Date:         Mon, 25 May 2015 09:59:11 -0700
Reply-To:     Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Awning advice
Comments: To: Kk Al <kkalnsf@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <CABFHYssvQZmVJ=zz=uUdabvupewcsxG7tZ9=z5Z7DTHTRL5rfg@mail.gmail.com>
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I've had a Shady Boy, and it's a bit of a PITA to deal with. And, you ALWAYS need to tie it down.  One time I didn't, and a sudden gust of wind on a calm day blew it upwards, and the center fiberglass rod was "slingshot" into the van and put a big dent in the cabinet. It would have put a big dent in me if I had been in there.

Same goes for the Fiamma or any other awning.  The PO of my son's van had a Fiamma that blew up like this and it ripped off the rain rails, partially tearing them away from the van body, and breaking the seal between the roof and the body.  The awning was destroyed (or at least he thought so since he tossed it), and it took me a while to figure out where the water in the back of the  van was coming from.  It was coming in where the roof panel seal was broken.  Now I need to weld the rain rail back to the body. There was also a lot of rain rail rust under those mounting brackets, so I can understand the desire to not modify or permanently attach anything to the van.

Probably Ron's EZ Awning for me next.

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Kk Al
Sent: Sunday, May 24, 2015 12:40 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Awning advice

Hi all.
We are considering an awning purchase for our 87 Syncro with no pop top .
We'd like something as desrete and slim as possible. And of course, does little or no permanent change to the vehicle.

Any suggestions are appreciated.