Doing so would allow me to adjust the telescoping support pole to positions where the awning is level, and below the level when mounted on my 4Runner. We literally set it up in 5 minutes. You can leave a comment, but you wont be able to add any links. 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. Clip the corner carabiners to the hooks on the support poles. 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. Thanks. Other anchor types are available separately. Reviews of activewear items I have used for van life, hiking and adventuring. It also blocks the sun from shining directly in the van if you are working or hanging out inside. We will never spam your inbox. When the sun was low in the sky, we blinked through the glare of our computer screens. * You can not add any links to your comment as was previously mentioned above. If the awning is put away wet or stored in a damp location, it may mildew and you definitely dont want that. 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. 
I took the van and my wife to an empty parking lot with big solar panel shade parking. 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. The MoonShade arrived at my door this morning, excited about going out and setting it up. 
No fraying. I was spending too much time trying to stay cool in my van or run from bad weather. by attaching the guylines to the stakes provided and inserting the stakes into the ground. Lift the awning assembly up, and close to the side of the vehicle. Do the same for the two, larger diameter vertical support poles. The rain will naturally bead and slide off of the awning, away from whats directly below itthink of it as a huge umbrella. to your rig (or tree, fence, whatever you prefer). Hmm thats strange about the price it actually launched at $350 and theyve since lowered the price to $325. After measuring 7 feet across my van roof, I used a permanent marker to make a very tiny dot where the suction cups go. Think about the purchase more as a loan to keep the company going rather than a purchase. A plastic clip in the center of the awning provides a spot for mounting a light to the underside. The body of the awning spans 7 feet by 9 feet. That makes sense, but I was also wondering how it would perform. I found them easier to secure when I slid the pole on the bottom of the criss-cross into its corner pocket before the top pole. The support poles are adjustable in height, so the MoonShade works on just about any vehicle making it very versatile. Loop the guy lines around the tent stakes and use the black plastic pieces on them to adjust the tension on the lines. (The poles have rubber feet, a bit like youd find on a cane, rather than a sharp tip that can penetrate the soil.). Maxxair MaxxFan Roof Fan: Review for Van Life. 
Can you provide any info on it? The MoonShade is available on the MoonFab.Co website. And you mean fuel economy not gas mileage, considering most Sprinters dont run on gasoline. This way, I know exactly where to place them every time I suction them to the van. Whether it's a hilarious short story or a special offer, I'll be including content that isn't on my website. Good grief! 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. Mark the placement of the anchors on your rig to make every setup go faster. Definitely like the magnets for placement on my van and it is very easy one person set up which is awesome! One big problem with most van awnings is that they dont really hold up to the wind. 
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). 
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.. At a sporting event, and want some shade along the fence line? Yes unfortunately theyve been on backorder most of the summer, its been a popular item! Next, you slide the strong aluminum tension poles in, just like you would if you were setting up a tent. Two of the mounts have Velcro straps, which allows them to be used with the strut pole. A van awning sure would be nice at times! 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. 
No more tripping over guy lines and stakes in the dark! 
I repackaged it and it was by the front door ready to go. 
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 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. The final step is to anchor out the guylines so the MoonShade stays in place. I'm that guy; DIY guy, air-cooled Volkswagen guy, 4WD Toyota guy, Honda minibike guy, photography guy, backpacking guy, and fly fishing guy :-). After measuring 7 feet across my van roof, I used a permanent marker to make a very tiny dot where the suction cups go. Share your questions, comments, and experiences below! Thanks for the honest review and discount code. When it rained, we shut the windows and steamed ourselves inside the van. I vote hands-down the best budget van awning on the market. Check out these remote work resources to help you find work on the road. // Easy to set up. These work best for anchoring to smooth, flat, clean surfaces like the side of a panel van. // The underside of the awning is reflective, so itll catch and reflect your lanternlight at night. 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! Amazing write-up. Once you get the hang of it, the MoonShade awning only takes about 5 minutes to set up and put away. We also got some rain on one of our camping trips and found the MoonShade held up well. 2 suction cup anchors with velcro for attaching strut pole, 4 tall-connect cords (used for overhead anchoring). Whether you are looking to protect yourself from the harsh sun or extreme rain, this portable awning is definitely a great option to consider. A highly functional, durable, and easy-to-use awning, the MoonShade is a great fit for car camping. These heavy-duty magnets are currently our preferred method of anchoring the MoonShade to my Sprinter Van as they seem to hold better than the suction cups. I only partner with brands whose mission and production process I support. You can also mount it on the side of your vehicle or the rear. I was curious to know how many pounds of pressure it would take to pull off the MoodShade suction cup and magnetic mounts. 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. Each MoonShade awning package comes with: The MoonWall is an add-on feature and comes in two different sizes: The MoonWall not only provides extra privacy on-the-go, but it also amplifies the amount of shade you get throughout the day. Even with really expensive van awnings, they advise pulling the awning in when it gets windy, otherwise there is potential for it to break. So we skimped on a few of the luxuries that your Instafamous #vanlifer wouldnt be caught dead withoutthings like a heater, a bug net, a fan that actually works, and (my topic here) an awning. 
Unfortunately, the included suction cup anchors dont work with all rigs. I have them and any slight gust blows them off the roof. I am going to order another set of magnets, just in case. 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. 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. 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. Its like having a portable outdoor living room at my convenience! The website first said shipping was anticipate the first week of August. This would be the ticket for times when the sun is low in the sky and shining under the outward end of the awning. Unfortunately, the included suction cup anchors dont work with all rigs. Something that Id like to see is an option for shorter support poles, to allow for positioning the outward side down, for shade when the sun is low. Ryan is able to reach by standing on the tire, but a step stool would make this easier. When there were mosquitos, we drowned ourselves in DEET. The storage bag is plenty big so it doesnt take any muscling to get the MoonShade to fit. MoonShade comes in a small package but is big on features. DJ .remember, youre a business person, just say, Thank you.. The MoonShade is a portable 9 x 7 awning for car camping thats compatible with a wide range of vehicle types and has multiple attachment options. Then at our Open Roads Fest van life event a few years back, I was introduced to MoonShade, a lightweight, portable van awning with a budget-friendly price tag. I am going to try the adhesive anchors next. 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. But so very happy I did order this because I like the fact it is not a permanent, I can move it around depending on the sun location! 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. But even used vans with dented doors are expensive. My name is Kristen, and this is my outdoor blog. 
document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Sprinter Van Bathroom: Pros, Cons & Would I Do It Again? With that said, if the wind picks up a good amount, you may want to just put the MoonShade away and not take any risks, and its also best not to leave your awning unattended in strong winds. 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. I have a feeling it reflects all of this companies design goals. The awning is 7 feet wide, so if your rig is narrower than that, the strut pole will allow the awning to stretch out at its full length. This created less tension on each pole when sliding them into place. 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? Are you wondering how to start van life on a budget? Definitely! 
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. Its stowed size specs are 28 x 6 and it weighs eight pounds. The sections of the poles are connected by an elastic shock cord, which makes assembly and storage easy. All in all I really do like this awning though. Two vertical support poles are height adjustable, and telescope from 78 to 96 inches. In the summer we baked. Thanks for sharing Pat, glad youre liking the MoonShade! I love how portable and small it is when packed away, weighing only 8 pounds. Thanks for the review. It makes it a no-brainer to throw in your vehicle. This is the setup Linda, BFTs Director, used when testing the MoonShade on her Honda CRV. Maybe you were looking at it during a sale? This is a great feature because you can angle the MoonShade down if the sun is low in the sky. Instead of rotating your MoonShade awning every hour or so to adjust to the sun, the MoonWall lets you stay put for much longer. on your rig to make every setup go faster. This, like any fabric, will eventually succumb to the effects of the elements, especially UV rays. But more importantly, the fact that there are multiple attachment options means that you can attach it to myriad vehicles. Lol Great for lake days and much more. I am interested by your roof rack. Assemble the tension poles then connect them to the shade diagonally. Does not require any permanent attachments on your vehicle, though has that option. I decided to give it another shot. Remove the awning body, poles, guy lines, stakes and suction cups or magnets from the storage bag. But Moons emphasis on lightweight materials comes at a cost: As noted above, I did have one of my vertical support poles bend when the magnet released during what was honestly a pretty mild gust. Looks like a great option instead of getting an awning that is always attached to the van. 7000 series alloys are a blend of aluminum, zinc and other trace elements. Warm and wet the suction cups if using them as your anchor attachment. I have to be honest, I almost sent it back after installing it the first time. Thanks, Bobby. 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. Ive messaged the company to get their opinion on these issues. 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. I would love one off the tailgate. 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. 
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. Ill certainly use the awning when its sunny but not when it rains. Have to park away from your camping or picnic spot, but still want some shade? I love my Moonshade definitely a great choice for shade! Thanks for picking the fly crap out of the pepper on the gas mileage reference. The MoonShade delivers on everything it promises by being an easy-to-setup, versatile, portable van awning for travelers on a budget. 
The magnetic mounts also held 17-18 pounds of pulling pressure, but slide quite a bit once they started to give way. Use the code BEARFOOTTHEORY to get 10% off. The MoonShade can act as a magnetic van awning, a suction cup van awning, or pretty much any type of anchor you want. Setting up the MoonShade was easy and intuitivebut if you find yourself confused, Moon has thorough setup tutorials on their website. Unfold the awning body, and lay it on the ground, with the reflective side down. 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. When I finally hit the road, I know that I will appreciate the flexibility of where to place it, the most. 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. Secure them in the corner pockets and clip them into the plastic hooks attached to the shade. Then snap each of the plastic clips onto the tension poles above them. The support poles are adjustable up to 8 feet tall. This will cause each of the poles to gently bow, and put tension on the awning body. 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. Ta-da, you have a permanent, low-profile mounting system for your MoonShade. 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. 
These new Sprinter rail anchors look like a great option as well and one that Id like to try. The awning is 7 feet wide, so if your rig is narrower than that, the strut pole will allow the awning to stretch out at its full length. We got an introduction to the MoonShade a while back, and after that article dropped, we were anxious to get it out and see what it was all about. I would say anything over 15 MPH doesnt work. 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 set up my awning on a forty-degree day and found that wiping off the area in which theyd stay, warming them up in my hands, and using a wet paper towel on their suction side, made for the most secure suction. I tried it by myself and still only took 5 minutes. Given the fact that the suction cup mount can be used on almost any non-porous surface, and it doesnt require as careful of an installation/removal as the magnetic mount does, the suction cup mount would be my choice in most situations. I wrote this article about them: We are happy with the purchase. I didnt think I needed a van awning for the first year living on the road. Some of the best van awnings, like the Fiama 65 awning that I had on my first Sprinter Van, run up to $2,000! Thanks for sharing your experience, Tina! I was impressed by how much wind the MoonShade could handle. Lay the tension poles diagonally across the body of the awning, and insert the ends of the poles into the corner pockets. // 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. Well the Moonshade arrived. Unlike the expensive roof top awnings, (which are great), you can mount the Moonshade on either side of your Sprinter van, or on the front or back. The MoonShade awning includes a very nice set of suction cup mounts (more on performance testing of these in a later section). Attach the guylines to the front corners of the shade. by attaching the shades corner carabiners to the anchors hooks. 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. // Compatible with vans, SUVs, larger hatchbacks, and pick-up trucks. Get access to new 4Runner gear, free stickers, product reviews, installs, and much more! Onto the roof? Join Outside+ to get Climbing magazine, access to exclusive content, thousands of training plans, and more. Fortunately. Awesome, we hope you love it! Because its designed for use on multiple vehicles, the MoonShades support poles extend vertically, allowing you to customize how high the shade actually sits. 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. 
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. As always, all opinions and words are my own and I only recommend products that I love. In windy conditions, it can also be staked downjust as you would a tent. The MoonShade comes with two big suction cup anchors. Stake and secure guylines by attaching the guylines to the stakes provided and inserting the stakes into the ground. Our content is pretty fire! Youll find 2 x 4.5 industrial size suction cups as well as 2 x 2 suction cups in your kit. Alternatively, you can get on your roof to attach the magnets (or other anchors) if you have a ladder. But the store-bought awnings were very expensive, some up to $2,300! It was heavy rain and I soon found that the rain was pouring through the material. // Packs down into a small (28 x 6 x 6) bag, roughly the same size as a standard camp chair. 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. Get the latest climbing news, videos, tips, and more every Thursday. 
When attaching the tension poles, they criss-cross over each other at the center of the awning. Bearfoot Theory / Outdoor Adventure Blog / Road Trip Gear Blogs / MoonShade Van Awning Review. Thanks for reading. But this looks really great as an affordable option. It was similar to setting up a tent, where the pole has to be bent a lot to secure it into the hole. I ordered mine, when I first saw it advertised, before the end of 2020. It took me all of 8 minutes and 52 seconds to set up, my second time ever using it! No rips. Hope that helps! 
The tension poles are attached to the awning body via a series of plastic clips, which contribute to very short setup time. // The superlight guyline stakes are, like typical tent-poles, quite easy to break. 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. 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. 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.
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