Awning Regrets... Which Size do you regret?

[FiReBReTHa]

if at all...

Looking for some folks to play devils advocate for me. I was on range today but the location was new to me and had no cover from the sun.

My precious porcelain skin must be protected!


SO, The question. Did you regret the size Awning you purchased? And how come? or any, inconveniences that you've found with your awning pick?
Too long and obstructs **
Too Short and not enough shade

ETc.

 

[3wbdriver]

Being from Louisiana I am a "you can never have enough shade" kind of guy. I would have bought a Foxwing if I could have figured out how to make it work with the 5th Gen hatch. We've stuffed 6 people in camp chairs under it at high noon to watch a race. I love my ARB 2500 absolutely and have no plans to get rid of it.

Having said that, my last 2 camping trips saw a 10 x 10 canopy packed in and erected at the campsite specifically because it was NOT attached to the vehicle and has a larger area of coverage. And if you are camping with a group several of them can be lashed together at the legs with bungees to create a larger central socializing area. They go up and break down just as quickly as a vehicle mounted awning, can be lashed down on even the 4R crossbars, and the prices have become very reasonable ($65 at Harbor Freight?). Mine has become a permanent addition in the base camp trailer.

 

[jrandom]

...Mine has become a permanent addition in the base camp trailer.

You said trailer! Which is something I have been spending my spare time dreaming about. Whether it has an awning or a shade structure stowed inside, I personally think is the only way to go. Like you mention the downfall of the awning it is attached to you truck, you want to move even ten feet and your are breaking it down... the trailer on the other hand you just unhook, leave at camp go have fun, come back.

I had seriously considered getting a 2500 and the wall/floor kit but I tend to move around a little too much. That said, if I didn’t have a trailer (lol which I don’t yet) an awning is more efficient than packing a folding shade structure, they are cumbersome, take up quite a bit of space and some are downright heavy, the one my buddy has has wheels built into the case, it is right around 80 pounds.

 

[TheFabFour]

We have the 2500. Based on a small price difference and size difference we got the 2500 to get as much shade as possible. We do have the side and front wall. The side wall is real useful to give you a good amount of shade. We seat 4 and a table under it and depending on the time of day we need the side wall. We have 4 people on trips so I have a bunch of gear goes on the roof rack already, don't have the space for an E-Z up type canopy so the awning is ideal for us.

 

[SurgicalApple]

We have the 2500. Based on a small price difference and size difference we got the 2500 to get as much shade as possible. We do have the side and front wall. The side wall is real useful to give you a good amount of shade. We seat 4 and a table under it and depending on the time of day we need the side wall. We have 4 people on trips so I have a bunch of gear goes on the roof rack already, don't have the space for an E-Z up type canopy so the awning is ideal for us.

Did you purchase the BajaRack manufactured attachments for the awning to clip onto the rack?

 

[97BlackAckCL]

Of course you post this right after I made my final decision lol. I bought the 1250 4 ft awning because I'm only planning to use it for tailgating at concerts and didn't want a 6 or 8 foot awning sticking out looking awkward. If I had a roof rack I definitely would have gone for a longer one, but since I'm using the stock roof rails I opted for the shorter one after a lot of research. I'm hoping it's big enough for the GF and I to sit under comfortably while at concerts this summer otherwise I may consider an upgrade to the 2000

 

[TheFabFour]

Did you purchase the BajaRack manufactured attachments for the awning to clip onto the rack?

Yes, I did. I have the mesh floor on the rack. I got 3 brackets from Bajarack for the rack and when you look at the rack it has 3 holes in the mesh for attaching the brackets. However that only comes 2/3 way down the rack from the back and left a third of the front if the awning not attached. My quick solution was to grind down one of the brackets so I could use the first mesh hole where the roof foot attachment is. The bracket still sticks up too much but it seems solid so far. Will make it pretty this summer.
Another comment from my photo, this is how much the rack sticks out. I could move it further back an inch or two at most but last time I attached it this is where it ended up. I have it on the passenger side and I cannot see it when I am in any of the front seats.