Rear door awning ideas

[lfhoward]

Hi All,

My trailer has a rear door, which makes it kind of unique in the teardrop world. I’ve been looking at how to make or purchase an awning that would keep us dry when we open the rear door when it’s raining out. This pic was taken on our last camping trip, and it rained almost the whole weekend.



I was kicking around the idea of getting an ARB-style awning that can be mounted to the roof. But I was put off by the high cost and the negative effect on my trailer’s aerodynamics, which is already bad. Then there’s the fact that these get stolen all the time and I live in an urban area.

I came across this interesting article on Expedition Portal. https://expeditionportal.com/how-to-build-an-inexpensive-rear-door-awning/. Has anyone made their own awning and attached it in this way? If so, do you have any tips and pointers? What do you think of the design?



The rear door of my trailer is fairly huge, so whatever awning option I go with will need to be able to clear the door as it swings open. There is only about 4” of clearance between the top of the door and the flat of the roof, which limits how pitched I could make an awning over the door.



I’d also like to possibly make an awning for the right side of the trailer which can go over our kitchen area, but that would be after finding a solution for our entry door.

Thanks! All ideas and feedback appreciated.

[Tomterrific]

We place a 10x10 canopy at the back of our camper and lift the hatch up into it. You could do the same.

You could also have a hard awning hinged above your door and lifted when camped. Simply made with the lightest cheapest ply at Lowes. Use 1x2x8' furring strips to hold it up. Thinking more, hard awning could be made into a rear aero aid like semi trailers use. I like this.

Tom

I just looked closer at the awning on the van above and noticed it is the hard awning I envisioned. There is a tension cord at the edge to give the thin ply a slight bow.

[KTM_Guy]

You could use something like this. Along the top edge above the door and sew the mating rope on to some coated rip-stop. You would still need some poles to hold up the other side.


https://www.sailrite.com/Awning-Track-Flanged-White-96


https://www.sailrite.com/Keder-Awning-Rope-Tape

Todd

[greygoos]

This awning is on ebay under camper awning. It is about 50.00 and looks like a knockoff of an ARB. You can also do a search on google for DIY Arb style awnings. I know the Overland Expo site has lots of awning ideas, maybe you can get an idea from there.

[Modstock]

There's a DIY video from (trail benders overland) that builds an awning cheap.
Built one for my jeep. Love it. $65.

Probably cheaper for you since you can size it down.

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[rkanz]

I attached Keder rails to the top of my trailer. I made an awning with 2.2 ounce coated nylon with crossed aluminum tent poles. Adjustable pole attached at grommets in the corners hold it up. Keder rail and the rope is from Sailrite. Nylon and tent poles from Quest Outfitters.


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[GTS225]

Rkanz! Thanks much for the post. I never knew what that stuff was called, and you not only educated me, but told me where to get it.

Roger

[rkanz]

You can buy aluminum or pvc rails. I used the pvc because I wanted to bend the rails. The rail is easy to bend with a heat gun. Sailrite has some good videos. I used the .344 Easton aluminum poles and sewed pockets in the corners. A piece of Velcro holds the centers. I works really well.


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[jnelson]

I ran into a similar issue as I have a rear door too. I ended up making my own awning at the back as there were none available with the dimensions I needed. I uses an aluminum awning chanel mounted to the roof rack and got the awning sewed up at a local place. The poles I had made at a local place that made boat canopies. If you want I can send more detailed pictures.

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[Graniterich]

I bought a 10x10 rain fly, sewed rv chanel insert, epoxed bent track aluminum on roof. Made poles out of electrical conduit and pins from hardware store, cheap

rps20190531_204113.jpg (110.97 KiB) Viewed 2682 times

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[Shadow Catcher]

We have four tarps one with netting which is larger than the other three. all are attached using Kedar rails (as suggested) on three sides of CR.