Anyone mounted an ARB awning to a truck topper or camper shell?
- Thread starter upndown
- Start date
trailscape
Explorer
Here's my current setup. I've had this attached to several different toppers.
I make all my brackets from Home Depot hardware using a bench vise, a hammer and a file. Framing brackets work great.
The rear one is simply bolted flush to the topper.
Used this bracket. Ends are mounted and bolted inside the trim piece.
I had a high top fiberglass one for a while. Can't find any photos, but I used two angle brackets bolted together for an adjustable mount.
Rack mounted. Think I used these brackets.
Not my photo, but pretty much how it's done.
I make all my brackets from Home Depot hardware using a bench vise, a hammer and a file. Framing brackets work great.
The rear one is simply bolted flush to the topper.
Used this bracket. Ends are mounted and bolted inside the trim piece.
I had a high top fiberglass one for a while. Can't find any photos, but I used two angle brackets bolted together for an adjustable mount.
Rack mounted. Think I used these brackets.
Not my photo, but pretty much how it's done.
trailscape, Thank you for the reply and pics! Kinda what I was thinking, my biggest concern was a fiberglass topper having never owned one, there just seems to be alot more of those available. I'm looking for a metal or aluminum one, but price will dictate that.
I bought my awning off the side of the road, guy just put up a sign next to a trailer "Tool Sale" I can't drive by something like that! After looking at all the goodies, and talking to the guy I noticed this long thing, on the end it said ARB Touring, brand new, never installed. I knew what it was and asked price. I swear that $50 was in his hand before I reached in my pocket..haha. The only problem was no mounting hardware or instructions. I was also able to purchase a room with floor again brand new from a member on here. Thanks again Chris!
Yesterday I headed to HD and to Ace for some mounting bolts, wishful thinking.
Looking forward to giving this new setup a try.
I bought my awning off the side of the road, guy just put up a sign next to a trailer "Tool Sale" I can't drive by something like that! After looking at all the goodies, and talking to the guy I noticed this long thing, on the end it said ARB Touring, brand new, never installed. I knew what it was and asked price. I swear that $50 was in his hand before I reached in my pocket..haha. The only problem was no mounting hardware or instructions. I was also able to purchase a room with floor again brand new from a member on here. Thanks again Chris!
Yesterday I headed to HD and to Ace for some mounting bolts, wishful thinking.
Looking forward to giving this new setup a try.
trailscape
Explorer
I got the bolts from the metric stainless section at Ace. I used Nyloc nuts and I can't recall the hex size, but there's one that fits perfect in that channel. When I did the fiberglass topper, I used t-nuts on the inside where the walls were fairly thick and rubber washers on the outside. The trickiest part is making the angle of the topper work for you so that the the awning isn't pointing to the sky when you first set it up.
I love the aluminum topper. It would have been great to get one built to order, but they are quite expensive new. I had several fiberglass toppers and I think each one was less than the cost of the awning. They can be had dirt cheap if you don't mind cosmetic issues. Keep in mind the length of the awning and your topper. Unless you have an 8' bed, they can be tricky to position on a topper where you'd be better off getting a roof rack. When I had a cab high topper, I got the rack from here and that worked pretty well.
I love the aluminum topper. It would have been great to get one built to order, but they are quite expensive new. I had several fiberglass toppers and I think each one was less than the cost of the awning. They can be had dirt cheap if you don't mind cosmetic issues. Keep in mind the length of the awning and your topper. Unless you have an 8' bed, they can be tricky to position on a topper where you'd be better off getting a roof rack. When I had a cab high topper, I got the rack from here and that worked pretty well.
The Ace I stopped at the other day was a smaller store in a huge development north of Phoenix. Today I'm going past a much larger store in a more rural area, hopefully get lucky there.
I do have an 8' bed, oddly just about every topper I've seen of interest is for a SB. I looked at a couple yesterday..either trashed or they thought they had gold that needed a paint job. For now I'm just looking for something to mount the awning to and be able to lock up my gear. I have a nice rack on the truck that the awning would bolt right to, but that would eliminate a topper. Half the fun is finding all the pieces of the puzzle, I'm in no hurry. I can still get away on fishing trips without a cap. :sombrero:
I do have an 8' bed, oddly just about every topper I've seen of interest is for a SB. I looked at a couple yesterday..either trashed or they thought they had gold that needed a paint job. For now I'm just looking for something to mount the awning to and be able to lock up my gear. I have a nice rack on the truck that the awning would bolt right to, but that would eliminate a topper. Half the fun is finding all the pieces of the puzzle, I'm in no hurry. I can still get away on fishing trips without a cap. :sombrero: