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Thread: The Ultimate Awning-shelter?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
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    Bauxite, AR, USA
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    Default The Ultimate Awning-shelter?

    Before purchasing my land rover D1 a year ago I lived with my wife for several years in a 1984 Westfalia and had a Fiamma F45i awning on it. It was the best money spent ever, it really extended our living space out beyond the sliding door and sitting area. It dispatched quickly and was used daily. Back then we would camp out on a surf break in Mexico for several weeks at a time without moving and having 80 sq. ft. of shelter was great. Now in preparing to do the same kind of trips out of our land rover D1 we come to the same question, how to extend our living space to make it more comfortable in hot weather on the beach, also to cook, socialize and drink under!!
    Has anyone used the MSR OutfitterWing shelter, they are 200 sq. ft. free standing for $238.00 at amazon.com? Fiamma does have the Fiamma F35Pro, but is only 6 ft x 6 ft. and I think this is just way too small.
    Any comments welcome, but none of that cheap home made rigged awning talk!!! I want something dependable and functional and don't mind spending $350.00.

    Cheers,

    Ben Edmonson
    www.benedmonson.com
    Benjie Edmonson
    Senior North America Photographer
    Overland Journal
    www.benedmonsonPHOtO.com

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Calgary, AB.
    Posts
    428
    Sorry Ben, can't help on the awning.............but all your pic's sure are beautiful.
    "Traveling makes one modest-you see what a tiny place you occupy in the world" Flaubert.

  3. #3
    Join Date
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    We have the F35pro on our rig and it works great for us 2.. or even up to 3-4 people if need be. Plenty large enough. Doesnt seem like it... but it works for us. Thing works perfect every single time and only takes 30 seconds to deploy. Quality is top notch too, but you already know that.

    Dave & Yoshi
    The Adventure Duo
    1993 Toyota Landcruiser FZJ80
    1997 Toyota Landcruiser FZJ80 Collectors Edition
    2010 SoCalTeardrops Krawler 459
    2005 Suzuki DRZ400s
    Tread Lightly! Trainer | Manufacturer of the Trasharoo | Outfitted by Sierra Expeditions

  4. #4
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by SOCALFJ
    We have the F35pro on our rig and it works great for up to 3-4 people. Plenty large enough. Doesnt seem like it... but it works for us. Thing works perfect every single time and only takes 30 seconds to deploy. Quality is top notch too, but you already know that.

    Giving Martyn a call to send one is still not out of the question, I have seen yours on-line and I like it, just wish it was a little larger!

    Ben
    Benjie Edmonson
    Senior North America Photographer
    Overland Journal
    www.benedmonsonPHOtO.com

  5. #5
    Join Date
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    Anaheim, California USA
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    Quote Originally Posted by benedmonson
    Giving Martyn a call to send one is still not out of the question, I have seen yours on-line and I like it, just wish it was a little larger!

    Ben
    The problem with longer.. is that you have to have a place to mount it too. You have a 8 foot long awning you need to mount that puppy. Thats why the F35 works out good.. cause most rigs can handle a 6 footer. Although i did see a 7 or 8 footer mounted on a 100 series that stuck forward in thin air like 2 feet. Looked weird though. Like it would rip off.

    Ask him about the eezi awn one too... it might be a tad longer.
    Dave & Yoshi
    The Adventure Duo
    1993 Toyota Landcruiser FZJ80
    1997 Toyota Landcruiser FZJ80 Collectors Edition
    2010 SoCalTeardrops Krawler 459
    2005 Suzuki DRZ400s
    Tread Lightly! Trainer | Manufacturer of the Trasharoo | Outfitted by Sierra Expeditions

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Montreal & San Francisco
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    5,457
    Ben,

    What about one of these tents that attach to the back of the SUV?

    please let me know if you find anything. I am in the same dilemna. I want something to extend the living space of our TroopCarrier.

    The problem with some of these external tent/shelters is that it uses a lot of space when you carry it, and also the time it takes to set it up.

    But it's a good alternative for sure.

    By the way, I love your website. I hope one day to have the chance to update mine...

    bye
    Christian

    CTO Expedition Portal
    www.expeditionportal.com
    www.2aroundtheworld.com

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Tucson, Az
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    3,729
    I have the Moss Outfitters Wing

    http://www.toughriverstuff.com/shelt...fitterwing.htm

    It looks similar to the MSR Outfitters Wing with the same 200 sg ft coverage area. I don't know how the MRS quality compares but I really enjoyed my Moss Wing and I have used it in some nasty weather with great results. I would not want to break it down and move everyday but if you are staying in one camp for awhile, they are great.
    Last edited by Tucson T4R; 11-12-2007 at 10:54 PM.
    Brad

    My Photo Gallery


    2004 4Runner - 2011 Kimberley Karavan

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Reno
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    2,158
    FWIW: We have a Kelty Deluxe Carport and it works really well. One nice feature of it is being able to have the outer corners up on included aluminum poles or down at the ground for more weather protection as needed. It is relatively quick to set-up, takes up about 8"x8"x20" in it's stuff sack and easily/quickly attaches to a vehicle's roof rack...or Maggiolina in our case.

    We have the Fiamma 35 on our Horizon trailer. It works great however I wish it was about 1' wider, longer and had the vestibule/enclosure Fiamma offers for their longer awnings...that'd make us happy!
    1999 Toyota 100-Series Land Cruiser...not nearly stock
    2009 Kimberly Sports RV 'King of the Offroad' trailer: Sadly gone but it sponsored some of the best memories of anything I've ever owned!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Western Ohio
    Posts
    120

    Default Snow Peak's tarps

    Ben,

    Not sure if this might be what you're looking for... Maybe too big? Snow Peak has other models as well.

    http://www.snowpeak.com/lux/tarps/recta.html

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
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    Snow Peak makes some great stuff so I'm sure these are good quality too. If you go the tarp route, I highly recommend a wing shaped design over the traditional rectangle. They shed the wind a lot better and a 7 point wing design gives you several set up options depending on the weather conditions.
    Brad

    My Photo Gallery


    2004 4Runner - 2011 Kimberley Karavan

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