Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2016 09:13:46 -0600
Reply-To: OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Best Awning and why
In-Reply-To: <CACvdLxONN9xtSZvebNDNoQGyg-Ufn6gy7NTHVrj2ByT-N2X6zg@mail.gmail.com>
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Sounds PrettyClose to what I Made&Used for about 12Yrs on My 76 & 83.5 ~ Mine was a VinylBacked RipStop Nylon Tarp WithSleeve SewnIn ~
I Slit 1/2In PVC LengthWise so when inserted in the sleeve it could them be Snapped over the RainGutter Lip ~ The ID of the Sleeve was CloseTo 2X
the OD of the PVC so the Material would Easily PushUp Into the Slit in the PVC ~ Set it up in the Rain on Several Occasions while staying MostlyDry ~
The GuyWires on the CornerPoles was where I'd get wet ~
On 30 Jun , 2016, at 8:06 AM, David McNeely wrote:
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: David McNeely <davmcneely40@gmail.com>
> Date: Wed, Jun 29, 2016 at 6:05 PM
> Subject: Re: Best Awning and why
> To: Neil <neilrayc@gmail.com>
>
> Dean, here is a copy of what I sent to Neil. YMMV.
>
> Neil, my awning is a 10'x12' poly tarp. My wife sewed a sleeve on on end. Into the sleeve fits a length of pvc pipe in 3 sections with joints to fit them together into one length. With that in the sleeve, that end then fits into the rain gutter, and is fastened there with three padded C-clamps. Sectional aluminum tent poles fit into grommets on the two outer corners (farthest from the camper when the tarp is stretched out) and in the center of the outer edge. 1/4" nylon ropes are looped over the points of the poles, and guyed out with tent pegs to hold the tarp taught. I have considered adding a sleeve into the middle of the tarp and fitting a rib in order to give it a better peak to drain off rain better, but with the center tent pole 6" longer than the other two, so far it has worked.
>
> Would it stand up to 50 mph winds? I doubt it, but then neither will any of the fancy awnings on the market, and if I fail to get mine in before the winds hit, damage to the van will be minimal. With the fancy ones, the fasteners will rip the rain gutters, roof, or pop-top. Mine cost under $50, since i had the tent poles already, and it has now lasted for 8 years and a couple of hundred campouts.
>
> One of the online list vendors offers something similar, a bit fancier and a bit more pricey.
>
> Some list members have tried something similar, homemade like mine, without being pleased. But if you don't like the awning, at least you have a good tarp for other purposes. I've been more than pleased.
>
> You'll need to fiddle with whatever you come up with to get it to suit you and your approaches to camping.
>
> mcneely
>
>
>
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