of the owning would try to bend the brackets at the weakest point while driving (these brackets are made of bent steel with stress line at the bent) and metal fatigue eventually will cause a crack at the place shown by arrow. An you know what she said: "You are the weakest link - good bye" :bolt:

If you have a better plan I am all ears

 

[RysiuM]

Just quick search, not sure it it will work 100% but probably a shape like that will hold much better:

Other option would be to used 6061-T6 Aluminum Angle proper size - extruded or rolled material doesn't have stress lines at the corner and therefore will be much stiffer and less prone to metal fatigue at the corner.

 

[Orlyg1521]

I'll look for this unless you have a link to this

 

[Keith_PDX]

That was going to be my exact comment, those are going to break. Do they bounce around when driving? Even my stock Baja awning mounts broke. If they're not braced, don't use them. When it breaks those too long of bolts are going to come crashing down the side of your car. Baja ended up reinforcing mine and they've been great ever since.

Orlando - You can get those brackets he linked to at Ace on 185th and TV Highway. Be surprised if they didn't have them at Lowes or Home Depot. They're in the unistrut section, which is what they're most commonly used for.

 

[RysiuM]

Let me google that for you

Sorry, could not resist :heh: But seriously, what Keith_PDX worte.

 

[Orlyg1521]

Found them, did google them

 

[Orlyg1521]

Keith,

thanks, the ACE in Progress Ridge and Woodstock nor the Home Depot in Beaverton did not have them. I'll check it tomorrow

 

[Orlyg1521]

Change in mounting hardware

I have changed the angle pieces for a pair of monster/steel pieces of angle iron. This awning isn't going anywhere. The grid/platform is a pallet shelf I got on CG for $5. I had to grind off some of the supporting "V" cross brace to fit between the bars. Still figuring out how to secure it. "U" bolts aren't quite working, will probably go with Yakima attachments. I wanted something to secure folding chairs/tables, bags/bulky items that may not quite fit in the cargo box.

 

[maulihiwa]

Here is my install of this awning onto my Yakima round bars I thought of a Foxwing (one on sale here: FS:Foxwing Awning - Expedition Portal and FS: Foxwing Eco 2.1 Awning w/ Lots of Accessories. - Expedition Portal) but seeing them at the NWOR I didn't think the rear hatch would be able to open, so I found this one in Bend and got a sweet deal.
My first issue was that the 48" bars I have been using was too short. I had them as far to the passenger side to mount the cargo box and wanted to mount the awning on the driver's side to maintain access to the box. I found a set of 78" bars on CG at a good price and cut them down to 66" which puts them about 2" inside the fenders. The second issue was mounting it onto the round bars. I got the idea from this Youtube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS3gnxlKqgQ).The awning mounted great under the bar and the door clears with about 2" to spare. The deployment is easy once you get the sequence of it. I angled the front end a few inches inward (might help with wind??). All the hardware was gotten at local hardware stores for less than $20. The awning feels super solid with 2 steel L-brackets front and back (4 total). I had to trim those down for looks. I cut, round-off and drill the straight mending brackets. I will be trimming the bolts down a bit. With this setup I have more room and will be fabricating a narrow version of a Baja rack or basket to add to the system. I will also try to design a bracket to pull the awning on/off quicker, I have a few ideas (or chime in with yours)

Hey man! Just wondering how sturdy the awning feels on the road mounted to the two crossbars? I have the same setup and looking for an awning right now. I'd prefer the 2500 because it's larger, I'm just not sure how sturdy/flimsy it will be when only mounted at two different points.

 

[Orlyg1521]

Hey man! Just wondering how sturdy the awning feels on the road mounted to the two crossbars? I have the same setup and looking for an awning right now. I'd prefer the 2500 because it's larger, I'm just not sure how sturdy/flimsy it will be when only mounted at two different points.

No problem, very sturdy. Mounts are steel angle iron

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[Laura11]

steel brackets?

howdy - I know this is an old thread but hoping you can tell me where you purchased the L brackets?

I have seen a ton of threads indicating that 3" L brackets from Home Depot will suffice, but those threads are from ~2013 and I'm thinking ARB must've switched their track height so people have to buy their parts, because the pre-drilled 3" L bracket holes don't align with the track.

Thanks in advance!

 

[hardyplante]

Looks a lot sturdier. I like the idea of that mesh stuff, may have to see where I can get some of that stuff and copy your idea.

Edit didn’t realize this was such an old thread. *

 

[SlickTRD]

howdy - I know this is an old thread but hoping you can tell me where you purchased the L brackets?

I have seen a ton of threads indicating that 3" L brackets from Home Depot will suffice, but those threads are from ~2013 and I'm thinking ARB must've switched their track height so people have to buy their parts, because the pre-drilled 3" L bracket holes don't align with the track.

Thanks in advance!

The newer 4runners have different rails and there are now several options on how to mount an ARB awning to the factory rails.

In my opinion, I think the best way is to get the LFD Offroad cross bars and ARB awning mounting brackets. There might be some drilling involved, but this is probably the sturdiest way outside of mounting to a roof rack system.

The second method is to contact Maadcaap and order his homemade mounting plates. This method is the simplest and probably most cost effective way.