Exactly! And with the camper top opened it’s even got a loft. Speaking of which, I wonder how surprised my wife would be if she came home to find a huge fort in the living room...off to find our extra blankets
@@ScenicCityAdventures Sounds like a fun night if you ask me! Disclosure: Wife happiness not guaranteed. Might end up having to sleep on the couch. Unless.... you got yourself a fort in your living room!!!!!
Awesome review, I've been waiting to pull the trigger on this setup, nice to see it "in person". Just a friendly tip from a welder/fabricator; though it can support itself and the walls without the legs, I would be extremely cautious without them. That amount of weight can easily bend the hinges, and cause stress at the welded joints. I would hate for people to start giving this thing bad reviews due to their lack of proper use, aluminum, while strong, is prone to cracking as it's more brittle than mild steel.
I was thinking the same thing. Definitely risky, especially if the wind really kicked up. Plus I think I'd like the piece of mind securing really well to preserve the life of it. I do really like the setup.
I would have to say that adding the additional weight of three walls and also adding more downward pressure using the stakes, without deploying the support poles, you are very likely going to contribute to early failure of the awning system. That is just common sense.
@@ScenicCityAdventures Easy to put on yourself. Replace rectangular area with the thickest plastic sold by the meters at the Home hardware store. You could get it done too. I love this module it's amazing.
I put the grandkids and the kids to help me set up and take down so they can learn so I prefer with the walls on part of the time and the kids love it too thanks for the video keep up the good work
All that's missing are Persian rugs, bean bag chairs, a peacock, and a gilt/mahogany throne. Roughing it, well. (Just ordered mine, but ordered the passenger side 270)
Thanks! We’ve used this thing all over from the TN mountains to the Rockies. It’s been awesome! Shade, rain cover, or just wind and cold blocker. We love it
I love the look of that awning, and really want one. I use my awning pretty much every time I go out, and this looks much better than mine. The only problem I have is the lack of enclosed room! Even though I only use my enclosed room about 4 times a year, the times I use it, it's worth its weight in gold! The enclosed rooms are fantastic for keeping the bugs out! I only ever use it in mosquito country!
I would love a bug net option for this one. Those enclosed rooms are great for Mosquitos! But for now I think I may pick up a Gazelle 4 Person Screened Tent. Seemed to work well for @LifestyleOverland in Alaska.
@@ScenicCityAdventures a Gazelle screened tent is a good idea. Compared to the awning room, it would be a lot easier to put up, and would probably take up less space!
Great video. Luv this awning. Walls are ok but limit the view. They do come in handy occasionally though. What would be really good though is if they had the same size walls but in see-through mesh for bugs and mosquitoes
Something to add after receiving mine, installing it, uninstalling it, ship it back due to it not opening fully, reinstalling a new one...the direction, as vague and bad as they are, clearly state this awning is only self supporting during set-up.
Nthe colour opens up the possibility of using a portable projector on the inside wall! You know, for those epic in the middle of nowhere movie nights 😉
I’d be lying to say didn’t have a battery powered projector. 😁 The best is using it to watch epic rockclimbing movies while camping near the wall you are climbing in the morning! It gets you hyped!
I have a custom trailer mounted bbq pit with an attached roof, would it be possible to mount this system on my trailer? I realize that without pictures it’s hard to visualize.
I don’t see why not. It comes with a L shaped bracket for mounting the awning to any horizontal surface. Just make sure it’s above head height, 6 feet or more.
the reason the awnings pitch down is to help with water drainage. its angled down so the water rolls off the ends if it were flat the water would end up pooling ontop of the awning.
Yep, that’s correct. But for us we use it more in the summer heat and light rain then thunderstorms. That being said, the pooling is minimal even in in strong storms.
Thanks so much! And congratulations on the awning. We absolutely love ours. This last weekend using it as shade and getting a nearly 13° difference between the sun and awning shade reinforced how much we love it. The walls are fantastic for adding a little bit of privacy when you can’t be completely off grid and away from everybody. You will definitely love them.
I use the walls on my Darche all the time. If the weather is good, I roll up the ones opposite the sun. The walls on the sun side keep shade under the awning in the afternoon.
Hey so you you mention using spacers to address the droop of the awning. Did you buy them? If so where? Any tips so I can install them on mine from the get-go??
Since the video took 21 minutes, including segments that were left out, and some in fast motion, I will assume it takes somewhere around 20 minutes to completely set up and 20 minutes to take down and stow completely.
I am looking at getting this set up for our Van--didn't know they had the ability to get walls.... very cool... mine would attach to the rack on top and would be about 6'8 above the ground. How long are the walls?? Im 6'6 so height is concerning..... do you now if these walls come in a net? are are all of them solid?? thanks for the vid.
@@ScenicCityAdventures I sold my wife on the awning, but not the walls.... "no windows" she said..... got a point. maybe by the time I purchase the walls--next year-- they will come with a clear spot called a window. thanks for the reply.
That's sweet! Would be awesome to install a fire proof chimney opening so you could use one of those wall tent wood stoves to heat the area. Granted there is quite a bit of open area, but I'm sure if you took the time to stake everything in a way to minimize the gaps, it would provide a nice large area that a decent size group of people could hang out in and stay a lot warmer than without the walls and heat. If I get one of the awnings I'll probably do that. As for you not using the poles, I would probably consider using the poles as well as some guy lines if it became rainy and windy. But if not then you're probably fine without them. It's built pretty sturdy.
That would be super cool! We did end up using a propane fire pit on our last trip almost every night in the enclosed area with a little bit of the walls open for ventilation and it was super nice. A woodstove would definitely produce more heat and I wouldn’t have to worry about refilling the propane. It definitely needs the poles if there’s any type of wind and honestly it’s better to just use them to keep the aluminum from cracking down the road but it’s nice to see that they can be set up easily without it.
@@ScenicCityAdventures Yeah. You prob'ly shoulda used the poles before staking down the walls. I kept hoping you'd put the poles in and demonstrate the telescoping properties.
My only thought after watching this is the awning fabric looks pretty lightweight and allows light to come through? What has been your experience in terms of the toughness and durability of that fabric? Also i’m on the West Coast and it gets pretty hot in the desert sun, so thicker insulated fabric is optimal.
I have the same awning and love it but do get aggravated a little bit with the droop as well. May I ask what you used as spacers? After watching your video, I'm considering doing the same modification.
Curious here, it seems like about 10sf more than the RhinoRack batwing, but it costs about $100 more and the walls are similarly priced. Have you used the RhinoRack in the past? I am trying to side by side them best I can for my custom trailer needs
Great question, I have no personal experience with the RhinoRack Batwing. That being said, I have read enough horrible reviews that I won’t be purchasing one. It seems people are popping up on the Facebook groups and Overland forums at least once a week to complain about a bat wing that broke after the second or third use. Of course people that have problems are more likely to post in those that don’t but it definitely doesn’t inspire confidence.
Thanks for the video. Considering this awning for sure on my Tacoma. Questions: 1. What size Aluminum SPACERS did you use. 2) Where did you drill on the fitment on the mount? Thanks for your time.
My Pleasure! Glad it could be helpful. I used 1/4 inch spacers, and had to drill through the center of the awnings main plate, where all the arms attach, to use the GFC brackets. Now that I have a Super Pacific Camper, with better brackets that don't sag, I haven't had to do any drilling or add the spacers.
@@ScenicCityAdventures Thanks for the reply. I ordered the awning. 👍 will mount this on my SnugTop camper shell. The shell will have a Yakima roof rail n racks.
You have a rack on the roof of your truck. What type is it? I have a chevy colorado with the same setup and id like to add some type of rack with an air foil to reduce wind resistance. Can you show you spacers upclose.
I haven’t had any problems with water pooling. There is still enough angle on mine. That being said I needed the spacers on my go fast camper but I did not need them on my Super pacific. It may just be dependent upon your application.
They are quarter inch aluminum. The interesting thing is I needed them on my Go Fast Camper, but I don’t need them on the Super Pacific camper I have now. I would just try and install it without them first. You can always add some later.
Hello from Australia,great reviews however just curious why you don't leave the tension straps on and just fold them away inside the canvas? I would think they would get misplaced at some stage when packing them up in the back of your vehicle. Excellent idea fixing the droop issue will steal that idea. Peter From Dubbo NSW.
Hello peter, hope all is well in Australia. I have the 23ZERO 270 on my truck. I pack my straps in a separate drawer in my truck, packed up for travel. Less tension on the zipper, and keep the bulk down for travel. Have fun, go Offroad
Love your video, thanks for sharing. Great review. I also have the OVS 270 awning with walls attached to my Sunray 109 hunting camper. I love the system. It's not the cheapest, but by far it's the most room and in my opinion from seeing other systems it appears to be the highest quality. Other hunters join me and marvel at how much rain-proof room we end up with. I'm the guy with the tiniest camper and the largest amount of protected outdoor space. It's worth your money if you can foot the bill. You won't regret it, I certainly do not.
Nice set up. I have a 2020 Tacoma and would like to put one on my. But I do not have a camper nor do I want to put one on. I do plan to put a roof rack of some sort. I have a double cab so would you know if this certain awning setup will mount to only a roof rack of a double cab? Thanks.... Dave
Your answering all the questions just about that I've had about this awning for my future GFC (install in June). What are your thoughts about installing a stove jack? How much of a disaster is packup during rainy mornings or is this primarily for nice weather day setup?
Great questions! If we ever get a stove, then I will think the Stove Jack would be awesome. Primarily we use a propane firepit for cooler weather, and just leave a bit of the top edge unzipped as a vent. It works great! We used it nearly every day in Colorado and New Mexico. The advantage for us, is a propane fire pit can be used in a burn ban, where other sources of open flame can’t. I’m not sure about an enclosed stove. I’ve packed this up in the rain and snow. It’s not fun, but it’s worth a couple minutes of cold / wet for the hours of dry conditions. We can a lot of little spring squalls here in TN. So we’ll quickly pull the awning out, then when the rain stops pack it back up quick. We’ve had no problems even in but storms, as long as you use the tie outs. It’s been a lifesaver for sure.
@@ScenicCityAdventures I installed a stove jack that attaches with Velcro to my Eskimo ice shanty but any little fire in the alpine camp chef and it becomes a sweat lodge. So, I believe with this awning / walls and maybe a welding blanket one could brave some pretty cold elements with the stove at full burn.
@@JohnLaFosse I doubt doubt it! We’ve done a few nights into the 20s with the walls on and it helps. It will never be perfect with air coming in along the sides and under the truck, but it makes a huge difference, especially if it’s windy.
Ya, I should have! Sorry about that. Once you unzip the sides you can roll it up and hook it to the cinches at the top. Leaving it as a large open doorway.
Great video...just bought on Amazon for $899 free shipping. They have the 180 on sale for $599 on their site but after watching this I have to have the full 270 on my GX470!
Are there walls that have windows? Or sections with mosquito netting instead of all solid wall? This looks like it would get very hot in some places without airflow :(
Unfortunately it’s just the large door and no screens. If it’s hot, we don’t typically put all the walls up, just one or two for privacy so we have good airflow from under the truck and around the walls. The shade provides a huge difference in temperature, especially with a little breeze.
How does this compare with the quick pitch 270 degree awning? I currently have front runner roof rack on top of my camper shell and I was thinking how this can be mounted on the side as I don’t plan on getting a clam shell tent or GFC at the moment. Trying to see how this will complement an ikamper 2.0 RTT instead. Any thoughts and/or suggestions?
Looking at the pictures of the quick pitch it looks to be almost identical to the Alu-Cab. Our friends have that one and it is a great size if you don’t need one as large as mine. That being said overland vehicle systems recently released the smaller version of my awning. It looks to be about the same size as the quick pitch and Alu-cab. Last I looked it was for sale around $599. Using the L brackets that it comes with it should mount just find the front runner rack without sticking as far forward as the large one does.
super cool set up, I love your videos, I am getting my GFCamper this month and also I have a 270 awning waiting for the camper, have you add a rear bracket to the camper to give support to the weight of the awning? have you noticed any issues with the weight of the awning? I will appreciate your feed back. Thank you
Thank you! I did eventually add a third bracket to help support the weight. I noticed a couple of the aluminum T nuts from GFC had actually broken after tens of thousands of miles of trail use. After adding the third bracket I did not have any more problems. We still use awning all the time. In fact it’s going to be 18° when we are camping tonight so we will throw the walls on it and the propane firepit inside of it to stay warm.
Sadly no. I hope they will come up with walls that include large screen windows but with so much space around the edges and under the truck that insects could get in I don’t think screens are a priority. I have seen people use clear painters tarps in place of the walls to get lots of light and also trap heat.
It’s been awesome. We still use it all the time. So far we’ve had no problems. The zippers still work fine, all of the poles have held up, no mildew or stains in the fabric. We have used this thing all over the country. From 11,000 feet in Colorado to sitting on the beach with every pole and rope deployed to keep it from blowing away in the wind it’s been perfect.
Thinking the legs will be needed if you get much rain or snow, or just to prevent droop from the weight of the walls. Maybe, maybe not, but if they bend, it will be too late.
Absolutely! If we have the walls on the legs are down and if there’s going to be any wind, rain, snow the legs are definitely down. The only time we don’t use the legs is if we are just setting up to get in the shade for a quick lunch.
Absolutely! We have used it in a number of heavy thunderstorms. As long as you deploy the legs and stake it out we’ve had no trouble leaving it up all night. Using the walls also helps keep the wind from getting underneath of the awning.
Regarding the spacers that’s you installed, would you be so kind and clarify the location that you installed them? (I am assuming between the mount and unit itself, correct?)
Just ordered this awning. I like your idea to use a spacer to raise the deployed awning outer height. I'll be making a set for my three mount points. I presume these are wedge shaped narrow at top and wide at bottom, about the width of the bracket and appear to be about 10mm at the thickest (lower) portion. Could you tell me what thickness you used in your spacers? Thanks!
Congratulations! You’ll love it. I think a wedge will work perfect, We over-simplified it and used a piece of 1/4 inch aluminum and it’s been working fine.
Good video! I didnt catch how tall you are when you mentioned it's taller than you. Would you suggest any changes to the walls if you could change anything on the walls?
It’s been amazing. This last 2 week trip to Colorado and New Mexico we used it almost every night. We put a propane fire inside with the walls on for warmth and used it as our cooking and hangout spot. We’ve probably deployed it over 100 times by now with no issues. When I sold the GFC I let the awning go with it, but kept the walls to use when I get my new Super Pacific camper because I’m getting another OVS awning for sure.
Great question! We try and strap it down if the wind is more than 15mph. With it strapped down, larger gusts haven’t been a problem. Also, we have found that using the walls definitely helps in the wind. It keeps it from becoming a kite.
@@ScenicCityAdventures Thank you so much! I actually deleted my question a couple minutes after posting it because I saw that you answered this question in another comment and I didn’t want to be redundant! Thank you so much for taking the time to reply and for doing awesome review🙂
Great question! The original reason is typically if there is a pretty view, I either back up to it for camping, or pull in with the driver's side closer to the edge. That's because it's easier to look down and see where I'm parking. So if their is a creek, a cliff, or a pretty view it's often on the driver's side of the truck. So that's the side I wanted covered by an awning. That's also the side the GFC's side door is on so I can enjoy the view from the side of the camper. The down side is I wasn't able to use a ladder to get into the side door of the GFC because the awning is in the way. With the new dual door option that wouldn't have been a big deal.
@@ScenicCityAdventures Sorry to bother you again, but what was the actual thickness of the spacers you used? I am expecting arrival of my awning within the next few days...and my GFC Build # 801, hopefully, sometime in September, if they manage to deliver a load across the border, into Canada...as I can't get across the border presently, to pick it up, myself.
Alan Jackson No worries! We used quarter inch spacers. Now, if you’re going to be using it a lot in the rain I don’t know that I would add the spacers. It does make it a little more difficult for the water not to pool towards the end. We use this one for pop-up thunderstorms that only last a few hours and a lot for shade. It can make a 13 to 14° difference in just shade. We still use it in the rain but not if it’s going to be raining the entire weekend. Try it both ways and see which way works better for you
ScenicCity Overland Thanks a lot. I’m in what you would refer to as the Pacific North West... as far as weather goes. We get a fair amount of rain... especially in the winter months. I’ll give it a try first... I’ll always be able to remove them if it creates a problem...Thanks again.
@@ScenicCityAdventures That would be good. Also, still no tags on Escape yet, But I used the winch to place 15 cross ties around my parkinging area and driveway lol.
Update! Escape is legal! We went to Skyline WMA on the 27th around Hytop and rode about 10 miles. We left home a little late so we didnt stay long. The Escape did fantastic. The road wasnt to serious but decent ruts and and got some mud on it lol. Stopped at the store after and got some looks , and on guy ask me what it was lol.
That’s odd! I wonder if that’s just because they ran out of stock. I got it directly from OVS, but I know a few other companies are selling them. I know ForgeOverlandMotorsports had them with a 15% off with the code “overland”. That maybe going on still.
ARB makes good stuff. I believe the fabric is a little thicker in the ARB. But I haven’t seen any ARB 270s to compare the OVS to, just the standard pull out ARB.
Great question. For me it’s unlikely we will use the walls on our typical road trip style long distance trips. It’s just not worth taking the time to set them up. But, if we are in the same spot for a weekend, we’ll definitely bring them. They add some privacy if you are near a trail. We won’t use all of them, but depending on the setup of camp we’ll probably use at least one.
They packed down relatively flat so they don’t take up an enormous amount of space but they are about 36 x 20 x 4, and there are three wall sections each in their own bag. The nice thing is you can roll them up or change the dimensions based on where you are storing them. We kept them packed in a tote and just folded them up to fit the size of the tote.
@@ScenicCityAdventures Thanks. Is there some form of support bracket for the far end of the rear beam, that swings 90 degrees to cover the tail-gate area of the truck? For example. some bracket that extends from the rear passenger side of the GFC, to support the end of that main awning beam?
This is a great awning and I appreciate your review! I really like the wall option, too. ✔The only thing I would change is to have "windows" in the walls, like with tents. That way you could still see some of the scenery if you wanted to. ❔ Do you find that it helps keep mosquitoes out even though it's not sealed that way around?
Ya, more windows would definitely be nice. Ya know, I haven’t set it up to deal with mosquitoes. Usually just for rain or if it’s cold we add a little heater inside. So I really can’t say.
What did you use for the spacers? Looking to get my awning soon, and wondered how people kept them from dropping at the ends! Any info would be appreciated 🤙🏻
I used some quarter inch aluminum scrap I had laying around. It worked great. The weird thing is I needed them on my previous camper but my new Super Pacific doesn’t seem to need them. I would install it first then see if you need spacers.
Hey, I ordered this awning after watching your review. I am trying to figure out which Frontrunner awning bracket will work with it. Do you know the distance between the mounting slots on the back of the awning?
So let me get this straight, you go outdoors to make it as indoors as possible. Nice set up though. Should make camping easier especially in the rain and snow, if it’s ok to use with snow.
Yep! Works great in the snow. Throw a little propane fire pit in there for warmth and to roast marshmallows over and it’s amazing. We used it every night during our fall trip to Colorado. It gave the 4 of us a warm and protected place to cook and hang out.
Correct, but the droop was exaggerated with the GFC brackets. There is still plenty of droop. I’ve used it many many times in the rain. The spacers aren’t need on the Super Pacific camper we use now.
This is the adult version of building a fort out of sheets and couch cushions.
Exactly! And with the camper top opened it’s even got a loft. Speaking of which, I wonder how surprised my wife would be if she came home to find a huge fort in the living room...off to find our extra blankets
@@ScenicCityAdventures Sounds like a fun night if you ask me! Disclosure: Wife happiness not guaranteed. Might end up having to sleep on the couch. Unless.... you got yourself a fort in your living room!!!!!
Awesome review, I've been waiting to pull the trigger on this setup, nice to see it "in person". Just a friendly tip from a welder/fabricator; though it can support itself and the walls without the legs, I would be extremely cautious without them. That amount of weight can easily bend the hinges, and cause stress at the welded joints. I would hate for people to start giving this thing bad reviews due to their lack of proper use, aluminum, while strong, is prone to cracking as it's more brittle than mild steel.
Joshua Beaulieu That’s a great point! Thank you!
Joshua - Thank you for this info. I wouldn't have known that and would probably have been "one of those" people. 😏
This awning specifically says in the directions that it is only to be self supported while being set up.
Thanks for this point. 👊
I was thinking the same thing. Definitely risky, especially if the wind really kicked up. Plus I think I'd like the piece of mind securing really well to preserve the life of it.
I do really like the setup.
I would have to say that adding the additional weight of three walls and also adding more downward pressure using the stakes, without deploying the support poles, you are very likely going to contribute to early failure of the awning system. That is just common sense.
TheIvoryman No doubt! We use the poles with the walls.
Even without the wall I would use the legs. Rain or wind will put a lot of stress on the hinges.
Wish it had openable see through screen windows
Me too! That’s the one big thing I wish they would update.
@@ScenicCityAdventures Easy to put on yourself.
Replace rectangular area with the thickest plastic sold by the meters at the Home hardware store. You could get it done too. I love this module it's amazing.
I had a friend that did that this winter. It works great!
Just pulled the trigger on this awning. Thank for the great review!
Congratulations!! You will love it!
How much does it cost??🤔🤔
I was enjoying the video because it was so informative, but you got a thumbs up when your Pyre showed up.
I'd push out the poles, by the time you put up wall 3, there must be some considerable weight on the arms. Nice setup!
love this video dude makes me want to bring ppl smiles as you have!
I put the grandkids and the kids to help me set up and take down so they can learn so I prefer with the walls on part of the time and the kids love it too thanks for the video keep up the good work
Love it ! ya may want to add windows or clear plastic to see out of it all the way around... excellent idea !
Bug netting/screen is definitely needed
Thanks for yor video review, very informative and rxactely what I was looking for. Got mine today and will be installing it in the morning,,,
Glad to help! You will love it!
All that's missing are Persian rugs, bean bag chairs, a peacock, and a gilt/mahogany throne. Roughing it, well. (Just ordered mine, but ordered the passenger side 270)
OK… If I’m being honest I may or may not have brought a bean bag on a camping trip at one point or another, and not that long ago LOL
Money well spent. Best of luck with this set up. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks! We’ve used this thing all over from the TN mountains to the Rockies. It’s been awesome! Shade, rain cover, or just wind and cold blocker. We love it
Who makes your rear bed enclosure. I like this light side panels and the round tube construction.
That is a first generation GFC camper. (GoFastCampers)
I love the look of that awning, and really want one. I use my awning pretty much every time I go out, and this looks much better than mine. The only problem I have is the lack of enclosed room! Even though I only use my enclosed room about 4 times a year, the times I use it, it's worth its weight in gold! The enclosed rooms are fantastic for keeping the bugs out! I only ever use it in mosquito country!
I would love a bug net option for this one. Those enclosed rooms are great for Mosquitos! But for now I think I may pick up a Gazelle 4 Person Screened Tent. Seemed to work well for @LifestyleOverland in Alaska.
@@ScenicCityAdventures a Gazelle screened tent is a good idea. Compared to the awning room, it would be a lot easier to put up, and would probably take up less space!
Great video. Luv this awning. Walls are ok but limit the view. They do come in handy occasionally though. What would be really good though is if they had the same size walls but in see-through mesh for bugs and mosquitoes
Amen to that!
Thanks for the really detailed review! Solidified my decision on this awning! 👍🏽
Roderick Aquino You are most welcome! I think you’ll love it!
Something to add after receiving mine, installing it, uninstalling it, ship it back due to it not opening fully, reinstalling a new one...the direction, as vague and bad as they are, clearly state this awning is only self supporting during set-up.
Nthe colour opens up the possibility of using a portable projector on the inside wall! You know, for those epic in the middle of nowhere movie nights 😉
I’d be lying to say didn’t have a battery powered projector. 😁 The best is using it to watch epic rockclimbing movies while camping near the wall you are climbing in the morning! It gets you hyped!
I would like to see how this holds up to wind.
I've watched alot of these, and still havent seen anyone set it up in the wind or wait to show how sturdy they are in wind
@@joshuahedwards1244 send me $1000 and I’ll be happy to test it out for you. Maybe some people actually take care of their investments.
@@michaelbarber6215 how does that imply it's not being taken care of?
@@joshuahedwards1244 when are you sending the $1000? I accept Venmo or PayPal.
@@michaelbarber6215 way to dodge the question. Feel free to continue.
What would be interesting is to have the walls made out of screen fabric as options for one two or three panels
For sure
I have a custom trailer mounted bbq pit with an attached roof, would it be possible to mount this system on my trailer? I realize that without pictures it’s hard to visualize.
I don’t see why not. It comes with a L shaped bracket for mounting the awning to any horizontal surface. Just make sure it’s above head height, 6 feet or more.
I would be interested in sending you some pictures of my rig for design issues
the reason the awnings pitch down is to help with water drainage. its angled down so the water rolls off the ends if it were flat the water would end up pooling ontop of the awning.
Yep, that’s correct. But for us we use it more in the summer heat and light rain then thunderstorms. That being said, the pooling is minimal even in in strong storms.
Love your videos! We have the same awning and watched yours so we could get it back in the case. Walls are being ordered soon!!!
Thanks so much! And congratulations on the awning. We absolutely love ours. This last weekend using it as shade and getting a nearly 13° difference between the sun and awning shade reinforced how much we love it. The walls are fantastic for adding a little bit of privacy when you can’t be completely off grid and away from everybody. You will definitely love them.
I use the walls on my Darche all the time. If the weather is good, I roll up the ones opposite the sun. The walls on the sun side keep shade under the awning in the afternoon.
Nice! They are so convenient!
Hey so you you mention using spacers to address the droop of the awning. Did you buy them? If so where? Any tips so I can install them on mine from the get-go??
Yep, do at your own risk. There is still enough droop to handle every thunderstorm we’ve found in the last year.
Since the video took 21 minutes, including segments that were left out, and some in fast motion, I will assume it takes somewhere around 20 minutes to completely set up and 20 minutes to take down and stow completely.
Thanks for the video. I’m waiting for my GFC to be built this June and I’m impressed with this 270 awning with the walls.
Absolutely! Glad to help
I am looking at getting this set up for our Van--didn't know they had the ability to get walls.... very cool... mine would attach to the rack on top and would be about 6'8 above the ground. How long are the walls?? Im 6'6 so height is concerning..... do you now if these walls come in a net? are are all of them solid?? thanks for the vid.
The walls are super long. I don’t think it would it would be an issue at all. Unfortunately they only have solid walls. None of them are mesh.
@@ScenicCityAdventures I sold my wife on the awning, but not the walls.... "no windows" she said..... got a point. maybe by the time I purchase the walls--next year-- they will come with a clear spot called a window. thanks for the reply.
@@johnk7093 I'm sure you could customize them to include mesh inserts. I'm the same way......I want air and sunshine 🌞.
That's sweet! Would be awesome to install a fire proof chimney opening so you could use one of those wall tent wood stoves to heat the area. Granted there is quite a bit of open area, but I'm sure if you took the time to stake everything in a way to minimize the gaps, it would provide a nice large area that a decent size group of people could hang out in and stay a lot warmer than without the walls and heat. If I get one of the awnings I'll probably do that. As for you not using the poles, I would probably consider using the poles as well as some guy lines if it became rainy and windy. But if not then you're probably fine without them. It's built pretty sturdy.
That would be super cool! We did end up using a propane fire pit on our last trip almost every night in the enclosed area with a little bit of the walls open for ventilation and it was super nice. A woodstove would definitely produce more heat and I wouldn’t have to worry about refilling the propane.
It definitely needs the poles if there’s any type of wind and honestly it’s better to just use them to keep the aluminum from cracking down the road but it’s nice to see that they can be set up easily without it.
It wouldn't be that hard to put a stove jack in one of the wall panels.
@@ScenicCityAdventures Yeah. You prob'ly shoulda used the poles before staking down the walls. I kept hoping you'd put the poles in and demonstrate the telescoping properties.
My only thought after watching this is the awning fabric looks pretty lightweight and allows light to come through? What has been your experience in terms of the toughness and durability of that fabric? Also i’m on the West Coast and it gets pretty hot in the desert sun, so thicker insulated fabric is optimal.
I have the same awning and love it but do get aggravated a little bit with the droop as well. May I ask what you used as spacers? After watching your video, I'm considering doing the same modification.
i'm shopping-researching a batwing with walls. how have those zippers held up over time?
Curious here, it seems like about 10sf more than the RhinoRack batwing, but it costs about $100 more and the walls are similarly priced. Have you used the RhinoRack in the past? I am trying to side by side them best I can for my custom trailer needs
Great question, I have no personal experience with the RhinoRack Batwing. That being said, I have read enough horrible reviews that I won’t be purchasing one. It seems people are popping up on the Facebook groups and Overland forums at least once a week to complain about a bat wing that broke after the second or third use. Of course people that have problems are more likely to post in those that don’t but it definitely doesn’t inspire confidence.
Just ordered one now thanks for the show:)..
Thanks for the video. Considering this awning for sure on my Tacoma. Questions: 1. What size Aluminum SPACERS did you use. 2) Where did you drill on the fitment on the mount? Thanks for your time.
My Pleasure! Glad it could be helpful. I used 1/4 inch spacers, and had to drill through the center of the awnings main plate, where all the arms attach, to use the GFC brackets. Now that I have a Super Pacific Camper, with better brackets that don't sag, I haven't had to do any drilling or add the spacers.
@@ScenicCityAdventures Thanks for the reply. I ordered the awning. 👍 will mount this on my SnugTop camper shell. The shell will have a Yakima roof rail n racks.
Subscribed your channel too😁👍
No problem! That will work great, it comes with some really sturdy universal mounts.
You have a rack on the roof of your truck. What type is it? I have a chevy colorado with the same setup and id like to add some type of rack with an air foil to reduce wind resistance. Can you show you spacers upclose.
Seems good, but what stops water pooling on top as it seems flat, I have a pooling problem on my awning,
I haven’t had any problems with water pooling. There is still enough angle on mine. That being said I needed the spacers on my go fast camper but I did not need them on my Super pacific. It may just be dependent upon your application.
Would love too know how the spacer are made and if u contacted them so they could make them for sale
They are quarter inch aluminum. The interesting thing is I needed them on my Go Fast Camper, but I don’t need them on the Super Pacific camper I have now. I would just try and install it without them first. You can always add some later.
Hello from Australia,great reviews however just curious why you don't leave the tension straps on and just fold them away inside the canvas? I would think they would get misplaced at some stage when packing them up in the back of your vehicle. Excellent idea fixing the droop issue will steal that idea.
Peter From Dubbo NSW.
Hello peter, hope all is well in Australia. I have the 23ZERO 270 on my truck. I pack my straps in a separate drawer in my truck, packed up for travel. Less tension on the zipper, and keep the bulk down for travel. Have fun, go Offroad
Love your video, thanks for sharing. Great review. I also have the OVS 270 awning with walls attached to my Sunray 109 hunting camper. I love the system. It's not the cheapest, but by far it's the most room and in my opinion from seeing other systems it appears to be the highest quality. Other hunters join me and marvel at how much rain-proof room we end up with. I'm the guy with the tiniest camper and the largest amount of protected outdoor space. It's worth your money if you can foot the bill. You won't regret it, I certainly do not.
Hi Elsa! Great review!
Nice set up. I have a 2020 Tacoma and would like to put one on my. But I do not have a camper nor do I want to put one on. I do plan to put a roof rack of some sort. I have a double cab so would you know if this certain awning setup will mount to only a roof rack of a double cab? Thanks.... Dave
Dave Salas Hey Dave! I don’t think the 270 would work with just a roof rack, but maybe the 180 would?
Can you have the gfc back hatch up as well as the camper open with the awning out?
Absolutely!
Your answering all the questions just about that I've had about this awning for my future GFC (install in June). What are your thoughts about installing a stove jack? How much of a disaster is packup during rainy mornings or is this primarily for nice weather day setup?
Great questions! If we ever get a stove, then I will think the Stove Jack would be awesome. Primarily we use a propane firepit for cooler weather, and just leave a bit of the top edge unzipped as a vent. It works great! We used it nearly every day in Colorado and New Mexico. The advantage for us, is a propane fire pit can be used in a burn ban, where other sources of open flame can’t. I’m not sure about an enclosed stove.
I’ve packed this up in the rain and snow. It’s not fun, but it’s worth a couple minutes of cold / wet for the hours of dry conditions. We can a lot of little spring squalls here in TN. So we’ll quickly pull the awning out, then when the rain stops pack it back up quick.
We’ve had no problems even in but storms, as long as you use the tie outs. It’s been a lifesaver for sure.
@@ScenicCityAdventures I installed a stove jack that attaches with Velcro to my Eskimo ice shanty but any little fire in the alpine camp chef and it becomes a sweat lodge. So, I believe with this awning / walls and maybe a welding blanket one could brave some pretty cold elements with the stove at full burn.
@@JohnLaFosse I doubt doubt it! We’ve done a few nights into the 20s with the walls on and it helps. It will never be perfect with air coming in along the sides and under the truck, but it makes a huge difference, especially if it’s windy.
I wish you showed what the door looks like, I thought it was like a normal tent door that you zip open/shut. you said it rolls up?
Ya, I should have! Sorry about that. Once you unzip the sides you can roll it up and hook it to the cinches at the top. Leaving it as a large open doorway.
@@ScenicCityAdventures thanks for the reply.
I'm thinking about one of these for a Colorado Teardrop.
Wish they had window zippered screens on it!
Great video...just bought on Amazon for $899 free shipping. They have the 180 on sale for $599 on their site but after watching this I have to have the full 270 on my GX470!
Congratulations!! When it comes it send me a picture! That should look awesome on the GX470.
@@ScenicCityAdventures New sub as well
Hey thanks! Only one away from 600! Crazy we started the year at around 300
I just put this on my GX 470 with a front runner rack... solid as can be... now after this I want the walls!
The small wall #3. Can it be mounted on any of the 3 back 102.3 inch walls? As a single wall?
I don’t believe so. Each wall can only go where it’s supposed to go sadly.
Are there walls that have windows? Or sections with mosquito netting instead of all solid wall? This looks like it would get very hot in some places without airflow :(
Unfortunately it’s just the large door and no screens. If it’s hot, we don’t typically put all the walls up, just one or two for privacy so we have good airflow from under the truck and around the walls. The shade provides a huge difference in temperature, especially with a little breeze.
How does this compare with the quick pitch 270 degree awning? I currently have front runner roof rack on top of my camper shell and I was thinking how this can be mounted on the side as I don’t plan on getting a clam shell tent or GFC at the moment. Trying to see how this will complement an ikamper 2.0 RTT instead. Any thoughts and/or suggestions?
Looking at the pictures of the quick pitch it looks to be almost identical to the Alu-Cab. Our friends have that one and it is a great size if you don’t need one as large as mine. That being said overland vehicle systems recently released the smaller version of my awning. It looks to be about the same size as the quick pitch and Alu-cab. Last I looked it was for sale around $599. Using the L brackets that it comes with it should mount just find the front runner rack without sticking as far forward as the large one does.
super cool set up, I love your videos, I am getting my GFCamper this month and also I have a 270 awning waiting for the camper, have you add a rear bracket to the camper to give support to the weight of the awning? have you noticed any issues with the weight of the awning? I will appreciate your feed back.
Thank you
Thank you! I did eventually add a third bracket to help support the weight. I noticed a couple of the aluminum T nuts from GFC had actually broken after tens of thousands of miles of trail use. After adding the third bracket I did not have any more problems. We still use awning all the time. In fact it’s going to be 18° when we are camping tonight so we will throw the walls on it and the propane firepit inside of it to stay warm.
do the walls have screen windows? or Doors?
There is a very large door, in the middle that rolls up and out of the way.
I wonder if anyone has put this on a dodge promaster? Thanks for the good video.
I wouldn’t be surprised. They seem to be popping up everywhere!
Do they sell screen panels if you want more light?
Sadly no. I hope they will come up with walls that include large screen windows but with so much space around the edges and under the truck that insects could get in I don’t think screens are a priority. I have seen people use clear painters tarps in place of the walls to get lots of light and also trap heat.
So its been 2 years. How has, or how did, the 270 awning hold up? Thinking about getting one
It’s been awesome. We still use it all the time. So far we’ve had no problems. The zippers still work fine, all of the poles have held up, no mildew or stains in the fabric. We have used this thing all over the country. From 11,000 feet in Colorado to sitting on the beach with every pole and rope deployed to keep it from blowing away in the wind it’s been perfect.
You ever thought about adding a 180 on the other side of ya truck
Honestly yes, but when it’s just the wife and I the 270 is enough. When we have others around I’ve definitely considered adding a 180.
Thinking the legs will be needed if you get much rain or snow, or just to prevent droop from the weight of the walls. Maybe, maybe not, but if they bend, it will be too late.
Absolutely! If we have the walls on the legs are down and if there’s going to be any wind, rain, snow the legs are definitely down. The only time we don’t use the legs is if we are just setting up to get in the shade for a quick lunch.
Nice job
But wonder if you ever have chance to try it in wind or any storm?
Absolutely! We have used it in a number of heavy thunderstorms. As long as you deploy the legs and stake it out we’ve had no trouble leaving it up all night. Using the walls also helps keep the wind from getting underneath of the awning.
Thanks for the video. What brand rack system and topper is that?
Can the tent go up with the awning out?
Regarding the spacers that’s you installed, would you be so kind and clarify the location that you installed them?
(I am assuming between the mount and unit itself, correct?)
Yep, That’s correct!
Would this work with a micro camper, or is it only for truck/SUV’s?
As long as you have the height it will work just fine on a small camper.
Amazing. What was the cost of the awning and the new walls
Nice setup. How many mounting brackets did you use to mount onto your GFC?
How is it holding up? Still happy with the awning?
This is a good one for rescue team 👍❤️.
Hey there. Would you say the color of the awning is gray or green ish? kinda hard to tell
Yeah video always makes it difficult to see exact colors. It’s gray!
Just ordered this awning.
I like your idea to use a spacer to raise the deployed awning outer height. I'll be making a set for my three mount points. I presume these are wedge shaped narrow at top and wide at bottom, about the width of the bracket and appear to be about 10mm at the thickest (lower) portion. Could you tell me what thickness you used in your spacers? Thanks!
Congratulations! You’ll love it. I think a wedge will work perfect, We over-simplified it and used a piece of 1/4 inch aluminum and it’s been working fine.
Great review.
Good video! I didnt catch how tall you are when you mentioned it's taller than you. Would you suggest any changes to the walls if you could change anything on the walls?
Thanks! I am 5 foot 11. And if I could change anything I would add an additional window or two with screen instead of just the large door.
How is the awning and wing system holding up?
It’s been amazing. This last 2 week trip to Colorado and New Mexico we used it almost every night. We put a propane fire inside with the walls on for warmth and used it as our cooking and hangout spot. We’ve probably deployed it over 100 times by now with no issues. When I sold the GFC I let the awning go with it, but kept the walls to use when I get my new Super Pacific camper because I’m getting another OVS awning for sure.
Great question! We try and strap it down if the wind is more than 15mph. With it strapped down, larger gusts haven’t been a problem. Also, we have found that using the walls definitely helps in the wind. It keeps it from becoming a kite.
@@ScenicCityAdventures Thank you so much! I actually deleted my question a couple minutes after posting it because I saw that you answered this question in another comment and I didn’t want to be redundant! Thank you so much for taking the time to reply and for doing awesome review🙂
No problem at all! We absolutely love it
So why did you choose the driver side version over the passenger side? I’m trying to figure out which is better. Thanks
Great question! The original reason is typically if there is a pretty view, I either back up to it for camping, or pull in with the driver's side closer to the edge. That's because it's easier to look down and see where I'm parking. So if their is a creek, a cliff, or a pretty view it's often on the driver's side of the truck. So that's the side I wanted covered by an awning. That's also the side the GFC's side door is on so I can enjoy the view from the side of the camper.
The down side is I wasn't able to use a ladder to get into the side door of the GFC because the awning is in the way. With the new dual door option that wouldn't have been a big deal.
how thick were your aluminum spacers to kick out the bottom, thus raising the rafters?
I believe they were around 3/8ths. Honestly they were just scrap we had around.
@@ScenicCityAdventures smart idea, totally doing this on mine.
Have you broken the awing yet?
Nope! We used it at the beach all weekend in 25+ mph winds with no issues. We anchored everything down with sand filled buckets.
Very nice…what is the price?! Can you put link for both things…?! 😇
One last query...Are the shims you installed a tapered wedge type shim...or one thickness throughout the length...and what thickness are they?
No worries! Just one thickness.
@@ScenicCityAdventures Sorry to bother you again, but what was the actual thickness of the spacers you used? I am expecting arrival of my awning within the next few days...and my GFC Build # 801, hopefully, sometime in September, if they manage to deliver a load across the border, into Canada...as I can't get across the border presently, to pick it up, myself.
Alan Jackson No worries! We used quarter inch spacers. Now, if you’re going to be using it a lot in the rain I don’t know that I would add the spacers. It does make it a little more difficult for the water not to pool towards the end. We use this one for pop-up thunderstorms that only last a few hours and a lot for shade. It can make a 13 to 14° difference in just shade. We still use it in the rain but not if it’s going to be raining the entire weekend. Try it both ways and see which way works better for you
ScenicCity Overland Thanks a lot. I’m in what you would refer to as the Pacific North West... as far as weather goes. We get a fair amount of rain... especially in the winter months. I’ll give it a try first... I’ll always be able to remove them if it creates a problem...Thanks again.
They should add a stove port for winter camping.
For sure!
The wall material vs the canvas material, is it the same? Thanks, I have the listing at 600D poly/cotton rip stop canvas for the canvas/roof.
You’d have to verify with that maker, but the material appears to be the same.
I was thinking as you said it, a mat or a large cheap tarp would be good. Just a couple of cots and you're set .
Exactly! Have you seen the ones made for the beach that don’t allow sand to get trapped? That’s what I’m thinking I need.
@@ScenicCityAdventures That would be good. Also, still no tags on Escape yet, But I used the winch to place 15 cross ties around my parkinging area and driveway lol.
Hopefully the tag office will open soon. Hey, at least you verified the winch is working correctly!
Update! Escape is legal! We went to Skyline WMA on the 27th around Hytop and rode about 10 miles. We left home a little late so we didnt stay long. The Escape did fantastic. The road wasnt to serious but decent ruts and and got some mud on it lol. Stopped at the store after and got some looks , and on guy ask me what it was lol.
Great review, thanks!
Thanks for making the video and tips!!!
My pleasure! Glad it helped you!
Where did you purchase this from? Their website says it won't be released until June 2020
That’s odd! I wonder if that’s just because they ran out of stock. I got it directly from OVS, but I know a few other companies are selling them. I know ForgeOverlandMotorsports had them with a 15% off with the code “overland”. That maybe going on still.
Have you had the chance to see ARB awnings in person and compare the quality to OVS? I'm debating between the two brands.
ARB makes good stuff. I believe the fabric is a little thicker in the ARB. But I haven’t seen any ARB 270s to compare the OVS to, just the standard pull out ARB.
how many times have you actually used the walls? aside from really inclement weather where it's raining sideways, when are you using the walls?
Great question. For me it’s unlikely we will use the walls on our typical road trip style long distance trips. It’s just not worth taking the time to set them up. But, if we are in the same spot for a weekend, we’ll definitely bring them. They add some privacy if you are near a trail. We won’t use all of them, but depending on the setup of camp we’ll probably use at least one.
Walls are good if the sun changes angle on you.
Absolutely!
@@ScenicCityAdventures can you tell us the dimensions and weight of all walls when packed? Do they take up a lot of space in vehicle? Thanks!!
They packed down relatively flat so they don’t take up an enormous amount of space but they are about 36 x 20 x 4, and there are three wall sections each in their own bag. The nice thing is you can roll them up or change the dimensions based on where you are storing them. We kept them packed in a tote and just folded them up to fit the size of the tote.
How far behind the vehicle does the awning stick out? ( I have a trailer)
Huh, I'm not sure! When I have it out next I'll see if I can measure for you.
Ok, now I have to see if it will fit my Dodge Roadtrek 190 ??
How many GFC Awning Brackets are required to mount the 270 awning?
Personally I have two mounted, but ordered a third to add just in case
@@ScenicCityAdventures Thanks. Is there some form of support bracket for the far end of the rear beam, that swings 90 degrees to cover the tail-gate area of the truck? For example. some bracket that extends from the rear passenger side of the GFC, to support the end of that main awning beam?
Nope, that arm is fully supported by the rear bracket of the awning.
This is a great awning and I appreciate your review! I really like the wall option, too.
✔The only thing I would change is to have "windows" in the walls, like with tents. That way you could still see some of the scenery if you wanted to.
❔ Do you find that it helps keep mosquitoes out even though it's not sealed that way around?
Ya, more windows would definitely be nice. Ya know, I haven’t set it up to deal with mosquitoes. Usually just for rain or if it’s cold we add a little heater inside. So I really can’t say.
5
Can the walls extend out and held by poles?
Very nice work 👍🏻 so much room for activities
Tyler Seymour Thanks! It’s crazy big! Just need a disco ball for a full party. 😂
Curious, what is the weight of the awning system without the walls?
What did you use for the spacers? Looking to get my awning soon, and wondered how people kept them from dropping at the ends! Any info would be appreciated 🤙🏻
I used some quarter inch aluminum scrap I had laying around. It worked great. The weird thing is I needed them on my previous camper but my new Super Pacific doesn’t seem to need them. I would install it first then see if you need spacers.
Hey, I ordered this awning after watching your review. I am trying to figure out which Frontrunner awning bracket will work with it. Do you know the distance between the mounting slots on the back of the awning?
Well congratulations! I don’t, but I can check this morning.
ScenicCity Overland I was able to find the distance. Thanks for replying!
Wow, looks like you’re quite the wall folder. wall 1 and 2 looked like a factory fold%
Bahaha! Thanks!
So let me get this straight, you go outdoors to make it as indoors as possible.
Nice set up though. Should make camping easier especially in the rain and snow, if it’s ok to use with snow.
Yep! Works great in the snow. Throw a little propane fire pit in there for warmth and to roast marshmallows over and it’s amazing. We used it every night during our fall trip to Colorado. It gave the 4 of us a warm and protected place to cook and hang out.
The droop is there for the rain. Without it the water will stay on the awning.
Correct, but the droop was exaggerated with the GFC brackets. There is still plenty of droop. I’ve used it many many times in the rain. The spacers aren’t need on the Super Pacific camper we use now.
Looks like an amazing awning! Nice video man!
Hey thanks! Trying to still get some decent content in spite of the craziness going on in the world
That is NIFTIEST thing I've ever seen!
can you link all parts. awning and walls??????