Let's talk awnings

[SwayzeExpress]

25% off site wide and free ship going on - these pack up small

https://slumberjack.com/?trk_msg=O3...ign=Labor+Day+2017&utm_content=Labor+Day+2017

 

[loafer]

A buddy showed me these and we snagged them 35% off

https://slumberjack.com/roadhouse-tarp/

Not a true awning I guess but can be used on it's own and no need to have it mounted which I like

Those are sweet. I made something like that 25 years ago. a rectangle with a couple well placed grommets . I attached to the roof rack that was on the truck , it was 1.375 " round pipe zippered sleeve around the cross bar on the roof rack. a couple tent poles and stakes it was sweet great for camp it kept me out of the sun and since i made it from stock at work it was "free".

 

[Mark & Merri]

Diy

One option is save your money for more important things and make your own awning for <$100. The commercially made ones are cool too though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb0V16zp9Y8&t=3s

 

[01100101]

I did a search and it didn't come up with anything.

I'm gong to store my ARB awning during the winter. Before I do that I would like to know what type of maintenance do you guys do to protect and clean your awnings? I've read a couple of articles on how to clean a retractable awning on a house and an RV, but not sure if that applies to this type of awning.

 

[xj4play]

I have had a Smittybilt awning on my jeep for the past 4 years. Its pretty much identical to the ARB and Tapui. I think they all come from the same factory in china. I've been happy with it , its the 8.5'. as with all of the awnings like this , it can be a chore to setup alone, but once you figure out the trick to opening it, it becomes second nature. Two person setup is the easiest though.

The material they use on most awnings is a polyester that's poly urethane coated on the underside. a mix of lemon juice, salt and water is usually all that's needed to clean and remove mold if it was put away wet. I put on a coat of waterproof-er about every 2 years. 303 protectant also works well and has some UV protectant in it.

 

[Islandchanel]

That arb2500 looks nice

 

[sactown]

Most of the picts I see of ARB awnings (and others like them) are at a height that would hit me in the face without ducking. Guess I'd need to fab a custom mount...or it is a crazy excuse for a 3" lift.

 

[Maadcaap]

Most of the picts I see of ARB awnings (and others like them) are at a height that would hit me in the face without ducking. Guess I'd need to fab a custom mount...or it is a crazy excuse for a 3" lift.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...ctly-16-trail-oem-roof-rails.html#post2884007

Plenty of head room...

 

[sactown]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...ctly-16-trail-oem-roof-rails.html#post2884007

Plenty of head room...

I guess it ultimately depends on the height of the user. At 6'2" I'm taller than my 4runner so I'd need the mounts to raise it higher at least an inch or two and have the awning slope up away from the mount, whereas most pics I see it seems the slope is slightly down. My friends who exceed 6'7" will still have problems though. I just heard back from ARB who said their vertical poles max out at about 6'5".

 

[Maadcaap]

I guess it ultimately depends on the height of the user. At 6'2" I'm taller than my 4runner so I'd need the mounts to raise it higher at least an inch or two and have the awning slope up away from the mount, whereas most pics I see it seems the slope is slightly down. My friends who exceed 6'7" will still have problems though. I just heard back from ARB who said their vertical poles max out at about 6'5".

Those brackets can be cut to any height.. lets say we add 3” to tbem.. but like you nentioned the poles max out at 6.5’.. I spend most of my time under the awning in a chair..

 

[RigidYota]

Has anyone tried an ARQ4wd awning? Ive been looking at the 180

 

[Jetcycles]

I'm running an ARB2000 mounted to a rola roof rack on my 3rd gen, no complaints! I added some led strip lights to assist with lighting in camp or at the beach, so far so good, especially considering the lights only cost me about $25.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[Nautical_T4R]

I went with a ARB 2500 with gobi brackets. The gobi brackets were hard to swallow being $100, but I'm glad I went with them. I'm going to buy the wall tent and wind-block next time autoanything has a 25% off coupon.

Did you get the 2 brackets or 3? I want the 2500 as well with room but not sure if I should get 2 or 3 Gobi Mounts! Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Sleeter]

Did you get the 2 brackets or 3? I want the 2500 as well with room but not sure if I should get 2 or 3 Gobi Mounts! Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I went with 2, plenty strong.

 

[buffalojay]

Interested in an awning too. I've been looking for some time now. I'm leaning towards ARB as well. You guys should check out Rago Fabrications. I saw a lot of people on here asking how to mount it to factory rails on the 5th gens. They have brackets made that bolt right on to the factory roof rails. Leaning towards these. http://www.ragofabrication.com/collections/5th-gen-4runner/products/4runner-canopy-mounts-stainless-steel

 

[SwayzeExpress]

Interested in an awning too. I've been looking for some time now. I'm leaning towards ARB as well. You guys should check out Rago Fabrications. I saw a lot of people on here asking how to mount it to factory rails on the 5th gens. They have brackets made that bolt right on to the factory roof rails. Leaning towards these. http://www.ragofabrication.com/collections/5th-gen-4runner/products/4runner-canopy-mounts-stainless-steel

Those are very well made brackets - I was impressed. Just a heads up to check out how long the 2500 actually is. It will stick out past the windshield quite a bit and may mount and look funky without a full length rack

Edit to add pics - if you go with the 2500 you will loose exterior access to that side of the vehicle if you want to be able to raise the tailgate. Just a heads up, that plus the length of the 2500 compared to the 5th gen rails. The 2500 is about 20 inches longer than the 2000(shown). My 2000 is as far back as possible with letting the rear hatch open fully.

Whatever you choose quality is awesome and you will have fun. If you have little kids it is the ultimate bug free containment with a breeze lol your wife will be happy too

 

[Tkblazer]

Finally got to use my awning last week on a five day camping and biking trip. I’m very glad I got the arb 2500 as it gives me options to use the deluxe room and leave the tent at home

 

[buffalojay]

Those are very well made brackets - I was impressed. Just a heads up to check out how long the 2500 actually is. It will stick out past the windshield quite a bit and may mount and look funky without a full length rack

Edit to add pics - if you go with the 2500 you will loose exterior access to that side of the vehicle if you want to be able to raise the tailgate. Just a heads up, that plus the length of the 2500 compared to the 5th gen rails. The 2500 is about 20 inches longer than the 2000(shown). My 2000 is as far back as possible with letting the rear hatch open fully.

Whatever you choose quality is awesome and you will have fun. If you have little kids it is the ultimate bug free containment with a breeze lol your wife will be happy too

That's good to know I'm going to be making that purchase here soon. I appreciate the heads up on the 2500 too. I'm definitely getting the 2000 then. We have a little one too so that'll be too good with the bug net.

 

[Jetboy]

Havent read the whole thread - but I have the outsunny or whatever off-brand chinese one. And set it up next to an ARB. The ARB fabric is a lot nicer! But the ARB design is actually not as good IMO. The reason is that the extrusion used for the off-brand ones has a double slot for the legs/arms. So you can leave them at full extension when collapsed. That makes setup solo a lot easier because the two extension arms away from the vehicle are easily within reach when you're at the end of unrolling the awning. On the ARB one it's really tricky to extend them alone because they're so short when collapsed enough to fit together in the single channel extrusion. ARB should copy that design with better material quality.

I suspect the fabric on mine will last a few years at most. But we'll see how it goes. Hopefully by then we'll have some roll-able lower cost solar options. I'd love to have it make solar power too.

I use mine on both my 4runner and on my camp trailer. So it does double duty depending on how I'm camping.

I also just ordered an ARB delux awning room. Should be here next week. We'll see how well it fits the off-brand awning. Mine is a 2500x2500 awning. I have never regretted having the 2500mm one.

Also as a side note - the free Harbor Freight tarp makes a perfect side shade with a few of these guys. If you're using an awning - do yourself a favor and grab a pack of them. They're easy to hang everthing on!

Finally - slide your paper towel roll onto the horizontal aluminum arm before inserting into the unrolled extrusion. Makes for a perfect paper towel holder!

 

[flipflopnfly]

The Alu-Cab Shadow Awning looks pretty nice, pricey - https://ok4wd.com/brands/alucab/alu-cab-shadow-awn

I have a Fiamma F45S on a Eurovan, had one on a Trailmanor trailer, easier to deploy I think compared to others.