DIY Fitting Side and Rear Awnings to Roofrack

[bindi]

Great thread thanks and good pics too, appreciated.
Is your roof rack an aluminium one? I am just looking at a few on fleabay now and wondered how you rate them??
Like you I am thinking of going the ARB way for the awning and sides.

cheers
Mark

[MudRunnerTD]

Great thread thanks and good pics too, appreciated.
Is your roof rack an aluminium one? I am just looking at a few on fleabay now and wondered how you rate them??
Like you I am thinking of going the ARB way for the awning and sides.

cheers
Mark

Yes it's an eBay full length 4 feet a side Aluminium rack. Had it about 5 years and am very very pleased with it. I leave it on full time and load it well for long distance touring without hesitation. I do t walk on it but certainly will climb up on top of it but avoid walking down the middle. A little respect for it being Aluminium for the Winn.

No hesitation, would buy again.

[bindi]

cheers mate, just checking your other posts on this..........looks great and think i'll get one the same.

[skiman]

Brilliant write up, thanks heaps mate

[Hodge]

Awesome write up Darren. Would like to add, the following if you don't mind. Was over at Mudskis, few days ago. He wanted to see how my awning sits, as he was concerned his one sits pointing slightly upwards due to the nature of the roof racks bracket. Mine sits perfectly straight. I used these brackets. This also eliminated drilling through your roof rack.

http://www.rhinorack.com.au/products...cket-kit_31103

[skiman]

Very interesting. Wonder if these would interfere with the mesh on the barrier floor. Hodge, do you have the same rack as Darren? If so, can you post pics of what the brackets look like on your barrier please mate?

[Hodge]

Very interesting. Wonder if these would interfere with the mesh on the barrier floor. Hodge, do you have the same rack as Darren? If so, can you post pics of what the brackets look like on your barrier please mate?

I have a full ARB rack with mesh and the mesh does not interfere with the bolts. Here is a quick photo of mine.

[lucus30]

Awesome write up Darren. Would like to add, the following if you don't mind. Was over at Mudskis, few days ago. He wanted to see how my awning sits, as he was concerned his one sits pointing slightly upwards due to the nature of the roof racks bracket. Mine sits perfectly straight. I used these brackets. This also eliminated drilling through your roof rack.

http://www.rhinorack.com.au/products...cket-kit_31103

Mine sits a fair bit upwards. I don't think it will be a problem though I've only ever used it in light drizzle not torrential rain. I think the rain would just run towards the car

[skiman]

I finally got my ARB Touring Awning this afternoon with a Rhino Rack Foxwing Bracket Kit for ARB. Was all set to put it on and couldnt figure out why the supplied U Bolts wouldnt fit over my lower tubing.

Got the calipers out, and they wont fit because THE DAMN OCAM INDUSTRIES ROOF RACK USES 32MM TUBING! And the bracket kits only work with 28mm tubing. Massive massive facepalm. Had one day to set this up before going camping on Friday and it's not gonna happen.

Then considered sandwiching the bracket between the foot plate and the roof rack tray.. only to find that the bracket holes are the wrong width. FML

Back to the drawing board. Will see if i can knock up an L bracket at work tomorrow and find some 32mm U bolts from a hardware place. ARB can have their $90 bracket kit back.

Oh, i forgot to mention, the bracket kit holes for the awning mount are too far apart. They're designed for a Foxwing awning.

[MudRunnerTD]

I finally got my ARB Touring Awning this afternoon with a Rhino Rack Foxwing Bracket Kit for ARB. Was all set to put it on and couldnt figure out why the supplied U Bolts wouldnt fit over my lower tubing.

Got the calipers out, and they wont fit because THE DAMN OCAM INDUSTRIES ROOF RACK USES 32MM TUBING! And the bracket kits only work with 28mm tubing. Massive massive facepalm. Had one day to set this up before going camping on Friday and it's not gonna happen.

Then considered sandwiching the bracket between the foot plate and the roof rack tray.. only to find that the bracket holes are the wrong width. FML

Back to the drawing board. Will see if i can knock up an L bracket at work tomorrow and find some 32mm U bolts from a hardware place. ARB can have their $90 bracket kit back.

Oh, i forgot to mention, the bracket kit holes for the awning mount are too far apart. They're designed for a Foxwing awning.

Interesting that the ARB rack is 28mm and the Ebay one is 32mm. Assuming tube wall thickness is comparable that makes the Ebay rack a better rack at half the price!!!