Wander the West: Ultimate Awning Thread - Wander the West

Yes, Burning Man. Anyone else going? My wife and I attended last year with a few friends but took our '71 Airstream. This year, I figure our Grandby shell will be easier to clean. We're going to give it another shot. Not sure I want to make it an annual habit at this point. It is one of the more unusual events I've ever attended.

On the tarp question, one option I'm considering is to tie a tarp off to the Yakima roof rack. I have two bars in the rear holding up a "basket case". I've thought I could mount one more bar up toward the front and then come off the passenger side to some stout aluminum poles that can be staked out with multiple lines. Rebar for stakes.

TK

Well, here it is. Wife not included.

Some thoughts on my first test:
-this pic is a little deceiving as the truck is on a significant slope. My wife's feet are a good 6-8" lower than the rear tire, but you can't tell from the pic.
-some guy lines for winds greater than about 12mpg are necessary (the ones pictured are a jerry-rigged combination of cord, bungies and the dog's zip line)
-stock poles worked just fine
-Need a better mechanism to secure poles to jack brackets. I used a cord threaded through a hole I drilled in the base of the pole. Would really like something just a tad more "fixed" in place.
-love having shade over the back door
-One could easily use a longer awning if they chose to stake down the poles and not jack mount them. I usually don't have the patience to rig properly though.

TGK, on 14 August 2010 - 04:27 PM, said:

I've been twice...nothing like it on the planet. Sensory overload for sure. Have fun!

brett13, on 16 August 2010 - 04:22 PM, said:

Nice awning. I like your rigging job, Brett

Are you using shockcorded aluminum tent poles? Where did you get them?

Stew

Stew, on 26 August 2010 - 08:33 AM, said:

Yes they are shockcorded aluminum tent poles. I *think* these came from REI or Campmor, but I've had them laying around for a while. Used a much smaller version for the crossbar along the front edge. Interestingly, even though I didn't attach it to the other poles, it never pinched in or needed a tie. The crossbar keeps the fabric nice and open and requires less work with guy lines. Just need to keep the ends from blowing away and not necessarily staked tight in each direction.

well I finally pulled the trigger on an ARB awning, trdparts4u.com is having a sweet sale, an 8' awning for 230 shipped. reg over 325, plus shipping. not sure how long the sale is going on, but best deal I have seen on these types of awnings in the year and a half I have been looking. it shipped the next day after order, and should get here by the end of the week. my thought with it is to make some mount points that will allow me to switch it from side to side or back. here at this link you can see the alum extrusion used on the back: http://www.expeditio...ead.php?t=44502

and here is a link of it deployed on another vehicle: http://www.expeditio...ead.php?t=16266

would be real easy to just perma-mount it to one side, but I think I have a challenge to make a mount that can be quickly attached to and is secure enough. thinkingduring travel I would just mount it up on the roof, so the side mounts do not need to be road worthy, just camp worthy. any thought?

Re: Burning Man

My wife and I are going to attend this year and taking the Grandby. How did your FWC work for you last year at the event? Any suggestions? I'm curious as to how your awnings survived? I figure we'll just take ours down every nite when we're out and about in case wind or somesuch pops up. Its our first time attending, it just seems like its at least a once in a lifetime thing!

TGK, on 14 August 2010 - 04:27 PM, said: