open sky awnings

[Bomber-74 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bomber-74]

I have been looking at this model.

http://www.eeziawn.com/series2000.html

Does anyone have any opinions, it states it doesn't need any guide ropes and it does have the option of fitting walls or annexes.

[Chippy Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chippy]

Nice find Bomber ... and available close to home.
I might just have to take a look as Valentine's Day is close.

They're available here in Perth at :
Dolium Pty. Ltd
35 Welshpool Road
Welshpool, WA


Cheers
Chippy

[samo Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close samo]

i would be skeptical of the no ropes quote, my opensky will freestand with out a problem but if you get a fair wind it will certainly require the ground pegs, but everytime i put it up i do pegs and ropes just to be on the safe side.

[Grandeman Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Grandeman]

Definitely take the "no ropes" claim with a grain of salt.

OK for a perfectly still day, but the slightest gust could send the poles crashing into your paintwork.

I agree that playing it safe with ropes and pegs is the prudent thing to do.

[Violet Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Violet]

have been looking at this model.

http://www.eeziawn.com/series2000.html

Does anyone have any opinions, it states it doesn't need any guide ropes and it does have the option of fitting walls or annexes.

I rang up about these - they sound really good but at more than twice the price of an Open Sky (or ARB) they were not anywhere close to being in the hunt. I was also concerned about the weight and size.

Samo:

nice lookin brk violet, 50 x 6 flat bar and 50 x 6 angle

Good estimating the flat bar - but the angle that goes the whole length of the bracket is only only 25 x 3mm.

Thanks all for the encouragement about posting my bracket solution. I'll be putting in a custom cargo barrier in the next few weeks and some shelving to add to my ORE draws. I'm also installing my Xantrex battery 'fuel' gauge - once I sort out a battery system. I'll post photographs.

[MUMSRIG Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MUMSRIG]

I'll be putting in a custom cargo barrier in the next few weeks and some shelving to add to my ORE draws. I'll post photographs.

More information please?

I'm keen to sort something out that will fit with my drawers, but not for $400 for half a cargo barrier! :shock:

Mitch

[Chippy Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chippy]

Finally got hold of one of those Open Sky awnings yesterday ...... and now its out sunning itself on the front lawn :lol: :lol: :lol:











Cheers
Chippy

[mav Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close mav]

Finally got hold of one of those Open Sky awnings yesterday ...... and now its out sunning itself on the front lawn :lol: :lol: :lol:


Cheers
Chippy

Hi Chippy,

The Missus has been on at me to get an awning put on while we are down in Adelaide but we don't have a roof rack. I am after one that will attach to the standard roof rail of the Prado. Can your one do that? IF so where did you get it and how much mate?

Cheers

Mav

[Chippy Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chippy]

G'day Mav

The best solution I've seen yet ... for fitting the awning to the standard roof rails ..... was the one developed by Violet over here in Perth.

He's added a set of Rhino Sports bars and whipped up a steel bracket that does a brilliant job of supporting the awning ..... and only 4 bolts to remove it.

It’s only a small contribution to the site – but after gaining so much information from you guys – I thought I would add something small….

After investigating the awnings, I finally purchased an Open Sky. About $20 cheaper than ARB (that seems just like an Open Sky rebadged). However if I wasn’t so eager to just get the lower priced one, I would have got the silver coloured ARB – it would have matched the car colour.

I only have a set of Rhino Sportz bars and I didn’t want a basket on the roof. The awning is really more designed to go onto the side of a basket. ARB was quite hopeless at suggesting an option – while 4WD Megastores in Osbourne Park at least suggested a ladder holder support. The ladder support attachment for the Sportz bar is (to my thinking) quite small and flexible. I would also have to have this piece of plastic support the whole weight of the awning – whereas I really wanted the roof bar to support the weight directly. Even though I was assured that there would be no trouble about the ladder support doing the job – I decided to make my own.

At the moment is constructed from mild steel. I did this to experiment a little and it’s cheaper. Later when the steel starts to rust, I may reconstruct in aluminium or stainless steel.

I decided to have an angle supporting the whole weight between the roof bar supports. This would also allow me to put another attachment point to the aluminium extrusion of the awning.

The bolts that hold the bracket to the roof bars are from the Rhino range (about $10). This meant that the bracket would slip easily into the slots of the bar.










I’ve only used the awning a couple of times – it seems great. Very easy to erect and great for the shade. I intend to buy the insect screen and also make a side curtain/tarp that I can attached to either the sides or the front – for more sun or wind protection.

The whole thing slides off the car really easily. Only takes a couple of minutes to do up the bolts.

I hope these photos may help someone else to get some ideas

The awnings are about $395 brand new. I picked mine up 2nd hand.

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Chippy

[stephen61 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close stephen61]

Re: open sky awnings

Hi Everyone

Not been mechanically brilliant (to say the least) wanted to bounce a idea to see if anyone has done it or if it could be done....

I would like to have an awning !

Dont want the added expense of a rack - not even rails across etc !

Now looking at Violets brilliant little solution i was wondering if it would be possible too

a\ Remove my north / south rail altogether

b\ Use the mounting pionts to bolt on some upright brackets and attatch the awning to them.

The awnings appear to have there own back plate - i am assuming it would be strong enough to support the awning and only be attatched to the car at 3 pionts with the above mentioned brackets.

Well i would be interested in peoples thoughts or pics if someone has done it

Thanks

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: open sky awnings

Hi Everyone

Not been mechanically brilliant (to say the least) wanted to bounce a idea to see if anyone has done it or if it could be done....

I would like to have an awning !

Dont want the added expense of a rack - not even rails across etc !

Now looking at Violets brilliant little solution i was wondering if it would be possible too

a\ Remove my north / south rail altogether

b\ Use the mounting pionts to bolt on some upright brackets and attatch the awning to them.

The awnings appear to have there own back plate - i am assuming it would be strong enough to support the awning and only be attatched to the car at 3 pionts with the above mentioned brackets.

Well i would be interested in peoples thoughts or pics if someone has done it

Thanks

I would look at buying a couple of feet from either Rhino, Tule or similar and then mouting on that. The feet provide water proofing (along with a generous glob of salastic) for the roof when wet. You could then fasion some sort of bracket to mounting your awning on them. There is provision for three feet but Violet has been successful with two. You may find your awning a little low unless you cater for that in the mounting brackets.

[foxclan Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close foxclan]

Re: open sky awnings

Hi Stephen61
We where looking at an ARB awning, problem was no North south rails or racks. I was toying with the idea of using an ARB roof rack mounting kit. This kit consist of two rails that pick up the bolts over the pillars under the rubber moulding strip/gutter of 120s.
A mounting rail similar could be manufactured to suit these fixing points, as per Violet's top effort.
We got the Toyota- Rhino H/D racks with Foxwing Awning mount. Problem solved.
Cheers Troy