Anyone running an awning with truck topper?

[daniel619]

Hey there, I have a 2018 Ram 2500 Cummins AEV Prospector XL with a Leer 100XQ camper shell / truck cap which I absolutely love (much to my surprise). The cap has rails for a Thule rack system which I have yet to add.

Considering adding an awning to the truck so I don't have to carry around an EZ-UP for the family. Has anyone ran an awning they can recommend? Thank you in advance!

 

[Mighty Dodge Ram]

Congrats on the truck! I have mounted an ARB awning on a cab-hi canopy using Yakima bars. I used basic 90* angle brackets where the holes matched up perfectly to the grooves in the back of the awning, made for an easy mount. ARB does sell brackets which work as well. With a 6.5’ bed two rack crossbars are sufficient.

Want to go big? The 270* awnings can also be mounted. I would recommend using three crossbars for that setup. I currently have a Leer hi-rise with Rhino Rack Batwing mounted to only two Thule crossbars. Due to the design of the canopy I have less rail length than you. I may add a third crossbar just to be safe. Rhino Rack sells some very nifty crossbar mounting brackets that you have to use...the groove spacing on the back of the canopy seems to be wider.

 

[Keith Starr]

I've been in love with the 2500 XL for years, gorgeous execution by AEV. You should check out the Kinsmen 270 awning. Seems like a proper hat for your beast.

https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/270-deg-square-back.190248/page-3

 

[Ravenmad]

Hey there, I have a 2018 Ram 2500 Cummins AEV Prospector XL with a Leer 100XQ camper shell / truck cap which I absolutely love (much to my surprise). The cap has rails for a Thule rack system which I have yet to add.

Considering adding an awning to the truck so I don't have to carry around an EZ-UP for the family. Has anyone ran an awning they can recommend? Thank you in advance!

owwwwww, I will be watching this. I have a brand new EZI-AWN BAT 270 in the box.......

 

[Tex68w]

If you want affordable and uber durable the Rhino Sunseekers are the best, blows the ARB stuff out of the water. The 270 rigs are nice but the versions without the legs put an insane amount of stress on the mounts and I personally wouldn't run one on a fiberglass shell without major reinforcement.

 

[daniel619]

Thank you guys for the feedback. I was considering the 270 degree awning, but I do tow an enclosed car trailer and think there might be interference with the backside of the awning. Very helpful with the feedback on the Sunseeker, I was wondering how those compared with the ARB units.

Does anyone know if any of the awnings on the market retract in a way that I don't have to roll it up? Only reason why I ask is with the height up the truck I might need a step stool!

 

[Ravenmad]

Tex68w makes a very good point. The good 270 awnings are both heavy and they do put a lot of strain on the mounting points. Fiberglass is probably not going to be happy. A retractable awning? hmmmm, I will have to look that one up. Im sure someone does.

 

[Mighty Dodge Ram]

Fiamma...? Check out Adventure Trailers for more info. They used to install them, not sure about recent activity.

 

[Explorerinil]

I saw an arb awning a guy mounted a yakama mega warrior on his roof rack. Kind of simple set up that won’t tear up your topper and give you more storage.

Nice truck!

 

[Tex68w]

Fiamma...? Check out Adventure Trailers for more info. They used to install them, not sure about recent activity.

I've seen them on FWC's as well.

 

[Bayou Boy]

My old ATC had some sort of Dometic that rolled up with a spring system into an aluminum case. It worked just like a manual rv awning with the webbing that you pulled to extend it but didn't have the exposed legs mounted to the walls. The legs folded up to fit in the case as well. It worked very well. You can see it in a picture in this thread.

https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/2011-atc-cougar-for-sale.122172/

 

[daniel619]

Thanks for the feedback. I am going to see if I can maybe find a used Fiamma or see about getting some more info on the Thule awnings. I will post my findings!

 

[60beforetruck]

I have been looking at the same set up on my duramax. I have been thinking of Bomber Products awning mount on my yakima cross bars and a 270 batwing. Then I found Kinsmen Hardware new free standing 270. Only problem with it, short across the tailgate. I say that because if it was raining about a foot of the tailgate would get wet.

 

[daniel619]

I have been looking at the same set up on my duramax. I have been thinking of Bomber Products awning mount on my yakima cross bars and a 270 batwing. Then I found Kinsmen Hardware new free standing 270. Only problem with it, short across the tailgate. I say that because if it was raining about a foot of the tailgate would get wet.

The truck looks awesome! It's funny I was actually looking at those Bomber Products mounts over the weekend. I think i am going to go with something like the Thule awning. You turn a handle and it extends and retracts and when extended legs come out. It is pretty bulking when closed it the only thing, but i am going to try and see one in person.

 

[Ducky's Dad]

Tex68w makes a very good point. The good 270 awnings are both heavy and they do put a lot of strain on the mounting points. Fiberglass is probably not going to be happy.

I have been running an EZ-Awn Bat 270 on the fiberglass Snug Top shell of my Power Wagon for about four years with no problems. Until a few months ago it was mounted to standard Yakima towers and crossbars, three pair of towers in the Yakima 60" tracks. Those crossbars also carried an old school Con-Ferr steel basket with a 13 gallon water tank and four MaxTrax and sometimes decoy carts and bags of assorted crap strapped to the basket. The fiberglass is not only happy, it is ecstatic, because I just installed an even bigger rack system to carry all of the above and still have space for a 100W solar panel.

Re the question about awnings that don't have to be rolled up, the Bat 270 just swings out for use and swings back for storage, no rolling required. You don't even need to drop the legs if it's not windy. If the trailer is an issue, just swing the Bat 270 back against the side of the trailer and secure it with a bungee or a Quick Fist or even a strip of velcro on the side of the trailer. Then you can still use the full 270 coverage when you are not pulling the trailer.