I have always wanted an AAR for the PU. Starcraft finally got caught up on the Centennials and was able to start the AAR's. We do have to order it, but the dealership doesn't recommend them. They say everyone who has ever ordered an AAR for their PU (any kind) either returns them or complains about the hassle, weight, etc of using them.
I felt it would be a lot easier then setting up a screen room and in rainy weather having to travel between PU and screen room just to sit outide.
Just wanted everyone's opinions.
If I had a PU (make no mistake that day will come), I would definitely get one of those AAR's which are also screen rooms ! I am talking about the ones which are normally like a screen room, but have privacy flaps which can be dropped when it is rainy or windy or whatever. They seem to offer the best of both worlds.
Doesn't Starcraft make something like that ? Can you buy just a generic brand and fit it to your PU ?
Quote from: angelsmom10I have always wanted an AAR for the PU. Starcraft finally got caught up on the Centennials and was able to start the AAR's. We do have to order it, but the dealership doesn't recommend them. They say everyone who has ever ordered an AAR for their PU (any kind) either returns them or complains about the hassle, weight, etc of using them.
I felt it would be a lot easier then setting up a screen room and in rainy weather having to travel between PU and screen room just to sit outide.
Just wanted everyone's opinions.
That's the kind I want screen and privacy flaps.
Yes Starcraft makes them, however because of the size of the Centennial, it is a custom made one that Starcraft just started making within the past 6 months or so. So far you cannot get a generic one.
We have the kind Birol is talking about. We absolutely love it and use all the time - it's wonderful for long trips and rainy day, or just staying away from the "skeeters"!
Quote from: Miss-TeriWe have the kind Birol is talking about. We absolutely love it and use all the time - it's wonderful for long trips and rainy day, or just staying away from the "skeeters"!
I assume your are talking about the kind that attaches to the awning... Are they hard to put up? Our dealer says they are a pain in the rear end, are very heavy. Just checking as I can't believe the dealer didn't want to make a sale. DH feels that it must really be a pain.
Ours is only one piece but isn't hard to put up at all - I'm not sure why as I've heard the horror stories too.
I'll try to post a picture of ours for you later today.
We have one for our PU. It does take a lot of effort to put up but on long trips (4 days or more) it is well worth it to have extra space when camping with three kids! We also use one of the mats the PUT sells in there store as the floor. We think we have a great setup! Now if we could only get the sag out of the roof?
We use our AAR on every trip, no matter how many nights we're staying. I wouldn't go without it.
Ours is a 3 piece one plus the bug skirting that goes on the bottom of the camper. It took us a few tries to get the setup down to a science, but now that we've done that, it's very easy to put it up.
I like the extra room and privacy. it's great to sit in there when it rains or the bugs are really bad.
So far it looks like I'll be saving my wages from working the auctions and getting an AAR for the PU.
Anyone got any ideas on pprox price for AAR w/privacy flaps and skirt for on the PU to seal the room (the best it can get).
Nancy, the dealrs giving you a snow job. I'm in the process of getting a 2600, the ten foot box model and the dealer has an AAR in stock for it. Besides Starcraft doesn't make either the awnings or AAR's/screen rooms they use.
I just happen to have a Carefree of Colorado catalog right here at the computer so here the RETAIL prices on 12 footers.
12 foot AAR for Campout or Supersport awning $371. 12 foor screen room for either $183.
I'm specifying the Campout awning and AAR for my new trailer. A must for black fly season in the Adirondacks.
We only use ours when we camp longer than a weekend, or in case of bugs/rain. I like having it and would get one again. I also have a Paha Que screen room and love it. If I had to choose one, I would go with the AAR. It gives us a barrier between the mosquitoes and the PU when we camp at Assateague Island National Seashore. :)
We use our AAR for anything over one night. I wouldn't travel without it!
It adds about 5 minutes to the setup time and about 15 minutes to the takedown. (And, we have a one piece unit). Not bad to be bug free.
For Coleman/Fleetwoods, the price is about $500.
We use our AAR on just about every camping trip. We also use the mat that is sold from PUT store underneath the room. The room is a little bit of hassle, maybe about 10 minutes to install, ours is also a 14' box. Taking the room down isn't that bad either since everything (including the awning) is already being taken down.
The great thing I like about the AAR is before we turn in for the night we place our belongings inside the room just in case it rains. Also if it does rain we can sit out and get fresh air w/o getting wet. We also place our dog in the room at night so he can sleep outside, he gets too hot in the camper with us.
It takes me about 10 minutes to set up our AAR and 15 to put it away. We use a patio mat as a floor for the AAR too. :)
I completely agree with everyone about having fake grass or a mat to go underneath the AAR. We have the fake grass cut to fit the AAR and it makes life so much easier! Once after dealing with day after day of mud in the PU I actually said (gasp!), "I'm about to start HATING camping!". After getting the grass (and going through counseling and meds...), I am back to myself and can camp through any weather again! Give me rain! Give me shine! ;)
we had one on our 2000 starcraft, it was one piece,it was heavy and took up alot of space in the trunk, but it was worth it. just watch the zippers, best to do it with two people,the weight pulls on the zipper when not held up while zipping to the awning
I had one once, it was on my very first PU... actually it said Winnebago on the side, but someone adapted it for the PU. I used it one time, then a storm came along and shredded it.
We had an AAR with the privacy panels for our Jayco and loved it! It was one piece that hung on the two side awning poles and velcro across the front! We used it most every trip of more than one night. We could put it up in about 10 minutes and down in about 15. There was a separate skirt that snapped to the frame of the pop up. Last month we joined the dark side and traded our pu for a fifth wheel with no aar. I think we paid about $400 for it back in 2000.
We have one for our ColemanYukon too, bought it separately and paid an awful price for a lot of plastic and velcro. That said, I love it. (DH and I have wildly different feelings about it) I love being able to put the high pressure outside stove out, and using the AAR, make a kitchen for the PU. I love having a place to hang wet jackets, and park wet shoes. I love having a place for the porta potty at night. (altho now we have one of those changing tents from Sportsman's Guide) I love having a place to sit and look out at the rain with my coffee. DH always complains loudly about what a PITA it is to set it up, but after it's up he always says, "This thing really comes in handy!" Last fall we got a 12x12 screen tent from Walmart, that we haven't had a chance to set up yet, so I'm not sure just what we'll do from now on. Maybe use both, who knows!?
T
;)
Toni we have the AAR and a Paha Que Screen room. When we camp at Assateague Island in June when the mosquitoes are out we use both. The AAR ads some nice room to the PU and makes a great buffer between the hoards of mosquitoes and the bug free PU, but it isn't big enough to put the picnic table inside. We use the Paha Que to put the picnic table in. Then we have a bigger table for eating, playing cards and games. :)
If I can convince DH, I hope to save my auction $$ and get one. The goal is to eliminate having the screen room. Last year, several times, it rained and going from the PU to the screen room, you just got soaked, but just enjoyed sitting outside in the breeze. Also, you had to be fast getting in and zippering back up trying to keep the bugs out.
bumping this up to the top. I still havent made a final decision about an AAR and hope more people will add their thoughts here since summer is a comin' on the the Bug Season will soon have all of us scratching ;)
Just wondering that if we had the AAR if our awning would have stayed down and not flipped over the top this weekend.
Oh gosh! That happened to us LAST weekend! First time ever it had happened and on an absolutely gorgeous day. Hopefully, the last time it happens too after the heavy duty strap tie downs and screw in tie outs that DH bought in addition to the cast iron supports we use! :yikes: Hope it didn't do too much damage!
Quote from: angelsmom10Just wondering that if we had the AAR if our awning would have stayed down and not flipped over the top this weekend.
I managed to locate an AAR at a dealer for my older Starcraft.From the box it appears to have been stuffed in the back of the storeroom and forgotten (maybe someone ordered it and then never picked it up, who knows?) It came with no instructions just a pitiful picture but its been worth the first struggle. It makes a lovely entertainment area in the evening. If you bring your stove out and attach it, it makes a perfect shelf for the TV-VCR. After hours with the flaps down its perfect for the porta-potty and as stated before with a grass mat down it cuts down on the dirt dragged into the PU. It is a pain to install, I use a step stool to reach the zippers, but if we're set up for more than 1 nite its a definite!
Just a hint, probably most of you already do this, but may be some new members haven't thought of it. We put on our AAR with the roof partially raised, just roll out the awning and set it up short, attach AAR, then finish cranking and adjust awning poles and stake down.
T
;)
Nancy,
The AAR definetly makes a difference with keeping the awning down in place since it eliminates a lot of the air from getting up under the awning to lift it. Plus the awning attaches to the side of the camper (at least mine) with string ties. The AAR has stakes to stake the sides down & we also use the dog screw stakes to secure the awning from lifting up for more security.
Quote from: wiininkweJust a hint, probably most of you already do this, but may be some new members haven't thought of it. We put on our AAR with the roof partially raised, just roll out the awning and set it up short, attach AAR, then finish cranking and adjust awning poles and stake down.
T
;)
That is what the instructions that came with my Coleman/Fleetwood awning and AAR say to do. Imagine that, the instructions make since for once.
Quote from: tlhdocThat is what the instructions that came with my Coleman/Fleetwood awning and AAR say to do. Imagine that, the instructions make since for once.
Instructions that you can understand... most of the instructions with that we've seen for the PU's; were very generic :swear: