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One of nicest extras you can add to a converted van is an awning. If you carry
some folding chairs you can sit on the shaded side of your Van under an awning
in relative comfort. If you are out overnight camping or fishing you can set the
cabinet outside under it with the folding chairs and really enjoy the outdoors.
Again, building this system is the simplest and least expensive method I could
devise. A pair of ladder racks, a 10' piece of 1" electricians tubing, 2 4" washers with 1" hole in the center, an old 3/8" socket that will fit snugly into
the tubing, a couple of large eye bolts with 1"+ inside diameter, and miscellaneous nuts and bolts and a little welding or bazing & drilling will have this project completed quickly.
Looking closely at the roof line you see the ladder rack at front and rear. The 10' electrician's tube determines their placement. The racks have knobs that tighten them to the rain gutter on the edge of the roofline. Large eye bolts will hold the tubing once bolted into the
supports of the ladder racks. The 4" washers will be placed and welded so they are just inside the eye bolts to make a spool of the tubing so it can be trapped in place. Holes drilled into the
tubing will allow the tarp to be attached with small metal screws
and washers. Thus one end of the tarp is solid. The 3/8 socket
is drilled through and bolted in place as a crank handle will be inserted into it to turn the spool so the awning can be reeled in or out. Rubber
chair leg caps will be fitted over either end to keep water and insects out. The end towards the back will have the 3/8" drive socket installed in it and the rubber cap removed temporarily when ready to use the awning.
The 1"X9'5" area
is where the tarp
will attach. The
tube can be cut a
bit so 2 inches
extends out from
the washers. This
will leave plenty of room for the rubber caps.
.This sketch shows the position
of the "eye bolt" in the ladder
rack support. A hole is drilled
through it and the nut with a washer under it is set so the center of the eye is 2 1/2" out
and a washer and retainer
nut is tightened on the back side
.Above you see the knob to tighten the rack to the gutter. The end of
the tubing inserts into the rear eye bolt first and then the front rack is
aligned so the tube fits through that eye bolt. Then the front rack is tightened to the rain gutter of the Van's roof. Tighten and secure all
rack supports checking to see that they are positioned evenly on both sides of the Van. With the tarp rolled up tight it should not be extending out past the 4" washers. The tarp can be tied down with pieces of 1/4" clothes line rope about every foot apart.
I bought a 4" PVC pipe 10' long and trimmed it to about 9'6" in length so I could insert it over the spool with the awning tarp tied down. This way on long trips there was no danger of it tearing in the wind. The light weight plastic drain pipe simply inserts over the awning after the front
ladder rack is loosened and then is re-installed into the eye bolt and the
rack tightened down. When at camp and ready to use the awning just reverse the procedure, remove the plastic pipe and stow it under the van.
You can make or find used a couple of tent poles to support the outer ends of the awning and use 1/4" clothesline rope for guy wires to hold the
awning tight. You'll need 4 tent pegs to anchor those ropes. 2 of the
ropes will go straight out from the end and the other 2 will go to the sides parallel to the van. In the event of heavy rain it is best to take the awning down and let it lay against the van as water will build up in the
valley of the awning.
A used 3/8" speed handle, a 3/8"x3' extension, and a 3/8" universal socket snapped together will make a good awning crank so one person can roll in the awning while another assist by holding the
outer edge so the rolling will be tight. This snaps into the socket
that is bolted into the end of the awning spool. Find this used.
At the end of the Van
is the crank handle
snapped into the 3/8"
socket that is bolted
into the end of the spool. The awning is
set up with poles and
guy wires as shown.
Wire tent pegs that can be pushed into the
ground are best.
When using ladder racks on the roof of a standard Van, four long shaft eye bolts can be modified & added to the racks. With two 75 inch pieces of conduit and a couple of 6 x 8 plastic tarps you can make a front and rear awning. If a couple more tarps are added one huge wrap around awning is possible
Using this system three awnings can be
attached to the ladder racks. A total
of 8 vertical poles and guy lines would
be needed to keep this awning taut.
But use caution with wind and rain.
