I have a Shadyboy on my 1997 Eurovan Camper. It's unstable in _any_ wind. The tiedowns and "optional" poles are mandatory in the lightest breeze. After snapping a pole last fall in a light storm, I'll never leave it deployed at night again.

Kris S. Seago

On Feb 20, 2014, at 8:41 PM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

> Looking at it (I don't actually own one) I don't think it is especially
> sturdy or anything, and ANY awning will blow away.  I've been around
> awnings for over 50 yrs, all kinds.  My parents took us boys along to the
> mountains for months each summer, where we lived under various awnings
> attached to various trailers all my childhood.... I've personally owned
> maybe 15 different ones...right now we have just 3.....
> 
> The rule is.....Never never leave an awing up and go off somewhere.
> During my sports car racing "career" I saw numerous really substantial
> awnings blow away and do incredible damage... I've seen windsurfing sails
> blow away despite  being staked down, and watched masts perforate car
> doors.
> 
> Nothing can stay put in the unexpected gusts that occur... The most secure
> awning is one that's not deployed... We never ever trust a forecast and go
> off somewhere leaving up an awning... I furl em before bed even in very
> calm weather.   I'm done with lying in bed listening to puffs rattle a
> canopy I just "knew" wouldn't get any wind...
> 
> The best awnings are the easy up and down ones..
> On Feb 20, 2014 4:58 PM, "Ralph Meyermann" <ralphmeyermann@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> I figure you will always have some issues in the wind with something that
>> has sail like properties. When it gets windy I need to straight my poles
>> for my easy awning from GW
>> 
>> Velma 82 1.9L AAZ td westy
>> On Feb 20, 2014 6:49 PM, "mark drillock" <mdrillock@cox.net> wrote:
>> 
>>> We hate ours. Too flimsy to trust unattended in any area where a wind
>>> might come up. Like almost everywhere we like to camp. A very
>>> unsatisfactory product for us. We still have it on the van and we still
>>> use it on a rare occasion. Wish I hadn't bought it. Wouldn't get another
>>> for my other van if it was half the price.
>>> 
>>> Mark
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Neil N wrote:
>>> 
>>>> Hi all.
>>>> 
>>>> Searching the archives, it seems that possible water ingress (I think
>>>> a solution was found) and how the awning handles windy conditions, are
>>>> 2 main complaints.
>>>> 
>>>> So. Shady Boy owners. How bad is this thing in windy conditions? Do
>>>> the poles actually help to stabilize the awning?
>>>> 
>>>> Recent weather conditions at Ft. Flagler Wet Westy event showed that
>>>> Mother Nature "always wins", (it got dang windy at times) but the
>>>> Shady Boy deploys quickly and if I'm not mistaken, can attach to the
>>>> rain gutter with clamps; no holes need to be drilled?
>>>> 
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> 
>>>> Neil.
>>>> 
>>>> --
>>>> Neil n
>>>> 
>>>> Blog: tubaneil.blogspot.ca
>>>> 
>>>> '88 Westy http://tinyurl.com/c8rlw6p
>>>> 
>>>> '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"  http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>>>> 
>>>> Vanagon VAG *Gas* inline-VR Engine Swap Group:
>>>> 
>>>> http://tinyurl.com/d7gd5ej
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>