Moderators topgun2 1,192 Posted June 7, 2020 Moderators Share Posted June 7, 2020 For anyone considering the purchase of one of these sun/wind screens (like me), you might want to consider one that comes in two pieces and zip together. Mike & Carol purchased one of these in Quartzsite a couple of years ago and the advantage is that when temporarily leaving the campsite or stowing the awning for the night, you only have to unzip the lower portion of the screen and then roll up the awning. Mike tells me that when traveling they remove the entire screen since the short portion does not entirely roll up into the case with the awning. https://www.amazon.com/13-Charcoal-Vista-Shade-Zipper/dp/B00DV7F8AQ/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3PG9UJ6TVOKPD&dchild=1&keywords=vista+shade+with+zipper&qid=1591543597&sprefix=Vista+Shade+%2Caps%2C163&sr=8-5 2 2017 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5EB FX4 Max Towing 2016 Oliver Elite II - Hull #117 "Twist" Link to post Share on other sites
Moderators Mike and Carol 1,148 Posted June 7, 2020 Moderators Share Posted June 7, 2020 (edited) We like our shade. We bought it at one of those tent vendors outside of the Big Tent at Quartzsite a few years ago. With the zipper it is easy to drop in just a few seconds if needed. Then, it goes back up just a quick. I’ll look for some pictures.... Edited June 7, 2020 by Mike and Carol 3 2 Mike and Carol | Fair Oaks Ranch, TX | 2016 Elite II #135 | 2020 Ram 2500 Laramie 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel Link to post Share on other sites
Moderators Overland 1,380 Posted June 7, 2020 Moderators Share Posted June 7, 2020 I like the zipper. 1 El Palacio Huevo Nieve, Legado Selecto Dos, Numero 256 Link to post Share on other sites
Moderators topgun2 1,192 Posted June 7, 2020 Author Moderators Share Posted June 7, 2020 Mike & Carol, Since you jumped in (thanks!) - do you know what the measurements are of the shade you have? Bill 2017 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5EB FX4 Max Towing 2016 Oliver Elite II - Hull #117 "Twist" Link to post Share on other sites
Moderators Mike and Carol 1,148 Posted June 7, 2020 Moderators Share Posted June 7, 2020 12’ wide X 8’ long. The top panel is 12’ wide X 10” (about). 2 Mike and Carol | Fair Oaks Ranch, TX | 2016 Elite II #135 | 2020 Ram 2500 Laramie 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel Link to post Share on other sites
DavidS 310 Posted June 7, 2020 Share Posted June 7, 2020 4 hours ago, Mike and Carol said: The top panel is 12’ wide X 10” (about). If you unzip the shade screen and roll up the awning, does the 10'' piece with the zipper interfere with opening or closing the trailer door? 1 David Stillman, Salt Lake City, Utah 2016 Oliver Elite II Hull 164 | 2017 Audi Q7 tow vehicle. Travel and Photography Blog: http://davidstravels.net Link to post Share on other sites
Moderators Mike and Carol 1,148 Posted June 7, 2020 Moderators Share Posted June 7, 2020 23 minutes ago, DavidS said: If you unzip the shade screen and roll up the awning, does the 10'' piece with the zipper interfere with opening or closing the trailer door? Good question. I don’t recall it interfering. The only times I remember dropping the shade and cranking the awning in were when the support legs were attached to the trailer and I cranked the awning up leaving the support legs attached so about 18” of awning was out. It would take a tornado to cause damage with that little surface area exposed. When I have the shade attached and the support legs on the ground I anchor the legs and now use 5 heavy duty bungees on the shade. It has survived some pretty serious wind gusts in that mode. I imagine if I cranked the awning all the way in there could be a little interference. I’ll test it the next time we’re out (next month!). Mike 2 Mike and Carol | Fair Oaks Ranch, TX | 2016 Elite II #135 | 2020 Ram 2500 Laramie 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel Link to post Share on other sites
DavidS 310 Posted June 7, 2020 Share Posted June 7, 2020 Interesting idea. You are suggesting that with the sun shade tied down strongly and the support legs staked to the ground, there will be much greater resistance to the wind. Probably true. Additional resistance to the wind could be achieved with anchors from the top of the support poles, as in @Overland's photo in this post. Overland, how do you attach the tie-down straps to the top of the support pole? David Stillman, Salt Lake City, Utah 2016 Oliver Elite II Hull 164 | 2017 Audi Q7 tow vehicle. Travel and Photography Blog: http://davidstravels.net Link to post Share on other sites
Moderators Overland 1,380 Posted June 7, 2020 Moderators Share Posted June 7, 2020 (edited) I wrap them around the extension arms. I worried that if I cinched up the straps too much that I’d damage the arms or the outside joint but it hasn’t been a problem. When we don’t use the poles, we roll up our awnings the same as Mike when we’re away. Just unlock clips and roll in the awnings until the support arms almost touch the hull. Super easy and like Mike says, it would take a hurricane to damage them in that position. Edited June 7, 2020 by Overland 1 El Palacio Huevo Nieve, Legado Selecto Dos, Numero 256 Link to post Share on other sites
Moderators Mike and Carol 1,148 Posted June 8, 2020 Moderators Share Posted June 8, 2020 2 hours ago, DavidS said: Interesting idea. You are suggesting that with the sun shade tied down strongly and the support legs staked to the ground, there will be much greater resistance to the wind. Probably true. Additional resistance to the wind could be achieved with anchors from the top of the support poles, as in @Overland's photo in this post. Overland, how do you attach the tie-down straps to the top of the support pole? I have used tie downs on the support poles and staked the poles themselves. Combined with the shade being held with the heavy duty bungees it’s pretty sturdy. If we’re on a short hike I don’t worry about taking anything down. If we’re gone for more than a few hours I unzip the shade and crank the awning in - just don’t want to worry about it. Mike and Carol | Fair Oaks Ranch, TX | 2016 Elite II #135 | 2020 Ram 2500 Laramie 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel Link to post Share on other sites
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