| Author | Message | ||
| David Anderson (168.215.176.229) Rating: N/A |
It would be nice to have some type of shade or cover when we camp in an open field. I may consider attaching an awning to the bus, but I just hate to drill holes in the side and have something hanging off the side of the coach while traveling. I've been looking at those 13x10 shade arbors and they look pretty good and are only a bit over $100 compared to more than $400 for an awning. The tradeoff is I have to store the shelter in my bay, thus giving up some room. What do most of you guys use? Any pros or cons to one or the other that I'm not thinking of? Thanks, David Anderson | ||
| Richardkan (Richardkan) (205.188.116.135)
Rating: N/A |
I too was considering some type of awning for my Eagle. Then I happened by a Kansas rest stop after a thunderstorm and noticed a real nice 4905 parked there with the poor folks trying to figure out how to get their ripped-to-shreds awning off the roof. Seems like maybe some extra gusts had jarred the catch mechanism loose and the thing came unfurled like a sailboat. Convinced me that there still is some room in the bays for a nice arbor as you inquired about. | ||
| Lin (66.245.216.207)
Rating: N/A |
Ah yes! To awning or not to awning? That is the question. I had one on my old motorhome and liked it. Only once it created a problem when we were parked on a hill top and a strong wind was coming in just the right way to be unfurling it even though it was closed. We had to hurriedly move. There where other wind concerns too. Like if you left the site and a storm came in, you would be wondering if the awning was okay. We used an extra awning strap to try to lessin the possibility of a mishap. But I would have to say, I liked having it. I have not installed one on the bus, but have considered it. Of course, any shade structure you might put up will be subject to wind problems. Even though not attached to your bus they could cause damage somewhere if the wind was determined enough. | ||
| daffycanuck (66.82.9.16) Rating: N/A |
I'm on my 3rd Awning repair due to wind. I like an awning. Protection from the sun and rain. I've learned (the hard way) how to tie the awning down and when to put it up. I've added an awning lock and hefty tie downs. Its going to be interesting....chasing a shade structure across the field.... | ||
| J@ck5b (4.27.10.170)
Rating: N/A |
I have had my 19'A&E 9000 Awning on my converted MCI5B for almost 10 years now. For the past 6 or 7 years have left it down for 2 & 3 months at a time in Yuma where it has been subject to high 40-60 mph winds many times. Maybe I've just been darn lucky! but I have always anchored my awning with extra rope to a tiedown (embeded in a concrete slab) or by other methodes like tying it to a couple of concret blocks or if nothing else available use large rocks or fill a couple of gallon jugs or buckets filled with water , sand, dirt, rocks what ever is available to use for an anchor. ( Just don't tie to the bumpber of you car because you could end up very mad at yourself)! Also I use a couple of those awning clamps that help keep your awning from flaping violently in strong winds. One more thing, that pertains to my awning is when it is folded up then it needs to be lifted up over a catch on the top and the hand turned knobs tighted securely! So if you use theproper precautions I'm sure you will enjoy the protection an awning affords for many years! Best wishes....J@ck5b | ||
| Craig Smith (Craigs) (67.35.116.171)
Rating: N/A |
Hi David, Here's a pic of an awning on the side of my MC8. Notice how it curves to match the bus. I don't have the details because it came with the bus when I bought it. It does say "A&E Systems by Dometic" on one of the uprights. HTH, Craig S.  Link to larger picture... http://www.nortonspond.com/buspics/bus2.jpg | ||
| Stephen Fessenden (Sffess) (65.130.18.193)
Rating: N/A |
Zip Dee Awnings lock in position when closed. I would put on an awnning and stow the awning during unusally high winds. | ||
| BrianMCI96A3 (67.77.37.160) Rating: N/A |
One scary article I read, showed an accident caused by an awning that unfurled off a coach on a freeway... Yikes! Brian | ||
| David Anderson (168.215.176.206) Rating: N/A |
Thanks, guys. I think I'll get the shelter. I can use it at other places in addition to the bus parking. I think it will give me more options at a lesser price. I appreciate all your opinions. David Anderson | ||
| Alton Gattis (Fiddlearound) (64.28.99.143)
Rating: N/A |
David, we went with a pop-up type screen room, cost about $100 from Target. Used it at the Oklahoma International Bluegrass festival up in Gutherie this past weekend and it worked very well. There were some high winds and a little rain. Bought an inexpensive tarp for use as the floor. It all folds up into a 8"x12"x 5' canvas bag. Seemed like a simple solution to the problem since my MCI roofline is curved above the windows and I didn't want to drill a lot of holes up there. Alton Gattis | ||
| DaveD (142.46.199.30)
Rating: N/A |
We went with a portable shelter at $64.00 at Home Depot. DaveD | ||
| David & Lorna Schinske (Davidschinske)
Rating: N/A |
We use an EZ Up (10X10 bought from Wal-Mart). "Fabric lasted 2 summers (up almost the entire time). Then I just bought a extra heavy duty tarp (10X12) and attach with ball bungees. Mine has a "peak" running the length. Just finshed the 3rd summer with the frame and tarp looks like it will last at least another summer. I bought some of those screw in pet tie-out from Dollar Tree for a $1 each. I use long bungees to attach from the tie out to the awning frame. The bungees work as "shock cords" and allow enough give that the wind will pull the awning but not take off with it. Our awning has withstood some pretty strong thunderstorms and winds. I have some things that you can use on tarp with no or bad holes that I use to hook extra traps on the side of the canopy/shelter to deflect some of the rain off because it always rains when we go camping. I don't think much of the concrete weights since they can go flying. Read about one on a pop-up camper board. Folks ended up with the weights thru the rear window of their car and the awning was trashed. They decided they were lucky the weights didn't get thrown thru the canvas sides of their pop-up. Lorna | ||
| Hugh Bavaro (Hbavaro)
Rating: N/A |
I use a very large unbrella from Costco or Sam's Club, about 8-10' when opened. It looks nice and has never been a problem in the wind. Just pull the cord and it drops down. Folds up very nicely and stores in the belly w/out too much ackwardness. I just rest it upon all the other stuff and it packs nicely. |