Roof (rack) mounted awnings

hoadie

hoadie

Forum Member
Joined
Jul 14, 2008
Messages
144
Location
Sydney, Australia
I think someone on this forum has one but I can't remember who..

Questions I have are: do you get much use from it, is it easy to setup/pack up, any negatives (eg are you affected by crosswinds more now) and would you spend the money on it again.
 
ggvfr (Garry) is the instigator of this one ;)

I've got one, I'm in the process of making some more mounting brackets (version 2) as my first set never got to the powder coaters in time before the rust got to them :cry:

I used mine for quite a while when ever we (wife and kid) went for picnics and camping etc... Second child came along and all that stopped.

Never noticed any cross wind effects, but I've got a roof cage on so that perhaps causes more disturbance than the awning.

I bought mine on eBay for about $180 all up. I'd buy another one again.

Here are some pics of my install. Unfortunately, I don't seem to have any of it in use.

awning001editedmh2.jpg


awning002editeddu1.jpg


awning005editedcr1.jpg


awning006editedyt4.jpg


awning007editedsu6.jpg


trialfittingat6.jpg
 
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Cool, thanks. What originally got me thinking of them was seeing one @ Denlo in Parramatta. Looks like this.

SAK3000_SH9AK9DP_large.jpg


Was this an option on earlier models?

BTW, that looks like a good setup. I'm an apartment dweller and don't have access to welders and the like. I envy you :D
 
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This is the "original" - purchased at a K-Mart clearance centre for around $60 from memory. They come with brackets to mount on existing roofracks or with suction mounts to put on a roof after arriving somewhere.

Haven't noticed any adverse wind noise etc... but then again, roofracks aren't the quietest accessory around either.

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Search eBay using "car awning" as a parameter, it may turn some up, they appear on there occasionally.

Cheers
Garry
 
hoadie said:
...Was this an option on earlier models?...
Click to expand...

Not to my knowledge, no.

hoadie said:
...BTW, that looks like a good setup. I'm an apartment dweller and don't have access to welders and the like. I envy you :D
Click to expand...

My garage at home is full to the brim and I've very little room. I do all my welding at work. We've a full workshop complete with welding bay with arc, mig & tig welders, a fabrication bay, mechanics workshop with 3 hoists :twisted: It's like walking into DIY heaven

Our Boiler Maker / FItter and Turner used to work for BHP on the oil rigs is Bass Strait doing repairs and maintainence including the deep sea welding. Heaps of knowledge and a very good teacher.

And all we do is pump and place concrete :biggrin:
 
I've got one as well and love it. Self retractable makes it easy to set up and pack away. I haven't noticed any noise or wind issues etc. My only complaint is it's a little low to stand under as the Forrie is a little low. Still beats standing/sitting in the rain or if there's no other shade on a sweltering day.

The ones we have look to be significantly larger than the Subaru one pictured but on the other hand the ones we have are hard to find. ebay is the only place they seem to come up on occasionaly.

I also have a non retractable one which is about 1m larger, either longer or wider I can't recall. Slightly longer set up and take down time and stores in a bag rather than it's own container but also a fair bit cheaper. If you're interested I've been meaning to sell the non retractable one. Only used it once before I got the other. They're ~$120 at the places I've seen them (got mine at the local Rays Outdoors) but $50 pickup if you're interested.
 
Here's a DIY from a couple of members from another forum:

Parts and rough $'s:
  • 2.4m Aluminium Sailtrack $15.00 (Bunnings)
  • 2.4m x 25mm Square Section Aluminium $22.00 (Bunnings)
  • 2.4m x 2.4m Custom Canvas Awning with Bolt Rope & Eyelets $97.00 (www.infrontcampinggear.com.au)
  • 2 Extendable Tarp Poles $8.00 each (Rays Outdoors)
  • Misc rivets, bolts, spring washers, velcro $10.00 (Bunnings)
If doing this I would get the canvas cut/sewn to similar dimmensions to what Gary has on his as those additional sections on the front/back look quite handy!

Rolled up
awning1.jpg


In use
awning.jpg


Bolted on to cross rails
Awning2.jpg


Detail of angle (end view)
Awning4.jpg


(pics from Jeelan and Hookedon4wding of pajero club victoria)
 
Sorry for going offtopic but I just realised Eastie is the same Eastie on the Pajero forum. Small world LOL.
 
I popped into ARB on Princes Highway, Sydenham today as I had some time to kill between meetings and checked out their rollout awnings. They make 2 sizes, either 1250mm or 2500mm long, and both models extend out to 2100mm. A mosquito net is available for the larger model. Seem pretty well made, and the larger one is about the same price as the one in the ebay link provided by lefty. In fact, it could even be the same unit.
 
I've decided to make my own; it'll be similar to this

awning.jpg


Awning4.jpg


I'll be making it about 1.8m x 3m - ie 3m extended. I figure that will give me more options from a shelter point of view. I'll take pics as I'm making it for reference to anyone who might be interested.
 
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