My Aliner Experience
I have been lurking here since January researching Aliners and other Aframe campers. I know that others lurk here attempting to learn about these unique campers and would like to share our recent expe...
Forum Discussion
BTW, the awning is a home made design. I wanted a small awning for my Aliner, but couldn't find any design I liked, so I went to the drawing board and designed my own.
This was my design criteria:
1. It must be quick and easy to set-up (like the Aliner) with only 1 person.
2. It must be simple, with few parts, lightweight, yet durable (no rust or corrosion).
3. It must be easy to build and inexpensive, no rope, cables or turnbuckles, and it must take up very little space when stored.
4. Though built primarily for shade, it must be waterproof and sturdy enough to take mild weather. If hit by a heavy gust of wind it should give way rather than act as a sail and tip the camper.
Let's see how I did:
1. Moving at a normal pace, I can erect the Aliner with my new awning (from its normal travel configuration with awning disassembled and stored under the sofa area) in less than 3 minutes (timed by DW to keep me honest).
2. There are only 6 pieces to assemble the frame and attach the awning (not counting the 3 threaded sockets permanently attached to the camper). My goal was to keep it under 10lbs. It actually weighs less than 5 lbs!
3. The frame is made of three pieces 1/2" schedule 40 PVC pipe with both screw and push fittings. The awning is made from a 10mil woven plastic tarp (twice the weight of the typical 5mil blue tarps) for durability. I chose this material as it is lightweight, waterproof and extremely durable. When cut, the ends don't fray and unravel (so no stitching around the edges is needed.) It's also easy to repair and cheap to replace if it gets damaged. Not counting the Velcro and the plastic pipe glue, which I already had, I built it for under $20 thanks to Lowes!
4. I used Velcro to attach it to the frame and camper - no ropes or clamps. Not only is this simple, fast and easy, but if the wind load exceeds the strength of the Velcro, the awning will come loose and spill the wind before it rips or overturns the camper.
Here's some pics:
Awning Album
Chip
This was my design criteria:
1. It must be quick and easy to set-up (like the Aliner) with only 1 person.
2. It must be simple, with few parts, lightweight, yet durable (no rust or corrosion).
3. It must be easy to build and inexpensive, no rope, cables or turnbuckles, and it must take up very little space when stored.
4. Though built primarily for shade, it must be waterproof and sturdy enough to take mild weather. If hit by a heavy gust of wind it should give way rather than act as a sail and tip the camper.
Let's see how I did:
1. Moving at a normal pace, I can erect the Aliner with my new awning (from its normal travel configuration with awning disassembled and stored under the sofa area) in less than 3 minutes (timed by DW to keep me honest).
2. There are only 6 pieces to assemble the frame and attach the awning (not counting the 3 threaded sockets permanently attached to the camper). My goal was to keep it under 10lbs. It actually weighs less than 5 lbs!
3. The frame is made of three pieces 1/2" schedule 40 PVC pipe with both screw and push fittings. The awning is made from a 10mil woven plastic tarp (twice the weight of the typical 5mil blue tarps) for durability. I chose this material as it is lightweight, waterproof and extremely durable. When cut, the ends don't fray and unravel (so no stitching around the edges is needed.) It's also easy to repair and cheap to replace if it gets damaged. Not counting the Velcro and the plastic pipe glue, which I already had, I built it for under $20 thanks to Lowes!
4. I used Velcro to attach it to the frame and camper - no ropes or clamps. Not only is this simple, fast and easy, but if the wind load exceeds the strength of the Velcro, the awning will come loose and spill the wind before it rips or overturns the camper.
Here's some pics:
Awning Album
Chip
