New Awning

[iandvl]

I had a 270-degree awning manufactured by one of the Patrol Forum members. Well, I still have it at the moment, but I am waiting for somebody to come and collect it.

After our last trip to Namibia last year, we decided that it is probably time to get a new awning. It has had a hard life. It has toured all over the place with me...

Ignoring the odd-camping trip or trail (as well as two trips to Mozambique, a trip to Lesotho and two trips to Swazliand), it's done the following couple of tours with me:

Patrol Forum dune trip and Southern Nam: https://patrol4x4.co.za/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=8060
Namaqua coastal section and more Southern Nam: https://patrol4x4.co.za/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=8172
Skeleton coast and yet more, more Southern Nam: https://patrol4x4.co.za/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=8536
Richtersveld and Namaqua Coastal Section: https://patrol4x4.co.za/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=9182
Yet more, more, more Southern Nam: https://patrol4x4.co.za/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=9358

A couple of serious coastal winds on the west coast, as well as various storms and serious rain inland (I've yet to go camping in Swaziland where it has not rained...), have taken their toll on the aged awning arms and I'm tired of bending them straight and re-welding them the entire time.

There were a bunch of options available, but we originally settled on Tentco's "Bundu Awning", and I collected it some time last week.

What I like about it:

* It packs small
* It is light compared to my 270-degree awning.
* It is large when it is opened up.
* It has side-panels (well, I don't have them yet - they will only arrive in June. Issues with canvas availability or something, I believe).
* It has poles and guy ropes to tie fasten it properly. Which means it is probably a little more robust than my 270-degree one.
* It works on the caravan as well.
* I can fit it either on the side of the rack, or at the back.

What I don't like about it:

* It takes a little longer to set up.
* It has poles and guy ropes.

Anyways, I collected it sometime last week, and I installed it over lunch earlier this week. It looks good. And I'm looking forward to putting it up for real when we go camping this weekend.

Please excuse the dirty truck. The Nissan group played at Hennops this weekend past and I've not had a chance to wash it yet.

[Ricof4e]

I like it.

Looks much bigger than the usual 270 awnings.

[iandvl]

Blegh.

I see list items do not show in Tapatalk. And I went to so much effort. I shall edit it shortly.

Thanks Willem. I also think it provides more shade than my old 270. The biggest negative thing is it is just a bit more of a mission to set up.

The 270 was unzip, pull out and hook. This is unzip, put in poles. Hammer in pegs.

Anyways, I think we will enjoy it - especially when the side panels arrive.

Patrol 4.5 GRX

[AndreasR]

Nice.

I have a similar one made by Frontrunner which I use on my trailer. Same pros and cons as you have mentioned about setting up.

I do like the 270 awning on my RTT though. So easy to use, even for a quick lunch stop.

[iandvl]

Nice.

I have a similar one made by Frontrunner which I use on my trailer. Same pros and cons as you have mentioned about setting up.

I do like the 270 awning on my RTT though. So easy to use, even for a quick lunch stop.

I was very much in two minds when looking at options. The 270 is a pleasure to set up and pack away. I think the time it takes to pull out or put away is measured in seconds.

For me, however, there were two major reasons for choosing the Tentco one for the truck.

Firstly, although it comes at the drawback in terms of set-up time, the fact that this awning has poles and guy-ropes means that it is a lot, lot sturdier than the 270. When camping at the coast, the coastal winds have a way of being sneaky. You're sitting comfortable having a beer, and the next moment a gale force wind hits the awning and bends the arms. Actually, it's not only on the coast - on several occasions, we've had very bad winds when camping inland. That makes the 270 a non-starter for me, as I've had to pull off the arms and bend them straight and re-weld them on several occasions after trips.

The second thing was the shelter it provides. The 270-degree awning is fine for shade, but not-so-much for rain. On the occasions we have been touring and have been unlucky enough to get rain (as I said earlier - every single, freaking time in Swaziland), it does not work as well. Especially at the back of the vehicle where my fridge and kitchen and everything are. I did experiment with another piece of canvas to close the gap between the end of the awning and the back of the vehicle at the back, but only with limited success. The Tentco awning can be mounted on the side of the truck, but I'll also be putting another piece of extruded alu on the back - which means I'll be able to mount it at the back too. This, along with the side panels (which are yet to arrive), should mean we will be better equipped to weather the weather.

Anyways, I'll see how it works in time, I guess. If it really starts annoying me I can always look at getting another 270-degree awning at some stage.

[grahamrob]

Nice. I have one very similiar to that. Im not sure on the brand though - got it unused from a mate many years ago and never ever used it.
This last weekend was the first time it had been used, I got it setup pretty easily, but, it wasnt 100%, it still sagged here and there, this was however all due to my assistant only being 3yrs old though, haha.
All in all, im happy with mine too I must say.