Forum Discussion

Almot's avatar
Almot
Explorer III
Nov 13, 2015

Privacy mesh?

Need something on one side of the awning - neighbor's window is looking right into my space. Harmless old lady, but it's a seasonal camp so she' not going anywhere. Neither do I.

Since it's seasonal, I don't mind an hour or so taking it off and re-installing every season. Trying to avoid building anything permanent - can't attach anything to the trailer anyway.

The area can get VERY windy. Things like curtains hanging lose around the awning won't work. Half the time I can't even leave the awning on.

I've been thinking of a long rope tied to the awning bracket high at the gutter, and coming down to some 6ft stake or to the ground 10-12 ft away. Onto the rope I would clip some mesh, or net, and peg it to the ground. Like this Privacy Screen. Or green Debris Mesh from Home Depot (you know, like on construction sites) - it seems sturdier than other. Or a military camo net (gasp), little old lady neighbor will hate me.
  • Almot's avatar
    Almot
    Explorer III
    Nov 18, 2015
    Bay of LA in Baja. Was windy as hell half the time in October, and hot too.
  • Almot's avatar
    Almot
    Explorer III
    Nov 15, 2015
    Barney, you're right. Shade cloth is simple, yet not perfect. Rather than watching it flapping in the wind, I would better put a couple of 6ft panels of rattan or bamboo. Looks nicer and makes a wind shelter.
  • BarneyS's avatar
    BarneyS
    Explorer III
    Nov 14, 2015
    I suggest just leaving everything as is and just smiling or waving at your neighbor. It might just "make her day". :W :B
    Barney
  • Almot's avatar
    Almot
    Explorer III
    Nov 14, 2015
    VERY heavy winds. Can't hang anything on the awning. 70 lbs canoe flew a few feet across the gravel. I'm tying canoe now to small pegs for dogs. Awning I roll up every time when I leave for the day, and few times I woke up in the night from rattling noise of the awning, doors and other things and had to roll the awning up.

    The truck covered with tarp from sun and dust, tarp ripped in 3 days on those spots where there was any angle or corner underneath.

    That's why I was thinking to tie a rope to the bracket that is holding the awning arms near gutter - this would work without use of the awning arm.

    Grommets would have to be every 10-12", and I have some doubts about clips. It should be attached with something that can't open, ex. cable ties. Very heavy winds, and very sudden.

    Well, at least I see that I'm on the right track with shade cloth. Ah, what the heck - will build some ugly palapa of plywood.
  • rockhillmanor's avatar
    rockhillmanor
    Explorer
    Nov 14, 2015
    I attach the sun shade to the awning arms with these.



    Roll edge of sunshade material over arm and clip. Buy a bag of them at Lowes for a couple of bucks and IMHO a must have on board in an RV they come in handy for just about everything.
  • rockhillmanor's avatar
    rockhillmanor
    Explorer
    Nov 14, 2015
    They sell awning end panels like this one. They START at $179.00! :E


    You can buy the same thing material at Lowes attach it with clips or buy a grommet set for the holes and for around 30 bucks you done! And with a color material that is far nicer than that overpriced one.
  • LynnandCarol's avatar
    LynnandCarol
    Explorer
    Nov 14, 2015
    Yes we use the sun shade and the round shower curtain hangers on our awning side support. You must install some grommets. Works great! If using awning flappers, there is some setup required. we use a bungee to bunch it when we don't need it.
  • rockhillmanor's avatar
    rockhillmanor
    Explorer
    Nov 14, 2015
    Lowes and Home Depot have sun shade on a roll. Buy just what you need. Comes in real nice colors and looks real nice when hung up on an RV. Provides privacy while still looking nice and keeps the sun out!

    I found the easiest way to attach it to the side of an awning is with clips. The angle of the arm really prevents you from just putting a hook thru the holes of a grommet because depending of the angle you have the awning at the sun shade will slide down

    Then pick up a bag of those plastic clips from the tool department and attach the sunshade on the awning arms with the clips. It will stay where you put it.

    I have three of them one for each side of my awning and put it up and down in seconds as I need them.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Nov 13, 2015
    I used to put up military type camo using ropes between trees all the time around my large three room tent camping sites a few years back. With only a couple of entrance points to my camping area was important to us...

    It all blended in just great with the woods decor. Not sure how this would do at a regular campgrounds however...

    Tent camping also had another bad taste. Depending where you place your interior lighting inside a large tent setup can be a full screen movie operation viewed from across the road.

    Roy Ken

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