Improvised awning question

[dogear52]

I'm going to construct an awning system using pvc pipe and trying to decide between 1 1/2" and 2". It will be attached to my CT when camping and removed before going mobile of course, but when it's up I want it to be strong enough but not overkill. Do you think 1 1/2" is adequate? The canvas cover will be attached to a 10' pvc going parallel to the edge of the CT and supported by 2 pvcs, one at each end and attached to the CT at the bottom/underside frame. Cover will stretch over top of CT and extend 10' out from side door, and maybe a piece stretched 7' over the opened ramp door (porch) .

 

[ZoNiE]

Both will be too heavy. Consider Electrical Thin-wall Conduit (EMT) and buy the canopy fittings to connect them. There is usually a vendor or two at flea markets / swap meets that sell them.

http://www.ysbw.com/Canopy-Fittings-3-4-Inch-s/6.htm

 

[Patrick46]

Have you considered getting an E-Z Up??

we have a 10' x 10' unit, and ordered all the zip-on walls for it. It's like having an additional 10' square add-a-room on the camper!

Takes only 15 minutes to set it all up, and folds up into it's own storage bag.

 

[travlinman and wife]

If you canot find the parts ZoNie listed another way is to use 1in conduit and a top rail fo a chanelink fence the 1in conduit will  fit perfect inside the top rail  cut 8in sections of top rail and drill 2 1/4in holes on each end and have a 1/4in nut welded to it . insert 1in conduit and tighten bolts to hold in place. make as many as you need to shorten poles for easy storage. another way is to drill hole all the way through  number the peaces so uoy can match them up and put a bolt or pin all the way through.

 

[Almost There]

Both will be too heavy. Consider Electrical Thin-wall Conduit (EMT) and buy the canopy fittings to connect them. There is usually a vendor or two at flea markets / swap meets that sell them.

http://www.ysbw.com/Canopy-Fittings-3-4-Inch-s/6.htm

I agree, 1 1/2 or 2" PVC will also take up a whole lot of extra room.

You can configure it to what you want to do. There are clear side panels available to keep out the rain without blocking the view as well as solid panels and shade panels.

Make sure you pick up lots of extra ball bungies in different sizes.

 

[masterplumber]

I'm also a big fan of 1" conduit. I have a 10 x 20 canopy I made out of it about 17 years ago that is still going strong. If I recall I'm only on my second tarp. I plan to make one similar to what you're talking about off the side of my cargo trailer. It will be much cheaper and stronger than the typical RV awning, although it will require a few more minutes to set up. Besides the issue of weight and bulk of larger pic pipe, it also breaks down in sunlight if left up for long periods of time.

 

[dogear52]

Thanks folks.... conduit looks much better. So with the conduit, from where the support structure attaches to the trailer, does the awning cover free float over the "porch" area then pole supported with stretched/staked rope, or is the entire awning cover attached to a rectangular or square conduit frame? The easy up looks like a good option also Patrick46 so I'll check on that. Cost is a big issue of course. Thanks also for the link Zonie.

 

[Almost There]

Thanks folks.... conduit looks much better. So with the conduit, from where the support structure attaches to the trailer, does the awning cover free float over the "porch" area then pole supported with stretched/staked rope, or is the entire awning cover attached to a rectangular or square conduit frame?   The easy up looks like a good option also Patrick46 so I'll check on that. Cost is a big issue of course. Thanks also for the link Zonie.

Easy ups are cheap, way cheaper than a good pipe and fitting set up. They're also faster to set up.

The problem with the EasyUps is the quality of the materials. If you're lucky and don't get into any kind of wind or really heavy rain storms, you might get a season or two out of one of the W/M cheapies. OTOH, I have a 10x10 KD Canopy that is really easy to set up (I've always thought EasyUp got the name and mine had the technology). Mine's 20 years old, the frame is still under lifetime warranty and I've replaced the top once when another canopy crashed through it at the market in Shipshewana IN. It goes up in minutes but initial cost was about a grand.

The pipe/fitting set up, well if a pipe gets bent beyond usability, you go buy another one. As long as it's staked down properly you'll get years out of it and each piece is individually replaceable.

I wouldn't attach the pipe to the CT. I'd instead have a side panel that would bridge from the canopy frame over the CT and tie down on the other side. Park the trailer, get it level, set up the canopy. Heck depending on the height of your trailer you might be able to park partly underneath it instead if you wanted to.

The better tarps that fit over the pipe/fitting assemblies are designed for them, they're not your regular square tarp with grommets. The tarp has the fittings for attaching to the pipes with ball bungies under the edge of the tarp which has a bit of an overhang (maybe 6 or 8"). Sides fit up under the overhang to prevent water entry.

Here's a link to one in white -

http://www.ysbw.com/Valance-Tarps-s/27.htm

I see that site also has the regular flat with grommet style tarps as well. I found that they reduce the size of usable area and you have no way of keeping water out around the edges. They're okay if all you're doing is protecting a vehicle from the sun.

The tarps I have are silver and have good reflective properties. I also have clear side panels because I was doing markets and customers shop even in the rain if they can see that you're open and have merchandise. They also let light in so you're not sitting in the dark just to be in the shade.

IIWM and I was looking for something sturdy and that would make it through more than a few months of intermittent camping then I'd go with the pipe/fitting set up. If I was going as inexpensively as possible, grab a screen shelter from W/M.

If you decide to go with the pipe/fitting set up, ask and I'll be happy to discuss easy set ups and tie downs.

 

[dogear52]

Thank you Almost There for so much useful info and the link. I'll take you up on the offer for sure if I go with the pipe/fitting option....very kind of you.