etrailer | Review of the Thule Overcast Awning

[@BWT599]

Ended up grabbing this awning after the Thule Hideaway broke badly on a medium windy day. The Thule rack mounts for the awning are very weak and bent violently. The Thule racks themselves were very strong though with no damage. I also purchased the added tie down that Thule offers for this awning.

[@etrailer]

Thank you for sharing this with us and others that may be experiencing a similar situation. A tie down kit is a great add on for these awnings because of the wind that it catches. www.etrailer.com/Car-Awning/Thule/TH8002AW604.html

[@JLaddStL]

It's interesting, I just got this awning and in the instructions it states that the crossbars at a minimum need to be 36" apart. There is no way they are that far apart in this video, they look like they are only spaced apart the length of a door maybe 28" I have mine further apart than this and am only 32" apart. So is it safe to use this driving at the spacing the video shows???? I'm assuming so? I really don't want to move my bars again lol

[@MagnumoftheMountains]

Hey etrailer, I see you have this mounted to a Toyota Rav4. Out of curiosity, does the awning as mounted to the Thule cross bars you have on the vehicle interfere with the opening and closing of the tailgate? I ask because the awning is over 6 feet long. I have a 2015 Subaru Outback, just bought this awning, and am considering buying a Thule rack from you folks (The Thule Wingbar Evo bars) to mount it to my vehicle, but I'm wondering if I might need the 60" bars versus the 53" bars so that the awning is far enough out from the vehicle to not interfere with my rear gate. Thoughts? Or is the combo of the awning, Thule Wingbar Evo 53" mounted to T slots, and the podium fit kit 4063 (that's needed to mount the bars to the Outback's setup) give the awning enough HEIGHT where it doesn't interfere with operation of the rear gate? Thanks so much in advance!

[@etrailer]

We did not have issues with fitting this awning on the Toyota RAV4 and still being able to open the rear hatch. The nice part about this awning is that you can adjust the brackets forward and backward in order to fit it. www.etrailer.com/Car-Awning/Thule/TH8002AW604.html

[@christiansicairos2342]

Can this be installed along with Thule canyon basket over Rav 4 OEM cross bars?

[@motoace2007]

Could you use the Yakima quick release style clamps on the thule awning?

[@etrailer]

The Yakima clamps will not work on the Thule Overcast Awning. www.etrailer.com/Car-Awning/Thule/TH8002AW604.html

[@erichurst2496]

have you used this in the rain? waterproof? How does the water drain?

[@etrailer]

This awning is water proof and the water drains off the front or the sides of the awning. Usually people will drop one of the front corners to direct the water. www.etrailer.com/Car-Awning/Thule/TH8002AW604.html

[@jamesc6137]

does the thule material seem thicker or stronger than the yakima slim shady.

[@etrailer]

The demo team is in agreeance that the two materials are very similar in thickness. If they had to choose one that is ever so slightly thicker it would be the Thule Overcast. www.etrailer.com/Car-Awning/Thule/TH8002AW604.html