No problem, just attach the strut bar to the 7-foot end of the MoonShade and attach that to a tree using an adjustable strap, bungee cord, or rope. In fact, Linda, BFTs Director, recently tested the MoonShade on her Honda CRV, a compact SUV, and found it was just the right height at the shortest level of the poles. The MoonShade measures 9x7, so its large enough to create a nice, shaded patio space. It makes it a no-brainer to throw in your vehicle. You can leave a comment, but you wont be able to add any links. The awning is easy to set up and great for shade but I had big issues when it rained. All of the above weighs in at just under eight pounds and is stored in a zippered bag (also made from 420 denier ripstop polyester), that has a shoulder strap for carrying. The website first said shipping was anticipate the first week of August. No more tripping over guy lines and stakes in the dark! Secure them in the corner pockets and clip them into the plastic hooks attached to the shade. Simply clip the D-rings on the short or long side awning to a spot on the fence, and then use the support poles and guy lines on the opposite side as normal. Unfold the awning body, and lay it on the ground, with the reflective side down. Once you get the hang of it, the MoonShade awning only takes about 5 minutes to set up and put away. Get the latest climbing news, videos, tips, and more every Thursday. These new Sprinter rail anchors look like a great option as well and one that Id like to try. (Optional) Attach strut pole if your rig (or whatever youre attaching the awning to) is narrower than the awning itself. Affix the suction cups or magnets to the roof of the vehicle, with approximately seven feet between them. We are happy with the purchase. The MoonShade can act as a magnetic van awning, a suction cup van awning, or pretty much any type of anchor you want. The Best Womens Road and Gravel Apparel of 2022. Hey there! I also found it somewhat annoying that you couldnt stake down the vertical poles themselves, since they tended to wander and bounce when the wind lifted the dome-shaped awning. The MoonShade comes with two big suction cup anchors. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. Designed for Sprinters with factory roof rails, these aluminum nuts drop anywhere into the rail and lock into place by tightening the stainless steel eye bolt. Share your questions, comments, and experiences below! Unfortunately, the included suction cup anchors dont work with all rigs. I agree that my submitted data is being collected and stored. to the shade diagonally. I have a feeling it reflects all of this companies design goals. But then. This, and the fact that you can mount the awning on multiple vehicles, is what really sets the MoonShade apart from awnings that are hard mounted. I guess practice makes perfect. The final step is to anchor out the guylines so the MoonShade stays in place. Luckily some weather rolled in when we were testing the MoonShade out, so we got to see how it would fare. Trail 4Runner participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links or to other retailer sites from Trail4Runner.com. The first step is to attach the two corners of the awning to the van using the attachment method that works for you. Use the code BEARFOOTTHEORY to get 10% off. MoonFabs MoonShade Portable Awning (Fits Any Vehicle): Tension Poles (12mm diameter, 7001 aluminum alloy), Support Poles (19mm diameter, 7001 aluminum alloy), Strut Pole (19mm diameter, 7001 aluminum alloy). Thats a good indication of how easy it is to set up. Are you wondering how to start van life on a budget? Great writeup. It was still infinitely cushier than my first road-tripping vehicle, a Honda Element with a plywood bed in the back, but we humans grow rapidly accustomed to what we have and are easily covetous of what we lack: namely, in my case, one of those big mechanical awnings you see on the sides of $100,000 Sprinter vans that effectively double your livable square footage. We guarantee your MoonShade against materials and construction defects for the life of the product. I really think these are cool shades if just started living fulltime in my van and have looking at awininngs to put on the van. After measuring 7 feet across my van roof, I used a permanent marker to make a very tiny dot where the suction cups go. And building out the interiorwhich requires wood, solar panels, a battery, a mattress, plumbing, a stove, a butcherblock, a fridge, windows, and lots of timeguzzled up our savings and maxed out our credit cards. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. by attaching the guylines to the stakes provided and inserting the stakes into the ground. Note: Weve since discovered that its easier to get the poles in if you do this step while the awning is still on the ground before you attach it to the van. 4. And you mean fuel economy not gas mileage, considering most Sprinters dont run on gasoline. I am thinking a wide support beam so you could still attach and mount to something less than 7ft wide, like off the tail gate? We kept it set up on a day with 40 mph gusts and found that it held up well when using the magnet attachment option, but anything stronger than that and the magnets got pulled off of the van. Onto the roof? Great product. Thanks for picking the fly crap out of the pepper on the gas mileage reference. The MoonShades awning is 7 x 9. They also offer a number of generic, and vehicle specific alternatives: You can set up the MoonShade with either the 7-foot or 9-foot side facing out, but Ive found that mounting the awning with the 7-foot side facing out is a better fit on the 5th gen 4Runners, given the length of the roof. They are sold separately and come in a pack of two which is all you need. I really like this awning. 2. My name is Kristen, and this is my outdoor blog. Does not require any permanent attachments on your vehicle, though has that option. Unlike, traditional vehicle awnings, which are affixed to one side of the vehicle or the other, the MoonShade can easily be mounted on either side of the rear of a vehicle. I am interested by your roof rack. I was spending too much time trying to stay cool in my van or run from bad weather. Basically, where does the water go? // The underside of the awning is reflective, so itll catch and reflect your lanternlight at night. Definitely like the magnets for placement on my van and it is very easy one person set up which is awesome! // The superlight guyline stakes are, like typical tent-poles, quite easy to break. But more importantly, the fact that there are multiple attachment options means that you can attach it to myriad vehicles. It was heavy rain and I soon found that the rain was pouring through the material. The Moonshade van awning is water-resistant thanks to its 420D ripstop polyester material, but technically it isnt waterproof. The strut pole can be attached to the 7-foot side of the awning, and used to support that side when the awning is used off-vehicle, and attached to a single vertical object, like a tree or light pole. Whether you are looking to protect yourself from the harsh sun or extreme rain, this portable awning is definitely a great option to consider. Then snap each of the plastic clips onto the tension poles above them. You can set up the MoonShade without a vehicle attach it to a chain-link fence, tree, light pole, etcetera. A plastic clip in the center of the awning provides a spot for mounting a light to the underside. I also didnt want a van awning that permanently stayed on the outside of my van in case it broke, was stolen or made it obvious I lived in the van. Basically what this means is if the fabric is brittle and worn out, then its time to get a new one, but if anything else breaks before that happens, we will take care of it.. D-rings at each corner are used to connect to the awning to the included mounts, roof rack rails/crossbars, or any stationary object that is on or off your vehicle. This is a great feature because you can angle the MoonShade down if the sun is low in the sky. Alternatively, you can get on your roof to attach the magnets (or other anchors) if you have a ladder. Can you provide any info on it? I love how portable and small it is when packed away, weighing only 8 pounds. Unfortunately, the included suction cup anchors dont work with all rigs. It takes up minimal space inside my van and, with an under-ten-minute solo set up time, I dont know what could beat that. I didnt try to set it up this way, but believe that you could attach the MoonShade to the rear of a 4Runner,using the strut bar and two suction cup mounts that have the Velcro loops on them. // Easy to set up. The magnetic mounts also held 17-18 pounds of pulling pressure, but slide quite a bit once they started to give way. Today, were going to cover everything that the MoonShade offers. Once the tension poles are in, you lift the front of the awning up and slip the top of the tension poles into the corner grommets. A dang solid product. The MoonShade comes with multiple attachment optionssome permanent, some not, which is convenient because I wasnt personally enthused about the idea of affixing a semi-permanent anchor to my vehicle when I wasnt yet sure how much I was going to like (and therefore use) the product. Join Outside+ to get Climbing magazine, access to exclusive content, thousands of training plans, and more. Personally, it seems like a hefty price to pay for shade, which is why I opted against one of these awnings on my current Sprinter van. It was similar to setting up a tent, where the pole has to be bent a lot to secure it into the hole. Ill certainly use the awning when its sunny but not when it rains. Since they havent updated their site, Im guessing now were hoping for a Thanksgiving or Christmas present. The bottom of the support poles have rubber feet, and a spring-loaded button/telescoping action that can be used to adjust the height, as needed. Now 15 years later, prioritizing that critical connection with nature continues to improve my life. DJ .remember, youre a business person, just say, Thank you.. Bearfoot Theory / Outdoor Adventure Blog / Road Trip Gear Blogs / MoonShade Van Awning Review. // Packs down into a small (28 x 6 x 6) bag, roughly the same size as a standard camp chair. I kept nice and dry while sitting underneath my van awning, and we were able to leave the van door open during the storm too! This is great if youve got both a low-slung hatchback and a high-roof ProMaster, as I do, since I can use the same shade on both. In the winter we froze. After measuring 7 feet across my van roof, I used a permanent marker to make a very tiny dot where the suction cups go. Maybe you were looking at it during a sale? When I unpacked the MoonShade awning for the first time, I could tell that it was good stuff, right away. MoonShade is a portable vehicle awning from Moon Fabrications Incorporated, in San Francisco, California. Using a digital fish scale, and a very clean spot on the body of my 4Runner, I found that the suction cup mounts held consistently held 17-18 pounds of pulling pressure, before starting to slide (but not pop off). It has some pretty impressive features and specs, that few to no other awnings on the market have. Nice awning. Let us know how the adhesive anchors work! There were days I couldnt work on my laptop outside due to sun glare, or Id sweat up a storm and hide inside my van while exhibiting it in hot parking lots at, Then I started seeing other van dwellers using the. When there were mosquitos, we drowned ourselves in DEET. So I was pretty psyched when, in late 2019, my work went remote and my partner, dog, and I bought a van and hit the road, aiming to sidle from climbing area to climbing area in one endless workcation. We love it! Secure the bottom tension pole before the top one. Next, you slide the strong aluminum tension poles in, just like you would if you were setting up a tent. Lol Great for lake days and much more. I took the van and my wife to an empty parking lot with big solar panel shade parking. I vote hands-down the best budget van awning on the market. if using them as your anchor attachment. I was intrigued because it was lightweight, portable, seemingly easy to set up, and only $325. I repackaged it and it was by the front door ready to go. Note: I am a partner with MoonFab and this post may contain affiliate links. Check out these remote work resources to help you find work on the road. In wet weather situations, the shape of the MoonShades canopy allows water to run off the sides, rather than pooling in spots, as can occur with flat awnings. Remove the awning body, poles, guy lines, stakes and suction cups or magnets from the storage bag. When the sun was low in the sky, we blinked through the glare of our computer screens. Reviews of activewear items I have used for van life, hiking and adventuring. Whats nice is that you dont need any kind of roof rack, and the MoonShade can be stored in your garage when you arent using it. I decided to give it another shot. 3. My goal at Bearfoot Theory is to empower you with the tools and advice you need to responsibly get outside. Without the guylines, the wind can blow the awning off of the support poles, so this is an important step. Assemble support poles then insert ends into the shades corner grommets. 7000 series alloys are a blend of aluminum, zinc and other trace elements. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Each corner has a pocket that you insert the tent poles into and then you secure the poles using clips that run diagonally along the awning. Ta-da, you have a permanent, low-profile mounting system for your MoonShade. The support poles are adjustable up to 8 feet tall. When attaching the tension poles, they criss-cross over each other at the center of the awning. The back corner is a little trickier depending on how tall you are. We paid on July 11th. The good news is that even if it does get pulled off, you dont really have to worry about the MoonShade breaking like a regular van awning, and the magnets are designed to not strip any paint off your vehicle. Construction, ease of setup, multiple mounting options for almost any vehicle, and the ability to use the awning off vehicle are just a few of the things that make MoonShade a great product. Warm and wet the suction cups if using them as your anchor attachment. The only problem with this system is that, if its at all windy, I really need the suction cups top of my vanwhich means I cant attach them to its sides. // Has a variety of attachment systems. There were days I couldnt work on my laptop outside due to sun glare, or Id sweat up a storm and hide inside my van while exhibiting it in hot parking lots at festivals. Thanks. Copyright 2022 Trail4Runner.com Trail Made Co. |. *. We literally set it up in 5 minutes. OEM Floor Mats Vs. Husky & WeatherTech Floor Liners, https://trail4runner.com/2020/01/23/lfd-off-road-ruggedized-crossbars-5th-gen-4runner/. This sounds perfect and the price is right. In windy conditions, it can also be staked downjust as you would a tent. 1. If the awning is put away wet or stored in a damp location, it may mildew and you definitely dont want that. The MoonShade comes with a pole called the strut pole that can be used if the shade fabric is longer than your vehicle. Instead of rotating your MoonShade awning every hour or so to adjust to the sun, the MoonWall lets you stay put for much longer. Ive been using the MoonShade for the last two summers, and Im stoked to help get the word out about small companies like Moonshade who make cool products that make van life easier and more comfortable. Like many climbers, I spent a not-insignificant percentage of my teens and early twenties living in my caran era of my life that, now that its over, I still feel almost constant nostalgia for. Then I started seeing other van dwellers using the MoonShade awning on social media. The bottom side has a light-colored, reflective coating that aids with light reflection by night, and provides sun protection by day. At a sporting event, and want some shade along the fence line? Sign up for Outside+ today. All in all I really do like this awning though. Fortunately, MoonFab offers different anchor types to solve this, including: I was very excited to learn that the big suction cups worked on my van. Our content is pretty fire! I discovered the power of the outdoors in my 20s, at the time I needed it most. Thanks for sharing your experience, Tina! Get access to new 4Runner gear, free stickers, product reviews, installs, and much more! * You can not add any links to your comment as was previously mentioned above. Have to park away from your camping or picnic spot, but still want some shade? As always, all opinions and words are my own and I only recommend products that I love. Stake and secure guylines by attaching the guylines to the stakes provided and inserting the stakes into the ground. to your rig (or tree, fence, whatever you prefer). 8. I'm that guy; DIY guy, air-cooled Volkswagen guy, 4WD Toyota guy, Honda minibike guy, photography guy, backpacking guy, and fly fishing guy :-). The Moonshade web site says Not for use in winds above 5mph. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Sprinter Van Bathroom: Pros, Cons & Would I Do It Again? The storage bag is plenty big so it doesnt take any muscling to get the MoonShade to fit. Perhaps I didnt position it properly, Im not sure. I am going to order another set of magnets, just in case. Just make sure the guy ropes are super tight because big winds can really shift this thing around. I wrote this article about them: But to be fair, the solar panels, the ladder and the flat windows in the rear are already a dead giveaway that you have a campervan. Fortunately. // Like all awnings, the MoonShade doesnt get along super well with the wind, and if youre using the impermanent magnetic or suction anchors, these can get yanked off the roof of your car if the wind gets strong enough, taking your MoonShade with it. This is the setup Linda, BFTs Director, used when testing the MoonShade on her Honda CRV. great job would be cool to see other sizes added in the future too. Clip shade to anchors by attaching the shades corner carabiners to the anchors hooks. After reviewing the included instructions, and a couple of practice sessions, I can assemble and install the MoodShade awning on my 4Runner by myself, in about 5 minutes. Its made of ripstop polyester water-resistant fabric that is designed to keep you dry in light rain. For vans and RVs, it wont be a substitute for a semi-permanent (and very expensive) retractable awning, but its a good interim step for the price-conscious. I wish I had a MoonShade in my youth and am glad I have one now. You can always use our code BEARFOOTTHEORY to get 10% off. I now have a MoonShade awning and Im genuinely in awe at its awesomeness. Theyre semi-permanent, so you install them where you want them to be and leave them there for easy anytime MoonShade setup. This is usually because the roof of the rig is a type of material that the suction cant adhere to, or theres a roof rack or solar panels in the way. Well the Moonshade arrived. That of course, is like saying dont use this. At 84108 inches, the MoonShadow awning is larger than the popular ARB awnings in 20002000 and 20002500 millimeter sizes (~79x79 and 79x98), yet the MoonShadow only weighs 8 pounds. But I did find that when extended to their maximum height of 96 inches (8 feet), the poles lost some of their rigidity and tended to rattle distractingly in the wind. Ive messaged the company to get their opinion on these issues. Attach it to the suction cups or magnet, using the D-rings that are under each corner of the awning. How long it lasts depends on how much sun its exposed to, but we built it out of heavy UV-coated polyester so it will last a long time. For our purposes, the life of the product means the life of the ripstop polyester canvas material that the shade fabric is made out of. Thats why I was particularly excited by the opportunity to test out the MoonShadea well-built, reasonably affordable, and highly versatile vehicular awning meant for both vans and cars. Thank you for this review weve been wondering. We dont want to spend a huge amount and other options are just out of our present budget heck, our van build went beyond our budget, ha ha! As I mentioned earlier, mounting with the 7-foot side out seems to work best on 5th gen 4Runners, but some of the last of the above photos show the MoonShade set up with the 9-foot side facing out. What took me the longest was attaching the tension poles to the corner pockets of the awning. Given the way that the magnetic mounts really pop onto a metal body panel, when held anywhere close to it, I was surprised at the results of my testing. Two vertical support poles are height adjustable, and telescope from 78 to 96 inches. Assemble the two tension poles by aligning the ends of each section, and letting the elastic shock cord do its work. Assemble the tension poles then connect them to the shade diagonally. It can be erected with either side attached to the vehicle: i.e., you can connect the 7 side to your car or the 9 side. Thanks for reading. In comparison, the ARB awnings weigh 25 and 35 pounds, respectively. And I broke one of my guyline stakes when it hit a rock while I was pounding it into some otherwise only mildly firm ground. With the MoonShade, I was wondering how it would hold up to the wind, especially since its only attached to the van with magnets (in our case that is, you may use a different anchor system) and its so lightweight. Lay the tension poles diagonally across the body of the awning, and insert the ends of the poles into the corner pockets. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Sign up below to receive monthly email updates! One of the best things about the MoonShade is that its not just designed to work on different parts of the car, in different environmentsits also compatible with a wide array of vehicle types. After we took it down. Setting up the MoonShade was easy and intuitivebut if you find yourself confused, Moon has thorough setup tutorials on their website. The loops make it easy to remove the stakes from the ground, and the reflective bits in the rope really shine when light hits them.