Awnings

Eezi-Awn Awning
This was first awning we purchased and used extensively. It attached to the Thule racks on the Montero.

This awning is Australian made. The collapsible frame and casing is aluminum with a canvas textile. The struts and supports use an offset cam design that locks the three-piece legs into place regardless of height, We've found them tricky to deploy and a bit hard to trust.


The awning provides ample shade, a valuable resource in a land of few trees.

It stowed in a hard aluminum case that was a bit vulnerable to the elements with dust and moisture seeping in through the seams.

ARB 4' Awning 
The Eezi-Awn taught us a lesson or two in what to look for in our next awning. The first being weather protection. We picked up an ARB 48" awning. It's enveloped in a heavy duty nylon reinforced pvc bag, completely weatherproof.

The second is in the hardware. The legs are height-adjustable and use a solid locking cam system that instills more confidence in the structure's integrity.

 The shade is made from a thick pvc lined polyester.

 All hardware on the awning is aluminum and nicely machined and finished.

The third lesson is in its engineering. The stanchion junctions include an oversized black disk that keep the legs and stanchions secured in their channels until they're deployed making one-person set-up quick and easy. The Eezi-Awn required two people and was awkward to deploy.

The shade secures to the frame with stout velcro strap and the corners are reinforced. The frame is channeled as well to accept mosquito netting and add-on rooms with floors, all ARB accessories.

My only regret with this awning is its size. There are no accessory add-ons for the 4' version that would make it into a weather-proofed tent, an option we'd like to explore in lieu of an RTT. Next season we'll add an ARB 2000 and relocate the 4' awning to the rear to cover the rear door cargo area.