Date: Mon, 1 Sep 2008 10:17:14 -0500
Reply-To: Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Awnings..
In-Reply-To: <598895.66861.qm@web51405.mail.re2.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
This is exactly the kind of awning that my parents' camper came with
in 1973. The camper and the awning are both still in use, and it has
stood up to some horrendous winds where it is kept on the gulf coast.
I planned to mount some of that gutter track on my westy, but never
quite got around to it. The C-channel extruded aluminum that the
hemmed edge slides into is cheap and readily available at local camper
stores, but I never figured out exactly how I wanted to mound the
channel to the westy. Any details on how that was done?
I have since figured out that it might be good to pop-rivet the
channel to the fiberglass pop-up, since I have been using a
backpacking tarp tied to the raised roof with a couple of poles and
great results.
Jim
On Mon, Sep 1, 2008 at 9:36 AM, Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Cleverness abounds. Another good idea to file away for future reference.
>
> Stephen
>
> --- On Mon, 9/1/08, Cullen Stewart <cullberly@VERMONTEL.NET> wrote:
> From: Cullen Stewart <cullberly@VERMONTEL.NET>
> Subject: Re: Awnings..
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Date: Monday, September 1, 2008, 10:19 AM
>
> I have a simple and very durable awning that I had a canvas shop make for
> me. It is heavy duty canvas that mounts to a "hidden rope" channel
> that is
> screwed to the gutter. The canvas has nylon rope sewn into the edge which
> acts as a key. I simply slide the rope into the channel from the back and
> set 1 or 2 poles depending on the situation. It is quite large and does not
> leave a gap between the gutter and the awning edge so I can leave the door
> open and not get wet. With poles and guy line I spent about $200 (3.years
> ago). I now have an awning that can sustain the worst weather and last for
> decades with minimal care. The shop that made this is in Belfast, ME and is
> called Art's canvas.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Don Hanson" <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Monday, September 01, 2008 9:24 AM
> Subject: Re: Awnings..
>
>
> Good point. I recall that the few times I left mine up it collected rain
> also, getting a bit full along the middle of the four edges. I bet you
> could get some kinda battens and with a bit of imagination figure a way to
> stick one up from each side to the peak of the canopy so that the rainwater
> would not collect. Four pieces of plastic or wood or aluminum stock would
> likely slip into the 'sock' type carrier bag these EZ-ups come in. I
> guess
> you get what you pay for..so they ain't perfect for everything, but for
> ~$100 on sale, (for the simple canopy without any extras) they work ok.
> Don Hanson
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Stephen Grisanti
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM ; Don Hanson
> Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2008 10:22 PM
> Subject: Re: Awnings..
>
>
> The EZ-Up type you mention is what we bought on closeout last year
> and tried on our first trip this year. Fairly easy to set up and move
> around and very handy with its screen walls, but we left it up and were
> surprised by an overnight rain that collapsed it and broke the aluminum
> framework irreparably. The original Hummer awning setup we got on closeout
> from Sierra Trading Post still works okayishly but also collects rainwater,
> so the domed type is definitely the way to go and that may be what we try
> next .
>
> Stephen
>
> --- On Fri, 8/29/08, Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET> wrote:
>
> From: Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
> Subject: Awnings..
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Date: Friday, August 29, 2008, 11:30 AM
>
>
> I've had a bunch of different ones on various vehicles. None of them
> are"bomb-proof". You won't ever find an awning that can
> withstandeveryweather situation you may encounter. We've spent about 15
> extended winterscamping, in Baja, the desert southwest and the mountains and
> it seems everytime you decide.."It won't be windy today. I'll
> just leave
> theawning upwhile we go _______," a huge windstorm occurs and destroys
> your
> awning(only the awning if you are lucky, if you are unlucky, it sometimes
> wrecksyour vehicle or the one camped next to you) So my first requirement
> for any awning is that it is quick and easy todeploy or retract. I will no
> longer leave one up if I am gone, or when webed down at night. Lately,
> I've
> been using those free-standing canopies that are called"EZ-Ups". The
> kind
> with four legs and some accordion-style polesthatdeploy into a square with a
> pointed
> top. You can find these on sale foraround $100, they come with a bag for
> storage and if you find the right one,they aren't too awkward to carry
> along
> on trips. At night, you push thefour"legs" towards the middle and the
> whole
> deal folds up in about 20seconds.You should always take that 20 seconds to
> do so. I use some trucker bungees to attach the vehicle side legs to the
> van'swheels and weight down the other two legs with something else. Most
> ofthese EZ-ups have a "Half-mast" position, where you can lower
> thelegshalfway, placing the canopy at about 4' off the ground, yet still
> deployed.I've used this feature to cover my race car's cockpit. With
> anotherperson,you can also 'walk the canopy's where you need it. I use
> that'half mast'feature in forest service campsites to pile our chairs
> and
> coolers on orunder the picnic table then walk the canopy over and use tie
> downs to secureit
> to the table. Holds your campsite and keeps your gear dry if you take
> aside trip. If you do have a vehicle mounted awning, it's a good idea to
> use a'back-up' method to keep it closed when traveling. Living near
> I-84whichtraverses the Columbia River Gorge east/west, almost every day
> during thewindy season I see a few vehicles with their awnings blown
> partially open orpieces of awning alongside the freeway. Trusting some
> flimsy aluminum orplastic hook/latch to withstand what might be above
> hurricane force winds is'pushing it'...75mph vehicle speed + a 60+
> headwind=
> 130mph apparentwind...not at all uncommon on interstate 84 here. We still
> have one awningon a pickup truck that I use a bicycle pedal foot strap to
> secure inaddition to the factory supplied latches. Don Hanson
>
>
>
>
>
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