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Thu May 31, 2012 8:36 pm

Below are pictures of my $40 awning. It is made with things you can buy at Walmart.

Coleman tent poles $12 x 2
5 ft x 7 ft tarp $6
Tent stakes $4
Small plastic clamps $4
Rope $2

Total $24 + $6 + $4 + $4 + $2 = $40

Thu May 31, 2012 9:36 pm

Fair to say this is a shade-only awning? I love the ingenuity and all, but can't help but think the first bit of rain that pools in the middle of the tarp is going to pull right through those clamps and right in at the slider.

I did a similar thing and found it's the weight of the water (and wind) that will get ya every time.

Love it other otherwise! 8)

Thu May 31, 2012 9:40 pm

Certainly not for the NW. :lol:

Fri Jun 01, 2012 6:01 am

Inflation has happened this use to be called $30 awning, it works ok for the pnw, you gotta angle it down far enough though.

I have a BD awning now :D

Fri Jun 01, 2012 6:05 am

The automatic rain dumping clips are a great idea.

If you buy 3 more poles, make it self standing with a peak.

I have, in my 40 plus years of camping in just about every camping option have had many of these. From really big ones supported by campsite trees to roll into a fixed bag, to the Fiammas to the big roll ups. Shade is good.

Out from the rain is good, but rain rolling off and not pooling is the key.

Had a canvas awning attached to the trailer onc, no center support, rain started (we were gone) started pooling, weighing down the middle, more rain etc. Got back and the center was hanging down about 4' and the entire awning full of water. Cut a guy line and let it spill. Guy line was tuned to about a high C.

As a temp solution the blue tarps are good, but over the long run, save up get a good one.

Fri Jun 01, 2012 6:15 am

take apeak at what the Bay guys rave about..
I think this may still come out cheaper than $40..

the modified Wal-mart dining canopy
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=344298

though this isn't for me, we have a large frame crank out self supporting awning.. I can't stand poles & ropes. and well mom is 70 she needs simple or she's not going to deploy it.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=526365

and deployed in a 99* florida parking lot.
no poles
no ropes..
priceless.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=707489

Fri Jun 01, 2012 6:54 am

YES - SHADE! We live in sunny San Diego.

Those other Walmart options look appealing too.

Lots of pages to wade through.......

Fri Jun 01, 2012 7:55 am

Ok, I'll be the bad guy here..... I'm not sure why we need another post about using a tarp and two poles. People have been doing this for decades....DECADES. That's why you can go into a store and buy things like "adjustable tarp poles". I was hoping to see something much more innovative or original. I guess I just don't get it. Sorry.

Fri Jun 01, 2012 8:20 am

PDXWesty wrote: Ok, I'll be the bad guy here..... I'm not sure why we need another post about using a tarp and two poles. People have been doing this for decades....DECADES. That's why you can go into a store and buy things like "adjustable tarp poles". I was hoping to see something much more innovative or original. I guess I just don't get it. Sorry.

X2

If a newbie feels they just discovered the most innovative awning for low cost ever then I can understand their excitement, but it's been done going back to the stone age with animal hides so let's move on ...

... or perhaps it was intended with a wink :wink:

Fri Jun 01, 2012 8:31 am

man tough crowd, :lol:
if the moderator saw this he'd have locked it 1st post commented with use the search.. :wink: <-- wink

I do like the one post though I can't find with a search where the tarp fabric is tucked under the tent retainer and rolled up alongside the tent under the poptop.
that's a slick new deal.. well not so new these days but still slick.

Fri Jun 01, 2012 8:38 am

Hmm, the "noob" with 7500+ posts . . .

Fri Jun 01, 2012 9:48 am

Ya know several thoughts do come to mind in no particular order.

- The thread has PICTURES! Can not be bad on that aspect alone.

- My daughter likes it so much we had a picnic with it right away.

- My (almost Eagle Scout) son got to use his scouting skills to erect this "shelter."

- IT *IS* a PITA to put up!

- The thread is not about tires / rims or batteries / solar panels or headlight / head light relay / head light switch or etc....

- I would not have known about the bay window thread with out other users comment. I will be out doing errands and will hit a few stores today to look at those types of inexpensive awnings.

- It got some feedback and ribbing.......:) :)

FYI: I thread with the material tucked under the pop top railing:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=462083

NOTE: Maybe now we can also start complaining about too many awning posts too!

Fri Jun 01, 2012 9:55 am

Come to think about it, I will likely just move this thread content over to the bigger awning thread......

Fri Jun 01, 2012 10:06 am

Sorry - I was in a bit of a gruff mood this morning.

One link: http://www.vanagon.com/info/accessories/inexpensive-awning/index.htm

Here's another:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=289941

Fri Jun 01, 2012 10:32 am

Me guesses, I gotta add Awning threads to the FAQ!

Fri Jun 01, 2012 10:42 am

You can also save one cent and get everything you need in a box:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003BMN77M

This is how it looks in my Westy:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5368094#5368094

Plus, the cloth part is more pleasant and lighter than a tarp.

Fri Jun 01, 2012 11:29 am

PDXWesty wrote: Sorry - I was in a bit of a gruff mood this morning.

What's the matter Rick, still picking fire pit out of your wheel wells?!? :P

Fri Jun 01, 2012 11:38 am

Sorry, hijack. When were those photos taken? Have you been back to Punta Chivato recently?

Mark

juanb wrote: ........
This is how it looks in my Westy:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5368094#5368094

Plus, the cloth part is more pleasant and lighter than a tarp.

Fri Jun 01, 2012 3:38 pm

crazyvwvanman wrote: Sorry, hijack. When were those photos taken? Have you been back to Punta Chivato recently?

Last year, in May I think. Good eye! Did you recognize the coastline, or the house in the background?

I love Baja, and it will be the first leg of our Pan American trip in September.

Fri Jun 01, 2012 5:19 pm

I recognized the coastline first. We have camped on that beach many, many times. I have lots of photos of it, like this one from my Samba gallery, with my $40 awning setup.

Mark

juanb wrote: crazyvwvanman wrote: Sorry, hijack. When were those photos taken? Have you been back to Punta Chivato recently?

Last year, in May I think. Good eye! Did you recognize the coastline, or the house in the background?

I love Baja, and it will be the first leg of our Pan American trip in September.