Elemental Protection: iKamper’s New ExoShell 270 Overland Awning

There are a few things that really improve the quality of your overland camping experience—a quality fridge, comfortable tent, and a shady place to hang out. As anyone who has spent any time in the great outdoors knows, having a way to escape the elements, whether scorching sun or driving rain, goes a long way. One of the most popular overland fixtures for just such use is the awning. King among these is the massive 270-degree wraparound awning. Now iKamper has entered the space with its new ExoShell 270 awning, and it's a game-changer.

Right out of the gate it's easy to see that the ExoShell 270 is different by looking at its industry-first anodized-aluminum shell. Where most other awnings zip into a fabric or vinyl enclosure, the ExoShell 270 is protected by rigid aluminum. This also makes deploying and stowing the awning quick and easy, as the entire apparatus folds neatly into the case, which then latches closed. Unique, patented arm brackets give the ExoShell 270 more flexible tensile strength to prevent breaking in windy conditions. The awning can be used as a standalone unit, or built-in support legs can be deployed for added stability on windy days.

The blackout-shade fabric iKamper has chosen to use is a ripstop blend of recycled polyester and organic cotton. It's also Durable Water Repellent (DWR) treated to prevent rain from soaking through. The company claims the awning is "four-season capable," but we'd still tuck it away if snow is in the forecast or if the wind gets too gusty.

To give this new awning the best possible shakedown, we mounted it up to our 2002 Chevy Silverado 2500HD overland truck and headed out to the Mojave Desert for a week of adventure. All we can say is, we're sold. Though the ExoShell 270 is definitely on the high end of the price spectrum at $1,750, we quickly figured out why. Not only does the aluminum shell protect the awning from brush and tree scratches, but it also makes accessing and deploying the awning a breeze. With a little practice, the awning fully deploys in less than 5 minutes, not including staking down the guy lines (if needed). The whole thing has a very sturdy, high-quality feel, and everything moves very smoothly. The deployable legs, which are stowed in the awning support arms, are ingenious. With a slight twist of the thumbscrew the legs can be released and their height adjusted, almost in one movement. Stowing the awning is nearly as easy as setting it up, with all of the pieces nesting neatly into dedicated slots and the aluminum shell easily flipping down. Even the tension straps, stakes, and guy lines have a storage compartment within the housing. No zipper fumble, stuck fabric, or three friends needed.

Follow along as we dig into how we installed the new iKamper ExoShell 270 and look at just how easy it is to deploy. If you're looking for an awning, and can get past the price of admission, the new ExoShell 270 from iKamper is undeniably worthy of your attention.

iKamper ExoShell 270 Installation

Installing the new iKamper ExoShell 270 awning can at first seem like a daunting task. The company technically provides everything that's needed to affix the awning, but every installation will be a bit unique. Once you've verified exactly how the awning will attach to your vehicle or rack system, the actual installation is a breeze.

Aside from the awning unit itself, the ExoShell 270 comes with a box of hardware that includes the brackets for attaching the awning to your chosen rack system, an additional support bracket, and the aluminum mounting brackets for the awning itself. All the bolts, nuts, and washers are mixed in a single bag. Though it's not difficult to separate the bolts, for the price we wish they came sorted.

The main awning brackets can be installed facing either up or down. This allows for installation in either a high or low position, depending on the needs of the vehicle the awning is attaching to. We opted for the high position in order to clear the rear door-opening of our crew cab Silverado.

Because the iKamper ExoShell 270 mounts are universal, affixing the awning to the rack is left up to the owner. The company includes six standard bolts, which will work in some situations. Because our Silverado is fitted with a rack from Leitner Designs we used six T-bolts (three on each bracket) to affix the iKamper brackets to the Leitner Designs rails.

Once the main bracket is installed, the secondary support bracket gets fitted to the rear of the main bracket, and the aluminum awning bracket goes on the front side. The ExoShell 270 hooks onto the bottom of the brackets while also bolting to the top for a secure fit.

Because the ExoShell 270 is 8 feet long and weighs 66 pounds, you'll want to find a good buddy to help with lifting the awning into place. The awning is easily removable to store off the vehicle, however you'll need to recruit the same helping hands to get it off.

iKamper ExoShell 270 Awning Setup

Deploying the awning for the first time can be, well, intimidating. And to make matters more confusing, the printed directions that are included with the ExoShell 270 are only slightly better than worthless. Thankfully, iKamper has done the next best thing and filmed a video showing exactly how to deploy and store the awning. Watching this video allowed us to set up the awning in just a few minutes on our first try.

Setting up the iKamper ExoShell 270 awning is a snap … after a bit of practice that is. The first step is releasing the metal buckles that are used to secure the two halves of the aluminum enclosure. Unlike on some of the company's tents, these do not lock.

Next, the two rubber end caps can be removed and allowed to hang on their tethers. These caps are held in with simple locating nubs and are quite easy to pop out.

With the latches undone and end caps removed the aluminum shell can be opened upward revealing the awning fabric and structure contained within. Also stored inside the protective shell are the necessary tension straps along with guy lines and stakes.

Extending the awning is as simple as grabbing the fabric and support rods and walking the unit toward the rear of the vehicle. It's important to pay attention to all of the support rods as one near the rear and another in the front nest inside plastic brackets attached to the adjacent rods.

Once the rear half of the awning is extended, the same operation can be performed for the front half. If the wind is calm, the rear half can be left freestanding while the front is being attended to. However, if a breeze is blowing, you'll want to lash down the rear before moving to the front.

Speaking of lashing down the awning … the iKamper ExoShell 270 gets its strength and ability to free-stand from the tension straps that secure it to the vehicle. Using these included straps, which feature solid hooks and adjustable buckles, each end of the awning is pulled tight by securing the strap to a loop on the awning and a solid location on the vehicle. For our application we used one of the tent crossbars on the Leitner Designs bed rack. The tighter you can get the straps, the better the system will work.

With the ExoShell 270 awning fully deployed and tension straps tight, the awning is designed to support itself in light wind with no legs. This makes throwing the awning out for quick lunch stops along the trail a no-brainer, since setup and takedown can be done quickly.

When the evening winds do eventually pick up, or you're planning for a more permanent campsite-erecting, the awning's support legs deploy just as quickly as the rest of the unit. Simply loosening the thumbscrew allows the leg to slide out of its containment slot, at which point it can be lowered to the ground and the height adjusted accordingly. Guy lines and stakes are included to keep the entire apparatus secure.

Fully erected, the ExoShell 270's four legs provide ample support for the awning structure in moderate wind and rain.

Protection From Sun, Rain,and … Bushes?

We all know that awnings give great protection from the sun's harmful rays, which the ExoShell 270 provides with an impressive 121 square feet of shaded area from its 270 degrees of coverage. When the skies give way to rain, lash down the guy lines, adjust the legs so that water drains away from the vehicle, and enjoy camp.

Here is a prime example of why the aluminum hardshell covering of the ExoShell 270 matters. If you venture even a little bit off the beaten path, encounters with brush are inevitable. Though most branches are relatively harmless, some can prove to be quite sharp. The aluminum enclosure provides excellent protection from scratches and cuts, ensuring your investment lasts a very long time.

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Source:

iKamper; www.ikamper.com