Anyone here make a CT awning themselves?

[Tallbald]

I've tried a search and got some ideas here, but I'm wondering if there's any link to a site that could give me more construction specifics. Even close-up photos without written instructions would be beneficial. It will only need to be 8 feet long, and I suppose about 8 feet out. Thank you. Don

[jwhite]

I was going to try and make one myself but I knew it would only look homemade so I got mine from
'Marti's Vintage Trailer Awnings' I bought one they had on ebay for 100.00 and am very happy with it.
I have a wooden box I made that goes under the rear ramp so it is like a deck and the awning was just the right size to cover that area,they will make one any size you want and alot of choices in the colors.
I also have a eazy up canopy but I would still like to have a awning that is factory made for a trailer that rolls out but I know they are alot more than 100.00 if anyone knows the best place to get one I would like to know.

[Pyrofish]

I'm going to do the home made route. I don't mind if looks home made

I plan to buy a section of awning rail (which I can't seem to find for less than $50... ) and then sew up a tarp with a piece of coax or coated cable in it to push through the rail. Then I can have my entire 20' side covered for not much cost. If I ever do decide to get a real awning, I'll need the awning rail up there anyway. So I'll be that much ahead of the game.

[b.bodemer]

My rv door is only about 2" below the awning rail. I'd have to add a roller to the top of the door to use a regular awning as to not puncture it. I'm not ready to drill holes into the door just yet.

A local guy sewed my awning welt but I just can not get the diagonal poles to keep it up so I am using the awning rail on the driver side and it works great in camp and in my backyard for extra shade. It's larger than the one Marti made for my Scotty and I wonder if that's the problem with the diagonal poles not working.

http://cttraveltrailer.blogspot.com/201 ... -deal.html
http://cttraveltrailer.blogspot.com/201 ... et-up.html

I did find this shelter on line and ordered the brackets. I did a test and the double pitch set up would work with enough room to install the brackets and clear the door. This would allow the awning to come straight out the length of the door and then drop. I'm considering this set up for when I am camping for at least a week. I don't have to buy the kit and the company allows you to buy the connectors needed.

http://www.shelsys.com/catalog/attached.html

I've been lucky that all my outings have had great weather so I've put off making the Shelter Systems purchase right now.

If I'm in a sunny campsite I do use my stand alone canopy but it won't work against the trailer as my trailer has 6" added to the height and the door is tall too. Goes up fast and covers the picnic table.

Barb

[pmspirito]

You have "covered" my problem for an awning. i also have only a couple of inches above the door. thanks again

[nuclearfly]

Oh man. I have been trying to wrap my head around a solution for my awning too. I think I only have an inch above my side door and the top of the trailer. It didn't even occur to me to have a small ridge in the awning. I see some PVC in my future.

Thanks for the link!

[Goatdog]

I used this awning rail. being cheap I bought two 4 foot long sections, cut one down a bit, and made one continuous rail across the back of my CT

http://www.vintagetrailersupply.com/Awn ... ts-876.htm

You can buy an 8 foot section but shipping adds a bit to the cost.

I then cut two driveway reflector rods down to the same length, folded them into my plastic awning and spray glued (3M adhesive spray) them shut in there. The awning slides into the awning rail and I use those adjustable tent poles from Walmart (duct taped to be set at 8 feet in height). The poles are staked to the ground with 550 cord.

Pictures of it next weekend.

[b.bodemer]

My local canvas awning guy, who sewed my awning welt, sold me extra awning rail at $2 a foot.

Barb

[lmajeff1]

Hello,

I thought about an awning for my CT; however, I just went with an easy-up (10X10) with Neting for the sides to keep out the nasties and it has worked just fine. By the way just took CT on first camping trip 8 days to Hot Springs Arkansas area. Mid nineties during the day with the AC on low cool the day time temperature got no higher then 72 degrees and at night it got done to under 60 degrees in side the CT. Love that insulation job that I did.

Sincerely,

Jeff.

P.S. Wil post pictures of inside of CT this week.

[pmowers]

I had bought a generic Ozark Trails rain fly for my cabin tent at one time. It was silver reflective urethane coated nylon and I am now thinking about digging it out and seeing if I could adapt it as a CT awing. Possibly using a pvc pipe frame with replacement fiberglass tent poles in an X to give a bit of a bow to the fly. Just add poles to the grommets already in the corners and stake it out.

The problem I have had with a lot of the ez-up type canopies is the way they are sized, a 10x10 is actually about 8x8, with the legs splayed out to make a 10x10 base. If the legs were straight, then it would seem to be a simple matter of adapting the canopy to the trailer, but with the legs out like that, you need to do more work.

Pat

[Pyrofish]

That is true of the cheaper 10x10 canopies. If you want a straight leg one, go to Sam's club, or search them out. Vendors at fairs usually have the far more sturdy ones with straight legs that come in a true 10x10 or a 12x12. Those things are built well. Sam's usually has them for a little more than $200. My brother bought one for his needs, as did my dad. They were both very happy with them. Oddly enough, I think they are the original Easy-up IIRC.

[b.bodemer]

My awning guy sewed welts into triangles leftover from an older rain fly. I've got two of these now for the "less is better" when on a quick trip and wanting minimal set up time.

Works great for the cargo door/ac/screen set up in camp. Now with driving rain nothing is getting into the 24" x 24" opening.

http://cttraveltrailer.blogspot.com/201 ... mised.html

Barb

[pmowers]

I had called around locally trying to find somewhere to buy awning rail, without much luck. A company that makes/sells awnings and custom vehicle trim gave me a price of $7.80 per foot, from their supplier. I asked who their supplier was and they told me a local tent/awning manufacturer, that happens to have an outlet store. The outlet store's price- $0.75 per foot, cut to length, and they would drill it if I wanted them to. I had to ask twice to make sure of the price. I now have 2 9-ft long pieces of rail to mount on my CT, for a whopping total of $14.44. I think I am going to use the "cable" welt method and see what I can come up with this weekend. I am still really considering a vestibule type connection to either a cabin tent or a 10x10 pop-up shelter, coming off the side-door.

When I was in the army, we used to have tall armored personnel carriers called M-577s to use when we set-up a battalion aid station. The 577 had a canvas attachment that came off the back and covered the rear door/deck so that you could set up out of the weather. I am wondering about doing something similar over the barn-doors on my CT.

[A Plus MM]

You know I have been throwing this around in my head for a few months now. I have a business working on campers so when I replace an awning I will usually keep the old hardware "just in case". My thought for you guys is to check with your local rv shop to see if they have an old awning tube that they will sell to you. Anyway, I was going to remove the springs from the end caps and make legs out of extendable paint handles (like a telescoping broomstick) with the bottom ends mounted in adjustable flag holders but today I got an idea about using a couple Harbor Freight 16foot telescoping flag poles mounted horizontally on ladder rack mounts. The poles would only need to extend out maybe 8 feet or so, so the down stress from the weight of the fabric would not be too great. Attach the tube ends to the flag poles - that would lock in place when the awning is fully extended or maybe drill & pin it and you have an awning with no legs. If you get lucky and find a tube with good springs it may work even better for rolling up.http://www.harborfreight.com/16-ft-telescoping-flag-pole-kit-92901.html I'd still secure the tube with straps of some sort so it wouldn't unwind during travel but that's me being over cautious.

You'll have to excuse how my brain works but all you need is that one good idea and the world will beat a path to your door.