Awning rooms in inclement weather, opinions.

Posted by Banana_Milk7248@reddit | overlanding | View on Reddit | 7 comments

I'm planning a trip in August and am considering some new gear, I'll put my thought process at the end if anyone wants to offer an alternative but the main question is; how have people's experiences been with 2.5m x 2.5. awning rooms in windy weather. looking specifically at the ARB Delux awning room. Obviously the car can be used to shelter from the worst of it but its a large flat sided object so I'm not sure how it'll hold up.

My current setup is a Direct-4x4, 1.4m soft shell, expedition roof top tent with annex. The issue with this brand is that the annex isn't waterproof and our small dog ended up sleeping in a big puddle last time we did a trip like this. The 2.5m awning room will give us ample room to sleep along side our needy, anxious dog and give the standing room to change, coupled with a fast setup time and minimal space usage inside the vehicle.

I don't have the funds to replace the Roof Top Tent, currently the ARB setup is looking around the £650 (GDP) mark and I don't think a RTT upgrade is on the cards. A ground tent would work but seems like a waste of space inside the vehicle.

[-]

Rolling_Heavy@reddit

It’s pretty durable and well built. I have had the arb awning leak after several days of constant rain but after re-waterproofing there hasn’t been an issue. I made some additional supports that go mid span of the awning to add extra support for the horizontal poles as it’s a bit weak there if there is heavy snow or high wind. You can see them in the picture.

I had to replace both vertical poles after they got bent from crazy wind gusts on the Wind River in Wyoming but they were only like $16 each. Be sure to stake and guy the hell out of it if you expect high wind.

CaptainBromo@reddit

Where did you get the poles for only $16?

4 wheel parts. Jegs also has them for the same price currently $16.94. Took 2 months for them to show up from 4wp and they shipped directly from arb for some reason.

Nice, does this one extend in and out? Yakima charges $80 to replace theirs and it’s identical lol

Yeah it extends and you rotate the lower tube to lock it. I expected the arb one to cost $80, I was pleasantly surprised.

211logos@reddit

Depends how windy. I've seen awnings like that, sorta square, get torn right off in big dust devils even. It's a lot of canvas; I could probaby sail a tacoma down the road a ways with all that yardage.

But just take down sides, and then the whole thing, if the breezes freshens up.

If weathering a storm is a priority, I'd go with a stronger ground tent.

kyfunguy77@reddit

My ARB has held up well. There are some things you can do to reinforce it. I battle a little with water pooling on top, and then when I drop a corner with it wanting to run in. Overall, I highly recommend it. Mine is on a squaredrop, homebuilt trailer.