I’ve searched the forums before posting, I promise. I’m leaving for WY in 2 weeks and want to add an ARB 2500 awning. I have Yakima round bars and am looking for mounting solutions. Does anyone know if the Yakima Slim Shady mounting hardware will work with the ARB awning? Are the ARB mounting brackets worth the extra $ ($23 each on amazon)? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. If I’m over thinking this please say so.
ARB awning, please HELP
- Thread starter Hefty Smurf
- Start date
The yakima ones dont look like theyll work with the ARB. Looks like they mount to the bottom of the slim shady. ARB mounts are in back of the awning.
On our last rig we had the oval yakima bars and we just drilled thru them and bolted on L brackets. Not sure how that would work with round bars.
Yakima is bad about making stuff that only works with their own stuff. We took off the tent mount brackets from our Yakima tent when we got a real bedrack cuz they wouldnt fit on the new bars. We just bolted the tent down right onto the bars.
On our last rig we had the oval yakima bars and we just drilled thru them and bolted on L brackets. Not sure how that would work with round bars.
Yakima is bad about making stuff that only works with their own stuff. We took off the tent mount brackets from our Yakima tent when we got a real bedrack cuz they wouldnt fit on the new bars. We just bolted the tent down right onto the bars.
2 should be fine. I have never had 3 so hard to tell what difference it would make.
Figured it out. I had an Inno surf board rack I swiped the mounting brackets off of and bolted them up to the ARB brackets. I don’t care what ARB says those brackets are not meant to be used with Yakima round bars. I had hoped to use Ubolts, as so many others seem to do, but just wasn’t comfortable with the clearance. This setup is solid but not permanent. Thank heavens my Dad’s a welder and can fabricate me a new bracket. Now i just have to wait for him to finish them...
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Enthusiast I
Just wanted to review the cheapo Ebay awnings. I bought one. The frames are decently made and i like the telescopic legs, but...... the awning material is VERY thin. I punctured it first day with one of the screws on the frame. You get what you pay for.
Enthusiast I
I purchased the ARB 2000 Touring awning (6.5ft x 8ft) and deluxe room for my 2015 JKU but also for my small enclosed trailer. I have the Yakima round bars with gutter mounts. I purchased the ARB awning mounting brackets but like everyone else had to come up with a way to mount on the round bars. I used a piece of 1/4 " thick aluminum plate (4x7), 4 U bolts and 4 bolts to mount bracket. As you can see in the photos the plate is extended outward from the round bars to give a greater spread for the mounting brackets to the awning. I was limited by the rain gutters on the JKU. I made a 2500 mile trip with this set-up and no issues at all. I also liked having the awning tucked closer to the roofline. 
Enthusiast I
Nice simple solution, I have Yakima round bars on my rig and will try this method to attach awning to it. Thanks!
Traveler III
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- Lucas
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7082
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Are the round bars just the cross rails or are you referring to a basket? I have an ARB awning mounted to my Yakima basket using FourTreks mounts. These mounts are very pretty and stout. Probably overkill but they are super nice and offer a bit of adjustment. FourTreks makes some bomb mounts.
