Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2001 06:49:16 -0700
Reply-To: steve@SYNCRO.ORG
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Steve Schwenk <steve@SYNCRO.ORG>
Subject: Re: Awning Review, Fiamma vs. Catalina
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
I suggest people check them out because they may appeal
to those like me who would never mount one of those big
RV hunkers on their van with all the alumnium hardware,
etc. more suitable for a giant RV than a vanagon. It
is not perfect, nothing is. But i much prefer (as
others may not) its shortcomings to the those of the
big hunkers.
The shadyboy is scale to the vanagon. It is small,
unobtrusive and sleek. It is easy to set up and take
down. It is well made. I can't see the poles poking
through unless it was used improperly (without the
caps). The spring latch is just a small spring,
non-essential. I bent one end on mine and it has been
fine, although it did come loose early on. It is not a
high-wind awning like the wind in a big storm.
However, when i had mine set up in the desert this
spring, it was the ONLY tarp out of about 7 vehicles in
camp that did not get blown down. The reason for that
was that i had the van positioned so that the wind hit
the back of the van, and with the poptop up, the
shadyboy was not in the direct wind. Still, several
people came up to ask what it was after their
traditional rope and pole tarps blew down. But you are
right, it is not a high wind tarp. It will take
moderate non-storm winds no problem with the guy ropes
attached.
As far as rolling it up in a storm, it's not bad.
Maybe not as easy as some of the pull-outs, but they do
not seem so easy to me with all the alumnium hardware
etc. Besides, i could never put one of those things on
my van.
I like the shady boy because it is quick and easy to
set up, is in scale to the van, is a neat design and it
works. I imagine the nylon tarp will not last as long
as some of the heavy thick RV shades, but you can
replace it if you ever need to. Mine is about a year
old, I have used it about 15 times, have only taken it
down in one wind storm and have no significant
complaints except the mounting system is a bit crude,
although there are alternative mounts.
steve
Kevin Dawson wrote:
>
> Hi Steve,
> I was wondering, do you own a Shady Boy? I had read a previous posting by a
> Shady Boy owner that there were some short comings with its design. Like
> being unstable in the wind, the fiberglass poles pushing through the fabric
> pockets, a flimsy latch spring that broke in short order. Don't get me
> wrong, I'm very interested in the Shady Boy but I'm interested in hearing
> first hand owner reports of both the pros and cons. What is this thing like
> to roll up in the rain? How about rolling it up in the middle of the night
> when the wind comes up and it is flapping around to beat all hell. Does it
> shed rain or does the rain dribble through? If so where? I have a hard time
> picturing how this awning is set up... I wish Wolfgang would post some
> drawings or step by step pictures on his web site. Would any owners out
> there like to comment?
>
> Thanks,
> Kevin
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