Well I did it. I built a new awning support system for the camper. It maintains the 3 ridge poles for strength and eliminates the need for the ropes. Seems very rigid and strong. Let me know what you think of it!
Special thanks to Conductor and Bill (Oz & Us) for allowing me to bother them with questions, and ideas. Thanks Guys!
http://groups.msn.com/MtnCampersAwning
MtnCamperGary,
I like it! What did you use for the poles. Can you give us more details on how you did this?
MtnCamperBill, I bought ($49) 2 new poles from the dealer. I thought of aluminum tubing, but 12 feet was $42. So I sprung for originial. Now they are all ready painted, and got the little spring button in them. So I drilled a series of holes to allow for movement up and down. these are drilled in the originial bottom poles. Now insert the new inner pole into the bottom of the existing pole. Fully adjustable, and ridgid.
MtnCamperGary I have one question. Does the awning pull on the roof of the PU more than if it is set up the normal way? We camp at the shore and there is a lot of wind there.
tlhdoc
QuoteORIGINAL: tlhdoc
Gary I have one question. Does the awning pull on the roof of the PU more than if it is set up the normal way? We camp at the shore and there is a lot of wind there.
I don t think it pulls anymore, probably less. Because it s rigid, and maintains the 3 ridge poles. It s actually seems like more of a unit than a add on. The awning doesn t seem to " float" as much as it did. But there was only a breeze today. It s pretty solid, I did pull and push on the end of it, and didn t see
any movement on the roof. No in and out type thing. I think it will work OK.
MtnCamperGary
It s nice but it won t work. Take a look at my home page and you will see i did the same thing on my popup. And it is nice not having to put tie down stakes into the ground. But the problem is that when you get a strong breeze the awning has a tendacy to be pulled up and then it works like a sail. I had this problem The only way i could fix it was to move the picnic table over an dtie the end of the awning to it. iF I can fiquire out a way to stop this i will let you know.
Tim
jackgoesthepopup
QuoteORIGINAL: jackgoesthepopup
Gary
It s nice but it won t work. Take a look at my home page and you will see i did the same thing on my popup. And it is nice not having to put tie down stakes into the ground. But the problem is that when you get a strong breeze the awning has a tendacy to be pulled up and then it works like a sail. I had this problem The only way i could fix it was to move the picnic table over an dtie the end of the awning to it. iF I can fiquire out a way to stop this i will let you know.
Tim
Ah! But the difference is I have the 3 originial ridge poles that run from the end of the awning back to the top of the camper. I in effect have a solid " A" frame. Your frame is not rigid enough. You got to have the poles going back to the roof. Plus your end poles are located too far up on the sides, they need to come down, towards the frame of the camper. You will get more strength if they are lower. You don t have anything to hold the awning away from the camper. So it flaps like a flag.
MtnCamperGary, I ve seen problably several dozen " conversions" for poles to the camper side and IMHO you ve got the best I ve seen. A nice touch using sections from original poles for the extensions. A lot of owners do use conduit and believe it or not it s just not strong enough grade of aluminum. After all it made for permanent mounting and is designed to be bent.
I agree with you on the larger angle between the awning frame and the support poles. I does give much needed strength. I ve found most owner like to mount then higher for added " walking around clearance, but have troubles because between the lack of strength of the conduit and the decreased angle they do have " sail" problems and where they mount them higher on the PU (as we all know about the strength of PU walls compared to the frame) tend to come loose easily.
One question have you made a base for one of the legs so you can have one pole at original length for " walking clearance" on one end of the PU?
MtnCamperMike, I thought of that, But it s too much flex or bend for the channel at the end of the awning. So It s either up like this, or push the buttons and drop out the bottom poles, then put it up like you used to. The channel at the end of the awning has to rotate about 30 degrees.
MtnCamperGary.
You are right. I didn t see the 3 ridge poles you had in there for strengh. I think i will change mine to be more like yours thainks bud.
Tim
MtnCamperHi Gary,
You have us inspired! We re going to do the same modifications on our 01 Santa Fe. By the way, have you asked Coleman for royalities?[:D]
Thanks for letting us know about the midification and the great pictures on your site.
MtnCamperOn the way to find parts and order poles! I even think with A little mod work A screen room will work.
MtnCamperThat is how my Carefree awning attaches to my Viking except nearer the top of the camper body. Factory setup on the Viking. The poles also have flat feet with holes to set on the ground and stake down and requires no ropes.
MtnCamperIf any of you needs the part number, It s 4737F5971, Awning Pole Assembly. Available from your local Coleman dealer. Corner brackets, Hardware store.
MtnCamperTracy, I had that problem at Cherrystone the other year, wind gusts up to 40 and 50 MPH all night long.
Played havoc on the awning and my nerves.
I went to the camp store the next day and bought a strap that torks over the awning it can be adjusted for play. I have used it once since then. It was about 12 or 13 dollars. I bought it for the Jayco that had a Coleman awning at the time. and use it on the Bantam when needed.
MtnCamperYes, that design is similar to the Carefree of Colorado set-up. Your modification looks good. I know you will like it better than the original set-up.