Van Awning

[NoLimit]

Hey I have a chevy express van with a roof rack (with a huge solar panel on it) and wanted to add an awning. Does anyone have any recommendations?

So far I found these two low cost options:
Smittybuilt (8'x6'): http://amzn.to/2bDl6ze
ARB (8'x8') : http://amzn.to/2bmDej8

From my research both of these are very similar but the Smitty built comes with mounting hardware As where ARB does not. It should be a fairly easy install on my Prime Design ALURACK. 

I found a deal on the ARB for $230 as where as the Smittybuilt is only $10 less BUT comes with mounting hardware.

Should I go with one of these awnings or get a more expensive better built awning?

Also, if anyone has one of these awnings, does it reduce MPG from the extra wind drag?

Thanks.

 

[akrvbob]

I have the ARB but it's on my 6x10 cargo trailer so I can't comment on MPG impact. There really isn't much to mount it. I attached mine to 10 foot 1x4 and then mounted that to the roof rack. Made it very simple.
Bob

 

[NoLimit]

I have the ARB but it's on my 6x10 cargo trailer so I can't comment on MPG impact. There really isn't much to mount it. I attached mine to  10 foot 1x4 and then mounted that to the roof rack. Made it very simple.
Bob

How long have you had and what are your thoughts on the ARB awning? What size did you get? How is it in rain? Thanks for your feedback!

From what I read the ARB and Smittybuilt are close to the same.

 

[user 2252]

VAN AWNING...........a vehicle with nothing to do. lolol

 

[highdesertranger]

hahahaha good one Vonbrown.

why don't you just use a tarp and make your own awning, much more versatile.

did anybody else notice in both of those ads they had pics of the tarp deployed and people sitting under the tarp in the sun, lol. the shade was on the other side of the vehicle. marketing oops. highdesertranger

 

[akrvbob]

I had the 8 foot one, but I practically never used it. In the desert it's constantly up and down with the wind so shade cloth is far more useful. I use shade cloth all the time but never that awning. Too little rain in the desert to worry about it. In the Forest there is already plenty of shade, no need to create your own and of there is shade cloth is still better. if it really rains I prefer a huge tarp guyed out to surrounding trees.

It just didn't seem to fit any need I had. Bob

 

[Headache]

As far as awning material, well I'm too cheap and I dislike paying for things that don't last. My favorite tarp material for anything is used vinyl billboard material. Lasts for a very long time and it's CHEAP!

 

[highdesertranger]

Headache that's funny, years back pops got a huge Budweiser vinyl sign. we had everything on the ranch cover in Budweiser tarps. still have some. highdesertranger

 

[accrete]

akrvbob: "I had the 8 foot one, but I practically never used it. In the desert it's constantly up and down with the wind so shade cloth is far more useful. I use shade cloth all the time but never that awning..."

What Bob says : )
...and basically why my wife and I sold our fiamma (very similar in design to the ARB) and went with simple shade cloth (we went with something called "Snow White Cool Tarp") and various sized Kelty Noah Tarps. We no longer have to concern ourselves with wind as they easily go through a typical afternoon's winds of 15mph + and often in the high 20's and beyond.

Thom