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Date:         Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:29:41 -0700
Reply-To:     Jeffrey Vickers <jeff@VICKERSDESIGN.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeffrey Vickers <jeff@VICKERSDESIGN.COM>
Subject:      Re: Which awning is best
Comments: To: camping.elliott@gmail.com
In-Reply-To:  <1282087423.6049.112.camel@TheJackUbuntuNetbook>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes

> If you can get all the Shady Boy poles including the optional ones and > fabric back into the case, you are a genuine He-Man and should be able to carry the van the coming miles ahead.

I have indeed mastered this miracle you speak of, but alas, I can offer no proof...

On Aug 17, 2010, at 4:23 PM, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:

> On Tue, 2010-08-17 at 15:52 -0700, Jeffrey Vickers wrote: >> OK, "peaked" it is. That's a better description. >> >> Believe it or not, the poles and fabric CAN be rolled up together and >> put back in the case - although I've only done it sober. > > With the optional downdraft poles? That's four more poles to jam into > that thing. I'd need a mallet to pound it all in. > >> As a matter >> of fact, its probably a good way to judge your driving abilities >> after >> a particularly festive camping session: if you can get all the Shady >> Boy poles and fabric back into the case, you are ready to navigate >> the >> coming miles ahead. > > If you can get all the Shady Boy poles including the optional ones and > fabric back into the case, you are a genuine He-Man and should be able > to carry the van the coming miles ahead. > > -- > Rocky J Squirrel > >> >> Jeff >> On Aug 17, 2010, at 3:28 PM, Rocket J Squirrel wrote: >> >>> I'll second Jeff's recco, although I don't see how the Shady Boy can >>> be >>> called "domed." Peaked, maybe. >>> >>> It's a flat piece of fabric with one edge anchored to the van, and >>> the >>> other edge held out from the van with three poles that radiate out >>> from >>> above the sliding door: one pole per outer corner, and a center >>> pole. >>> >>> It's pretty easy to set up, pretty easy to take down. >>> >>> I've used this thing in quite high winds. A couple of light nylon >>> lines >>> attached to the van's bumpers keep the outer corners, thus the outer >>> edge, from flying up with updrafts, and the optional corner >>> downpoles >>> keep the outer edge from being mashed down by downdrafts. It's >>> stable >>> and solid in wind. >>> >>> In heavy rain, the outer corners can be lowered by tightening the >>> corner >>> lines, allowing water to spill onto the ground instead of pooling. >>> >>> A bit of a gap above the sliding door lets water drip in heavy rain, >>> but >>> a strip of foam weatherstripping mashed into it solves that problem. >>> >>> In hot weather, the fabric becomes quite hot to the touch, even the >>> silver fabric version. You can feel the heat radiating down on your >>> head, and hot air gathers under the awning and sluices up into the >>> van >>> through the open door. I solve that by attaching an "under roof" >>> beneath >>> the awning with (tie-died) fabric and binder clips. Miles cooler >>> underneath then. >>> >>> Like many tents and tent-like products, once open, it can't be put >>> back >>> into the box it came out of. The aluminum case over the door is too >>> small for any normal human to get the awning and poles into. I carry >>> the >>> poles in the back of the van, using only one for rolling up the >>> fabric >>> into the case. >>> >>> The fiberglass poles are amazingly sturdy -- I was once caught by a >>> surprise updraft before I had the tiedowns tied down, and the wind >>> bent >>> the awning straight up, the poles were curved 90 degrees or more, >>> and >>> were unfazed. Mine have microscopic glass fibers that poke into and >>> irritate my skin, like handling fiberglass insulation, so I handle >>> the >>> poles with gloves. >>> >>> I used a BD awning several years ago, thought it was a PITA to >>> assemble >>> up and disassemble, and it felt clunky. The design may have changed. >>> >>> -- >>> Rocky J Squirrel >>> >>> >>> On Tue, 2010-08-17 at 13:32 -0700, Jeffrey Vickers wrote: >>>> I have a Shady Boy and like it a lot. The crank-out Fiamma is >>>> definitely the easiest to deploy but more expensive, heavier and >>>> also >>>> not "domed" like Troy says. The Shady Boy is domed and being 6 >>>> ft, it >>>> gives me the sense of more head room. It takes about 5 minutes to >>>> set >>>> up and with no wind, you don't need the vertical poles at the >>>> corners >>>> - its self supporting and just kinda "floats". You can essentially >>>> "drop" the Shady Boy in about 30 seconds by pulling out two poles >>>> and >>>> unclipping the vertical poles. Pretty easy - and a good thing when >>>> the >>>> wind comes up fast. >>>> >>>> Jeff >>>> On Aug 17, 2010, at 12:28 PM, Automatic digest processor wrote: >>>> >>>>> Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:45:17 -0800 >>>>> From: Troy <colorworks@GCI.NET> >>>>> Subject: Which awning is best >>>>> >>>>> "But the second choice is the cheapest on the market, the Shady >>>>> Boy. Several friends >>>>> have them and are happy with them." >>>>> >>>>> The cheapest awning on the market is the bus depot awning at $119. >>>>> One consideration not mentioned is the fact the gutter rail that >>>>> the >>>>> awning attaches to is only 6 feet tall, and if you want water to >>>>> drain that means your awning is going to be lower at the furthest >>>>> edge from the van. If you're taller than 6 feet, it can get pretty >>>>> cramped under the awning. This is where the bus depot dome shaped >>>>> awning really excels. Is it as convenient as being able to crank >>>>> out >>>>> the awning?, heck no, but you do tend to get what you pay for. The >>>>> BD awning can be assembled in about five minutes though. Of course >>>>> the subject was "best" awning, but best can be subjective too. >>>>> >>>>> Troy >>> >>> >> > >


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