Awning Recommendation

kwood · August 05, 2009, 07:38:56 PM

I have an MCI that I am doing a mid-price range conversion on. I am looking for an awning and would like to know if there is any specific awning I need for the bus or will a regular RV awning work. I have seen some awnings that curve up at the top. Are these necessary? My old travel trailer had an awning that has straight supports. I would appreciate any thoughts.

Thanks,

Kevin

Ednj · August 05, 2009, 08:19:08 PM

What model MCI do you have?

I just got and installed (with help from my friends) a Dometic A&E 8500 with straight arms.
I absolutely love having it, one of the best investments for extra living space.

Tenor · August 05, 2009, 08:27:23 PM

Kevin,
I just finished installing 2 A&E 8500 Awnings on my MCI 7. I thought I took a picture, but it isn't on my camera

. I use straight arms that mount into the body. My awnings are 19 ft on the passenger side and 17 ft on the drivers side. Neither of these are long enough to cover the windows AND clear the baggage bays, so I opted to mount them ABOVE the bays. The forward one mounts through the trim immediately above the baggage bay so that I didn't mount against the stainless. It is located between my first long window and the triangle window. The rear mount attaches on top of the same molding, anchoring into the tubing behind. It is located above the rear most baggage bay. Since my doors are swing up (not pantagraph) I can still get in it. The top channel runs below my side marker light, yet above the line of rivets that are above the gutter. One awning I bought on the e place and the arms were short, so I did not need to do anything to them. The other awning I was given and it's arms were too long to mount in this fashion, so I cut them down, remade the necessary holes and put it up. They open easily for a short person as long as you have the rod to pull the strap with.

Good luck!

Glenn

kwood · August 05, 2009, 08:46:58 PM

I have a MCI 9.

I am glad to hear the straight arm awnings work as I hope they are easier to find at a surplas place. I have not seen too many of the bent arm ones around so they must be pricier.

Thanks for the advice on where to mount the supports. It sounds like I don't have to remove the ceiling to mount it which is good as I have already put the ceiling back in.

Appreciate the help.

Kevin

Tenor · August 05, 2009, 08:53:21 PM

I forgot to add what a difference they make in cooling the bus! I have about 1 1/2 inches of spray foam. Since I only have a 3 ft wide strip of white paint on my roof, I get a fair amount of heat transfer from the bare aluminum sides. I left the bus closed up on an 85 degree sunny day. With the 2 awnings out, I was only a few degrees hotter inside the closed bus! Would have been no problem to keep it cool with 1 roof air!

Glenn

luvrbus · August 06, 2009, 11:58:33 AM

Zip/Dee with the small arms look better and you can bend the arms with a press fairly easy check with Ron the busnut in Iowa he has Zip Dee

good luck

grantgoold · August 06, 2009, 12:27:04 PM

Rob a bank and get a Girard. You will really like the lateral arm models. I also love the electric roll up function.

Grant

NewbeeMC9 · August 06, 2009, 07:49:02 PM

If you can find a way, get one that goes over the door and either has an arm in front of the door or no arms at all. Look on Sean's Odyssey page, they kinda mount on top

Ross had a nice power one that mounted on the side of the bus, you didn't have to duck the arms, and wasn't too expensive., look at the video on the Delaware rally, he has the St Bernard.

My bus came wit a Carefree mounted kinda like ednj's. You can carport the arms to make it a little better.
Make sure you have some type of weather guard that protects the awning when it is rolled up.

if you can get power the Better half can manage it also.

Put a little thought in it because when your parked, its the best room in the house

buswarrior · August 06, 2009, 07:55:18 PM

Think hard about keeping your awning arms tucked in tight to the coach skin, depending on where they are, you might not like the view down the side in the mirror.

The powered awnings with the lateral arms are lovely until the wind comes up. They must be retracted in order to protect them, earlier than traditionally styled arm styles, as well, more anchoring may be employed on traditional styles to withstand some wind.

As always, do it your way, everything is a compromise!

happy coaching!
buswarrior