For those who elect to travel in the summer months.
We were not happy with the heat generated from the awning, which made sitting under the awning unbearable. Soooooo
We then Purchased a large heavy duty canvas tarp.
Now to attach the tarp to the van above the rolled up awning.
Ok!!! before you roll our the awning...
We attached hooks to the identical position on the van as per eyelets in the tarp. This allow us to then use clips to hook tarps eyelet to the van hooks.
Now the tarp will fall down to the ground covering the rolled up awning.
Then roll out the awning and the tarp naturally will follow on top of the awning. Then using poles arrange the tarp approx 40 cm above the awning and you have a breeze channel.
The difference in heat when you touch the awning which is covered v the uncovered awning is awesome.
Well worth the little bit of effort but a bloody great result.
Agreed. I found the radiant heat passing through the awning too much last week so used a silver tarp (8' x 6') placed on top of the awning in the middle(ish) and secured with string from its four corners, this has made a significant difference.
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"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"
Oliver Cromwell, 3rd August 1650 - in a letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland
I have an awning & with the additional mosquito enclosure you have two ceilings. The second ceiling makes a big difference with heat from above.
But the canvas material is a lot better than the plastic of a tarp even when it is silvered. We use a silvered plastic tarp for an extension. At some stage we will replace this with a canvas add on awning.
The last photo are two plastic tarps, one silvered, one blue, & 4 car window sun shades tacked on the edge of the silvered tarp. Both plastic tarps, the heat radiating down is a horrendous. So use waterproof canvas & not plastic!
We tried various things at the shack for outside living.
Ended up using green shade cloth as top layer.
Underneath we used grey h.d. plastic tarps.
For caravans we suggest shade cloth over the awning.
The cloth tames the wind, but doesn't end up as a sail itself, as well as providing shade. And it is quieter than plastic tarp.
It is easy and quick to dry for storage, and sometimes is all you need.
Use the regular cloth clips for securing to SS screweyes and shock-cord loops onto van.
The black butterfly clips can be drilled to go straight onto tent poles, or use a cord to extend onto the pole, allowing the awning to come up underneath.
At least two things about your rig impressed me when I came to pick up the washing machine from your place a year or so ago.
The first was this 'fly cover' over your awning although I got the impression that it could be left in situ & rolled up with the awning. We all know how effective a fly tarp over a tent is. This is a great adaption of the principle.
The other was the ingenious way that you fitted your grey water tote tank into a cradle under the rear of the van. Arguable makes it 'built in'.
