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awning advice


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#1 journeygirl

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Posted 21 May 2020 - 09:29 PM

Hi all

 

I'm thinking of putting an awning on my Eagle camper. I like the wrap-around awnings, and I'm considering the Eezi Batwing awning and the Alu-cab shadow awning that Four Wheel Campers offers. Anyone have any opinions about either of these awnings or another awning that you like? 

 

Thank you and happy summer camping out there! 


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#2 trikebubble

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Posted 21 May 2020 - 10:18 PM

My Wife (who is 5' 4" or so) was dead certain she wanted a Bat-Wing style awning when we were getting ready to order our camper. Our dealer let her try to deploy and both a Bat-Wing and then the Fiamma awning..... and within seconds she changed her mind. For me, the Fiamma is the simplest and easiest and best awning out there. I am 100% ok without having the wrap-around feature in order to have such a simple and robust awning that deploys or retracts with ease by anyone, and is housed in a hard protective container.  Just my .02


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#3 bimmeryota

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Posted 22 May 2020 - 01:42 AM

I also considered the batwing but was turned off by the weight, how much it stuck out and above the camper and of course the price. I plan on going with a simple arb awning for simplicity and weight. Plus they make all kinds of accessories to make it in to an enclosed space for kids or to get away from bugs. I agree the Fiamma is the easiest and strongest though. I’m constantly playing the weight reduction game on my eagle.
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#4 Skey

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Posted 22 May 2020 - 01:48 AM

I have an Alu-cab shadow awn in waiting for our FWC to be installed at delivery. I went by reviews on the wraparound style awnings. Unfortunately cannot give you a first hand experience yet.

Edited by Skey, 22 May 2020 - 01:49 AM.

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#5 Taku

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Posted 22 May 2020 - 01:54 AM

Here is another option if you are handy and want to save a bunch of money:

http://aimlessroamer...mper-build.html

 


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#6 Zirdu

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Posted 22 May 2020 - 03:19 PM

I wanted a simple and lightweight awning for a little shade.  I did not want a heavy awning hanging off the top of my camper.  So I made the following:

 

IMG_1006.jpeg IMG_1007.jpeg IMG_1008.jpeg

 

I attached the two stainless D rings to the camper with VHB tape and 4 screws.  The poles are MSR adjustable tent poles. They are in lowest position in picture.  The tarp I got on Amazon - it is 8 foot by 8 foot. They have all different sizes and colors.  It is big enough, but not too big to be a problem in wind.  I use bungie cord with ball to attach to camper to keep it taut.  It all works very well for my use.  

 

In my next post I show a square tube type holder I installed to hold the awning and poles.

 

 

 

 

 


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#7 Oilbrnr

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Posted 22 May 2020 - 03:31 PM

I have an Alu-cab shadow awn in waiting for our FWC to be installed at delivery. I went by reviews on the wraparound style awnings. Unfortunately cannot give you a first hand experience yet.

 

I've had a shadow awn sitting in my shop since November waiting for me to install, it's just been lower on my priority list of things to do. Very curious to see what FWC uses to mount it to your unit. 

 

Did they (FWC) indicate that they have come up with some sort of mount? I know they kinda partnered with Equipt and Paul May to do the Eezi-Awn, didn't know that they were also doing Alu-Cabs.


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#8 Zirdu

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Posted 22 May 2020 - 03:33 PM

Here is a little exterior storage that does not add to wind resistance, and in fact might help a bit.  

 

IMG_0879.jpeg  

 

IMG_0887.jpeg

 

This is a very sturdy vinyl 5 inch by 5 inch post cover from Home Depot, with caps (one on each end).  To attach the caps I just drilled a hole and used a solid wire bent to shape, and used the solid wire for a holder to remove.  To attach the vinyl post cover I had to shim it out on top and back with a thin plywood, which I painted.  I glued it all in and then used a few screws at ends to hold it more securely to top.  It seems very solid, and I think it actually adds to the rigidity of the camper overhang.  This gives me a bit of exterior storage, which I am now using to store the rolled up awning and poles.  And there is still room for some other items.  This might be nice for storage fishing poles.  


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#9 Oilbrnr

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Posted 22 May 2020 - 03:51 PM

ARB was mentioned above, and I'll give my take on them as I've used one for the past 7 years on my 80 series Land Cruiser.

 

Pros:

  • Cost
  • Weight
  • Simplicity
  • Room addition/shade attachment options 

Cons:

  • Difficult to deploy and store solo, especially if mounted high. Since the top of my FWC (where it would mount) is 8' it would be impossible to store it without stepping on something.
  • They leak water like a sieve at the seams
  • Extension arm nylon/plastic joints, while durable, are still fairly fragile. I've broken one while deploying solo.
  • Unless a DEAD CALM day, you better think about tying it down. (i generally used full jerry cans of water/fuel that I carry when camped on sandstone/rock).
  • While your out of the direct sun, the heat will still radiate through.
  • Internal velcro straps that hold the whole thing in a rapped roll under the outer bag fail over time. Not a part you can buy from ARB, though I guess you can fab your own. (I got my local dealer to warranty mine)

Edited by Oilbrnr, 22 May 2020 - 03:57 PM.

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#10 rando

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Posted 22 May 2020 - 04:14 PM

The right style of awning depends a lot on how you camp.   If you are more a traveller or hiker that moves every day, then being quick to deploy and retract is most important, and the Fiamma is definitely miles ahead in that regard.  If you are more of a base camper who goes to one spot and camps for a couple of days and stays with the camper, then the wrap around awnings with the most shade may be a good idea.   
 

We are rarely by the camper during the day, and mostly spend one and at most 2 nights in one spot, so for us the Fiamma makes the most sense, and I even remove that in the winter when it is just dead weight.

 

A camping buddy has an ARB style bag awning on his van, and neither he or I are impressed with the bag style awnings.   The same or less shade than the fiamma, 2-3 times as long to set up and take down and even longer with only one person.   It is also much more sensitive to wind.   


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