Awning owners... 6.5' or 8'?

[silverado1957]

Looks like that's on the OEM Pro rack?

Did they have mounts for the tubes or did you have to put that together separately?

OEM TRD Pro Rack - ROAM provided no mount solution for tubular racks in kit.

I used Gzila 1.75 standard clamps. Finding the clamps are slipping a bit, so I may try BajaRacks TRD Pro clamps..seem to be engineered to prevent slipping.

 

[comtn4x4]

OEM TRD Pro Rack - ROAM provided no mount solution for tubular racks in kit.

I used Gzila 1.75 standard clamps. Finding the clamps are slipping a bit, so I may try BajaRacks TRD Pro clamps..seem to be engineered to prevent slipping.

I'd check out the Four Treks awning mounts. I used it for years and it never slipped. Comes in a variety of sizes



Modular Awning Mounts

 

[Sp00ner]

OEM TRD Pro Rack - ROAM provided no mount solution for tubular racks in kit.

I used Gzila 1.75 standard clamps. Finding the clamps are slipping a bit, so I may try BajaRacks TRD Pro clamps..seem to be engineered to prevent slipping.

Thanks!

Googled those not long after posting the question. I have the Baja Maxxtrax mounts and they were really solid for 2 10 hour drives and 5 days of random off-roading in between. Never had to get them out, thankfully, cause the wingnuts were a pain in the ass to screw on and off.

Expensive for what you get, but they got the job done. Debating on getting the actual Maxxtrax pins, but cant get confirmation if they'll fit the Baja brackets, though for $69 I'll probably just YOLO it and see.

 

[YellowSnow]

Get the 6. The 8 is way too wide for our trucks and looks wierd. But I guess if you have a family of 6 best get the big one

Agreed! The 6.5 looks like it was meant for the 4R. Here’s my Roam and it’s been excellent, even in windy conditions!

 

[dride]

Have 6.5x6.5 frontrunner, will be going 8x8 Ironman at some point. 6.5 is too small in my opinion


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[Brick Sprickly]

Have 6.5x6.5 frontrunner, will be going 8x8 Ironman at some point. 6.5 is too small in my opinion


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Having spent time under both, 8x8 is always a better option unless you're single or have no friends.

You have to choose if you want a fashionable accessory that's too short or a functional one that works best imo.

 

[YellowSnow]

I fit 2-3 of my no life friendless friends under my 6.5 perfectly. Nothing looks more ridiculous than an enormous awning sticking out of your roof. Almost as bad as these Lego shaped tree house RTT sticking up two feet in the air.....IMO

 

[El Dusty]

Who knew there was so much hate for 8' awnings. :shrug:

IMO the 8' roam looks great on a prinsu. More importantly its functional and it covers the whole side of the truck. It performed great in a few torrential downpoors where I could access and leave both dirver side doors open without worrying about rain getting in. Will be buying the room as well soon!

 

[bring_it_on]

Who knew there was so much hate for 8' awnings. :shrug:

IMO the 8' roam looks great on a prinsu. More importantly its functional and it covers the whole side of the truck..

Nice! I receive mine (8') this weekend and can't wait to put it on. I deliberated between 6.5 and 8 for a while as well but after seeing yours's installed, I'm glad I went with the 8'.I'll be mounting it on a Front Runner roof rack.

 

[Padraic]

Is there much of a difference between the awnings when it comes to material, or are they pretty much the same? Right now I'm deciding between the ROAM and Ironman, with me leaning ROAM 8' right now. I'm hoping whatever I get holds up well to the weather since we'll be camping a lot with it.

 

[jetmechG550]

Is there much of a difference between the awnings when it comes to material, or are they pretty much the same? Right now I'm deciding between the ROAM and Ironman, with me leaning ROAM 8' right now. I'm hoping whatever I get holds up well to the weather since we'll be camping a lot with it.

Between the Ironman and Roam, not really, I think they use the same grade ripstop. When you get into the cheaper awnings though, fuhgedaboutit, most use cheap ripstop like nylon that's like tissue paper

 

[Mr_Bingley]

I have the 2500x2500 arb with the fully enclosed tent room. love it to death. it's big enough where my Bride and i can sleep on cots inside away from bugs. Sure, it looks a little like I'm jousting when I drive around but I don't care lol

 

[El Dusty]

Is there much of a difference between the awnings when it comes to material, or are they pretty much the same? Right now I'm deciding between the ROAM and Ironman, with me leaning ROAM 8' right now. I'm hoping whatever I get holds up well to the weather since we'll be camping a lot with it.

On Paper they are very similar. Canvases are both 280gsm ripstop with UV rating. Very similar as far as sizes and shapes of the poles and extrusions they use. PVC bags are specified differently but probably the same. I will say the PVC bag on the ROAM is really thick and impressive quality overall. Zippers stay in place and have held up and still look like new after a years of abuse.

One comment on the ROAM, if trying to set up solo never let go of the rolled up extrusion as you are setting it up. Keep it supported / in your hand until you have all the pipes secured to it. I bent one of the horizontal pipes and locating rods at the end on my first go. Still functions but bent up slightly

 

[Brick Sprickly]

I have the 2500x2500 arb with the fully enclosed tent room. love it to death. it's big enough where my Bride and i can sleep on cots inside away from bugs. Sure, it looks a little like I'm jousting when I drive around but I don't care lol

Best part about the 2500 is that the overhang actually covers the front part of the door from rain when ajar.

 

[Padraic]

On Paper they are very similar. Canvases are both 280gsm ripstop with UV rating. Very similar as far as sizes and shapes of the poles and extrusions they use. PVC bags are specified differently but probably the same. I will say the PVC bag on the ROAM is really thick and impressive quality overall. Zippers stay in place and have held up and still look like new after a years of abuse.

One comment on the ROAM, if trying to set up solo never let go of the rolled up extrusion as you are setting it up. Keep it supported / in your hand until you have all the pipes secured to it. I bent one of the horizontal pipes and locating rods at the end on my first go. Still functions but bent up slightly

Awesome - thanks! The only dilemma now is to purchase now or hope for a Memorial Day sale :eyebrows:

 

[mocat16]

is it possible to mount the Ironman quick release brackets to a Yakima Loadwarrior cargo basket?

 

[justanothereric]

Best part about the 2500 is that the overhang actually covers the front part of the door from rain when ajar.

Would you happen to know if the 8ft ROAM one would as well?

 

[Brick Sprickly]

Would you happen to know if the 8ft ROAM one would as well?

The '2500' for the ARB refers to millimeters since its Australia, and that converts to 8.2021 feet so mine is going to be slightly longer there.

You could always move it forward on the rack since you wouldn't need it so much on the rear of the vehicle for that reason but to each their own.

 

[1Louder]

Late to the party....

If you want the additional room get the 8'. You will be way happier with the interior room. I have owned both ARB and Iron Man. Buy what is on sale and in stock. I have a Ironman 2500 with an ARB Room at the moment. They are the same though!

If you don't want the awning room get a 180 awning. So much more functional based on my years of experiece. The walls work great when needed to block the sun as required.

My trailer has a 270 with wall and the 2500 awning I have I can move from the other side of the trailer to my vehicle as I see fit with the quick release brackets sold by Ironman. IF you buy a 180 or 270 these brackets will not work. The awning backplates are totally different. Adventure Imports in Prescott, AZ sells a quick release setup for those style of awnings. Don't faint at the price though.

 

[Sp00ner]

Debating on getting the actual Maxxtrax pins, but cant get confirmation if they'll fit the Baja brackets, though for $69 I'll probably just YOLO it and see.

In case anyone was looking to do the same thing, I did end up getting the Maxtrax mounting pins and they fit really well into the BajaRacks Maxtrax mounts.