Comments on: Affordable DIY Van Awning

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 11:17:10 +0000

In reply to Nancy Naughton. Tarp and poles are stored under the bed in a random nook. No ladder, I do some minor climbing on the tire and bumper to get it up, it is kind of dangerous.

By: Nancy Naughton

Nancy Naughton — Sun, 16 Feb 2020 21:26:41 +0000

Where do you store your tarp and poles? Do you carry a ladder with you to reach the high roof to attach the tarp? Nancy

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 17:36:21 +0000

In reply to Sally. Yes, we are still happy but we find we don't use it very often. We usually don't sit still for too long. We really only break it out if we are going to set up for several days.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 17:30:49 +0000

In reply to RnR. We have never stored kayaks on our roof.

By: Sally

Sally — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 11:22:45 +0000

Curious about how you’re feeling about t his now? We don’t have a roof rack but I’m actually thinking about putting a light set of rails up there (also HR Transit) simply to act as a tarp standoff and this provide shade. We’d then attach the awning on the driver side, drape over the van, and provide the awning on the passenger side. Additional bonus would be water wouldn’t come between the van and passenger awning attachment as in a conventional tarp attachment.

Haven’t tried this yet, but that’s plan A. Are you still happy with your tarp-awning?

By: RnR

RnR — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 03:37:52 +0000

In reply to David Michael. David Michael - you are the first person I have come across who has kayaks on top of their high top van. We are wanting to put kayaks on top of our hightop transit but I am worried it will be too high. Has it worked ok for you? Do you have a link to any pics?

By: David Michael

David Michael — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 17:21:11 +0000

Thanks for your ideas about the awning project. I agree that a DIY project is much less costly than a Fiamma Awning. We had a Fiamma awning on our Lazy Daze RV(Class C), and it was great for us…most of the time. But with time, it developed problems until one day it started sagging. Then it ripped apart driving along the highway. Fortunately, no danger to us or van but needed replacement. After seeing the new price of $1500, we decided to sell the van as is after full-timing for seven years. Now that we have a small but cozy apt (we are in our eighties), we purchased a new Promaster High Top cargo van. Finishing the final steps of inside paneling this month, although we used it last summer on a two month road trip. Soon we’ll head down to Baja California for two months. Our challenge for the DIY awning is we have kayak racks on top with two kayaks using Hullavators. But with a DIY awning as you decribed, it should be easy. Happy Travels.