Bigfoot with side awning

Thank you all for all your comments.

Maybe just a small quick sit up tent is all i need and my chair.

Would like to just keep it simple.

Thanks again

I've had 3 truck campers and only 1 had an awning, a side one, and I only used it once, just because it was there.

Everywhere we camp at, seems to have very high winds kick up, unexpectedly, on a regular basis, which destroy fabric awnings quickly. So many times out at the desert, I've seen folks put out their awning, then later go for a ride. The wind kicks up while they're gone and they come back to a torn up awning. So, I don't use them.

I would probly use an awning once in a while, if there were any made much heavier duty, such as like one of those sliding metal truck bed covers that rolls up like a commercial garage door. I think those would last alot longer in high winds than a fabric awning.

I also agree, a truck camper on a 4wd truck, the roof is really high up there and also the awning is not very long, usually 8-10', depending on length of camper. Because of it's small size and high mounting height, the awning is useless for much shade or rain protection, especially if there is any wind with that rain.

If the awning were mounted at the height of the bottom edge of the overcab bed area, and ran the full length of the camper, from the rear all the way to front end of the overcab bed area, then the awning would be a much more useful length and height for providing shade and rain protection.

X -2 on the above pro/cons. An electric on rear would be more useful than my manual because of the height of it I need to stand on the picnic table usually to securely operate it. If I off load the TC for an extended stay, we use the area under the bed a lot.

The side awning on my Northern Lite is 10 feet long and extends out at least 6 feet, maybe more. It works great to provide shade and rain protection however, as with any awning they don't work well in a direct wind. It gives us some additional lounging area. I have had awnings on my last several TC's and wouldn't have a TC without at least a side awning.

On problem I see with awnings on a camper are they are mounted too high. Rarely I have seen one mounted half way down underneath the windows, which puts it at about the height it would normally be on a trailer or motorhome. Too high means rain blows in, sun sneaks in, and you do not get the protection you thought. On a Bigfoot, it's going to be hard to mount it low.

I have a 8ft awning on my 2005 2500 9.6 bigfoot. I originally had high hopes for it but I have found it to be next to useless and really have stopped even trying to use it for the last 8 years. It is only 8ft long and off the cuff 6ft deep and ends up high off the ground, so it provides very limited sun or rain shelter, any wind/rain at all and everything gets wet and straight down heavy rains the water hits the ground and bounces back up splattering everything with muddy water.

I prefer a instant up 10x10 folding shelter if where staying in one spot for few days .

How far out does the awning extend? On travel trailers and toy haulers, the awning stretches out several feet, but the awnings are 16+ feet long too.

In order for the awning to be effective in the rain, it needs to have enough room that you can get away from the edges so you don't catch the wind-blown rain.

A friend has an older Bigfoot (2003?) with the factory side awning and never uses it - until we camped together. It was a light rain so he extended the awning and the four of us were able to sit under it and chat. (My camper at that time did not have a side awning.)

We use our side awning - almost everyday when in Arizona - mostly as a shade for the camper - not to sit under. The sun heats up the camper and every bit of shade helps.

And when it's continuously raining it's nice to sit outside with a campfire just beyond the awning drip line.
The more one camps, the more often one can find a side awning useful.