Need to install an awning on an incompatible roof platform?!

[coffeeandkerouac]

Happy sunday y'all. This weekend, I've been scratching my head on how to install an ARB awning on my delica without breaking the bank.

The challenge: I have a pair of Yakima crossbars in the front that are low and flush with the van, and a pair of unbranded crossbars in the back that are high and support a cargo box. See the pic for the height difference.

Ideally I'd love to keep this system intact and not have to buy a new platform to make these all the same height to support an awning, which I believe has to be mounted all the way across.

Is that even possible? I'm weighing whether it would be easier/cheaper to custom fabricate something to handle this.

 

[brayden_23]

Could you just do something like this?

Awning or shower mounting kit for rain gutter – GoWesty

Rain gutter mounting kit for arb and fiamma awnings or the roadshower

www.gowesty.com

 

[sck_nogas]

Hmmm, an option could be....

• RhinoRack down mounted bracket for the back
• RhinoRack up mounted bracket for the front

You'd have left over brackets (or you could mount all 4 of them depending on how big your awning would be.

 

[coffeeandkerouac]

@brayden_23 @sck_nogas thanks for the recs. These both look like interesting approaches, and will do some more digging around!

 

[natematos]

Could you just do something like this?

Awning or shower mounting kit for rain gutter – GoWesty

Rain gutter mounting kit for arb and fiamma awnings or the roadshower

www.gowesty.com

I've heard this doesn't work on other platforms (like the Delica) for some reason without modifications.

 

[coffeeandkerouac]

@natematos I have been looking at the North Westy brackets that don't require drilling and may need to be slightly modified.

The shop manager over there mentioned that he's installed them on Delicas before!

In my situation, clearance with the other towers might be an issue though so I'll have to try and see if it works.

 

[coffeeandkerouac]

Closing the loop on this in case anyone else is in the same boat – thanks all for the help.

I ended up having some down mounted brackets fabricated for the rear crossbars, similar to what @sck_nogas had suggested.

I opted for the ARB 2500 awning and after a few uses out in the wild, can absolutely recommend it!

 

[natematos]

Nice! Next step is to buy the room that's made for it. It's a game changer.

 

[detroadster]

Nice! Next step is to buy the room that's made for it. It's a game changer.

I can confirm! We love our 2500 awning, which is a gane changer in and of itself. But the addition of the room, for summer camping when it's too hot to sleep in the van, is AWESOME!

 

[detroadster]

Closing the loop on this in case anyone else is in the same boat – thanks all for the help.

I ended up having some down mounted brackets fabricated for the rear crossbars, similar to what @sck_nogas had suggested.

I opted for the ARB 2500 awning and after a few uses out in the wild, can absolutely recommend it!

Hey, random side question, how did you route your wiring for those sweet quad KC lamps up top on your basket? Does the wiring enter the van and if so where and how did you weatherproof that entry point?

 

[coffeeandkerouac]

Hey, random side question, how did you route your wiring for those sweet quad KC lamps up top on your basket? Does the wiring enter the van and if so where and how did you weatherproof that entry point?

These lamps were installed a few owners ago, but the wiring enters the van through an opening right in front of the CB antenna in that pic.

The whole roof was covered with a bed-liner type material that seems to weatherproof the hole quite well (at least I hope!)

 

[detroadster]

These lamps were installed a few owners ago, but the wiring enters the van through an opening right in front of the CB antenna in that pic.

The whole roof was covered with a bed-liner type material that seems to weatherproof the hole quite well (at least I hope!)

Ok, got it. Thanks. I'd love some lights up there on my roof box but I'm just not ready to pull the trigger on drilling holes in my roof. That idea is right up there for me with skydiving, bungee jumping, and day-old sushi. Seems like it would probably be totally fine but if it goes wrong, it goes wrong fast.