Homemade Awning for 2021 320 Boondock

BywaysNW

Tried it out at Oregon coast this weekend. No pooling or leaks after a rainy night.  Looks like a keeper.  

PNWtabber

That's pretty cool.  Thanks for sharing, @BywaysNW.

sptucker

Love it.  I did not realize you could buy Keder "rope" -- great idea for a simple shade provider!

BywaysNW

Amazon has it. Doesn't cost much.

PNWtabber

I have a tent that has seen better days, I've been considering whether I could repurpose the rain fly.  This has given me food for thought!

BywaysNW

I have had the same thought about a rain fly.  Don't see why not.  

NotYourGuy

This is most excellent. Giving me an idea to "deconstruct" a family tent and put the keder rope in for a DIY attached annex room.

BywaysNW

In case anyone is wondering, the Keder rope is on the 13-foot side of my tarp.

BywaysNW

Leftover Keder rope with stapler, Speedystitcher (for the more patient and less lazy camper), and a rope hanger made from a short piece of Keder rope. Sailright and Keder websites - and Youtube, of course - have videos on sewing Keder rope. 

 

pthomas745

How did your "speedy stitcher" work?  My only hangup about buying some Keder and setting up an awning to shade the "driver's" side of the trailer is my lack of sewing skills.

BywaysNW

I did a foot or two on a piece of Keder rope. It's not difficult and there are some good videos. May try replacing staples when it gets dark and rainy and distanced.

Jackie_Dave

We added a middle pole and lowered the two corner poles. It seems to work a little better. It keeps the shape more in line with the roofline of the tab.

MarkAl

The picture isn't pretty (rainy) but I had some fiberglass tent poles I put together and created a tube in the opposite edge of the keder rail, same length as the what was in the rail. Then sewed tabs & put grommets in for 4 ropes. After inserting the fiberglass pole I cut up some old canopy poles to create 2 poles, one at the highest point and one 1/2 to the back. Tied down all 4 ropes - didn't need to use poles on the ends just the rope. The structure doesn't require the two middle ropes unless it rains as it keeps the awning tauter. I also installed two grommets on the ends by the keder rail as pull downs but haven't used them yet. It does create a tauter awning but it puts significantly more tension in the awning that other than looks is not needed.

Since I had access to a gear driven sewing machine and other items, this cost me only for the 12 ft of keder rope and 4 yrds of coated nylon (only went 60 inches ) or about $50.

I haven't added it yet but planning on 2 tabs one by lower pole and other at the keder rail. I'll then run a line with loops  between for coat hangers... Obviously if I do this it will require me to secure the pole with a rope. 
 

ontheroad

There's an awning on the FB T@b Camping Trailers called the  "Boud Awning"...after my window awning projects..have 3 fabrics...might get ready to tackle it...although by that time I'll be waiting for the snow to melt!

Tampakayaker

MarkAl said:

Since I had access to a gear driven sewing machine and other items, 


 

That's what you need to successfully make an awning.

The newer computerized all plastic sewing machines will choke on the material and keder rope, or strip the plastic gears.

We found an old all metal Kenmore to add to my wife's stable of 8 or 9 various sewing, embroidery, and overlock machines.

All it needed was oiling and a new drive belt.

PNWtabber

We have a number of sailmakers in the Puget Sound area, I wonder if any of them would take a stab at making a PNW-appropriate awning for T@Bs.

Tampakayaker

PNWtabber said:

We have a number of sailmakers in the Puget Sound area, I wonder if any of them would take a stab at making a PNW-appropriate awning for T@Bs.

I bet they would welcome any work the way the economy is going.

BywaysNW

We have outdoor gear repair shops that should be able to the job as well. 

Jeansor

I used my home sewing machine (a Husqvarna/Viking Platinum) with Coats & Clark Outdoor sewing thread available at Joann Fabrics.  I attached the rope (single flap Keder) to one long edge of the King Camp Compass. No sewing skills are really needed, it's just a simple straight stitch, nothing fancy.  

Verna

@Jeansor, I bought one of those canopies with hopes of attaching it to the Keder rail. Thanks, as yours is the first one I have seen attached. I am not a seamstress by any means but I will try. (Give me a scrollsaw and I could cut out a replica of the canopy!)

PNWtabber

@Jeansor -- I like your version very much.  

MarkAl

@Jeansor I agree it looks good. To figure the cut line did you back it into the trailer (somehow) and draw a line where the Keder rope would go? Do the ribs individually come out?

Jeansor

@MarkAl I just sewed onto the edge of the canopy.  No cutting or adjustments were made.  Here's a picture during set up - with my "helper"     The rope on the canopy is fed into the Keder rail, and then the cross poles are attached via clips on the top of the canopy.

PNWtabber

Keder question from a naïve newbie.  This is a photo of the rear passenger side of my trailer.  Please help me understand how this works.

• I am assuming the silver metal at #1 is the Keder rail.  
• If you are attaching something like an awning, does the black insert (#2) get removed or ????  
• And, finally at #3, it looks like the previous owners had some damage here that has slightly deformed the rail, will that cause a problem in attaching anything?

Verna

@PNWtabber, remove the rubber insert and, seriously, toss it. It has served its purpose. 

The wide spot is where you start inserting the Keder rail rope. It needs a wide spot or else you can’t insert the rope. 

PNWtabber

Thanks (again) @Verna.  I assumed it would be inserted at the end, oops.

Verna

@PNWtabber, we all had to learn that. By the way, you may not have the same wide spot on the driver’s side. Pick up welding pliers at Harbor Freight and they will make a large enough spot to start the Keder rope. 

PNWtabber

@Verna do you have an awning on both sides?
I purchased my trailer used from a private party, during covid isolation, so my questions are endless!! 

Verna

@PNWtabber, yes, I have two visors, but I have not used both of them at the same time. 

PNWtabber

@Verna are visors effective against rain or are they primarily for shade?

Verna

Both, rain and shade. But, they are only 6’ from the T@B on out.