Beat a dead horse. Awning idea.

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(I already posted this on the Care & Feeding site before I realized this one is more to the point.) I'm in the process of cobbling up an awning for my Bigfoot 11.5 slide-in. Thinking about materials, I remembered a good source from my boat cruising days: www.sailrite.com. They're an outfit in Indiana that sells supplies to boaters and boatbuilders, including a variety of awning yardgoods, most of which are UV protected; a selection of rustproof snaps and twist type fasteners, fibreglas battens for stiffening, and even heavy-duty 12v sewing machines. Many geegaws made for yachts would work very well for campers. There are generally more expensive, but if you want stuff that will last, e.g. parts made of stainless steel and heavy plastic rather than potmetal, then marine is the way to go. West Marine stores are a good place to check out.

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Orginally posted by Mike Watters

What I'm planning on picking up when spring comes closer is a large (14x12) free standing screen room ($60 at WalMart). I'll set it up NEXT to the Boler having one side resting on top similar to the way I did the awning. My intention is to have this screen room serve as our 'living room/kitchen' That's where we'll set up our little table & stove and sit around most of the time. Since it connects directly to the Boler however - we'll be able to go directly from there into the Boler, which will serve as changing room and bedroom.

Mike,

I bought one of those screen rooms at Wal-Mart. I took it back after reading the instruction booklet. That thing had 63 (count 'em) individual, unmarked pieces for the frame. I figured it would take 3 or 4 hours to sort all that out and assemble it. I bought one the same size at Target and it has shock corded poles and everything is marked. It also has fine no-see-um mesh.

See a picture:

http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/read.php...?TID=596&page=3

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**That thing had 63 (count 'em) individual, unmarked pieces for the frame**
3 or 4 hours?? I don't think so. it helps if you read the instructions before you start. :duck :lol

I've been putting up one like this for ohhh?? 8 years all by my little lonesome. it was quick and stayed up during heavy rain, not like it's predecessor which collapsed first down pour. I have not tried the screened one yet, but it's in the box ready and waiting. :) I watched a couple put up one the wrong way, and they fought it and took twice as long as I did by myself. The next year they ran over to help me...and was surprised when I showed them the correct way. (ego boost for me :lol) Okay so I admit mine only had 42 pieces. :nope

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I have made a couple small concrete blocks with bolts embedded so I can secure the base of my awning arms, which hold the outside carpet down and also allows a tie down for my dogs which always accompany us.

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I have learned to keep a roll of tape with me when setting up a screen house by myself.

My biggest problem - the poles coming apart while I was trying to set the darn thing up.

I started taping the joints where the poles go together with masking or duct tape. Issue resolved.

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Having had quite a few different tents & screen rooms and providing great entertainment for all our camping neighbors':r', Jim and I finally figured out to take colored electrician's tape and color code all the pole joints (blue with blue, red with red, black with black).

Yeah, it's pretty simple, but then we're pretty..... Never mind!:laugh

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Well I wanted a cheap solution to an awning for my 16' 86 casita. I also didn't want to drill holes in the top because I wasn't sure my cheap awning idea would work.
It, however, worked remarkably well on its first trip. Went up and packed easily. I bought a plastic tarp from Lowes. I mounted a 10' piece of 3/4inch PVC pipe to one end with screws and washers. I drilled holes in the PVC and put the screws through the reinforced holes in the tarp using small fender washers. The tarp rolls up on the PVC and the PVC bends to conform to the curve of the Casita top. I put 90 degree elbows on each end of the PVC and drilled a hole big enough for the spike at the end of a tent pole to fit through so the pole would go into the open end of the elbow and the spike would stick through the top.
I had a couple of old tent poles, stakes and rope to finish off the job.

The tarp is held in place on the Casita by three pieces of 1 1/2 inch nylon webbing and bungee cords which attached to small eye screws I set into the aluminum molding that runs around the sides of the shell. It doesn't look tight or secure in my attempt at drawing the configuration but was, and traveled fine.
<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3ef129d0c02c1awning.jpg/>
<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3ef12aa68490eTpSail.jpg/>

[Legacy Posts]

Orginally posted by Jim Schulz

Having had quite a few different tents & screen rooms and providing great entertainment for all our camping neighbors':r', Jim and I finally figured out to take colored electrician's tape and color code all the pole joints (blue with blue, red with red, black with black).

Yeah, it's pretty simple, but then we're pretty..... Never mind!:laugh

Wow, that's great. I tried paint, but it came off. tape, I can do tape,:yep no mater how simple.

Very professional, Lanny. I've got see if I can do one.