Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I wanted to ask a question separately from my build thread. I'm looking to add an awning to our trailer and was wondering if anyone here has done this and where you got it. I found a place in Oregon but they currently are closed until June 1st. I am looking to add a manually operated 10' awning. Ideas fellow builders?

I just installed a 19 foot Dometic awning on my Diamond Cargo v-nose. I purchased it through adventurerv.net. I had to purchase the awning itself and the hardware separately. Shipping and all, it was the best price I could find. We are very happy with the purchase. I have ordered several things from them such as the Dometic AC, lights and power converter. My financial manager / advisor keeps tight reins on the purchases.

I think I'm going to go with an EZ-UP style canopy with 4 legs. You can get them for about $100 and they can move wherever you want shade.

dustboy wrote:I think I'm going to go with an EZ-UP style canopy with 4 legs. You can get them for about $100 and they can move wherever you want shade.

I started that way and it was great except for one thing - I couldn't get it flush to the trailer - couldn't get it within door-opening distance at all. I was going to look at raising it and it involved all kinds of engineering and such I didn't want to get into, and then someone pointed out when you do get it flush it just bangs into the camper and still doesn't prevent rain.

It IS a nice little space under it, to be sure, and if you're more interested in shade than rain, it's fine. the last time I went camping though, it was a deluge and my whole camper got all disgusting because you couldn't wipe your feet and the step started sinking into the ground and it was just "suboptimal".

I'm adding an awning rail and doing my own awning that way with guyed adjustable tent poles at the outrigger corners. the whole thing including the rail, welt, and poles is under $50.

I might still carry the canopy with me, it's nice to have, but I'll have a place to wipe my feet.

I have a CVT(cascadia vehicle tents) 99" mounted on the side of mine

We have two Kelty car tarps that are 6' wide at the tear drop end and spread out to 11' 8" by 11' 8" and a custom made 6X14X14 made by Pahaque with mosquito netting that is in to them being modified based on a couple of year experience with it. These all attach to Kedar rail on three sides of the tear. This allows a lot of flexibility to fit a camp site and configure it for weather.

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Messed that one up! Trying to download from phone, Tapatalk, image won't load?

I have a 10 foot CareFree by Colorado, was installed already when purchased, good awning.



Bob

Khigh good point about the ezup canopy. Here in CA we can barely recall what rain even is, so it's all about the shade. I'm curious to see more about how you built your awning, I especially like the price!

dustboy wrote:Khigh good point about the ezup canopy. Here in CA we can barely recall what rain even is, so it's all about the shade. I'm curious to see more about how you built your awning, I especially like the price!

I haven't done it yet. right now I'm concentrating on the interior before my next outing. Paint, floor, and bed.

It's in the next batch, hopefully along with some solar panels if my deal ever comes through.

It can be even cheaper than that, though, depending on how much you already have and how much you want to put into it.

All you really need is the awning rail. I'm using this one. http://www.rochfordsupply.com/product_l ... dID_E_3095

Then depending on your preference, you can sew a bit of rope into a tarp and slide it in, or use the welt that is linked there (I'm going with the welt, just thinking it will be a smoother feed). Then you use guyed poles on the exterior corners of the tarp.

CGRotorhead wrote:I have a CVT(cascadia vehicle tents) 99" mounted on the side of mine

This is perfect!!!!

Hey Sly,

I posted my install here and you may have already taken a look. http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=63107

The EZ-Up canopies are great but like it was said, getting it flush to the trailer to prevent rain running down the side of the trailer can be difficult to impossible. I even added a gutter for the edge of the tent to sit in but because the side of the tent facing the trailer is sloped toward it the gutter couldn't handle the run off. My suggestion is to do it right with an awning rail install and a proper awning! Especially if you camp in rainy situations. This season is the first time I can go to bed at night and not worry what the rain is going to do to my rain protection system, aka EZ-Up, tarp system, Mcgyvered non-sense.

EZ-Up is best used as a table cover or screen room. Shademaker awnings are great, easy to install and use. Get the Supreme one with the square tubing and the fabric tensioning rafter. Worth the extra bucks.

Best of luck to your decision and subsequent addition to your rig!