EDIT - Thanks to DaveB for suggesting I move this post to the Modifications Section with to its own topic. It should make it easier to find while doing a search.
Finely got my awning mocked up and mounted. Have been reading the different awning mounting discussion and also looked at retractable awning like Fiamma and chocked at the cost. Knew that there had to be a less expensive way to get an awning so started picturing different ways to get one as I was falling asleep. I have had a yellow heavy duty nylon tarp laying around for years and though that this would make a good awning. Could mount it to the van using strut. Just had to figure out how to mount the strut to the van as I did not want to drill into my penthouse top.
One of the threads mentioned the
GoWest web site. While poking around there I found the Fiamma F45 bracket for under $60. This bracket mounts to the rain gutter. Figuring that all rain gutters are created equal I ordered a set. As I found out all rain gutters are not created equal. The one on my 89 Ford 150 is narrower than the one on a VW. Modification time.
The first modification was to narrow the clamp that went into the rain gutter.
This was close to working but when I clamped it down the base of the bracket stuck out from the body of the van.
To resolve this I cut the lower part of the clamp off. I
This allowed a snug fit to the body.
Once the bracket was in its final position I had to figure out how to deal with the top mounting plate that was in the way of the top when it was raised and lowered. The solution was to cut off the top part of the bracket. I also drilled two holes in each to mount the strut to. See photo above.
I then reattached the top mounting plate at the outside edge of the bracket. I also had to cut off a corner so that the side door would open. It is shown bolted in the photo but will have a friend weld the two pieces together.
UPDATE - The pieces are now welded together. That done I painted the entire bracket with three coats of Rust-oleum. They look great.
With both brackets attached to the van I added a piece of galvanized strut between them.
The yellow tarp attached to the strut. Need to get some washers and better nuts for the attachment.
Here is the tarp attached to the van. I also need to get some stronger rope for the guide lines and also better tent pegs.
The nice thing about the tarp is the it folds up small and fits in the wooden box that I use as a step.
Linear Mode
