Awning Alternartive

[Tuff Guy 62]

When we were outfitting our ATC Panther this past summer I vacillated back & forth on the awning option. Finally deciding against due to cost ($750.00), weight (40lbs.) along with the fact that it's always on the same side of the camper.

So I pickup one of these, a Colman instant screen-room. At 15'X13', it's big enough to easily encapsulate a full size picnic table. No floor on the unit, so it can be easily moved anywhere. Comes with a handy carrying bag, lightweight (18lbs) and sets up in about a minute. Hexagonal in shape so it has 6 points for staking at each leg and six guy lines for a total of 12 tie down points. Should stand well in a medium stiff Mojave wind. Purchased at Walmart on-line for $90.00.

Anyone else using something similar?

 

[GroovyDad]

I know what you mean, $750.00 for a little shade is steep. For my next project, I'm going to use a rail (below) and try to come up with a way I can use a tarp or a sheet of nylon to improvise an awning. If I'm successful, I'll post the results, if I'm not successful I'll hide in shame...

 

[PaulT]

One of these may work for you.

http://www.kirkhams.com/shelters-shades/kirkhams-auto-canopy/

http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f56/tarp-for-an-awning-ideas-69068-2.html

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/116744-Awning-for-the-lightweight

Kelty Noah's Tarp https://www.kelty.com/productrouter.aspx?path=noahs-tarp

Paul

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Paul, I have a Noah's Tarp that we use on the boat, and probably will with the camper. They work well and will stand up to wind with appropriate tie downs. Getting tall poles, and pegs that will work in both loose and hard soil is important. For sand, a deadman's ancchor or stake that is made specifically for sand is needed. Extra line for tie down is important, too.

The tarp stows nicely in a small bag, doesn't take up much space, and even with poles/pegs is light.

 

[Bseek]

This is the one I plan to purchase eventually. So far I haven't needed an awning. Moving each day and easy set up were the key factors in my decision to get an ATC.

http://www.busdepot.com/details/awning/

 

[ski3pin]

This is the one I plan to purchase eventually. So far I haven't needed an awning. Moving each day and easy set up were the key factors in my decision to get an ATC.

http://www.busdepot.com/details/awning/

Add a mounting strip (to keep rain from dripping) on one side to attach to GoovyDad's trim piece and this looks to be about perfect. We've never needed an awning - oops, except for the times we were in Colorado monsoons with Stew - as we are usually not around the truck and camper during the day, but cheap and easy may sway us. Thanks for posting!

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Sailrite (and others) have awning track and rope that will do a great job of securing a tarp to the camper.

http://www.sailrite.com/Awning-Track-Flanged-White-96

 

[takesiteasy]

I've posted this before but I will add a link here to our writeup of homemade version using awning track and rope:

http://travelswithrockythedog.blogspot.com/2013/06/new-awning.html

Here's a pic (larger version on the blog):

 

[Bill D]

Moving each day and easy set up were the key factors in my decision to get an ATC.

http://www.busdepot.com/details/awning/

Moving each day is one of the reasons I would like an easy to set up awning.
If I were stationary for any length of time, setting up a tarp wouldn't be such a big deal.

I really wish my used Hawk came with an awning. It is pretty much fully loaded, but no awning

 

[Advmoto18]

Here's the Keder Welt which fits into the sail track on the back of every recently manufactured FWC.

I seem to recall you need 5' length for the sail track on the back of the Hawk.

Sunbrella fabrics are available here.

Custom tent poles here.

Don't forget appropriate sized grommets for the fabric, tips for the poles to fit grommets, and shock cord to go inside the poles to keep them together.

A rear awning project that will mostly likely cost less than $200 when out-sourcing the sewing to a local seamstress.

Of course, you can purchase the molding and mount it to the side of the roof. I'm not sure how wind resistant the molding is going be when traveling down the highway at intrastate speeds.

 

[LuckyDan]

Another alternative:

http://www.busdepot.com/awnings-tents-and-add-a-rooms

Don't have one but have seen them in action. Seemed applicable to me.

 

[Accrete]

We have a 10 foot fiama F45 curb side on our rig. It seemed like the right thing at the time : )

Probably in a couple years... just cuz...

We will replace the fiama with something simpler and more robust. I'm thinking of having a local shop fabricate a simple ~10 foot x 1" or 2" aluminum square frame (two of the sections one above another) with same location. Then bungee lashing simple ~10 x 10 tarp and using our kelty tent poles.

Just a ponder at this point. I'm looking for something that can better weather the PNW afternoon river-winds (gusty at times) and really not have to bother worrying with the setup. While the fiama can easily move about and deflect most situations up to about ~25mph, I hate to push our luck.

Thom

 

[Old Crow]

As I was reading this thread this morning the UPS man pulled up and delivered my new screen-house for this year's Florida trip. I thought I'd see if it sets up as easily as it's supposed to and then take a few photos....

This one is known as a Clam Quick-Set Traveler. The Clam name seems odd for a tent-maker but Clam Outdoors makes ice-fishing equipment (their 800 number is 1-800-ICE-FISH). But they also make a few screen-shelters, a six-sided 12 x 12 Escape model and the four-sided 6 x 6 Traveler.



It's a screen shelter but I show it with one of the three optional wind/sun/rain side-walls attached and set it up beside my Hawk for an idea of scale.

I didn't have any problems with setup. I just unfolded out a wall enough to see its hub in the middle and then pulled out on the hub to make a wall. Make three walls, then go inside and push up on the roof hub. Instructions say it's easier to pop the roof if someone holds down on the shelter but it popped into place for me with just a bit of a shove straight up. After the roof's up, I can move the shelter around by carrying the whole shelter suspended from the roof's hub but have to do it on tip-toes to get the shelter off the ground.

The optional side walls hook on corner loops and there are enough velcro patches to make them seem secure-- at least on this nice, windless day. You can buy the walls in a kit of two or a kit of three. There isn't a wall for the zippered side.

The shelter went back into its bag pretty easily. I'll add a few bungies to get the tent material more controlled and that should make it a tad easier. The folded-up walls go in a separate bag and it doesn't fit in with the shelter.



Also: for anyone considering one of these, note there's an important difference between the green one and the brown one. The optional side-walls of the green one don't fit under a rain flap like they do on the brown one. Also, the brown wall-panels have a window, the green ones don't.

Also- the 12' x 12' six-sided shelter is tempting but it's carry-bag is six feet long. What do you do with that? Thule box on the roof? Weight of the 6x6 is 20 pounds and the 12x12 is 34 pounds. I ordered it from Amazon.

Here's the setup video:

I think this could work out well for the way I travel. I move from place to place daily and travel alone or with one other person. I'll probably only pull it out when I think the evening's going to be buggy or I want to sit out sipping my Old Crow with some protection from the wind.

-OC

edited 1/1/16- minor changes to clarify meaning

 

[Accrete]

Looks like a nice setup. I have it bookmarked.
We are researching something to tie into our current setup. Top on the list right now is an OzTent RV3.
And what you shared could do the trick also with side panels IMO for about a third of the cost.

Thom

 

[Old Crow]

.....
We are researching something to tie into our current setup. Top on the list right now is an OzTent RV3.
And what you shared could do the trick also with side panels IMO for about a third of the cost.

Thom- Just thought I'd re-iterate the part about the entry-side not being designed for a panel in case you didn't notice that. I told a buddy I'd like to be able to close it off if I wanted to use it as an extra-luxurious shower tent. He said, "Well, you said you can pick the whole thing up from the roof hub so just turn it toward the camper, dummy!"

Also- here's another pic, this one with four chairs to give a sense of internal size.



The panel's off in this one. If I were more of a photographer I'd have noticed the nearest corner isn't even close to vertical.

-OC

 

[longhorn1]

Looks like the Traveler will be part of our spring camping purchase. At first my wife said no, saying mosquitos will get in when we go in like they got into the truck and camper when we were at Galveston last year. They were bad, but you can spray. I sat her down to watch the video and the ease of setting up, unlike the tailgating awning. She notice the logo and asked if that was the same as the Clam Table which we love. That closed the deal.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Wander The West mobile app

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Very interesting shelter.One of the simplest I have seen.
Easy to use and light in weight.
At present I just carry a 8'x8' pop up. Would only use it for rainy weather.
It came in handy out on Prince of Wales island,Alaska.Very rainy there.
We usually don't stay in one area long enough to put one up.
Frank

 

[Accrete]

...He said, "Well, you said you can pick the whole thing up from the roof hub so just turn it toward the camper, dummy!",

THX for that tid bit. When watching the video i thought of how easy it would be to butt it up to the slider on the van so we could just duck in and grab clean clothes and such. Might be an alternative.

Thom

 

[ntsqd]

For those wanting to make something. Years ago I loaned out a Mtn Hardware tent and it didn't come back with the guy tensioners. Repeated calls to MH asking to buy another set got me nowhere. While at the O'Land Expo a couple of years ago I found these and now have way too many. They are very nice pieces of hardware, rival the MH parts easily, though are bigger to accommodate a larger line.

http://www.montanacanvas.com/products/rope-tension-adjusters

EDIT: Just had a look at the CLAM video. Good find! I like that a lot. Wife was hesitant until she saw the video. I think there may be one in our future.

 

[ETAV8R]

I use an REI Alcove. It doesn't have sides to it. I think it is an option. Mine has withstood the winds of Death Valley on several occasions and even rain. I'd like to have a ShadyBoy awning in the future though. It would be nice to have mounts for the ShadyBoy on both sides so I could switch it from one to the other.