Anybody have a PUP awning worth the darn? As we are going back to a PUP from our TT one of the things I'm going to miss is the awning.We had a Jayco PUP before with the bag awning and to be honest it was more trouble than it was worth. The part that go me the most was the time it took to take down whenever the wind came up + you darn near need a step ladder or crank the roof down to roll it back up. I know its a lot to ask of PUP, its like putting a 10' flag on a 1/2 piece of conduit.We do use a screen tent, maybe will just use that and forget the awning.Thoughts?

I get it. The awning, I/O carpet and screen house we use take an hour to set up. We don't bother when staying for only a night or two. But most of our stays are for longer than that so it gets set up. There are lots of reasons to like it. It adds a room and comfortable shelter from rain and sun. The screen house adds so much weight to the awning that we seldom need to take it down for the wind.Might I suggest that you keep an eye open for a good used awning. I found a Coleman on Craig's List that I screwed onto our Jayco PUP. It couldn't hurt to have it attached for those times you'd like to have it.

It's usually worth it to me to put the awning up.I extend the awning before I raise the roof up and I retract it when I lower the roof to leave. Couldn't be much easier.If I'm expecting high winds I run an additional strap over the top of the awning and secure both ends to the ground. It makes for a very stable structure.

Our last pup - on one of our first trips, in the middle of the night the wind kicked up for 5 minutes. No wind for the entire 3 days visit, except for that 5 minutes. It tore the bag away from the hard rubber strip that mounts the awning to the trailer. We took it off, and never missed it. I finally fixed it and reinstalled it to trade it in. This was a high wall trailer with an axle flip so it was especially difficult to put it away when the trailer was set up.Our new pup does not have awning. Too much hassle.

I camp in locations where winds can come up quick and often. I rarely put up the awning. If it's included in the price, then why worry, just don't use it if you don't want to. If it's an extra, I'd probably not bother. Just my opinion and how we setup camp.

Have not put mine (Jayco) up in a number of years as it's just too much work in relation to benefit. It's OK once it's up but as my favorite campsite has good shade. I do have a 12' X 12' screen house which serves much the same purpose.

PUP Awning worth the darn? | Good Sam Community

anthem76
Explorer
May 02, 2013
We always use our awning. I love sitting under it. Once we were camping when a monster rain storm came in. DH and I sat under the awning drinking margaritas while the boys drove their toy cars all over the inside of the pup. It was a great time and a wonderful memory.
DE88ROX
Explorer
Apr 20, 2013
Always had the awning out when using my PUP. Felt naked camping without it.

I would unzip the bag prior to cranking up the roof. (velcro strap in the middle would hold awning in place)

I had a Carefree of Colorado awning that was nice because the leg would just fold up into the awning end. No ropes!!

When breaking camp. The last thing I would do is fold up the awning legs. and let the awning hang. Crank down the roof until the bag was within reach. Roll up the awning and continue folding down the roof.

Awning set up is one of the things I don't miss since I upgrade to a TT last year.
lfloom
Explorer
Apr 20, 2013
Awl Kit

This is a handy device for repairing the stitching on awnings.
merczephyr
Explorer
Apr 20, 2013
We use ours 2-3 times per year, if we are camping in a sunny location and the temps are up. It is a pain, but I carry a two step ladder in the front trunk of the camper. I have to use that anyway to put the flaps over the corner posts. I usually stake it down. I may look for one of those strap kits for it. This summer I may get froggy and put up the add a room, for the 1st time in 5 years.
lazyfarmer
Explorer
Apr 19, 2013
We use ours 90% of the time. I cook on the outside stove which is under the awning, the shade is nice and the wind has not been such a issue over the years. Don't take minute to set it up and I can do it myself, though 2 IS easier.The bag started tearing away from one end so I drilled a hole above the zipper just below the last retaining screw and used a plastic quick tie to loop through the screw into the holes in the zipper to carry the weight. Worked great!
laurencestarr
Explorer
Apr 17, 2013
We use ours all the time. I MUST put it up before raising the roof and cannot take it down until after the roof is lowered. The very first time I set it up a gust of wind threw it on the roof and one of the poles put a hole in the roof ($50 to get the hole fixed). Now I ancher it down as soon as I put it up.
xteacher
Explorer
Apr 16, 2013
We have an Aliner, and we just put up our Eazy-Up, which is much easier than fooling with a PUP awning (been there, done that). You can get special weights made for them at Dick's Sporting Goods and other places to help hold the legs down. You can also get bed risers to lift it up 6 inches so that it's level with the door.
GWolfe
Explorer
Apr 15, 2013
Use mine almost every time, it does take a little extra work but worth it in my book.
drae0814
Explorer
Apr 15, 2013
Yes its a bit more work but you got to have it in socal it gets really hot in the summer. And i always feel more like i am campimg when its pulled out. Do remember to take it down before bed went to sleep one night it got windy went out to put it away and it was gone found it on the otherside of the Pup it had fliped over the top i did not see it till the next morning i was glad it was still there.
galexander
Explorer
Apr 12, 2013
When we had our PUP, I was as frustrated as everyone else with the bag awning and decided to replace the awning with a cutom made awning from Carefree that attached to the side of the top and used a handle to roll it out and back in. When I was told it would cost a mere $650.00, I decided that the bag awning was ok.