![]() ![]() ![]() Twice a year we’ve scrubbed the covers clean with soap and water, then treated them with 303 Aerospace Protectant to minimize UV damage. Maintenance on both awnings has been minor. It was nice to again have a use for the excellent Fourtreks modular awning mounts we’d originally used on the larger awning. The ARB awning came with the nuts and bolts that are compatible with most mounts, but that was it. The brackets included with the awning worked perfectly. After adding the tent, we needed to locate the awning a bit lower to clear the tent base. We purchased the Smittybilt awning prior to the rooftop tent and originally had it secured via clamp-style awning mounts. However simplistic, the Smittybilt awning did come with some basic mounting hardware, including L-brackets, u-bolts, and examples of how to mount it to roof racks, baskets, etc. These pads and the rest of the fabric seem to be dissimilar materials and it appears that some of the coating from the primary fabric has stuck to these pads. The application of rotational pressure to the horizontal pins would be undesirable for any awning, but one would suspect that the single fin on the ARB would be more susceptible to damage at that point.Īnother peculiarity of the ARB awning is what appears to be anti-abrasion pads at the front corners. The ARB is only drilled through two of the 3 channel fins, but the pole pins are only long enough to make it through the first hole. The outer channel on the Smittybilt is drilled all the way through to provide two holes for the pins to rest in, plus a third for a length of cord that allows you to stake the awning down. On the Smittybilt, the pins at the end of the poles, both horizontal and vertical, are about 3 times as long as those on the ARB. The next point is of minor consequence, but the engineering is a bit confusing. If one was concerned, it could be better sealed easily with some Seam Grip or other sealer. The amount of water pressure present from a spray nozzle is much higher than nature itself is likely to provide, and the ARB has never been damp when we’ve opened it. This appears to substantially prevent water intrusion. The Smittybilt cover is taped on the inside over the seams. We noticed daylight was visible through some of the needle holes. After washing and rinsing both awnings, the ARB was quite wet where water had penetrated the stitching. So far there has been no difference in durability, but I’d certainly trust the metal to be stronger, especially in cold temperatures.Īlso of note is the seams on the covers. The ARB uses plastic, while the Smittybilt is metal. The first thing we noted was the material the joints are made of. Last fall, when cleaning the covers and treating the fabric, we took the time to snap a few photos and record some differences between the two awnings. It is approximately 4’6″ x 6’6″, so it certainly provides more cover than a rear hatch would, although it takes slightly longer to deploy. Smittybilt didn’t offer an awning in this size, so we went with an ARB 814301. We decided to add a smaller awning to rear to take the place of the absent hatch. That certainly has its own benefits, but immediate shelter isn’t one of them. In seconds it provided both protection from the elements and access to the rear cargo area from any angle. One of the only things we’ve missed from the XJ was the rear hatch. ![]() The longer shadow clearly speaks for itself.Īs we’ve mentioned before, prior to the FJ, we had a Jeep Cherokee. The following photos were taken about a year apart, but at roughly the same time of year and same time of day. Originally placed on the driver side, we found that the awning provided significantly more shade on the passenger side when were backed up to the shore, as is the norm in the Outer Banks. The Smittybilt is the larger of our two awnings, at roughly 8’6″ wide and 6’6″ long. We have enjoyed many days and nights under it, sheltering us from the the sun and rain, covering our cooking from falling leaves or snow, or just giving us a shady place to read or relax in a hammock. Our side awning is a Smittybilt 2784, which has been an invaluable piece of kit. Our Smittybilt 2783 has certainly served us well and we’re always looking forward to spending another night in it. The tent seems to be well received by most who purchase it, but what about the awning? Hows the structure and material? Have you compared it to other brands?” “I found your website through expedition portal researching the Smittybilt tent and awning. A reader wrote in today to ask about our experiences with our Smittybilt awning. ![]()
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