Camping Essentials: ARB Awning Enclosed Room

The ARB Enclosed Room (a.k.a. Awning Room with Floor) is the perfect way to set up a kitchen at camp. With its 2 large mesh windows and spacious interior, you'll find an easy-to-set-up respite from the bugs and wind. The room also features 2 vents at the top to let the heat out, 2 access ports for an extension cord or propane hose, and a large zip-open panel for access to your car door.

The enclosed room featured in this video is for the ARB 2000 Awning, which measures about 6.5-feet wide. With the awning extended all the way out, that gives the enclosed room an interior size of about 6-foot by 7-foot. Height depends on how tall your truck is and how high the awning is mounted on it.

Although ARB doesn't explicitly recommend it for use as a tent, I found it to be the perfect sleeping quarters when I go solo camping. I wouldn't recommend using it as a tent in extremely inclement weather as the awning may not be strong enough to resist the extra weight and surface area in strong winds. But for relatively calm conditions and I'm sure even some steady rain, this product would hold up great.

If you have an ARB awning, this enclosed room may be the perfect camping essential to add to your list.

My ARB awning is mounted to a Gobi Stealth Roof Rack using modified Rhino Rack 31103 awning mounts. The awning does not come with mounting brackets, but it does include mounting screws, stakes, and guy wires.

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This video was not sponsored or endorsed by ARB 4x4 Accessories or any other company.

[BelloBudo]

Thanks for making the review. I just visited my local ARB shop yesterday and they didn't have one erected, so this was really good to watch. The idea of travelling light, with reasonably quick and easy set-up and pack-up has huge appeal to me.

This makes so much more sense than anything i have ever Cause you are out in the wilderness, bugs are going to be an issue, especially if you are traveling with young ones.

[Lee-twvl]

Thank you for doing a short, to the point video! More people should learn from this. Thanks again!

[shannonrafferty]

Thanks!! Perfect Rig by the way. Looks like another thing I need to by for my '99 4Runner once I get down to the Southwest.

[PiotrTobiaszKozowski]

Thx for awning review. Got today 2500 version for my 110 Defender. Enclosed room is next on my shopping list.

[johnsonbar]

You did s great presentation. You sold us. We have a Ford Explorer and THIS IS EXACTLY what we've been looking for, Thanks a bunch.

[insonh]

hey Nick, i commented on your video a while back about cooking inside, well i'm happy to tell you that after building my own awning and room made of tarps, i deep sixed it in favor of the ARB awning and enclosed room to use on my teardrop trailer and i cant wait till it shows up. thanks for the video
a new ARB awning and enclosed room customer

[themastercarpenter]

You did a good job on your video; edited well and no babbling:) hard to find on YouTube these days:)

[inurbinurb]

ARB awning comment. Have been using a 2.5 x 2.5  in Aust for 3 years. generally ok but problem
is if you use the ARB drop down delux awning room you will find that the awning
room ( 8kg )tends to bend the horizontal swing out  arms. We told 
an ARB  shop about this problem whilst   traveling interstate about the issue and asked to speak to a technical  ARB person. Unfortunately the sales staff at the Glossy showroom  said NO NO No way
the poles bend ( despite have two bent poles of ours in their hands.
Reluctantly they replaced them and when it a happened again we approached ARB
in another state whilst on the road traveling with some very convivial feedback and got  the same result excuses excuses excusesexcept this time they said 'stiff luck buddy' and no replacement so we bought
more poles from them.
So we just  STOPPED using the Drop down delux awning room and eventually  put it into storage at the back of our garage

and we   continued to use the awning   but guess what   NO PROBLEMS WITH THE POLES SINCE WE STOPPED USING THE AWNING ROOM..


 it is clearly apparent that the weight of the drop down awning is just a bit too much for the
awning . We are  about to travel again in late 2020  and may try to use the awning tent again and have now purchased two vertical poles to place under he awning arms about a metre out from the vehicle to support the swing out arms .


Over the last three years we have purchased thousands of dollars of gear from ARB. inc fridges, underbody protection plates compressors, awnings, drop down awning tent rooms, recovery gear etc etc

SUMMARY
general quality of ARB gear ok
price point  is expensive but generally   ok

BUT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WILLINGNESS TO TAKE A BIT OF
CONVIVIAL FEEDBACK FORM AN ESTABLISHED CLIENT
  ABSOLUTELY LOUSY.

[pickitup]

I got this to sleep in after watching your review on YouTube it was the most horrible night I ever had outdoors from the walls flopping around to the stupid metal zippers jingling in the wind. I really wanted to like it but it’s getting returned.

[jefftunnell]

sure be nice to have zippers for windows inside. If heavy rain comes in i would like to zip closed without fumbling around in the rain..

[oneredstarproduction]

I have been looking at accessories for a 1999 4 runner limited 4x4 that I don't even own yet, lol. waiting for the right deal. I must say your rig is making me extremely jealous

[j-s-m-photographymc]

Good Stuff, but I guess there’s not much rain where you are unlike the U.K., when I go off camping (off course with my cameras) I use a Carp Fishing Bivvie for a few reasons 1, the hydrostatic head on the inner is 20.000 and on the outer 20, 000 there built to be bashed in high winds snow and rain the stacks are like screws once pinned down it’s not going anywhere. There designed like a pram hood the poles are welded to the tent bivvie so no threading the the poles into the tent but what comes with all these features unfortunately is weight but there not designed to be carried there designed to be unpacked from your car or put on a trolly. But I can honestly say fantastic for a base camp. When in the mountains I use MSR tents or Terra Nova Southern Star as they weigh nothing. The vehicle roof tents look rather cool.
My Solution will be a camper van sprinter or VW crafter 4x4 with roof rack and ladder so I can get on the roof set up my camera tripod roof etc. camping and photography is fantastic love it.

[Chrisbs]

That is so cool! I saw this in another of your videos and I am glad you gave a little review of it.

[danielsmith]

I see a big problem. I camp regularly and you dont want to go outside to roll up or close the window covers. That should be able to do from the inside

[trumpafarian]

I really like the look of this and the size. Would fit my vehicle well too. However, i think I want something that I don't have to pack up every time I leave camp.

[TheXJthatCould]

awesome, I have the Arb 2000 awning for 168 I think the enclosed room will be a good buy even though I'm already rocking a tepui rooftop tent

[oceantraderco]

Great video. ARB should compensate you for this. Their online info does not come close!

[hondascott]

now that's a handy rig, great review, thanks my friend

[wgsmcw]

Pretty cool tent! Think it would work, with my Jeep.