While I have several mats, I havenโt always been completely satisfied with them and have had some start chafing after one seasonโฆ so while I have them and use them, I have always preferred my shade clothโฆ I stooped recommending it because there seemed to be very few interested in itโฆ and itโs light weight can be a problem sometimesโฆ I used the smoke blue shade cloth, in 70%... it seems to be just right for meโฆ 60% to 70%. Is good and for the best cloth make sure it is knitted, not wovenโฆ
you can maybe find for less on other sites, this one is $1.50 for 6' unfinished.
search shade cloth for many other places that have it. But I find this place reasonable and good to deal with
70% smoke blue shade clothyou can buy it off the rolls up to 24 foot wide in unfinished sizes, or they will custom make anything you wantโฆ
this stuff is indestructible (except by heat)(donโt ask how I know), yet can be made into anything sewn with any home machineโฆ
Old post
Posted: 11/08/06 10:48pm
many CG DO NOT ALLOW ASTRO TURF, the mats mentioned are nice and work well, but are not cheap and don't last but a couple of years.
if you want something that is durable, easy to clean, very light-weight and is inexpensive. go to Lowe's or HD and in the garden dept. look for shade cloth. it comes in colors and is 6 foot wide and can be bought in any length you want. you can sew two pieces together with any machine to make it wider, and buy a extra piece to make a matching sun screen for your awning. the last time I bought it the cost was around $1.20 per foot. it will last two to three times longer than the RV mats also. I just use a 6 foot wide piece by 25 foot, I hemmed the two ends (the long sides don't need hemmed) and put grommets on it for under thirty dollars. made a matching shade screen for the awning for under twenty-five dollars. if a storm comes up I can roll the sun screen up with the awning without removing it.
TIP: for very easy storage of the shade cloth...
use a 3/4" piece of plastic pipe and just roll the cloth up on the pipe and unroll at the next location.
it can then be stored in the bumper (I don't use the bumper for the sewer hose) or on the bumper with a couple of ball bungee's.
TIP: paint the inside of your bumper with rust preventing paint.
tie a absorbent rag in the center of a rope so that each end of the rope is long enough to reach through the bumper. soak the rag in the rust preventing paint and pull it back and forth through the bumper until it is well coated (usually three coats). no rust stains on items stored in there.
Love my mass produced, entry level, built by Lazy American Workers, Hornet
