DIY awning

Buy a shade canopy from Walmart or any outdoor store for $75 - $150. Use it with the trailer or without the trailer. That is what we do with the Aliner, the factory awning is $300+, hard to use, and very tiny.

Check the truck camper forum... "truck camper university" I think it is.

You can get some "awning rail" attach it to the side of your camper, and follow the rest of the directions there using a standard plastic tarp. I picked up my awning rail from brunner enterprises in New York, bing will get their URL (brunnerent.com I think) for you. Going to just screw it only my camper with some sealant, etc, and use "sail slides" to attach the tarp to the awning rail. Use some aluminum poles for the stays, etc, and you're good to go.

you can get sail slides pretty cheap from sailrite.com.

Later
C

TucsonJim wrote:
I'd just use a tarp, poles and rope.

Agreed, especially for a $1K trailer. Everything is relative. ;)

wmoses wrote:

TucsonJim wrote:
I'd just use a tarp, poles and rope.

Agreed, especially for a $1K trailer. Everything is relative. ;)

Agreed. My sister and her boyfriend received a free camper from my aunt that was missing its awning. He worked at a sign shop at the time and was able to get some huge cloth signs. That was their redneck awning all last year and this year alike.

Well, long ago when I camped in RENTAL pop-ups...

A guy I was camped with had the awning on his MH blow out. After helping replace it I salvaged a piece and, using PVC pipe, rope, stakes, duct tape and other common stuff, whupped up an awning right there in the campground. It was NICE to have :)

Used it for a few more years on the rental units.

Tarkin75 wrote:
Check the truck camper forum... "truck camper university" I think it is.

You can get some "awning rail" attach it to the side of your camper, and follow the rest of the directions there using a standard plastic tarp. I picked up my awning rail from brunner enterprises in New York, bing will get their URL (brunnerent.com I think) for you. Going to just screw it only my camper with some sealant, etc, and use "sail slides" to attach the tarp to the awning rail. Use some aluminum poles for the stays, etc, and you're good to go.

you can get sail slides pretty cheap from sailrite.com.

Later
C

Awesome, this is just what I want to do. Thanks for posting!

I'm finding it may be cheaper to just outright buy an awning on E Bay than try to fabricate one, using awning material. I don't want a plastic tarp, I've camped a few nights in wind with a semi-permanent installation and the racket is merciless.

Edit: Did you use something like these Slug bails to run in the Awning rail or is there a full length piece that can be sewn into a welt?

westend wrote:
I don't want a plastic tarp, I've camped a few nights in wind with a semi-permanent installation and the racket is merciless.

FYI:
An awning isn't much quieter "in wind". But most folks close them in such conditions anyway, and it's certainly easier to do that with yer standard roll up type.

From working on mine I found that a well stocked RV dealer has a good supply of RV awning parts. Including the odd sliders. I think almost all awnings are A&E brand (Dometic).

Francesca Knowles wrote:

westend wrote:
I don't want a plastic tarp, I've camped a few nights in wind with a semi-permanent installation and the racket is merciless.

FYI:
An awning isn't much quieter "in wind". But most folks close them in such conditions anyway, and it's certainly easier to do that with yer standard roll up type.

That, I believe. There is just a real deep stubborn streak in this old Swede that is resisting the installation of a roller system.
I'm not all about "keeping it vintage" but I think a roller-less awning might be more fitting. I haven't chiseled anything in stone, yet.