Anyone wish for a bigger ARB awning for vans?

[transporterjr]

There is a slight possibility that ARB would produce a 10' or 11.5' awning - ideal for our vans. The longest ARB awning is 8', probably because that is what fits most SUV's. Anyways, I started a poll and thread on this under camping equipment. Did not get much response, probably because most don't visit that thread (including me), so I am targeting fellow van owners - see the thread

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/134403-Interest-in-Possible-Bigger-ARB-Awning

 

[Heloflyboy]

I just got back from the SEMA show in Las Vegas and talked to the guys about a van awning. They do not have anything in the works that they know of.

 

[Mwilliamshs]

I have a Ford EB and a 10' awning. I recommend it.

 

[Bronco bobby]

What brand is yours mwilliams?

 

[transporterjr]

Heloflyboy, that is correct they do not have anything in the works. I contacted them about doing such and they did not say "no", only that the min run would be 200 units and "to get my friends together". So I am seeing if there is enough interest for either a group buy, a vendor to order 100 to 200 units, or to demonstrate enough interest to ARB so they would produce a 10 or 11.5' awning. Due to the response, it looks like this is virtually a dead issue, but if I had enough interest in the states, I was going to look to the UK and elsewhere to see if the combined interest would be enough. Too bad, the ARB is a good quality lightweight awning and a longer length is so much better for us van people.

 

[Mwilliamshs]

Mine's an old Travel-Awn 2000, same as the Eezi-Awn 2000

 

[Ernvil]

Unless I'm missing something, looks like Fiamma makes a 10'6" awning.

 

[transporterjr]

Unless I'm missing something, looks like Fiamma makes a 10'6" awning.

They certainly do. 10' - for about $900. They also make an 11.5 footer - only $50-60 more.
Their 8' F45-Crank out model is $830. The F35, non-crank out is approx. $600
An 8' ARB (all non-crank out) is $280.

The idea is for a more affordable, but high quality awning. You can see that 10', or even 11.5' ARB is going to be less money than an 8' Fiamma.

I have someone camping in my drive with a 4x4 Chevy right now that just said she wants an awning but considers an 8' too small and Fiamma too expensive - and I did not even bring up my idea of trying to get a larger ARB awning available!

Note: most love the quality of their Fiamma awnings, a few do not. If you want to part with the bucks for a Fiamma, you will probably love it.

 

[86scotty]

I bought a CVT (Cascadia Vehicle Tents) 8', and would LOVE a longer one. I had a 11' bag awning (ugly white bag pop-up camper type) on my last van and it worked great and was cheaper like the ARB/CVT/Ebay ones. I always thought about having an upholstery shop do a black bag for me for it, but sold the van before I got to that.
10' or 11' is the perfect length. I personally would never shell out north of $1k (after shipping and brackets) for a Fiamma. I think it's important to remember that one bad wind gust and an awning is toast. I don't want to put that much in to something like that.

Here's the link to my CVT install:

http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=135211#p135211

 

[transporterjr]

86scotty, thanks for that link - looks pretty good. I stumbled onto some other bag awnings, that might be a contender. Like you, I am not shelling out $1,000+ for an awning and then there is the shipping as well. Wish I had gotten that bag awning off a friend's pop-top trailer before he scrapped it!

I just started looking at car free of colorado awnings - that might be a contender. I don't care for the awning fabric designs that most of the RV companies use (At least the US ones), but perhaps I'll just have to get over it.

 

[86scotty]

Sure, what color is your van? If, by chance, it's white the white bag awning would look fine up there. Here's a link to my awning on my last van. It's the pop-up style bag awning (11' if I remember right). I just slid it off the rail every time I broke camp and stored it in the top of my HUGE pop top, but that was only an option on that van. Here's the link to that little mod, but I sold that van about 18 months ago.

http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=87925#p87925

 

[spencyg]

Fiamma makes awnings in sizes that are very appropriate for Regular and Extended WB vans. I have a Fiamma 10 footer now, and will be upgrading to a 13 footer next spring. Fiammas are a little spendy, but very well made. The unit I have is original to my rig (~28 years old) and has held up to some serious abuse. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.

SG

 

[transporterjr]

and will be upgrading to a 13 footer next spring. Fiammas are a little spendy,

Yep. most love them, but that 13' lists for over $2,300, add shipping and youa re looking at almost exactly $2,500! :Wow1:
But if you got the spare cash, go for it! I may wind up with the 10' one someday. we'll see.

 

[spencyg]

I may have my current 10 foot unit up for sale in the spring depending on how things go....It is old but still works fine.

SG