I don't mean to spoil the whole post, but in short absolutly! Is is worth it for everyone....well you will have to check the rest of the post out to figure that out for your tastes and style of use.
I spend a great deal of time in my overland office and when I have my pup with me it also doubles as a bedroom. I have been using this setup for over a year with a combined time of over 3 months. This awning has been essential to my ability to work on overland trips and camping. I know what you are thinking.... why not just get a 270 deg awning? There are a few items: this setup is far cheaper, the square space fits my needs better, and I want duel purpose of a spare bedroom.
Overall I have been very happy with this setup, but it is not for everyone. Depending on how you intend to use it, this may not be right for you. Everything is a comprimise and nothing fits every option or need. Let's take a quick look at the Pro's and Con's.
PRO:
It has a floor - I want something totally enclosed since I also use this as spare sleeping area. I have seen snakes slither right under the annex and I will take a sleep space that is fully enclosed any day. Regular 270 awnings don't have a floor option.
Versitile Setup - The ARB Annex Room has many diferent ways it can be set up. It can be used with 270 deg bug netting, it can be completly opened up, or it can be completly enclosed.
Integrated LED light strip - A very nice light strip is integrated into the awning that can be set to white light, Amber light, or a combination of both. It can also be dimmed to help with energy consumption. The Annex room also has a clear section that allows the awning light to shine through. Bugs do tend to get caught in the section between the awning and the annex though.
Cost - It is far cheaper than 180 or 270 deg awnings.
Weight - It is lighter than 180 or 270 deg options.
Affordable repairs - The individual replacement parts are affordable.
Footprint - The rectangular footprint fits my office setup much better ergonomically.
Con:
Zipper design - The zippers are not waterproof. When there is heavy rain especially with wind, water will get into the awning. I tested this in two brutal nights of storms with 30-40 MPH winds and heavy rain. It didn't float my air mattress or anything, but there were large puddles and my dogs bed was completly soaked through.
Zipper Quality - The week I spent camping on the beach took a heavy toll on the zippers due to the quality. They have become more difficult to operate.
Rain Setup - One corner of the awning must be dipped lower for the water to be able to run off and not pool in the middle of the awning. How do I know? I learned to dip a corner the hard way. I didn't take a corner down one night and an unexpected storm rolled in. I was sleeping in the annex room and was violently awakened at 3A.M. with one of the side support polls collapsing in.
Folding RTT issues - with normal setup it is not possible to mount the awning for use with a folding roof top tent unless it sticks way out. I came up with a DIY extendable awning mount to solve that problem.
I hope this helps you to make an informed decision if you are looking for an awning setup. Check out my video review for more visuals on it.
Shop Amazon Now (Link to the hard case 8.2' wide version I wish I had)
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