Richard, the reason I spent the extra dollars for the crank out Fiamma was
the struggles I'd had with the A&E 2000 (a real bear) and the A&E 2500 (only
a smaller bear).  The crank out is a joy compared.  And also easier to
extend only part way to use as a 'rain porch'.  One drawback on my 10': If
using the brackets on the side of the van I can't extend out all the way,
the angle drops the outside edge to far.
BTW, did you really mean $170 for the mounting brackets?  The A&E brackets
used to run about $50 and the current brackets sold by Fiamma (for T2 or T3,
the same) are about $80.

>
>
> You have to buy Carefree from RV dealers, so I doubt there is much
> price negotiation.  But the price of the Sidewinder II which I have is
> pretty good.  $341 for the 10' plus $170 for the Vanagon brackets.
> Not much more than I paid for mine over ten years ago.
>
> They say it is "two people" to unroll and set up, but I do it myself,
> although it is getting harder with age....  (My age, not the awning.)
> It has little plastic and has held up great for all these years, but I
> may have to look for a roll-out when I can't manage this one alone.  Or,
> get my wife to retire and go with me to help with the awning!
>
>                                 Richard A Jones
>                                 Boulder, Colorado
>

--
Loren Busch