Hello!About to place an order for a Bigfoot 10.4 (rear entry camper) for my retirement next year to fulltime in. Talking to the sales guy, he brought up point that the side awning I like is nice, but when camper mounted on 4x4 dually that awning is WAY up in the air, not as useful as one would think. I figure 50-50 on how much time the camper spends mounted to the truck ... just don't know for sure though.Then there is the cost, $1600 option, how useful is it? Just use included rear awning or find a tree? Summers will be spend at enough altitude to stay cool in the western states. Winters in AZ or coastal CA. Thanks for any insight!Dave

I just carry a 12x12 pop up that stores on the rear floor of my truck and can be set up anywhere. $1600 would buy me 12 of those over the years

Hi Dave,I'm also in California and I am very glad I ordered not only the side awning but the rear awning as well. During rain or drizzle and having somewhere to take off shoes or hang out outside and stay dry is a plus. Hanging netting or shear fabric from the side awning for shade during the day as well as LED's at night is a big help also. Trees aren't always an option. It's money well spent in my opinion.Good luck!Ray

A 10x10 or 12x12 pop up is much cheaper and only deployed needed.

In my opinion, it is certainly nice to have but I do not have an awning on my current TC. Had one on a previous pop-up and there were times when in very open areas with sun beating down that I enjoyed. Most of my camping is done in fall (hunting) and winter (ski-camping) and it is not missed.One item to note: mine is for sale and have had comments from many a potential buyer that passed on it because it did not have an awning. Getting an awning as an option might affect resale desirability.

We purchased the optional side awning on our AF990 and yes it is up there but it has come in handy keeping the sun off the drivers side of the camper. I bought a nice Louisville fiberglass ladder, that we keep in the back seat of the truck, to make it easier to access the awning supports that store in the awning. Glad we bought it.

Is side awning worth it? | Good Sam Community

RKB
Explorer
Oct 26, 2018
I have a side awning on my Northern Lite. I tried using it a few times early on, but found it to be too much trouble. It is manual,so maybe electric would be another story. I use my awning over the back door all the time.
wnjj
Explorer II
Oct 26, 2018
With a passenger side slide, the awning wouldn't have much usable space under it. A driver side awning would be find while boondocking but is the utility side when at a campground. Between that and the extra weight, we didn't bother with the side one.
northshore
Explorer
Oct 26, 2018
Our Lance has side and rear awnings, we like them, especially when we go to the coast.Perfect for keeping rain off of us. It is nice to have a dry place next to the camper.
But $1600 is pretty spendy, when you put your order in for the camper I would for sure have them make it "awning ready" put the backing in for the awning and insure you know the location of the backing.
Most people who want to install an awning later want to know about where to attach it.
I like the idea of the EZ up, but having the awning there on the camper is way convenient.
toedtoes
Explorer III
Oct 26, 2018
I camp at many NSFS campgrounds in Northern California and an attached awning is not that handy. There are either trees or boulders next to the RV so you can't really sit underneath.

For $1600 extra and a rear awning already, I'd skip it and buy a stand alone canopy later if you realize you can use it.
GeoBoy
Explorer
Oct 26, 2018
We purchased the optional side awning on our AF990 and yes it is up there but it has come in handy keeping the sun off the drivers side of the camper. I bought a nice Louisville fiberglass ladder, that we keep in the back seat of the truck, to make it easier to access the awning supports that store in the awning. Glad we bought it.
d3500ram
Explorer III
Oct 25, 2018
In my opinion, it is certainly nice to have but I do not have an awning on my current TC. Had one on a previous pop-up and there were times when in very open areas with sun beating down that I enjoyed. Most of my camping is done in fall (hunting) and winter (ski-camping) and it is not missed.

One item to note: mine is for sale and have had comments from many a potential buyer that passed on it because it did not have an awning. Getting an awning as an option might affect resale desirability.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Oct 25, 2018
A 10x10 or 12x12 pop up is much cheaper and only deployed needed.
Western_Sky_Ran
Explorer II
Oct 25, 2018
Hi Dave,

I'm also in California and I am very glad I ordered not only the side awning but the rear awning as well. During rain or drizzle and having somewhere to take off shoes or hang out outside and stay dry is a plus. Hanging netting or shear fabric from the side awning for shade during the day as well as LED's at night is a big help also. Trees aren't always an option. It's money well spent in my opinion.

Good luck!

Ray
Buzzcut1
Nomad II
Oct 25, 2018
I just carry a 12x12 pop up that stores on the rear floor of my truck and can be set up anywhere. $1600 would buy me 12 of those over the years

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Is side awning worth it?

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