On Aug 28, 2008, at 9:41 AM, Alistair Bell wrote:

> I bought a Shady Boy awning directly from Equinox (Wolfgang). Its was
> the silver fabric model, didn't buy the down draught poles (I have
> poles if needed), was about 280 Canadian.
>
> Installation requires drilling holes into van, pretty easy, took me
> about 30 minutes to get it all attached.
>
> The fabric appears to be a fairly light ripstop nylon, coated with (I
> am guessing) urethane. Has a slightly rubbery feel.
>
> Deployment (without down draught poles) must take all of 3 minutes.
>
> In all but still air I guyed down the awing with supplied lines. The
> awning will get blown up towards vertical in a breeze.
>
> I never did use my poles, I didn't encounter any down draught
> situations :)

I highly recommend using the optional poles-a serious down draft will
bend your roof brackets & reduce the height of the cantilevered
awning so that it is too low to walk under w/o the poles-ask me how I
know.

YMMV,

Mr. BZ-used it last weekend w/ hold down ropes & poles

>
> It looks very good, plenty of headroom. One can adjust the guy lines
> to alter the "pitch" of the awning to shed water outwards. But....
>
> There is one weakness, the side extensions, either side of the awning
> case, do not lie over the van gutters so any water will spill towards
> the van and down the van sides if the awning is not dipped enough.
> That means if the sliding door is open, water will wet the inside of
> said door.
>
> Its a small thing, but can be annoying.
>
> Rolling the awning back up and into the case was not a problem for
> me, I could get the poles wrapped up tight in the fabric and the case
> lid shut easily. Takes about same time to stow as deploy.
>
>
>
> All in all I would recommend the awning. It really does look tidy and
> cool.
>
> Alistair