I dont mean to be so off topic but does anyone know a method to get back into an Instagram account? I was stupid forgot my login password. I love any assistance you can give me!
@Creed Wesson Thanks for your reply. I got to the site through google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff now. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
well said. I have the same exact conversation with people all the time. Kings have filled a massive gap in the 4x4 accessory / camping market. I have purchased several of there products and I am more then happy with what i got for the money i spent and will continue to purchase there products.
I just have a 2.5m x 3.0 m tarp from Bunnings for $22. I set that up above my swag to protect me from dew and rain. Keeps the swag dry for morning pack up so I can hit the tracks quicker. My budget is really tight but I don't want to miss out on the great outdoors. Great review mate, funny as hell and very informative.
I've got the Aldi version (which is identical) and recently woke up to discover it had collected a good 100 litres of water in the rain overnight. With the poles flexed half a metre I thought it was a goner, but once I'd tipped it out and bent the poles back a bit, it's like new! Works fine! For 100 bucks, can't really ask for more than that!
I've had a kings awning for 3 years, use it almost every weekend and it's still as new, if you look after your stuff and use it properly you'll rarely have any troubles 👍
I was going to comment the same thing Iv had small tree branches put some holes in it but if you don’t camp under trees and you look after them use the tie down ropes properly and keep the zipper dust free they will last years
I've got one on the side of my van and have the tent attachment (which is also cheap as chips). I sleep in the van and the tent/awning is like a huge add-on room. Went to Carnarvon Gorge not long ago and had to drive from campground to NP entrance every day. Could pack the entire setup down or put it up again in 10-15min. Mobile, flexible, tons of space, cheap. Brilliant.
Love ya work mate, you nailed it when you said if Kings (Budget Stuff) is all you can afford its better than nothing, if it gets you out camping on the weekends its better than not going at all. No bullshit, informative, funny video. 10 out of 10 fella. :-)
Dave Riding thanks a lot mate I appreciate the feedback! Doing a video like this I was a bit unsure but in the end just wanted to entertain and inform a bit so getting a comment like that helps! Cheers and safe travels.
It's really refreshing to hear some honest commentary from a regular person on a regular budget. For the novice, starting out seems daunting, with shows like All4Adventure, showing off their big rigs and hi-spec gear. I'm actually surprised 4WD Action continued to be sponsored by them and use their gear for so long, but impressed at the same time. The message is clear here: you don't need to be on 6 figures to be able to afford to go off-road. We recently bought a D40 Nav, and yes... I am fully aware of all of its shortcomings. But for our budget, it ticked a lot of boxes. We paid around $13K for a 2008 model and have gone in with the budget-mindset, and the intention that the day to go "all-out" might be more a long-term plan depending on finance. One of the wise things my wife said was that we don't know what we do and don't really need at this point, and therefore no point in spending thousands and thousands kitting it up, only to find we end up selling the whole thing in a few years, or finding we don't even use half of it. So with this in mind, I reluctantly went with the cheap Kings awning... same 2.5x3m. And you are right: it does the job. We even got 2 x free side-walls as gifts because with the money I saved on the awning, we could also afford all the other things we needed like an air compressor, toolkit etc.. The way I see it, we're a lot better prepared to go off-road now, given we got a lifted Nav with extra accessories, for a cheap price vs. buying a shiny, newer stock-standard fourbie for the same price and no mods/accessories (which I also probably would have been too afraid to get a scratch on).
Dylan that’s a good way to go mate, start simple and budget and if you’re going out and about more and more and find that you’re pushing the limits of your setup then upgrade. I think with all the expensive rigs on the internet and tv getting around people are starting to think they need the same to go bush.
Great vid mate. I have a Kings Awning on my 200 series and it gets hammered and it's never let me down. I removed the two yellow strings and used two small bow shackles in the rope holes. Then i attached two spring loaded ropes and bingo. I can roll the awning up with everything attached and then tuck the ropes in before i do up the zips. Pegging it down is the key to keeping them safe. cheers and safe travels.
We did our trip with a 3x5 metre tarp, two poles and a spreader bar. All of which we already owned previously as part of a larger setup for long term camping at a single location. Skip the spreader bar and if there's no wind and use less or more ropes/guy lines as necessary for the conditions. The car side of the tarp is tied to the roof rack and bull bar and with practice it only needed five minutes to setup properly and it easily handled wind that had trees falling over when we found ourselves camping on an exposed ridge during a hail storm. Also we found we didn't actually need it as often as we expected. Most of the time we skipped the tarp and just had a single pole a guy line to the car. Used that to hang overhead lighting, wet towels/cloths and a rubbish bag - setup for that was much quicker than any awning and without the tarp no amount of wind could knock it over. If we wanted shade we found a tree. If it was raining we setup the tarp.
Great video, you just about summed up my budget build, been using my setup for 5 years now & everything is still usable, my rear awning has the same damage as yours after a huge gust of wind came over the lake while i was packing up, i fixed it pretty much the same way as you did & am now more aware when packing up camp, I also brought a cheap 100 liter stainless steel duel zone fridge freezer 12, 24, & 240 volt from ebay for under $500 delivered thinking i could then take my time saving up for a better known brand one, well that was 5 years & 100,000k's ago & its still going strong & doing its intended job, thanks for a great video, its good to see others getting out there living there dream & having fun on a realistic budget.
totally agree, after buying a 8 yro troopy 15 years ago, I now travel with less every year, everything is as basic as possible and able to be re-purposed or adapted to my needs where ever I am. I just have a 2x silver tarp and plenty of ropes
Spot on reasoning. I got a gust with an awning wall on and it bent the side bar. Kings sent me a new one for $30. Rivets are coming loose where it attaches to the roofrack, cheap insurance is drilling them out and upgrading them one by one so they don't shear on a corrugated road.
Spot on mate! I have had a Kings awning (that I bought 2nd hand for $50) on my Ute for the past 5 years. Yeah the Velcro is garbage but it’s actually held up great. You just need to be mindful that if it is gusty to park a different way and let the car shelter the awning or use the ropes to tie it down. Most beach trips I do it just gets shoved into the sand and it’s job done. My new rig is being built at the moment and I went out and got a new kings awning for the canopy. It gets the job done.
I got my awning from Aldi, keeps the sun off, I had the same thing with the eyelet on mine, it still hooks in though. I bent it in as well, I also got a kings 60 litre fridge love it, 98 amp hour deep cycle battery, love it, got floor tarp, Tyre nut remover, solar panels, I haven’t died in the bush yet, their product are great, had 1 issue it was fixed fast , Kings is becoming more popular cause people need to save,
Re Hilux, had a 92 dual cab 2.8 diesel, did the loop in it in 99 - did a LOT of gravel, never missed a beat, only stoppage was a flat tyre and we were on a mining road in the Pilbara without permission (and everyone stopped to offer assistance in changing the wheel), so thought that was sorta deserved. Re Awning - bought an ARB one years ago, fitted to my Prado, did a front yard put up on the first week-end after fitting, and a seam stitching split/tore. Back to ARB, would replace (with the same product/quality?), not repair. Took it to local van annexe maker, she double sticked every seam. Re poles into ends, they slipped out in a wind gust, so I drilled holes thru the ends and fitted split pins to each - fixed and locked in. Bought the 3 sides and they’re brilliant (rain never falls vertically in my experience). Good review, all camp gear needs individualisation, maintenance and repair, and those that do not tailor and/or maintain their equipment are the ones who don’t enjoy Bush camping as much.
My Kings awning works just fine.. My Champagne tastes compete with a beer budget... i use it on the van about 40 day/nights a year.. if i was to replace it every 12 months, I would still be ahead of the game over four years.. You are so right, I want an awning now, not in 4 years when I can afford the Rolls Royce Deluxe you-beaut thing that could still get screwed up in a storm... Cheap at double the price if ya ask me.
I had a kings awning, hardly used it and the rivets had sheared off. It was out of warranty. Contacted 4wd supacentre and got a replacement free of charge.
Deffinatly agree with you a 79s crazy decked out would be mint but it’s just not feasible nor is it needed. Most of our rigs gear is either passed down or secondhand Nothing I love more then picking up an awesome deal simply because someone has changed there setup. Okay iv spent some time fixing the draws and rooftop tent. But it’s still easier then working an extra few weeks for another few $100s ~We’d rather be out there enjoying our adventures then sitting at home drawing circles around what’s left to buy~
Had the same thing happen to mine when it flipped back on itself. I went to Bunnings and bought a strip of alluminium about the same length and riveted over the eyelit, drilled out through the same hole essentially making it thicker for the pole ends to go through and therefore much stronger. Easy fix.
Well said. You summed up the fallacy of "buy cheap, buy twice" motto in a nutshell. It ain't always the case. I've had my fair share of expensive gear exiting stage left. Now, time for me to get back into the Great Victoria Desert, cause there ain't no trolls out there ;) (and the city just sucks anyhow). Safe travels.
I agree with your review of the awning. I am on my 3rd one in about 6 years. The first one the rivets gave way which hold the awning to the bar and it fell off on a corrugated road. Thought i would buy a second, this one lasted about 4 years. Slept under it every night in the Simpson desert. When i didnt pack it away properly i rubbed holes in it with corrugated roads, duct tape worked well.Then one night in Bendethra got a lot of wind and a pole got bent. I got the a new one and totally deconstructed the old one, now i have extra canvas (with duct tape) and all but one pole, easy. I have not treated the well but i have been out in all types of weather with no problems.
For 99 clams they are awesome, had mine for 2 years, monthly-bimonthly use, its lasted the time, and in now way am I worried that if it does have a catastrophic break, its 100$ to replace it... brilliant. Awesome review. Subbed
Haha. My first 4wd was the 2.2 hilux, nobody knows what slow is until you've owned one. Having said that, i loved it. Once you were in the bush it was perfect, went anywhere, never let me down, quarter windows air con for FNQ conditions. I occasionally miss its simplicity but not on the highway on a hot day
rlhydn overland can you imagine the actual guys who’d want to write those exact things on this video but can’t because they’d literally become what I took the piss out of. It makes me happy. Also it only leaves pretty much good comments on the videos 😂
Finally mate a real video !! That old Kings fitted out Hilux still will almost go everywhere a ridiculous 150-200k 79 series will go. It’s more important to get out there and see Australia rather than spending obscene money on a 4x4 & telling everyone “it’s been to Fraser mate”. Bravo brother.
I love my budget kings awning. I love my low budget jeep that goes anywhere. I'm with you, I'd rather be out doing it than sitting at home or working my arse off trying to save up for it!
Forgot to say, it's super easy to turn that end piece around by drilling the rivets & sliding the awning out & then drill new holes on the fresh side. Then spend $5ish on new guy ropes that are less slippy & have proper adjusters so you can tension it properly to prevent blowouts on the new side 👍
Love the video mate. I'd rather see a$120 awning blow over the roof of my car than a $350 one. Just remember a Ferrari can go smash just as good as a barina.
I flip flop on the idea of buying a Kings awning (among other things). But part of me that makes me go towards them is if it is cheap to buy than the competitor than it will be a good starting point for me to figure out if it will work for me so that when it breaks i will get the expensive, better version of it. It works fairly well as if and when i decide something isnt for me, i havent wasted too much money. I think camping is always complicated because everyone have their own setup and needs and there is no one size fits all. That being said, this was a really informative little video. Thanks
We travellled Aus on a budget. No regrets as we travelled Aust aged in 20's not 50/60's...living life without huge debt & regrets is a bonus. Good practical video
I had the same issue as you wrt damage from wind. Christmas day on Sellicks beach (SA). There appears to be a thin layer of sand and then rock or something else underneath, so the sand screws would go through and the supplied pegs, just stopped short of going all the way in. A wind squall went under it and lifted it up and over the roof. Happened so quickly we didn't have time to stop it. Haven't looked at fixing it yet. Suppose I should. Would I buy another? Sure, but I would ensure I also have some longer sturdier pegs for when the others don't cut the mustard.
Love it too. So good to see people with a regular budget!! Also not everyone will be sponsored by alucab etc. Thanks for making me feel I can't go overlanding without having all the latest and perfect gear.
I use a spreader bar (ie: adjustable allie pole with Y clips to clip on the rails) between the two rail, and use plastic clamps (bulldog style) over the rail and clamp the velcro and tarp, or just the velcro to it self on tent upright poles, also on zips which open in high wind.
I have a $30 Dune awning that gets stuck to the roof with suction cups. It has two poles, two guy ropes, two pegs and can be used as a vehicle awning, trailer awning, swag awning, emergency trailer tarp or emergency space blanket. And it folds up to 50cm x 15cm x 3cm and weighs bugger-all. I would love to have a Bat Wing or Falcon Wing or Eclipse, but when it comes down to it, they would be overkill and just add extra dynamic weight up high and GVM down low.
I've had two in my rig for about 4 years and have been on top of some pretty big hills in the VHC with wind blowing through like a freight train. If you tie your guy ropes properly no problems 👌😎
I had a Tiger11 awning for about 5 years. the awning itself was great. The down fall was the cover. Being in the sun its brokedown and the water would get in and made the canvas go mouldy. When i got it. I pulled the pole apart glue and repunched the ends so they would pull out. and the straps broke down aswell... But it served me great. Got a new 2.5x2.5 with an led light for 120 recently.. Hate the ARB snobs.. Keep it up.
I still drive an old 84 slowlux and i love it , no speeding tickets or computer chips to fuck up . The KISS principle still works , and any awning is better than no awning . We didn;t have any of this fancy stuff when i was your age , and only farmers had 4WD cruisers . Learn to use what you have and have a good time !!!
Like you I also went out and bought Kings awnings and Roof Top Tent and have been using them every day for the last 20 months... And they are still holding together... Here is what I learnt about a few things... 1) Yep the velcro sucks but so does the velcro on other brands so I simply use gaffer tape to hold it down... 2) The 3 meter awning does better with a couple of Aldi poles in the middle - I have had my awning in extreme high winds and rain and recommend the extra poles... 3) Gaffer taping the awning tent velcro tags is also a good idea... 4) A little piece of galvanized tin folded over and pop riveted to the mounting point where the side poles sit in is an easy fix - mine also tore out during high winds... 5) I cross drilled the side poles and insert a pin to stop them from moving... 6) A cross bar on the additional side poles will keep the roof and the side verticals nice and secure and help prevent awning canvas flap... 7) I reinforced the floor of my folding RTT with 1.6mm Checkerplate alloy and the inside floors with 3mm marine ply to allow it to handle the extreme everyday use it receives but was never designed for... I do need to get a new mattress though... 8) I had a canvas maker turn 2 awning walls into a new fly cover for the RTT because I stupidly tore the original one - my fault... Fact is - most of my gear is Kings and like you everyone told me the gear won't last 6 months - well like I said 20 months and it is still doing the job... Works for me - including the KIngs Fridge which is simply a rebadged Waeco CF fridge...
Mickey Little that’s so good mate. You got the cheaper gear and made it work for you I love it. A bit of DIY and you’ve made the gear better than all the really expensive brands will ever be!!
I'd love a 79 series GXL but the price of them ! ! They are the best ! I know a bloke who was a accessory fitter for one of the big off road brands. His boss was fuming as all the guys who worked there had Kings everything fitted to their own vehicles. These guys know what works and what value for money is , they see it everyday. The big brands are not necessarily any better in quality , just over inflated prices. I've heard some of them rebadge Kings with their own label and add 100% mark up . Kings is great to show just how long Aussie consumers have been getting ripped off by the big brands. Happy camping guys n gals ! !
Yeh i was in a TJM once and think it might have been the darche draws were exactly the same as the kings set i had in my car. Even had the badge in the same spot. About 4 times the cost as well. TJM charge about 80-120 for a dirty gear bag as well. While i was in the store i ordered the kings one for about 25 bucks, hasnt let me down yet.
I totally agree. We go away every few months. I myself have the same awning, my mate has the super expensive fox wing. I would love the latter but for me ,the kings one has been hammered and is still serving. My only gripe being ,when it’s windy it’s not a one man job
Wow! Appreciate your honesty during the review. It was refreshing watching this. First video I’ve seen of yours. You’re refreshing, original & have put your own stamp on things with your laid back tell it how it is comedic style. Was a good watch.
Honest review .I have one too and it still going strong after 4 years .. I did however add those dog lead clips to the guy ropes as the cord would rub through the metal edges of the frame ..5 dollar upgrade..
Great video. I like your way thinking behind it all - Just because something might be 'twice as good' (but probably 3x the cost) doesn't mean it will make you any happier, it will likely just make you poorer! If it gets you out there and living your dream then what more value could you possibly want?! Keep it up mate.
Humerous! well done! Yes I have one as well. Pegging it down properly and having another person to help setup or pack up in strong winds will mean it lasts longer than the car its mounted on.
An entertaining informative report Matt. My aviation and other technical careers background has informed me what quality is and Kings gear is not. But you get what you pay for and I have already modified the corner eyelets to prevent further bending including a second Tentworld pole halfway along the extended pole to prevent sagging. John
Great review, a little harsh on kings as many of the so called higher brands are selling identical product from the same Chinese manufacturing plants and same production lines branded differently at up to 5 times the price. I’ve been a GM in the industry for years and had contracts to sell the highest name brands in the industry and the quality difference is very marginal
Had a Kings awning for 3 years, always does its job. Almost purchased an Engel ANZAC 40lt fridge in 2015 for about $1,300, but in the end my $499 Aldi fridge won the day, its been in the back of my ute since 2015 and still going strong. I agree that it is horses for courses. Still have an ARB snatch strap that is over 20 years old, no Kings back then.
I have 5 kings awnings, 3 on the truck & 2 on the trailer. There's no way I would have purchased that many if I was buying top of the line & now I am spoilt for choice.
Their stuff can be a bit hit and miss but I've got a bit of their gear and for the most part it's pretty good. I can't fault the roof top tent and can't really tell the quality difference between it ($800) and a $3K brand name one. Only issue I've had with the awning is the velcro strips that hold it in place when packed away all tore the stitching out. I just replaced them with a single piece that loops behind the aluminium frame. Have also got their led camping strip light kit and the jump starter pack, cannot fault them. Like you said, it makes camping more affordable for the everyday family and you can see how popular 4wding & camping has become since they opened up shop.
Tip . When travelling on rough roads what can happen is the aluminium rivets that hold the main body of the awning together vibrate off so adding extra screws etc could be advisable .
Good lighthearted honest review thanks Overland Travellers. I am about to buy one because its on special! Just one question... is it easy to pack back in the carry case on your own?
I’ve had my kings awning a couple of years and it’s been great, bit mouldy but does the job. I haven’t had any issues with the Velcro undoing with windy weather but it’s always pegged down & nothing has broken on it yet and has survived Cape York & OTT corrugations and a heap of other trips long and short and all my bush bashing getting hit with tree branches the bag has held up great but totally hearing you on that pole flex with the awning tent attached it looks bad. It’s also got a few little holes burnt in the canvas from the camp fire and still hasn’t leaked in the rain. About the only thing I don’t like about it is when the awning tent is attached at the front in the sail track you can’t put an awning wall out from the front for some shade & coverage unless you spin your awning tent around and attach it to the sail track at the back of the awning & let the front of the tent be saggy. Loved my kings spotties which I’ve now replaced with a kings light bar and love my kings big daddy swag it’s never leaked even in torrential rain but don’t love my kings air compressor that died after the second use and my dash cam that also died after 3 months... other half only buys the big names for his Hilux and has a darche awning and the quality difference is definitely there his canvas is a hell of a lot thicker can’t even see the sun through it and it just feels more sturdy but also 3 times the price & his zipper on the bag is a pain in the butt it always gets stuck.
Mate the good thing is you are doing it and learning heaps about what works and what doesn't, what you really need and what you don't.....then as you get a bigger budget down the line you will know what to spend your coin on!
U sum it up perfectly. Gotta love how this video has & is being referred to in many websites in relation to awnings. To date NOBODY has a review (that I've seen) to match your honest opinion. I'm definitely not a Kings fan with my personal experience of purchases but maybe their awning with your review is actually worth buying & yep I'm on a budget lol
Good stuff and I agree. It is way better to actually be out there doing it than sitting in the 'burbs trying to save up for gear that may (or may not) be perfect. We have the Aldi awning and the annexe section and really, we like it. It does what it needs to do without much mucking around. You are almost a rolling ad for Kings and we are becoming one for Aldi and the gear probably comes out of the same factory looking at your awning. One place a lot of people don't necessarily look for gear is in op-shops. We have got a heap of gear there and have saved a huge amount of money. It does sometimes mean being patient but if you can pick up some amazing bargains. Just today we got a Lowepro camera bag that retails for about $150 for $3! Op-shops are brilliant places for budget gear that is sometimes top quality too.
Really good mate! I have a BA Falcon Ute with a full try and hard top canopy with vinyl sides. That’s budget! I have two Kings awnings mounted to passenger side and rear. She’s been from Rocky to Darwin. Rocky to Mt. Buffalo in Victoria and back. She’s camped on all the beaches between Sydney and Yeppoon. This year she’s going to Cooktown. I have shit loads of Kings gear and it serves me well....on a budget.
We have several Kings products and have never had anything fail on us whereas some of the so called brand name items have never managed to get through their warranty period.... And my experience with the brand name sellers is they make you jump through hoops to make a warranty claim...
Yeah awesome video i have the kings fridge been on the back of my ute for 2 years in the weather/rain still going strong so for the money its pretty good..
I have the V8 79 series single cab with the you bute camper body ARB suspension and bar work, etc. But the awning is Kings and always was going to be. And I have just got the 270 Kings awning, for all the reasons you outlined. And if they die, I will just replace them, but I haven't had a problem yet
Had 2 3x2 awnings loved them. No issues. Blew over once in high winds and bend abit but all straightened up fine. Also have kings osram 9" lights, recovery kit and a big daddy swag. Great stuff all around so far from 4wd supercenter.
Good review. I think the best description of Kings gear is that it is "value for money" Sure it's not the best, but it works and you're not paying a premium price for it. I'm a huge fan of home made gear, which can be better than bought and of course customized to your needs. I know that I'm a bit older, but years ago an awning was just a strung up canvas, mine still is. I think that the focus should be on, what can I do with what I can afford and not that, I can't do anything because I cant afford the best gear. Mike and Mal started with an old Land Rover as did Malcolm Douglas and nothing stopped those blokes. I admire your attitude of having a go with what you have. It's a very Australian attitude. Keep up the good work, I have subscribed...
Clive Webb exactly right mate! It’s funny to some people even all my “budget” gear would be more than they would ever need or want. I bet your strung up canvas kept you just and dry and out of the sun. Cheers for the follow mate.
Great review. Thanks! Btw, the storage boxes from Kmart - do you have a link? Bc I’ve been looking for ages for boxes with straight sides rather than the cone-shaped side walls you usually see. It’s just wasted space. Thanks again!
I had an ARB awning, now I have a Kings awning. My Ute lives outside; 6 months into the ARB awning being on my vehicle and living out side a shop; the whole bag started to degrade, it literally fell apart. The straps to keep it held together fell apart and the zippers broke. 6 months into the Kings awning in the same conditions, it still looks brand new. Even if some of the more expensive gear does last longer, will it last twice as long? Doubt it.
I just loved ur impressions!! ...and if it's ur only option then yes it's better than no option. Wise world and an entertaining video. I will be buying one of these, and yes I am on a budget, and yes I will treat it accordingly. There is always someone out there with bigger and better, but a good driving line with a less capable vehicle can be almost as good as others - especially if you add the Kings budget 12000lb winch!! It may be budget, but still performs perfectly. Thanks again for a great video, cheers.
I like this guy. His not Stupid, he lives within his Means. You can always add on & strengthen what gear you have to improve it as you go along to suit your needs On ya Mate. Keep it Real, where all not loaded up with Cash.
I like the comment about being out amongst it rather than sitting at home saving for the fanciest gear. I've got a Kings awning, and some other things, and it's fine, especially for the price. I spent up big on the electrical and fridge so that I never have hot beer. But things like awnings, cooking gear etc you can easily run the cheaper gear.
Anthony Gatley it’s amazing what you can actually get for such a low price these days. The gap is closing! Cheap stuff getting better and pricey stuff getting worse?
Hi i just watched your video never seen your videos before on our Hilux we have a kings awning and on the prado we have a arb awning guess witch one broke first arb one did
I've heard a great tip a few times before that I love, buy what you want budget, if it breaks, and you want to replace it, then buy a better quality one, if it doesn't break, you've saved money, and if you didn't use it enough you can either buy another budget one or not buy one if you feel it's a waste
The main consumer for the 4x4/camping caravanning industry is retired boomers with 100,s of thousands to spend. That's why the gear is way overpriced. If it wasn't for Kings a lot of people couldn't afford to get out there.
@I'lleatyou Nah, I've been on 2 month trips into the outback including simpson crossing with only an esky swag and a $20 cooker. I ran out of ice mid way thru the simpson and had to drink hot beer though. But people want to take their wife's girlfriends kids etc, that's probably not going to happen with out some comfort.
Yep, agree with all your points. Onto our second Kings 2.5x2.5 awning after undoing the guy ropes before we had a coffee only to watch our awning get blown over the top of our setup from a freak wind on an otherwise perfectly calm day. It got horribly bent from that but I reckon the other brands that I've seen would have ended up just the same. Shit happens. FYI, we used a Kings Big Daddy swag through the Simpson, got to Alice Springs and checked out the massive range of swags at 'Desert Dwellers', mate the top of the range stuff was EXACTLY the same as our Kings swag right down to the smallest detail. I couldn't believe it. I'd be cautious about some of their gear, but awnings and swags......save yourself the money. Great review.
This could be the best review on the internet ever
Agreed
Big call, u obviously haven't seen my comprehensive review on left handed screwdrivers
If I ever felt bored camping, I’ll just put this video on and take a shot every time he says budget or cheap.
Normal couple, normal car, down to earth, love it.
I dont mean to be so off topic but does anyone know a method to get back into an Instagram account?
I was stupid forgot my login password. I love any assistance you can give me!
@Dakari Easton instablaster :)
@Creed Wesson Thanks for your reply. I got to the site through google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff now.
Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Creed Wesson it did the trick and I now got access to my account again. I am so happy!
Thank you so much you saved my ass :D
@Dakari Easton glad I could help :)
well said. I have the same exact conversation with people all the time. Kings have filled a massive gap in the 4x4 accessory / camping market. I have purchased several of there products and I am more then happy with what i got for the money i spent and will continue to purchase there products.
I just have a 2.5m x 3.0 m tarp from Bunnings for $22. I set that up above my swag to protect me from dew and rain. Keeps the swag dry for morning pack up so I can hit the tracks quicker. My budget is really tight but I don't want to miss out on the great outdoors. Great review mate, funny as hell and very informative.
I really respect that mate, cheap and easy, can still go out and have a awesome time on a budget
Hats off, you have your priorities right
I've got the Aldi version (which is identical) and recently woke up to discover it had collected a good 100 litres of water in the rain overnight. With the poles flexed half a metre I thought it was a goner, but once I'd tipped it out and bent the poles back a bit, it's like new! Works fine! For 100 bucks, can't really ask for more than that!
So it also collects your water while you sleep then provides shelter when you're awake, can't argue with that.
I've had a kings awning for 3 years, use it almost every weekend and it's still as new, if you look after your stuff and use it properly you'll rarely have any troubles 👍
I was going to comment the same thing Iv had small tree branches put some holes in it but if you don’t camp under trees and you look after them use the tie down ropes properly and keep the zipper dust free they will last years
Had ours a few years and use it now and again. Not worth us spending heaps if not using frequently. So for the price it suits us.
Just bought one for my Subie Outback!
I've got one on the side of my van and have the tent attachment (which is also cheap as chips). I sleep in the van and the tent/awning is like a huge add-on room. Went to Carnarvon Gorge not long ago and had to drive from campground to NP entrance every day. Could pack the entire setup down or put it up again in 10-15min. Mobile, flexible, tons of space, cheap. Brilliant.
I had an old 2.4 engine, no power steering, and it rusted away - but it never stopped, and the air con was amazing
Love ya work mate, you nailed it when you said if Kings (Budget Stuff) is all you can afford its better than nothing, if it gets you out camping on the weekends its better than not going at all. No bullshit, informative, funny video. 10 out of 10 fella. :-)
Dave Riding thanks a lot mate I appreciate the feedback! Doing a video like this I was a bit unsure but in the end just wanted to entertain and inform a bit so getting a comment like that helps! Cheers and safe travels.
It's really refreshing to hear some honest commentary from a regular person on a regular budget. For the novice, starting out seems daunting, with shows like All4Adventure, showing off their big rigs and hi-spec gear. I'm actually surprised 4WD Action continued to be sponsored by them and use their gear for so long, but impressed at the same time. The message is clear here: you don't need to be on 6 figures to be able to afford to go off-road. We recently bought a D40 Nav, and yes... I am fully aware of all of its shortcomings. But for our budget, it ticked a lot of boxes. We paid around $13K for a 2008 model and have gone in with the budget-mindset, and the intention that the day to go "all-out" might be more a long-term plan depending on finance. One of the wise things my wife said was that we don't know what we do and don't really need at this point, and therefore no point in spending thousands and thousands kitting it up, only to find we end up selling the whole thing in a few years, or finding we don't even use half of it.
So with this in mind, I reluctantly went with the cheap Kings awning... same 2.5x3m. And you are right: it does the job. We even got 2 x free side-walls as gifts because with the money I saved on the awning, we could also afford all the other things we needed like an air compressor, toolkit etc..
The way I see it, we're a lot better prepared to go off-road now, given we got a lifted Nav with extra accessories, for a cheap price vs. buying a shiny, newer stock-standard fourbie for the same price and no mods/accessories (which I also probably would have been too afraid to get a scratch on).
Dylan that’s a good way to go mate, start simple and budget and if you’re going out and about more and more and find that you’re pushing the limits of your setup then upgrade. I think with all the expensive rigs on the internet and tv getting around people are starting to think they need the same to go bush.
For about $5 you could reinforce the torn pole holes with some right angle alloy and a few rivits. 👍
Great vid mate. I have a Kings Awning on my 200 series and it gets hammered and it's never let me down. I removed the two yellow strings and used two small bow shackles in the rope holes. Then i attached two spring loaded ropes and bingo. I can roll the awning up with everything attached and then tuck the ropes in before i do up the zips. Pegging it down is the key to keeping them safe.
cheers and safe travels.
Please share some pics @Brad Haines
We did our trip with a 3x5 metre tarp, two poles and a spreader bar. All of which we already owned previously as part of a larger setup for long term camping at a single location. Skip the spreader bar and if there's no wind and use less or more ropes/guy lines as necessary for the conditions. The car side of the tarp is tied to the roof rack and bull bar and with practice it only needed five minutes to setup properly and it easily handled wind that had trees falling over when we found ourselves camping on an exposed ridge during a hail storm. Also we found we didn't actually need it as often as we expected. Most of the time we skipped the tarp and just had a single pole a guy line to the car. Used that to hang overhead lighting, wet towels/cloths and a rubbish bag - setup for that was much quicker than any awning and without the tarp no amount of wind could knock it over. If we wanted shade we found a tree. If it was raining we setup the tarp.
What is the point of all these comments?? Ok your clothesline is quicker to set up then any awning WOW great,
Great video, you just about summed up my budget build, been using my setup for 5 years now & everything is still usable, my rear awning has the same damage as yours after a huge gust of wind came over the lake while i was packing up, i fixed it pretty much the same way as you did & am now more aware when packing up camp, I also brought a cheap 100 liter stainless steel duel zone fridge freezer 12, 24, & 240 volt from ebay for under $500 delivered thinking i could then take my time saving up for a better known brand one, well that was 5 years & 100,000k's ago & its still going strong & doing its intended job, thanks for a great video, its good to see others getting out there living there dream & having fun on a realistic budget.
totally agree, after buying a 8 yro troopy 15 years ago, I now travel with less every year, everything is as basic as possible and able to be re-purposed or adapted to my needs where ever I am. I just have a 2x silver tarp and plenty of ropes
Spot on reasoning. I got a gust with an awning wall on and it bent the side bar. Kings sent me a new one for $30. Rivets are coming loose where it attaches to the roofrack, cheap insurance is drilling them out and upgrading them one by one so they don't shear on a corrugated road.
Spot on mate! I have had a Kings awning (that I bought 2nd hand for $50) on my Ute for the past 5 years. Yeah the Velcro is garbage but it’s actually held up great. You just need to be mindful that if it is gusty to park a different way and let the car shelter the awning or use the ropes to tie it down. Most beach trips I do it just gets shoved into the sand and it’s job done.
My new rig is being built at the moment and I went out and got a new kings awning for the canopy. It gets the job done.
I got my awning from Aldi, keeps the sun off, I had the same thing with the eyelet on mine, it still hooks in though. I bent it in as well, I also got a kings 60 litre fridge love it, 98 amp hour deep cycle battery, love it, got floor tarp, Tyre nut remover, solar panels, I haven’t died in the bush yet, their product are great, had 1 issue it was fixed fast , Kings is becoming more popular cause people need to save,
Re Hilux, had a 92 dual cab 2.8 diesel, did the loop in it in 99 - did a LOT of gravel, never missed a beat, only stoppage was a flat tyre and we were on a mining road in the Pilbara without permission (and everyone stopped to offer assistance in changing the wheel), so thought that was sorta deserved. Re Awning - bought an ARB one years ago, fitted to my Prado, did a front yard put up on the first week-end after fitting, and a seam stitching split/tore. Back to ARB, would replace (with the same product/quality?), not repair. Took it to local van annexe maker, she double sticked every seam. Re poles into ends, they slipped out in a wind gust, so I drilled holes thru the ends and fitted split pins to each - fixed and locked in. Bought the 3 sides and they’re brilliant (rain never falls vertically in my experience). Good review, all camp gear needs individualisation, maintenance and repair, and those that do not tailor and/or maintain their equipment are the ones who don’t enjoy Bush camping as much.
My Kings awning works just fine.. My Champagne tastes compete with a beer budget... i use it on the van about 40 day/nights a year.. if i was to replace it every 12 months, I would still be ahead of the game over four years.. You are so right, I want an awning now, not in 4 years when I can afford the Rolls Royce Deluxe you-beaut thing that could still get screwed up in a storm... Cheap at double the price if ya ask me.
I had a kings awning, hardly used it and the rivets had sheared off. It was out of warranty. Contacted 4wd supacentre and got a replacement free of charge.
Had the same thing happen - re riveted 👌
Deffinatly agree with you a 79s crazy decked out would be mint but it’s just not feasible nor is it needed.
Most of our rigs gear is either passed down or secondhand Nothing I love more then picking up an awesome deal simply because someone has changed there setup.
Okay iv spent some time fixing the draws and rooftop tent. But it’s still easier then working an extra few weeks for another few $100s
~We’d rather be out there enjoying our adventures then sitting at home drawing circles around what’s left to buy~
Had the same thing happen to mine when it flipped back on itself. I went to Bunnings and bought a strip of alluminium about the same length and riveted over the eyelit, drilled out through the same hole essentially making it thicker for the pole ends to go through and therefore much stronger. Easy fix.
Very honest and down to earth. Best review I've ever seen.
Well said. You summed up the fallacy of "buy cheap, buy twice" motto in a nutshell. It ain't always the case. I've had my fair share of expensive gear exiting stage left. Now, time for me to get back into the Great Victoria Desert, cause there ain't no trolls out there ;) (and the city just sucks anyhow). Safe travels.
I agree with your review of the awning. I am on my 3rd one in about 6 years. The first one the rivets gave way which hold the awning to the bar and it fell off on a corrugated road. Thought i would buy a second, this one lasted about 4 years. Slept under it every night in the Simpson desert. When i didnt pack it away properly i rubbed holes in it with corrugated roads, duct tape worked well.Then one night in Bendethra got a lot of wind and a pole got bent. I got the a new one and totally deconstructed the old one, now i have extra canvas (with duct tape) and all but one pole, easy. I have not treated the well but i have been out in all types of weather with no problems.
granted 2.0 good to hear you just did simple fixes rather than throw it out.
Good honest review mate. Like everyone I also have one and love it. Occasional use and for the price, can't go wrong. Great video. Cheers
For 99 clams they are awesome, had mine for 2 years, monthly-bimonthly use, its lasted the time, and in now way am I worried that if it does have a catastrophic break, its 100$ to replace it... brilliant. Awesome review. Subbed
Agree. Got one too and more than happy with it especially as for the occasional use it gets. Used sensibly and taken care of it will last.
Absolutely makes perfect sense very practical review and cant wait for the next one .
Haha. My first 4wd was the 2.2 hilux, nobody knows what slow is until you've owned one. Having said that, i loved it. Once you were in the bush it was perfect, went anywhere, never let me down, quarter windows air con for FNQ conditions. I occasionally miss its simplicity but not on the highway on a hot day
Represented the Trolls of The Internet perfectly 😁 End of the day, the best awning is the one you have ...and use!
rlhydn overland can you imagine the actual guys who’d want to write those exact things on this video but can’t because they’d literally become what I took the piss out of. It makes me happy. Also it only leaves pretty much good comments on the videos 😂
Finally mate a real video !! That old Kings fitted out Hilux still will almost go everywhere a ridiculous 150-200k 79 series will go. It’s more important to get out there and see Australia rather than spending obscene money on a 4x4 & telling everyone “it’s been to Fraser mate”. Bravo brother.
I love my budget kings awning. I love my low budget jeep that goes anywhere. I'm with you, I'd rather be out doing it than sitting at home or working my arse off trying to save up for it!
Forgot to say, it's super easy to turn that end piece around by drilling the rivets & sliding the awning out & then drill new holes on the fresh side. Then spend $5ish on new guy ropes that are less slippy & have proper adjusters so you can tension it properly to prevent blowouts on the new side 👍
Love the video mate. I'd rather see a$120 awning blow over the roof of my car than a $350 one.
Just remember a Ferrari can go smash just as good as a barina.
Try $1249... if you want Darche's 270 with walls. Fucking ridiculous.
Welll said
I flip flop on the idea of buying a Kings awning (among other things). But part of me that makes me go towards them is if it is cheap to buy than the competitor than it will be a good starting point for me to figure out if it will work for me so that when it breaks i will get the expensive, better version of it. It works fairly well as if and when i decide something isnt for me, i havent wasted too much money. I think camping is always complicated because everyone have their own setup and needs and there is no one size fits all.
That being said, this was a really informative little video. Thanks
Emma Ridd I think that’s a good way to go about it, start with something basi. I really think this awning will suit 90% of people.
Haha dude I love the fact you don't have a 79s and your just a normal guy, great edits funny as and creative, subscribed!!
2,808,892 views #1 ON TRENDING thanks mate glad you liked it!
We travellled Aus on a budget. No regrets as we travelled Aust aged in 20's not 50/60's...living life without huge debt & regrets is a bonus. Good practical video
I had the same issue as you wrt damage from wind. Christmas day on Sellicks beach (SA). There appears to be a thin layer of sand and then rock or something else underneath, so the sand screws would go through and the supplied pegs, just stopped short of going all the way in. A wind squall went under it and lifted it up and over the roof. Happened so quickly we didn't have time to stop it. Haven't looked at fixing it yet. Suppose I should.
Would I buy another? Sure, but I would ensure I also have some longer sturdier pegs for when the others don't cut the mustard.
Love it too. So good to see people with a regular budget!! Also not everyone will be sponsored by alucab etc. Thanks for making me feel I can't go overlanding without having all the latest and perfect gear.
Anna Lawrence that’s it, don’t feel like you won’t make it anywhere with an older vehicle or budget gear.
I use a spreader bar (ie: adjustable allie pole with Y clips to clip on the rails) between the two rail, and use plastic clamps (bulldog style) over the rail and clamp the velcro and tarp, or just the velcro to it self on tent upright poles, also on zips which open in high wind.
I replaced the spigots with longer ones. The extra length goes through both holes, making it a bit more of a +ve fit, bit stronger too.
I just bought the Canadian version of this by offroading gear and so far am pretty happy with it and the price.
I have a $30 Dune awning that gets stuck to the roof with suction cups. It has two poles, two guy ropes, two pegs and can be used as a vehicle awning, trailer awning, swag awning, emergency trailer tarp or emergency space blanket. And it folds up to 50cm x 15cm x 3cm and weighs bugger-all. I would love to have a Bat Wing or Falcon Wing or Eclipse, but when it comes down to it, they would be overkill and just add extra dynamic weight up high and GVM down low.
I've had two in my rig for about 4 years and have been on top of some pretty big hills in the VHC with wind blowing through like a freight train. If you tie your guy ropes properly no problems 👌😎
I had a Tiger11 awning for about 5 years. the awning itself was great. The down fall was the cover. Being in the sun its brokedown and the water would get in and made the canvas go mouldy. When i got it. I pulled the pole apart glue and repunched the ends so they would pull out. and the straps broke down aswell... But it served me great. Got a new 2.5x2.5 with an led light for 120 recently.. Hate the ARB snobs.. Keep it up.
I still drive an old 84 slowlux and i love it , no speeding tickets or computer chips to fuck up . The KISS principle still works , and any awning is better than no awning . We didn;t have any of this fancy stuff when i was your age , and only farmers had 4WD cruisers . Learn to use what you have and have a good time !!!
Like you I also went out and bought Kings awnings and Roof Top Tent and have been using them every day for the last 20 months... And they are still holding together... Here is what I learnt about a few things...
1) Yep the velcro sucks but so does the velcro on other brands so I simply use gaffer tape to hold it down...
2) The 3 meter awning does better with a couple of Aldi poles in the middle - I have had my awning in extreme high winds and rain and recommend the extra poles...
3) Gaffer taping the awning tent velcro tags is also a good idea...
4) A little piece of galvanized tin folded over and pop riveted to the mounting point where the side poles sit in is an easy fix - mine also tore out during high winds...
5) I cross drilled the side poles and insert a pin to stop them from moving...
6) A cross bar on the additional side poles will keep the roof and the side verticals nice and secure and help prevent awning canvas flap...
7) I reinforced the floor of my folding RTT with 1.6mm Checkerplate alloy and the inside floors with 3mm marine ply to allow it to handle the extreme everyday use it receives but was never designed for... I do need to get a new mattress though...
8) I had a canvas maker turn 2 awning walls into a new fly cover for the RTT because I stupidly tore the original one - my fault...
Fact is - most of my gear is Kings and like you everyone told me the gear won't last 6 months - well like I said 20 months and it is still doing the job... Works for me - including the KIngs Fridge which is simply a rebadged Waeco CF fridge...
Mickey Little that’s so good mate. You got the cheaper gear and made it work for you I love it. A bit of DIY and you’ve made the gear better than all the really expensive brands will ever be!!
I'd love a 79 series GXL but the price of them ! ! They are the best !
I know a bloke who was a accessory fitter for one of the big off road brands. His boss was fuming as all the guys who worked there had Kings everything fitted to their own vehicles. These guys know what works and what value for money is , they see it everyday. The big brands are not necessarily any better in quality , just over inflated prices. I've heard some of them rebadge Kings with their own label and add 100% mark up . Kings is great to show just how long Aussie consumers have been getting ripped off by the big brands.
Happy camping guys n gals ! !
Yeh i was in a TJM once and think it might have been the darche draws were exactly the same as the kings set i had in my car. Even had the badge in the same spot. About 4 times the cost as well. TJM charge about 80-120 for a dirty gear bag as well. While i was in the store i ordered the kings one for about 25 bucks, hasnt let me down yet.
I totally agree. We go away every few months. I myself have the same awning, my mate has the super expensive fox wing. I would love the latter but for me ,the kings one has been hammered and is still serving. My only gripe being ,when it’s windy it’s not a one man job
Wow! Appreciate your honesty during the review. It was refreshing watching this. First video I’ve seen of yours. You’re refreshing, original & have put your own stamp on things with your laid back tell it how it is comedic style. Was a good watch.
Mr Hodgo thanks mate really appreciate the feedback. Glad you had a laugh.
Honest review .I have one too and it still going strong after 4 years ..
I did however add those dog lead clips to the guy ropes as the cord would rub through the metal edges of the frame ..5 dollar upgrade..
Dog Lead clips?
howd you mount the awning to your roof racks? looking at doing similar but not sure with the horns
Great video. I like your way thinking behind it all - Just because something might be 'twice as good' (but probably 3x the cost) doesn't mean it will make you any happier, it will likely just make you poorer! If it gets you out there and living your dream then what more value could you possibly want?! Keep it up mate.
Humerous! well done! Yes I have one as well.
Pegging it down properly and having another person to help setup or
pack up in strong winds will mean it lasts longer than the car its mounted on.
Good video mate!! Nice to see someone doing an honest review for gear that most people will have!
This is some good advice. It's so easy to get caught up with the latest and greatest and miss the trip. Good thoughts.
Joseph Lawrence thanks mate! We’re defiantly having fun :)
An entertaining informative report Matt. My aviation and other technical careers background has informed me what quality is and Kings gear is not. But you get what you pay for and I have already modified the corner eyelets to prevent further bending including a second Tentworld pole halfway along the extended pole to prevent sagging. John
Great review, a little harsh on kings as many of the so called higher brands are selling identical product from the same Chinese manufacturing plants and same production lines branded differently at up to 5 times the price. I’ve been a GM in the industry for years and had contracts to sell the highest name brands in the industry and the quality difference is very marginal
Had a Kings awning for 3 years, always does its job. Almost purchased an Engel ANZAC 40lt fridge in 2015 for about $1,300, but in the end my $499 Aldi fridge won the day, its been in the back of my ute since 2015 and still going strong. I agree that it is horses for courses. Still have an ARB snatch strap that is over 20 years old, no Kings back then.
191941pilot that’s good to hear about the Aldi fridge as we have the same one! And hasn’t let us down yet fingers crossed 🤞
I have 5 kings awnings, 3 on the truck & 2 on the trailer. There's no way I would have purchased that many if I was buying top of the line & now I am spoilt for choice.
Their stuff can be a bit hit and miss but I've got a bit of their gear and for the most part it's pretty good. I can't fault the roof top tent and can't really tell the quality difference between it ($800) and a $3K brand name one. Only issue I've had with the awning is the velcro strips that hold it in place when packed away all tore the stitching out. I just replaced them with a single piece that loops behind the aluminium frame. Have also got their led camping strip light kit and the jump starter pack, cannot fault them. Like you said, it makes camping more affordable for the everyday family and you can see how popular 4wding & camping has become since they opened up shop.
7:45...I recognise those bed mount riser gussets on the truck frame. .so distinctive....my old school Tacoma had same frame.
Tip . When travelling on rough roads what can happen is the aluminium rivets that hold the main body of the awning together vibrate off so adding extra screws etc could be advisable .
billy boab good to know! I might have to do that soon, roads a getting rougher.
Bro its a palace compared to what some people have your a very fortunate man👍🏼
Anthony T I agree
Good lighthearted honest review thanks Overland Travellers. I am about to buy one because its on special! Just one question... is it easy to pack back in the carry case on your own?
Good on you I have a rule if I cannot fix it I wont take it? (and I think every one had a Awning blow over the top)
I’ve had my kings awning a couple of years and it’s been great, bit mouldy but does the job. I haven’t had any issues with the Velcro undoing with windy weather but it’s always pegged down & nothing has broken on it yet and has survived Cape York & OTT corrugations and a heap of other trips long and short and all my bush bashing getting hit with tree branches the bag has held up great but totally hearing you on that pole flex with the awning tent attached it looks bad. It’s also got a few little holes burnt in the canvas from the camp fire and still hasn’t leaked in the rain. About the only thing I don’t like about it is when the awning tent is attached at the front in the sail track you can’t put an awning wall out from the front for some shade & coverage unless you spin your awning tent around and attach it to the sail track at the back of the awning & let the front of the tent be saggy. Loved my kings spotties which I’ve now replaced with a kings light bar and love my kings big daddy swag it’s never leaked even in torrential rain but don’t love my kings air compressor that died after the second use and my dash cam that also died after 3 months... other half only buys the big names for his Hilux and has a darche awning and the quality difference is definitely there his canvas is a hell of a lot thicker can’t even see the sun through it and it just feels more sturdy but also 3 times the price & his zipper on the bag is a pain in the butt it always gets stuck.
Mate the good thing is you are doing it and learning heaps about what works and what doesn't, what you really need and what you don't.....then as you get a bigger budget down the line you will know what to spend your coin on!
Good review mate, we all love good gear but budget gear can work well too. I have some Kings gear and it works well. Cheers Steve
U sum it up perfectly. Gotta love how this video has & is being referred to in many websites in relation to awnings. To date NOBODY has a review (that I've seen) to match your honest opinion. I'm definitely not a Kings fan with my personal experience of purchases but maybe their awning with your review is actually worth buying & yep I'm on a budget lol
Good stuff and I agree. It is way better to actually be out there doing it than sitting in the 'burbs trying to save up for gear that may (or may not) be perfect. We have the Aldi awning and the annexe section and really, we like it. It does what it needs to do without much mucking around. You are almost a rolling ad for Kings and we are becoming one for Aldi and the gear probably comes out of the same factory looking at your awning. One place a lot of people don't necessarily look for gear is in op-shops. We have got a heap of gear there and have saved a huge amount of money. It does sometimes mean being patient but if you can pick up some amazing bargains. Just today we got a Lowepro camera bag that retails for about $150 for $3! Op-shops are brilliant places for budget gear that is sometimes top quality too.
Really good mate! I have a BA Falcon Ute with a full try and hard top canopy with vinyl sides. That’s budget! I have two Kings awnings mounted to passenger side and rear. She’s been from Rocky to Darwin. Rocky to Mt. Buffalo in Victoria and back. She’s camped on all the beaches between Sydney and Yeppoon. This year she’s going to Cooktown. I have shit loads of Kings gear and it serves me well....on a budget.
lol, same bit broke on my King's awning. I put a small strip of alum on it with a new hole for the pole. Selling it today.
Always late with a 2.8
Wayne Gveric probably never miss a day though.
My old 2.8 used to max out at 105km/hr haha. Good times
But you will get there.....Eventually....
Foot to the floor in a 2.4 ;)
but never pay for speeding ! think of all those $$$ you save!
Hey mate, great vid,
how have you attached the kings tent to you canopy and have you encountered any issue with that attachment?
We have several Kings products and have never had anything fail on us whereas some of the so called brand name items have never managed to get through their warranty period.... And my experience with the brand name sellers is they make you jump through hoops to make a warranty claim...
Yeah awesome video i have the kings fridge been on the back of my ute for 2 years in the weather/rain still going strong so for the money its pretty good..
I have the V8 79 series single cab with the you bute camper body ARB suspension and bar work, etc. But the awning is Kings and always was going to be. And I have just got the 270 Kings awning, for all the reasons you outlined. And if they die, I will just replace them, but I haven't had a problem yet
Had 2 3x2 awnings loved them. No issues. Blew over once in high winds and bend abit but all straightened up fine.
Also have kings osram 9" lights, recovery kit and a big daddy swag. Great stuff all around so far from 4wd supercenter.
cruushedbyiirony yep I have the 7” spotties and snap strap (and heaps of other stuff) and it’s been great.
Good review. I think the best description of Kings gear is that it is "value for money" Sure it's not the best, but it works and you're not paying a premium price for it. I'm a huge fan of home made gear, which can be better than bought and of course customized to your needs. I know that I'm a bit older, but years ago an awning was just a strung up canvas, mine still is. I think that the focus should be on, what can I do with what I can afford and not that, I can't do anything because I cant afford the best gear. Mike and Mal started with an old Land Rover as did Malcolm Douglas and nothing stopped those blokes. I admire your attitude of having a go with what you have. It's a very Australian attitude. Keep up the good work, I have subscribed...
Clive Webb exactly right mate! It’s funny to some people even all my “budget” gear would be more than they would ever need or want. I bet your strung up canvas kept you just and dry and out of the sun. Cheers for the follow mate.
Hi, just joined your channel and loving it. With the velcro I suggest making a hole through both sides and put press studs on them.
The Velcro on mine is not enough long enough to reach the other side of the pole to touch 😡
@@user-qi3nb8dz8w You could join Velcro to Velcro and make it longer.
@@SteveMrW that's what I have done. They really are being stingy with the Velcro, it's pathetic some of the pieces on mine
Legend! The best review I've seen in a time!
Well....I like my Kings gear!👍
angelodaddazio I love it as well.... don’t know what I’d do without it.
Great review. Thanks! Btw, the storage boxes from Kmart - do you have a link? Bc I’ve been looking for ages for boxes with straight sides rather than the cone-shaped side walls you usually see. It’s just wasted space. Thanks again!
I had an ARB awning, now I have a Kings awning.
My Ute lives outside;
6 months into the ARB awning being on my vehicle and living out side a shop; the whole bag started to degrade, it literally fell apart. The straps to keep it held together fell apart and the zippers broke.
6 months into the Kings awning in the same conditions, it still looks brand new.
Even if some of the more expensive gear does last longer, will it last twice as long? Doubt it.
Thomas Stanley that’s pretty interesting! Good to know though.
man i cant wait to have a setup like this and live the dream
Noticed the power hub that you didn't mention. I have one for tent camping, power it with a solar blanket. They're excellent kit!
Could you put a spreader bar in to stop the poles bending in
I just loved ur impressions!! ...and if it's ur only option then yes it's better than no option. Wise world and an entertaining video. I will be buying one of these, and yes I am on a budget, and yes I will treat it accordingly. There is always someone out there with bigger and better, but a good driving line with a less capable vehicle can be almost as good as others - especially if you add the Kings budget 12000lb winch!! It may be budget, but still performs perfectly. Thanks again for a great video, cheers.
I like this guy. His not Stupid, he lives within his Means. You can always add on & strengthen what gear you have to improve it as you go along to suit your needs
On ya Mate. Keep it Real, where all not loaded up with Cash.
Ours has crossed Australia 3 times through outback QLD, S A and WA no problems
I like the comment about being out amongst it rather than sitting at home saving for the fanciest gear. I've got a Kings awning, and some other things, and it's fine, especially for the price.
I spent up big on the electrical and fridge so that I never have hot beer. But things like awnings, cooking gear etc you can easily run the cheaper gear.
Anthony Gatley it’s amazing what you can actually get for such a low price these days. The gap is closing! Cheap stuff getting better and pricey stuff getting worse?
Hi i just watched your video never seen your videos before on our Hilux we have a kings awning and on the prado we have a arb awning guess witch one broke first arb one did
I've heard a great tip a few times before that I love, buy what you want budget, if it breaks, and you want to replace it, then buy a better quality one, if it doesn't break, you've saved money, and if you didn't use it enough you can either buy another budget one or not buy one if you feel it's a waste
Great! Not everyone has 100k plus to spend!
Agree with your thinking
The main consumer for the 4x4/camping caravanning industry is retired boomers with 100,s of thousands to spend. That's why the gear is way overpriced. If it wasn't for Kings a lot of people couldn't afford to get out there.
@I'lleatyou Nah, I've been on 2 month trips into the outback including simpson crossing with only an esky swag and a $20 cooker. I ran out of ice mid way thru the simpson and had to drink hot beer though. But people want to take their wife's girlfriends kids etc, that's probably not going to happen with out some comfort.
Yep, agree with all your points. Onto our second Kings 2.5x2.5 awning after undoing the guy ropes before we had a coffee only to watch our awning get blown over the top of our setup from a freak wind on an otherwise perfectly calm day. It got horribly bent from that but I reckon the other brands that I've seen would have ended up just the same. Shit happens.
FYI, we used a Kings Big Daddy swag through the Simpson, got to Alice Springs and checked out the massive range of swags at 'Desert Dwellers', mate the top of the range stuff was EXACTLY the same as our Kings swag right down to the smallest detail. I couldn't believe it.
I'd be cautious about some of their gear, but awnings and swags......save yourself the money.
Great review.
good work mate, I had one on my last ute for a few years and it was fine. Now I do have a new 79 and it's getting a Kings awning shortly!!
Recently purchased a 00 Prado and am currently outfitting it, budget style! Hope my Kings is a good as you say! Looking forward to it!