This is a variation of Wildcat’s awning with hand full of minor changes. The main difference is using Bimini hinge mounting brackets to secure the vertical support poles to the truck. This way the poles that hold up the awning also hold it down and the angle can be adjusted for rain and wind. Once I had that in place, I realized that I could add an awesome kitchen counter and shelf.
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So far this has only been field tested in fair weather but last week in Death Valley an extremely large and intoxicated visitor to our camp tested the support poles with his full weight when he almost fell onto the counter so I know the setup can take quite a bit of weight and torque but I'm carrying spare parts just in case.
The 1.25" wooden dowel w/ hooks for hanging pots was sitting in my basement from our last house & just happened to fit perfectly below the table. It would be easy enough to add hooks to the horizontal kitchen counter support pole to eliminate this part.
These pics show the Bimini hinge fittings attached to the rock slider and custom rear bumper. The screw post on the hinge mounting brackets were replaced by stainless steel locking pins which required drilling out the threads. Locking pins were used elsewhere as needed.
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Note: I used Taylor Made Bimini hardware for the 3/4" EMT but Sea Dog Bimini hardware fit better (and cost less) for the 1/2" EMT fittings. The Taylor Made hardware had to be ground slightly wider to fit the 3/4" EMT. The back awning uses all fixed length 1/2" EMT & Sea Dog Bimini hardware so was very cheap to build. All set screws were countersunk into the EMT to prevent them from sliding on the EMT except where rotation was desirable. In the case of the sliding jaws on the ¾” EMT attached to the truck, I made groves for the set screws so the sliding jaws could rotate on but not slide along the EMT. The set screws in the sliding jaw hinges were replace by thumb screws where necessary.
This shows how the kitchen counter is supported with cross members The counter can be adjusted level by sliding the jaw hinges. The vertical EMT have set screws at the ends to prevent the jaw hinges from sliding off the ends. The shelf above the counter is supported using 2MM rope and the webbing straps with sliding buckles used to secure the tarp when it is rolled up.
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The tarp is attached to the EMT using Hampton Products-Keeper 06345 8" Bungee Cords with plastic toggle balls
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I found these Kapro 240-01 Surface levels on Amazon to be great for both leveling the counter and the whole truck.
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No more pancakes spilling out of the frying pan due to tilted stove!
I also used a similar design to have the option of putting a 2nd tarp over the back which is the sleeping platform. Here you can see both tarps deployed.
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To make the telescoping poles I used 1/2" and 3/4" EMT and 1/2" Halex EMT couplings from the Home Depot.
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The 1/2" Halex EMT couplings fit very tightly
inside the 3/4" EMT (once I removed the lock screw and grind flat one side of the fitting). I also had to grind the inside of the coupling to allow the 1/2" conduit to slide freely. I also replaced the Halex lock screw with a Sea-dog Nylon head-screw.
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On the photo above you can see where I used painters tape & black spray paint to mark off 1" distances at about the right distance for tightening the horizontal telescoping poles. This way I can adjust both sides of the awning to the same length & get the proper tension.
When the poles are collapsed and folded I use 1” Velcro straps to keep them together and organize which poles get removed first
Here you can see the 60” length of ¾” EMT that is secured to the ProRac Utility Roof Rack via Ubolts. The entire tarp rolls up and is secured by the 4 webbing straps with sliding buckles to both the EMT and root rack.
Happy trails...
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