SUV Awning for Casita?

[Coznells]

Hi all! I’ve always wanted an awning on my Casita and started looking around for hack ideas to add some shade. I saw this video on YouTube explaining how this Casita owner used a KingCamp SUV awning with his Casita. Has anyone has tried this or something similar? I looked up KingCamp awnings on Amazon to see reviews and there are none, which makes me suspicious.

Curious about your experience with this or other awning hacks. (Note: I want to carry something small that doesn’t take up too much space so an ez-up isn’t ideal.)

[WaltP]

Lisa
Welcome to the forum. One common solution to your need is a so=called bag awning. Take a look at these.
https://www.carefreeofcolorado.com/campout/
https://www.rvpartscountry.com/AE-Tr...ag-Awning.html
Bag Awnings | ShadeMaker Products Corp.

And good luck with your project.
My first two fiberglass trailers were early Casitas sans awnings and I never thought I'd want one. Now I wouldn't do without.

Walt

[Coznells]

Thanks, Walt! I appreciate it and will investigate that. The Casita is coming to a festival with me and an awning will be great.

This is my second post in here—the first was advice on a purchase about 5 years ago. I love my Casita and am glad you are here for help. ❤️

[WaltP]

And there are several KingCamp awnings on this page, some with quite a few reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=kingcamp+...l_83zpsyvtdl_e

Walt

[Jon in AZ]

Shady Boy is my favorite attached awning. Reasonable cost, compact size, light weight, mechanically simple, wind resistant, sheds water, and self-storing (nothing laying around inside the trailer). I like how you can remove the fabric and poles for long-term storage, so you don't have to worry about mildew inside the case.

For now we use our First-Up. But when the kids are grown and we do longer trips, I plan to install a Shady Boy.

Shady Boy Trailer Awnings – Parts Made in USA – Assembled in Canada – Wolf Design

[Lyndaleen]

Is a bag awning the kind that threads through a rubber "lip thing" the length of the trailer, then put poles on the 2 unattached corners? Is that called a bag awning or something else. I have a trailer with that lip thing, it goes along the top edge of trailer.

[Casita Greg]

Well, this is what I installed.

https://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/...ng-102401.html

In particular Post #2 and Post #4 on this linked thread.

[Lyndaleen]

Got it!! Your middle picture is what I was after. Thanks!!

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by 868530

Is a bag awning the kind that threads through a rubber "lip thing" the length of the trailer, then put poles on the 2 unattached corners? Is that called a bag awning or something else. I have a trailer with that lip thing, it goes along the top edge of trailer.

What you are describing is a rope-and-pole awning. It is removed for towing. A bag awning also attaches to an awning rail, but it has a solid eave with fold-down rafters and poles. The whole thing rolls up into a bag that remains on the trailer for towing. It does not require guy lines.

Rope-and-pole awning


Bag awning

[Lyndaleen]

Okay, that sounds right. It's hard to describe that when you don't know the proper names for things like "lip thing!" Thank you so very much!!!!

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by Lyndaleen

Okay, that sounds right. It's hard to describe that when you don't know the proper names for things like "lip thing!" Thank you so very much!!!!

I added pictures. The awning rail is also called a “keder rail.”

[Lyndaleen]

lol, okay, that's less embarrassing than lip thing. Well, this is good information because the trailer I just bought has the keder rail, but no awning itself. Now, I can find what I'm looking for. Thanks again!

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by Lyndaleen

lol, okay, that's less embarrassing than lip thing. Well, this is good information because the trailer I just bought has the keder rail, but no awning itself. Now, I can find what I'm looking for. Thanks again!

You can adapt any tarp or awning to mount to a keder rail by attaching keder tape to one edge. Keder rail and keder tape are available from various online sources. Sewing is required.

[Lyndaleen]

Oh, this is such good news, thank so much!

[Casita Greg]

Originally Posted by Lyndaleen

Oh, this is such good news, thank so much!

You would have already known this if you opened my previous post, (Post #7 above.)

[John in Santa Cruz]

Many Casitas came with a Fiamma awning, my 16 had that option.

The Fiamma rolls up into itself, so it stays on the trailer for travel.



(ignore the astronomy club banner I have secured to it)

the legs fold up into the awning so don't have to be stored separately. no guy ropes are required. basically, you crank it out about 1/3rd of the way, swing the legs down, then crank it out the rest of the way and set the legs on the ground. They are often used on van based campers, like my son's former Vanagon Westfalia came with one.

[Lyndaleen]

Oh, I couldn't get it to open.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by Lyndaleen

Oh, I couldn't get it to open.

Not clear what 'it' is that you couldn't open.

The Fiamma I described has a crank, typically stored in the cabinets above the dinette, the crank has a hook on the end that you hook onto the loop sticking out of the end of the Fiamma, you crank it and it starts extending, bring it out about 3 feet, then get the legs down, plant them on the ground to support the weight, and then crank it out the rest of the way, and reposition the legs so they are vertical.