A great video. I had a Kings 2.5 on my van for over 3yrs. No problems at all. $160 delivered to Cairns with 2 side walls. Best price ever. I ended up giving it to my daughter for there first awning. Only reason why I had to get rid of it was a new vehicle, & I needed a 2m awning. I’ve got the Old Mam Emu. Love that one also but a lot dearer.
u can buy 4 kings to 1 Darche awning,not saying kings is the same quality but for most people it will be fine to use every time u go camping Ive had kings awning for years no problem.But i just brought a 30 second awning because i will be using it every day because i will be starting my lap soon
I had a kings awning for over 10 years, only recently replaced it because the zipper on the cover shit itself . In my opinion $500 for an awning is madness , my replacement awning is a Drifta Stockton @ $120 . I spend money on gear I rely on , if the awning breaks it’s not going to stop me from getting home .
Is there an awning that does not use velcro? I have similar ARB awning, and after 2 years usage the velcro is busted... Perfect would be one that does not use velcro, but has tent with a floor...
Not sure where you buy your kit from. I have just installed the same Darche awning and it was $325. It is also not a case of replacing an awning. If you are in the Simpson and the Kings fails, there are no shops where you can buy a replacement. My mantra is buy the best quality you can afford at the time.
Need to check all of these style wnings for broken rivets on the backing plate. Ours had more than half broken and was banging when cornering. Had to use straps to hold it togeter until we got home. Went to larger stainless rivets and reinforced the ends. This is a common issue and really should have been a recall or warning notification to customers.
Good review mate. On the King's one the "canvas" is so thin you need a hat sunglasses and sunscreen when sitting under it. I've seen flyscreen that blocks more light!
We have a darche one side and king's on other side of camper. We would definitely recommend a darche over king's. Both can be set up by yourself but I find the darche easier to set up.
All these awnings have one thing in common. When a good gust of wind suddenly picks up, they pretty much all fold over. That's been my experience. That been said, I'd rather ruin and replace a cheap awning than an expensive one for that very reason, but I do like my good quality gear where ever I think it's warranted.
Had my Tigerz11 (brand before kings) and cost me $119 for 2.5 x 2.5. Had it for 12 years, used it 50 plus times and no issues whatsoever. Using it while 4wd driving, bush camping and sports events. Only if I used it 20 times a year would I by Darche.
Good review mate & fair calls. I would go Kings due to amount of use case, I have seen a lot of ok-good reviews on them if used/setup correctly can serve well. Have seen a recent review of a Darche 180 degree awning, and while it had some nice light setup, it was an appalling build that should have been recalled, the reviewer had two that had same problems with pooling water and just not useable in any slight weather scenario.
I went to look at the kings awning last weekend and it was all ready broken while on display , same With there fold out shower tent , I’d rather spend the extra even if it means saving a bit longer to buy it
How have you found the awning bag over time with water ingress. Have heard of this problem with the Darche 270 awning bag leaking badly. I'm pretty keen on this Darche 2.5 x 2.5- the awning itself looks excellent quality, but if the bag leaks, I will need to look at other options.
Most of the kings stuff is cheap shit. Darche all the way. 8:26 I use mine all the time. I will say it could do with a centre roof strut to stop the water pooling. There is an Aussie made brand that has it
I won't ever touch a darche again. Even with great reviews. I've just spent the last 3 months going though 4 Darche chairs (3 vipers, 1 eagle) not a single 1 lasted longer than 3 weeks. I gave them the best shot I could, because nothing else compares when it came to comfort. But holy fuck they are not built to last. Stay away from all things darche.
A great video.
I had a Kings 2.5 on my van for over 3yrs.
No problems at all.
$160 delivered to Cairns with 2 side walls.
Best price ever.
I ended up giving it to my daughter for there first awning.
Only reason why I had to get rid of it was a new vehicle, & I needed a 2m awning.
I’ve got the Old Mam Emu.
Love that one also but a lot dearer.
Super happy with my Darche. Holds up well. Compared to the old Kings which came broken (new), lol. Kings is Kmart quality.
u can buy 4 kings to 1 Darche awning,not saying kings is the same quality but for most people it will be fine to use every time u go camping
Ive had kings awning for years no problem.But i just brought a 30 second awning because i will be using it every day because i will be starting my lap soon
I had a kings awning for over 10 years, only recently replaced it because the zipper on the cover shit itself . In my opinion $500 for an awning is madness , my replacement awning is a Drifta Stockton @ $120 . I spend money on gear I rely on , if the awning breaks it’s not going to stop me from getting home .
Fair call mate.
Is there an awning that does not use velcro? I have similar ARB awning, and after 2 years usage the velcro is busted... Perfect would be one that does not use velcro, but has tent with a floor...
I have two kings that are 4 + years old two trips cape your vic high country etc still going
Not sure where you buy your kit from. I have just installed the same Darche awning and it was $325. It is also not a case of replacing an awning. If you are in the Simpson and the Kings fails, there are no shops where you can buy a replacement. My mantra is buy the best quality you can afford at the time.
Had a rino 2.5x2 and lasted 14 years,15oz canvas and lived on van for 10 years cost $580 nz ,will always buy quality
Need to check all of these style wnings for broken rivets on the backing plate. Ours had more than half broken and was banging when cornering. Had to use straps to hold it togeter until we got home. Went to larger stainless rivets and reinforced the ends. This is a common issue and really should have been a recall or warning notification to customers.
Good review mate. On the King's one the "canvas" is so thin you need a hat sunglasses and sunscreen when sitting under it. I've seen flyscreen that blocks more light!
I want a 270-deg one, but it seems they don't provide much shade on the side!
Great work and appreciate the honest review.
We have a darche one side and king's on other side of camper. We would definitely recommend a darche over king's. Both can be set up by yourself but I find the darche easier to set up.
All these awnings have one thing in common. When a good gust of wind suddenly picks up, they pretty much all fold over. That's been my experience. That been said, I'd rather ruin and replace a cheap awning than an expensive one for that very reason, but I do like my good quality gear where ever I think it's warranted.
Had my Tigerz11 (brand before kings) and cost me $119 for 2.5 x 2.5. Had it for 12 years, used it 50 plus times and no issues whatsoever. Using it while 4wd driving, bush camping and sports events. Only if I used it 20 times a year would I by Darche.
Good review mate & fair calls. I would go Kings due to amount of use case, I have seen a lot of ok-good reviews on them if used/setup correctly can serve well.
Have seen a recent review of a Darche 180 degree awning, and while it had some nice light setup, it was an appalling build that should have been recalled, the reviewer had two that had same problems with pooling water and just not useable in any slight weather scenario.
Thanks for sharing. 👍🏼
Hi, new to these awnings, any advise on a mid range product between these two in the video?
Cheers Mike
That is a great question. If you shop around you can get the Darche for a good price.
I bought the same Darche awning a couple of months ago, only paid 328 however. Great awning so far, very happy with it.
Darche for sure, rather spend a bit extra knowing I wont need to replace as often. It also appeared that you set up easier than the Kings?
I went to look at the kings awning last weekend and it was all ready broken while on display , same
With there fold out shower tent , I’d rather spend the extra even if it means saving a bit longer to buy it
How have you found the awning bag over time with water ingress. Have heard of this problem with the Darche 270 awning bag leaking badly. I'm pretty keen on this Darche 2.5 x 2.5- the awning itself looks excellent quality, but if the bag leaks, I will need to look at other options.
Hi Paul. I haven’t had a problem with the bag leaking mate and yeah I’d buy another for sure, they are great quality.
@@SmartTouringSystems Thanks for your reply, glad that you’re still happy with yours. They do look like a quality bit of gear.
Good review - I ended up going for the Bush Company's 270 XT for quality of build, quality of canvas and size!
Is there a quick release on the Dache?
I love to go for drives after setup, come back, hook back on?
Sorry not for the ladder racks.
Great video, I will defiantly buy a Darche now, looking at the poor quality of Kings.
Thanks for tuning, glad to help.
Where did you get those mounting brackets from? Thats what i need but cant find them anywhere.
Hi mate visit our website www.smarttouringsystems.com.au
Excellent video.
Did those brackets come with the awning??
Visit. www.smarttouringsystems.com.au to purchase brackets used in video.
Good review!
I have the same Darche awning used it once we had light rain overnight and woke up with both side poles broken. Very disappointed in this product.
You'd be pissed if you paid $500
Darche every time. Their 2.5 by 2.5 is $328 currently.
Kings awning poles are easier to get broken
u must be a darche supplier hehe !
I wish he he
Most of the kings stuff is cheap shit. Darche all the way. 8:26 I use mine all the time. I will say it could do with a centre roof strut to stop the water pooling. There is an Aussie made brand that has it
Drop the fronts down a little and angle to 1 corner 👌
You'd think for $500 RRP they'd have fixed the pooling issue
I won't ever touch a darche again. Even with great reviews.
I've just spent the last 3 months going though 4 Darche chairs
(3 vipers, 1 eagle) not a single 1 lasted longer than 3 weeks.
I gave them the best shot I could, because nothing else compares when it came to comfort.
But holy fuck they are not built to last.
Stay away from all things darche.
Yeah mate that’s not good.