I guess I should further categorize my remarks on this awning.

We're weekend warriors; we car camp with our friends and several kids, and
don't do anything extreme.  I almost always have either the wife or friends
with me, so this awning makes sense for me because I always have an extra
set of hands.  It is a bit clumsy to set up, as I said, but nothing of mayor
consequence.  And once we set up camp, we stay put for a few days.  Rarely
do we leave the spot where we stake down.

The wind kicked up pretty good night before last, but no major catastrophic
gusts, so I can't agree or disagree with you on that.  We had one of those
quick passing hail/rainstorms that ALWAYS hits us as we're setting up camp
here in the Rockies.

All I can say is that my first experience with it was a good one and it
works exactly as I expected it to, at first impression, for exactly what we
do when we camp.

If I do have problems down the line, I will most definitely let folks know.

I suppose a disclaimer is in order:

"I do not work for Bus Depot, nor have they solicited my comments on any
products.  I am simply an opinionated (positively opinionate on this item)
customer."

Joe T.

>From: rob campbell <rob@QUIMP.COM>
>Reply-To: rob campbell <rob@QUIMP.COM>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: Bus Depot Awning
>Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2005 09:59:42 -0700
>
>I really dont want to defame a product in public and certainly bear
>no ill-will towards the vendor, but I would also be very sad if
>anyone had the same experience as me while I silently stood by.
>
>I've tried this awning and ended up scrapping it.  In high winds at
>Badlands park one night it ripped itself free (yes it was staked),
>and the poles were irreparably bent.  Even before that, I found it a
>bit of a hassle to construct (the excitement of the first setup wears
>off when you are using this thing "fulltime").
>
>It does have some amazing pros:
>
>umbrella shaped roof is excellent
>not permanently attached to van
>stores on top shelf in rear
>affordable (see con version: cheap)
>generous space, especially vertically
>
>but the cons:
>cheap (I'd rather pay more for decent quality)
>wouldn't trust it overnight (it was dead calm and cloudless when I
>went to sleep)
>annoying to assemble and take down (especially if alone)
>where the edge meets the van, it creates a waterfall when raining
>heavily
>
>Busdepot is a great company with great products, but in my
>experience, this EZ Awning needs a lot of improvements before I would
>consider another one.
>
>
>
>On Jun 1, 2005, at 9:18 PM, Sharon Mendonca wrote:
>
>>Looks like a great awning!!  Your pictures are fine and have enough
>>light to see everything, too.  Much larger than I would have
>>expected.  We have an A&E on our Vanagon and I don't think it's
>>nearly as big - and my husband hates to put it up!!  Says we are
>>NOT moving it to the Westy.
>>
>>Sharon Mendonca
>>
>>

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