I am in agreement w/ Mr. Squirrel on the Shady Boy-I've had mine for at
least 10 years, same deal w/ 60 mph winds, etc.  If it is properly
installed w/ the optional corner poles, the 2 part poles are bound to each
other-I drilled a small hole in each & run a piece of bailing wire thru it-
& the pole bottoms are attached the same way to stakes or something heavy,
& the corner to bumper adjustable stay ropes, then the thing is very
stable. YMMV

On Sat, Nov 14, 2015 at 2:30 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com>
wrote:

> It was a clear, sunny day at a coastal campground, well away from the
> beach,
> where It's always breezy. With no warning a sudden gust came directly at
> it.
> Lifted it up at a 45 degree angle, and then it was basically a bow with an
> arrow in it.  I tied it down every time I used it after that.
>
> Stuart
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rocket J Squirrel [mailto:camping.elliott@gmail.com]
> Sent: Saturday, November 14, 2015 10:41 AM
> To: Stuart MacMillan; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: A Westy awning
>
> On 11/14/2015 09:48 AM, Stuart MacMillan wrote:
>
> > Before that, I had a Shady Boy on my '84 Westy.  That was okay, but
> > one time the wind caught it and the center fiberglass rod shot out
> > into the van like an arrow, putting a deep dent into the cabinet. It
> > might have put one in me if I'd been in there.
>
> Yikes. I use my Shady Boy in all kinds of weather: hail, heavy rain, gusty
> wind, and when properly staked-down it's been bulletproof. I have had the
> center pole drop down to the ground with a clatter when wind shakes it
> loose
> from its anchor hole, but have never had it hurl itself into the van with
> lethal force, that's for sure.
>
> --
> Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
> 1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
> Bend, Ore.
>

--
Tom Buese