Show Me : DIY Truck Cap Awnings.

Im kicking around the idea of building a DIY awning for camping.

I have a Bestop Supertop on the truck that I would like to sleep in sometimes instead of setting up a tent after a long day of fishing. I want to add a small awning off the soft top for shade/rain protection to keep gear dry if/when it does rain.

As we all know, Supertops arent 100% waterproof. This lead to the idea of having the awning cover the topper as well. Im working on ideas for an "awning" that covers both the Bestop and adds a bit of an over hang over the tailgate and 1 side of the cap.

Seems pretty simple - A tarp (probably 9'x11'), some collapsible tent poles, parachord, and tent stakes.

Attach the one side of the awning to the rear load bar of the the roof rack then stretch it over the soft top and hold the other 3 corners up with the poles and stake them down.

Something similar to this but covering the cap and overhanging the side as well -



Has anyone else on here DIY'd something similar? Before I start buying the shit to put something together, Id love to see what others have done.

 

I have a Yakima rack and sometimes tie a tarp to it for shade or rain cover. Mine goes off of the rack on the topper, but you could do it off of the cab and over your soft topper for waterproofing and shade. I've used it like that, but with the bars on the topper to keep an air cushion between my topper and the tarp. It stays significantly cooler on hot days that way.

 

Nice. Thanks for the tips/advice.

Anyone else?

 

First off, dont mind the super grainy Iphone photos, it was getting dark out when I finally set everything up.

I whipped this up tonight after a quick trip to the hardware store.

The poles -

- 6 sections of 1/2" conduit cut to 3'4"
- 3 conduit couplers
- 3 M5 thumbscrews
- 6 threaded 1/2" PVC caps
- 3 1/4-20 bolts, fender washers, and nuts







The rear load bar is the 4th tie in point, so I only need 3 poles, but I may end up making a 4th pole so the truck isnt stuck to the "awning". I havent decided yet.

Set up with a tarp/guylines.







Unfortunately, the biggest tarp I had at home was 9'4"x9'4", so I couldnt set it up exactly how I wanted.

Ideally, I'd like to set up the "awning" like this to better cover the soft top, while having more overhang on the driver side and more overhang over the tailgate -



I should be able to set it up how I want once I find a larger tarp. A 12'x15' tarp would be ideal. The closest thing Ive found online is a 11'4"x15'4" which should work.

I also plan on changing up the way the coupler is set up to make it more stable. Im gonna ditch the set screw, drill a hole the whole way through then attach it with a nut and bolt. Same goes for the thumb screw. I plan on ditching it, drilling a hole the whole way through then running a longer thumb screw and wing nut. Should make it more stable, but still collapsible.

 

^ Nice work making your own stuff, but I would be so tangled up in those guy lines after a couple beers and the sun setting!

 

Pretty sweet idea and it looks great so far. Thanks, I was looking for more projects...

 

Good start OP. Love your post top pin idea/solution. I'd suggest a post of some sort to prop up the center to keep it from filling with water though. Or, looking at your last pic, simply shorten the driver side posts so the tarp slopes down. I'd worry the weight would collapse it as it is now.

 

This one might not be fully applicable to you since you have a soft top, but I saw this in another thread and thought it was pretty slick:

 

Also, a 10x10 pop up canopy would probably be a good option. I have one and it's tall enough for my truck to back under it, even with a lift and bigger tires.

 

Exactly what I have (12'x12' though) and it's way easier to setup, more versatile and no poles or guy lines. It is a little more bulky though, but I'm okay with that trade off.

 

Thanks for the words guys. I kicked around the idea of just using an easy up but Id rather DIY something because Im stubborn and like to reinvent the wheel.. I may get an easy up if this doesnt work out though.

Today, I redid the connector sleeves to make them stronger. I ended up getting new, more heavy duty couplers along with new hardware. Works perfect. I didnt have to drill the whole way through and use nuts like I thought I would. I just used longer thumbscrews, along with longer machine/set screws. Much more stable. And still collapsible.

 

Sub'd for this idea. Built not bought.

 

why not just a pop up 10x10 canopy?

 

I used my DIY set up a few times. It worked OK.

Im gonna buy a popup canopy for this year because its MUCH faster and easier to set up.

 

I must confess this is not my set up but I am leaving this here to achieve status later

 

Slumberjack Roadhouse tarp, $100, steel poles. A ton of different configurations and easily covers a topper.

 

Whelp I know where I'm spending money next. Love that set up. Is it easily detachable from the truck? IE leave set up and leave camp.

 

Sub'd for ideas

 

I just ordered one of these. Slumberjack has/had a discount this weekend so I finally splurged.

 

It sets up and takes down really quick with two people. It rolls up and stuffs into a small bag.