Awning Recommendations

[luk4mud]

I'm in the market for an awning ... I think. First, our intended uses:
1. We dirt bike ride as a family in the desert, a fair amount. These are often long day trips, not overnighters. Which means while resting/ eating, we either sit in the sun or I lug an easy awn or something else with us. I have purchased the Bus Depot awning, it is very nice, but not real fast to deploy. Easy awn is a little faster, but takes up alot of room. Given a choice between roasting or bringing the easy awn or Bus Depot awn, we roast.
2. The long range off road trips occur about 3x yearly for me. These range from week long to long weekend trips, terrain is anything mild to wild (so something hanging way off the side of my rig is a concern).

Options? I have a yakima rack that I can use as an anchor but would prefer an easier direct mount to the gutter rails if possible. Thanks in advance for any assistance.

 

[jessejman]

I just ordered a Cascadia Vehicle Tent awning. CVT is in Bend, Oregon and make well thought out high-quality gear.

 

[ssssnake529]

Foxwing

I have a Foxwing awning.

I really like it. It unfurls to provide coverage for the entire passenger side and rear of the vehicle. I do a lot of desert camping, so having a big patch of shade is a good thing. Takes about 5 minutes to deploy, and a little longer than that to put it away. It has protected me from sun, rain, hail and snow. It's attached to two Thule roof bars, and I leave it attached pretty much all the time. My only complaint is that the zippered cover that covers it could be just a tad larger. Folding it up and stowing it away takes longer than it should because the fit is just a little bit tight.


video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HCggh7f8kI


Picture on my rig:

 

[JohnnyS]

Luk4mud,
What sort of Land Cruiser do you have?
I had a Hannibal on a previous rig and plan on buying another; it's really nice not having to worry about stakes or wind.

ssssnake529,
Nice 80! How is the Foxwing in the wind?
Happy with your RTT?

 

[luk4mud]

I have an 80. I like that Foxwing, but it wont work for my needs. I am often towing a trailer with bikes, and the awn would deploy in the hitch area. I need one on the side.

The CVT one looks very interesting too. Close to $400 to my door makes me want to carefully look at other options first.

Anyone use the ARB version? What are its plus and minus points?

 

[Corey]

Look in the camping section, lots of awning info there.
I run a large Campinglab on my rig, and I like it a lot.

 

[esh]

Hannibal. They make generic mounting options now for their awnings. Fast setup/packup, completely free standing and sturdy.

 

[HenryJ]

I'm in the market for an awning ... I think. First, our intended uses:
1. We dirt bike ride as a family in the desert, a fair amount.
2. The long range off road trips ...
...I have a yakima rack that I can use as an anchor ...

Sounds very familiar. Just like us. We just love our CampingLab awning. Fernando is top notch and the products very good. I did have some problems with a broken plastic buckle, but those were easily fixed.

It is one item that rides the truck full time.

You never know when you might need it for lunch during a rain shower. Nice to have a place where everyone can gather to chat. Having a place to get out of the sun is priceless.

Mounting to the basket is nice as it sets the awning up higher and allows for some slope away from the vehicle when deployed. Plenty of room to open the doors under it too.

Mine has served me well many seasons and two vehicles now. One of the best things I have done.

 

[ssssnake529]

The Foxwing isn't bad in moderate winds. I had it out a month or so ago in pretty constant 20mph winds, with gusts that were higher. It was staked out pretty well, and did fine. However, I don't think I'd want to test it in winds a whole lot higher than that. There's just too much fabric area to catch the wind, like a big sail.

RTT is excellent. Light, comfortable, and set-up and take down are very fast. Only downside is $$$.

Luk4mud,
What sort of Land Cruiser do you have?
I had a Hannibal on a previous rig and plan on buying another; it's really nice not having to worry about stakes or wind.

ssssnake529,
Nice 80! How is the Foxwing in the wind?
Happy with your RTT?

 

[LexusAllTerrain]

Onother vote for CampingLab Awning, I had it for a while no problems, easy to open and close, plus I did get the privy addition to it and it works fas a quick tent or privy room!

 

[JohnnyS]

My better half thinks we should have gone Magg over Eezi-Awn.
Although I think the Eezi-Awn breathes a lot better where we are, also the 1600 is quite spacious.
However when it is really hot stowing the 1600 seems to take a long time......then again even breathing in SEAZ can seem like a chore in summer, when you're not in the shade.

Get the Hannibal, who cares that it costs three times what the Camping Lab does

 

[spressomon]

I wanted an awning that would: Be super quick to deploy and put away (otherwise I'd find too many excuses not to open it for impromptu sun relief for lunch stops, etc.); had to be hard shell to deflect the branches of over-grown trails we always seem to find ourselves bushwacking; and be secure in medium windy conditions.

The Fiamma Ti45 has more than met my expectations...and I'm pretty damn picky about my gear as most of it gets used ALOT.

I don't think twice about cranking it out for shade even for quickie lunch stops; it takes all of 30-seconds to deploy or put away. I even bought the wall enclosure kit but to honest it hasn't gotten used more than once mostly due to its bulkiness to tote along.

My only nit: It tends to rattle over washboard trails. But I could probably, with judicious use of thin adhesive foam backed closed cell foam tape, address that if I bothered me enough

 

[luk4mud]

Thanks for all the insight and recommendations. Keep 'em coming!

 

[FireGuy]

I wanted an awning that would: Be super quick to deploy and put away (otherwise I'd find too many excuses not to open it for impromptu sun relief for lunch stops, etc.); had to be hard shell to deflect the branches of over-grown trails we always seem to find ourselves bushwacking; and be secure in medium windy conditions.

The Fiamma Ti45 has more than met my expectations...and I'm pretty damn picky about my gear as most of it gets used ALOT.

I don't think twice about cranking it out for shade even for quickie lunch stops; it takes all of 30-seconds to deploy or put away. I even bought the wall enclosure kit but to honest it hasn't gotten used more than once mostly due to its bulkiness to tote along.

My only nit: It tends to rattle over washboard trails. But I could probably, with judicious use of thin adhesive foam backed closed cell foam tape, address that if I bothered me enough

Which length awning did you go ith?

 

[spressomon]

^^^ 2.5M / 8' 2.4" long.