concretejungle
Adventurer
Wanted to have a discussion on awnings and windy environments.
for the record, i've had an ARB 2500 awning on my 80 series land cruiser for a few years now. I've really enjoyed it and ended up getting the room for it. It's a great product in general, both are actually. In the woods with trees acting as a wind break, these products do work well and i've enjoyed them. Also, in general conditions that we normally experience on camping trips, they work well and provide shade and rain coverage.
Occasionally i get the opportunity to camp in areas that have high winds, such as desert settings, mountain tops or beach camping.
In a few circumstances, the wind or rain (rain was my fault, didn't have the awning pitched for rain shed) the awning failed. The aluminum extensions and legs are a double edged sword so to speak. They are light-weight for the right reasons but this also means they are not strong. I've had 4 poles collapse on me. So far, i called ARB and they sent me new ones at no charge. That was excellent customer service and that's a great reason to purchase their products. However, i've had the two on the awning now, bend, again.
Last weekend i was camped on the outer banks of NC and the winds picked up and we had some heavy rains at night. The awning was staked out completely and i had the pitch in the awning so it would shed water. The awning leaked and the room leaked. in the end, i had standing water in the awning room and bent poles.
So, this brings me to discussion on what would you deem appropriate for wind ratings on an awning and/or awning room? Are there any awnings on the market that are really designed to handle heavy winds? Looking at some of the fox wings and the shadow awnings, i don't see them as being any stronger? Am i wrong about that? Is it just the nature of the beast that the awnings are not designed for wind loads? I'm not an engineer but wondered if the two extension arms were designed as aluminum box that extended out, would that give the awning the strength it needs to handle water on the awning and wind blowing against the room?
Would love to hear your thoughts. :coffeedrink:
for the record, i've had an ARB 2500 awning on my 80 series land cruiser for a few years now. I've really enjoyed it and ended up getting the room for it. It's a great product in general, both are actually. In the woods with trees acting as a wind break, these products do work well and i've enjoyed them. Also, in general conditions that we normally experience on camping trips, they work well and provide shade and rain coverage.
Occasionally i get the opportunity to camp in areas that have high winds, such as desert settings, mountain tops or beach camping.
In a few circumstances, the wind or rain (rain was my fault, didn't have the awning pitched for rain shed) the awning failed. The aluminum extensions and legs are a double edged sword so to speak. They are light-weight for the right reasons but this also means they are not strong. I've had 4 poles collapse on me. So far, i called ARB and they sent me new ones at no charge. That was excellent customer service and that's a great reason to purchase their products. However, i've had the two on the awning now, bend, again.
Last weekend i was camped on the outer banks of NC and the winds picked up and we had some heavy rains at night. The awning was staked out completely and i had the pitch in the awning so it would shed water. The awning leaked and the room leaked. in the end, i had standing water in the awning room and bent poles.
So, this brings me to discussion on what would you deem appropriate for wind ratings on an awning and/or awning room? Are there any awnings on the market that are really designed to handle heavy winds? Looking at some of the fox wings and the shadow awnings, i don't see them as being any stronger? Am i wrong about that? Is it just the nature of the beast that the awnings are not designed for wind loads? I'm not an engineer but wondered if the two extension arms were designed as aluminum box that extended out, would that give the awning the strength it needs to handle water on the awning and wind blowing against the room?
Would love to hear your thoughts. :coffeedrink: