Rear awning

[nuckfan]

Anyone install a rear awning on their camper? I'm looking at the Carefree Truckin awn. Looks fairly simple to install? How durable are they and is there something else better on the market?

[Buzzcut1]

for nucfan

[nuckfan]

Installed the Truckin' Awn from Carefree of Colorado today on my camper. It was a simple process no problems and i had it done in about 1 1/2 hrs. Just big enough to keep the rain out of the doorway. If i were looking for something for shade, i don't know if i could justify the expense and would stick with a side awning. Now i have both! Time to go camping!!:B[img] [/img]

[JimK-NY]

I have a Carefree that I very rarely use. Maybe because I use it so little, it sticks and jams and is a pain to setup and retract. All for what? If it is hot and the sun is beating down on my camper and dinky awning is not going to make much difference. If I did not already have it, I certainly would not buy one. BTW, I have used the side awning quite a bit more. It provides quite a bit of shade and works easily.

[run100]

Since the Carefree awning over the back door came with our camper, I can't comment on installing one, but I can say we really love it. It spans the width of the camper and provides shelter from the sun and rain. In addition, it's easy to set-up and retract.

Good luck with your awning project.

buzzcut: Providing EMT services at the horse show sounds like a nice side job. I'm used to seeing such aid stations at the running and racing events I participate in.

[pcoplin]

I'd like to get a small one at least. Just to clean off due to rainy/dirty feet. having a little dry area at the step would be nice, I have a 3 y/o and two labs. 🙂

[Buzzcut1]

run100 wrote:
buzzcut,
I hate to hijack the thread, but what's the first aid station set-up for?

I work as the On-Site EMT at Horse shows. I stay on the grounds in my TC for 2-3 days at a time. I do 30-40 shows per year as my side job. The pay is good and most of the time I just sit back and socialize with friends. I've been doing it for almost 8 years now

[run100]

buzzcut,
I hate to hijack the thread, but what's the first aid station set-up for?

[Buzzcut1]

I use mine in the rain and in the sun

[nuckfan]

just ordered a 5Ft standard. Don't need it for shade, mostly to keep the rain out of the door. My camper is aluminum sided and i plan on installing it above the clearance lights. I hope i can find some solid backing to mount it to.

[dadwolf2]

RoyB wrote:
I have never seen one in person yet but it doesn't look like from the many photos on google search to provide much shade. Being on the rear end just does not give you much area for shading.

I guess every bit of shade you can get is worth the effort...



Roy Ken

This is what we have on our camper. DW insisted on it. Keeps us dry in the desert :C Actually what she really likes is that she can extend and retract it by herself while I am off hiking somewhere.

[okan-star]

I put a truckin awn on my Lance , good for rain and to keep the sun from frying the back inside of the camper
They make 2 types of truckin awns , auto rail and manual , I`d suggest the auto , projection is more on the auto
If you have a alum skinned camper you will have a harder time because you need backing to mount it , some just mount to the fiberglass exterior , I would try to add backing or exterior alum plates to provide secure mounting

[JumboJet]

Sure did. Not hard at all.

[trailgranny50]

I was told by DH we needed a rear awning mostly to keep rain out of the door not so much for shade. Went hunting and with our very old camper and being a Shadow Cruiser with those darned wigns taking up nearly a foot of the back wall nothing new short of a grand for the armless 12v style will work, ugh. The wings moved the ladder over to only a couple inches max clearance for side arm clearance between it and the door which is offset to accommodate the rear bath. I whipped one up that worked inside the barn but in real life we found it had issues. Next I've gone to an ARB 4'bag awning that was quite inexpensive and attached it to the roof rack rail with custom brackets. It requires a ladder to stow back into the bag and Chinese builders put the straps in upside down to be able to secure it, working on a fix for that. The biggest problem is that it was designed for vehicle roof rack height and the pitch is too steep for door clearance in any location other that perfectly level. Since we use a cargo tray for steps and generator I mounted angled Maine rail end caps on the cargo tray to gain elevation as ARB couldn't address the needed leg extension issue, shortened the fabric to get the right angle for the support arms, drilled some pin holes to always have the angles needed and it will now work wherever we park. Royal pain in the arse but functional. The lead bar has a "C" track slot to add a shade extension and I'll use the awning I'd sewn up there. Still, we need to pack the collapsible ladder but always did anyway. I saw an older Carefree on the back of an older Lance at the Texas Rally that would have been perfect, nice skinny side arms and a pull down that the owner said he very seldom used. Like a dummy I never even thought to ask if he'd sell it and then he could have gotten a nice new one that was more simple to operate for his DW that was the only one who used it. If you have the space they're nice in icky weather. I'm going to check at dead camper places to see if one like that can be had. I'd even take one that the fabric was gone from as I can fix that myself as long as the frame worked! Fat chance there. Carefree updated for newer campers and discontinued that version. Drat!

[AnEv942]

We have Carefree trucking awning. Its sole purpose was getting in out of camper when raining, shade to have door open etc.

Does offer some shade to back of camper but as it only extends 4'(autorafter) not so much a shade awning to lounge under. Yes there a better shade awning options, also more expensive- depends on its intended use.
https://www.carefreeofcolorado.com/products/truckin-awn.html for options on the truckin awn.
Ours is 9 1/2 years old. Fairly straight forward install.

Maximizing size hardest part.
The standard has 36" projection -the auto rafter 48". The 48" keeps the rain and sun outside when door open.