Awning for the lightweight

[wADVr]

Anyone put together an awning using something like Kelty's Noah's tarp: http://www.rei.com/product/808940/kelty-noahs-tarp-12-x-12

I have very little intention in purchasing a product such as ARB's awning (but if I do that is what I would purchase) for a couple reasons:
1) I don't want to have a rack on my jeep or anything else attached to the top that can get torn off or damaged by a tree. Where I travel my JKU is already big enough (wide and tall)
2) would like it to be removable and storable inside the jeep when not in use but still easily deployable.

My quest for this stems from a recent overnight trip where it rained considerably and we set up a tarp tied off to our winch lines hooked up in a couple trees ( sounds like a lot of work and overkill but wasn't hard at all actually). I am looking for a shelter from the wet elements not the sun which brings me to the next question of sustainability in in climate weather such as heavy rain and wind.
My thought of the above Kelty product is to use the 'tarp' tied off and stretched across the roof and use the poles to support the portion away from the vehicle. Obviously the idea isn't fully thought out but that's why I post here asking if there is maybe already a solution.

 

[graynomad]

I have the same issues with awnings on the side of a roof rack, in my next build I plan to mount sail track on both sides of the body, then thread the tarp (needs rope sewn into one edge) through the track and pole it out as appropriate for the weather.

This is totally water proof on the vehicle edge and held a lot better than 3-4 eyelets.

 

[Erik N]

My thought of the above Kelty product is to use the 'tarp' tied off and stretched across the roof and use the poles to support the portion away from the vehicle. Obviously the idea isn't fully thought out but that's why I post here asking if there is maybe already a solution.

I do this at the beach, for sun protection. I have run it from the roof rack, out to one side and also across the whole trailer.

It rolls up when not in use. I leave all the poles and line attached.

One time when I was using it off the rack, a huge thunderstorm came by and pulled the rope out of the sand. Those poles became flying missiles. They dented up the side of the Exploder and broke the taillight. I could not even get close to it, too dangerous. So now I watch the clouds carefully and take it down if the wind picks up strong.

 

[graynomad]

That sounds nasty. It's very hard to peg into sand and probably no way to do it for a really strong wind short of using screw-in ground anchors. On other terrain that setup works well pretty much regardless of the weather.

 

[fisher205]

This is what I have been looking at using, http://www.kelty.com/p-512-car-tarp.aspx?category=tents-shelters I originally looked at the Kelty carport but this was recommended to use in wind at a lot less expense.

 

[jimi breeze]

I use the larger sized Noahs Tarp with two Kelty adjustable poles. I also have an adjustable;e center poles that simply rests in the center of the tarp.

 

[E.J.]

I'm pretty happy with the kirkhams-auto-canopy/. Pretty quick set and tare down, doesn't take up a lot of room when stowed.
(mean looking beard man is not included)

 

[wADVr]

View attachment 187549
I'm pretty happy with the kirkhams-auto-canopy/. Pretty quick set and tare down, doesn't take up a lot of room when stowed.
(mean looking beard man is not included)

I think that is the answer. Good price point as well

 

[clandr1]

I've used a Kelty Noah tarp along with their copper colored collapsible poles and it works well - I secure one side of the tarp to the vehicle's wheel wells with rubber straps, but from what I've read online it isn't exactly waterproof - if you use it for rain protection, I'd make sure it's slanted to assist with shedding the rain.

 

[Dawgboy]

I'm on my second one. They are good and very light. Mine have both been very waterproof, but what they are not, is sun proof. UV goes through them and you can get sun burn through it. Still, beats the hell out of a blue tarp in the hot desert any day. The reason I'm on my second is because I threw a rod in my CJ and had to park it for a while. I ended up using the Noah's tarp as a cover during a portion of that time, and the sun ate it in about 4 months. I had previously torn on something, so I was ok with sacrificing it to Ra... Good tarp, I abused it... And then got another

 

[98dango]

I use a standard tarp. I buy cheap tarps an use them for many things.

 

[takesiteasy]

Here's our setup. I used a coated nylon tarp I had and bought a few poles and awning rail:



We added the screen room for bugs but mostly use the awning for rain. Details are here: http://travelswithrockythedog.blogspot.com/2013/06/new-awning.html