Aar's - Opinions

[dee106]

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

[Gone-Camping]

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.

[jaycocamprs]

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.

[wiininkwe]

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

[tlhdoc]

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.

[angelsmom10]

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.

[NightOwl]

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

[angelsmom10]

Just wondering that if we had the AAR if our awning would have stayed down and not flipped over the top this weekend.

[vjm1639]

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!
 
 
 

Just wondering that if we had the AAR if our awning would have stayed down and not flipped over the top this weekend.

[a1coolmom]

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!

[wiininkwe]

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

[PopupSgt]

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.

[tlhdoc]

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

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.

[angelsmom10]

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.

Instructions that you can understand... most of the instructions with that we've seen for the PU's; were very generic  :swear: