Off Road Camper // New Release - Darche Eclipse Retreat Annex is it a Game Changer?

[@ARVIthereyet]

How do you feel now? Some years later? How is the velcro? How are the zipper's during the rain, do they leak?

[@kimberleyfleming6739]

Thankyou. Thinking about getting one for our square teardrop camper. Will be ordering one now.

[@DarrylSheather]

Hope you enjoy it.

[@BroncoPatriot]

The add-on room has made your camper huge! Awesome build!!

[@DarrylSheather]

Thank you!

[@scottlucas4408]

If you want to share ac may need to consider a skirt on the camper. Canvas workshop in Clyde is good for those custom bits

[@DarrylSheather]

thanks for the tip

[@joezephyr]

Another excellent video thank you!

[@DarrylSheather]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@nate4036]

I like it. Nice addition to your tiny mobile house

[@DarrylSheather]

Thank you!

[@nate4036]

@@DarrylSheather you been able to get around much down there? Or this Covid lockdown still affecting y’all Aussie folk. I got a friend in Sydney that said you’re confined to your state.

[@DarrylSheather]

They are opening the states one by one although we have 2 states playing the political game and not opening up. Time will sort it out

[@nate4036]

@@DarrylSheather prayers from TN brother. Travel safe.

[@Ren-qp5dt]

Stumbled across your channel by accident, just wanted to say I have thoroughly enjoyed your camper build , this is a great series Darryl , thanks for the time and money invested in your presentations, cheers from Wagga Wagga

[@DarrylSheather]

Thanks Ben, very much appreciated.

[@Beeand]

hey mate, just wondering if you zip up the back wall against the kamper and if youre concerned about the gap ie rain bugs etc?

[@DarrylSheather]

We zip it up as best we can, so far no issues with bugs. In heavy rain the inside of the annex is dry but if you have gaps between the awning and the vehicle rain will fall down there. I'm sure you could get a custom insert made if you wanted to.

[@cknacci]

Will it have water pool on top when it rains? the inner door to your camper, is it possible to zip it from top to bottom to prevent creepy crawler entering the annex?

[@DarrylSheather]

The annex keeps dry as its under the awning. Theres also tags for guy ropes between the pole positions on the awning so you can direct any water off the 270deg awning in heavy rain.

[@dirtbnb8863]

Water pools really badly and Daryls reply is not entirely correct. Yes the Annex keeps dry underneath until there is too much water pooling on top and then it seeps in. I have the 270 and the annex and water pooling is a big problem. Darche recommend using an extension pole in the middle to prop up the roof of the annex and the awning but it doesn't completely stop the pooling or water seepage as the annex roof is now touching the awning. I've posted my vids and explained\demonstrated the issue on my channel.

[@auswazz]

it's not about you and you pushing your your vids or your chanel nor your version of the truth, I'm sick of reading your comments mate. Keep up the good work Darryl!

[@dougmurray9753]

Nice addition I love your trailer but your Jeep has steering wheel on the wrong side

[@DarrylSheather]

correct!

[@dx80cruiser]

Looks a bit flappy, are there any guy lines to hold the sides from flapping?

[@DarrylSheather]

As I said it’s not pegged down

[@dirtbnb8863]

Given the issues with water pooling on the Darche 270 Awning when the Annex is fitted how are you dealing with that? Be great to see the set up in wet weather conditions and not just sunny skies.

[@DarrylSheather]

The water proofing issues were on the initial awnings, looked into this before buying and found the mk2 versions are sorted. Have had this in some horrid weather now with no issues apart from pooling of water between the awning stays, that can be fixed if you guy rope the roof down between the stays/poles.

[@dirtbnb8863]

@@DarrylSheather sorry mate but we have the mk2 and the annex and it is a major problem. Its impossible to pull the water run off guy rope low enough for the water to run off as it pulls against the pole for the front of the annex. If you've got this to work then get a vid up, otherwise your not telling the truth mate and need to be called out. Even Darche have confirmed the water pools..... You need to be honest and open with potential customers.

[@DarrylSheather]

Look, you've obviously got a few barrels you are pushing because of personal usage issues with regard to these awnings. For us, we haven't had any leaks under the awning nor inside the annex and had an atrocious nights rain with it all up last time we were away along with strong enough winds to have the awning act like a sail and move the camper up and down. If you want more water runoff you aren't going to get it by either lowering the ends of the awning arms (they don't have enough play in the fitting) nor just trying to pull down on the centre tags with another guy rope with full front to rear awning tension. The answer is to take off a little tension, more than likely at the front of the awning (as the largest span you have is at the awnings side panel and where water pools worse) only then pull down on the additional centre tag with a guy rope. That will give you a better V for water runoff. If I was that worried about water pooling over the annex in heavy rain, I'd actually take off the spreader bar and put 2 guy ropes (instead of one) on each of the awning poles either side of the annex. One guy rope pulling that section forward, another pulling the rear pole back to give tension, basically taking the place of the spreader bar (remembering you want a little less tension than when you have the spreader bar in to get a V) and the other two guy ropes where you normally put them. Yes the annex isn't going to be as tight but it fixes the pooling of water issue. After the storm, put it back to standard and enjoy. FWIW these are in essence a lightweight, large, well priced awning. For 99.9% of the time they do the job well and with the annex are an awesome solution. For our use its perfect as it gives us living/changing/storage space outside of our well insulated sleeping accomodation inside the camper. Is it a perfect product? no but what is.

[@dirtbnb8863]

@@DarrylSheather ummm its not about my personal barrel at all. Its honesty and integrity. Did you watch my vid on why water pools when the awning is set up? If so then your response demonstrates you are selling an item that is not fit for purpose when raining and knowingly doing so brings into question your integrity and therefore any thing your selling would obviously come into question as well. If not, do so, even Darche have and agreed there is a problem. I have been in contact with Darche directly many times and they have reached out to me on how best to try and mitigate the issue but also concluded it is an issue and you must use an extension pole inside the annex to try and remove the water. Darche sent me the internal pole to try and push the water off... as you can see it still doesn't work.....When you do watch my vid, pay particular attention to the fact I used the Darche supplied pole, per their instructions and water still pools. Totally agree the awning, and when you watch my vids you will hear me say I love the awning, but it is flawed when paired with the annex and when there is light rain. With respect to your V option, and not using the annex in rain, your saying this solution is sunny days only...... Not a good sell point mate. I would strongly encourage you to try this in real life and then measure how far you have to pull the water run off guy, (its approx 6" ) and makes the annex front inoperable, completely compromises the annex strength and integrity in the wind, and significantly increases the risk of doing damage to the awning arm as it now flexes at the hinges. Don't believe me, try it and then post a vid on how well it looks and how the D shaped doors don't work properly anymore. Sorry Daryl but I don't believe you've put the annex up in the wind and rain and then tried to use\sleep\secure it. FYI, Darche have also confirmed that lowering the awning arms per your suggestion is NOT recommended and has the potential to "significantly damage the awning hinge(s) and potentially cause major damage." If you don't believe me ask them yourself. But I must admit, you are 100% correct. On a sunny day, it is a game changer and the Darche Annex is awesome. Its why I haven't off loaded it. It suites my needs. Just not so when it rains.

[@DarrylSheather]

@@dirtbnb8863 Firstly I'm not selling anything, just reporting on my experiences with a product I've paid full retail for, don't believe me, so be it. I'm also not going to lower myself to your level with regard to name calling. If you aren't happy with the awning either sell it or keep hassling Darche, frankly they are trying to help you by the sounds of it. We're happy with ours and to re-iterate it suits both our end use and after experiencing heavy winds and heavy rain, it didn't leak and was no worse than a tent would be in similar weather. Enjoy the night.

[@tonyridgway3977]

Like

[@DarrylSheather]

Thank you!