u/VagabondVivant

I'd been wanting to add an awning to my van for some time, but didn't really wanna spend a few hundred bucks on it, nor did I want a large assembly hanging off the side, where it would jut out and add to the horizontal clearance — especially since it'd have to attach to the fiberglass topper, which I didn't feel great about.

So I just made one.

I took a $5 2x4, notched it to fit beside the topper, painted it with some $10 spray paint, screwed in a few threaded inserts, and attached a $6 set of tie down anchors, spaced 16" apart. Now I have a low-profile mount that I can use not just for a tarp awning, but for a movie screen, string lights, or anything else I might want to hang at a camp. Best of all, I'm not limited to 8' (the typical size I found for most side awnings); it can accommodate up to an 11' tarp if I ever pick one up.

Just wanted to share in case it inspired anyone else looking for an affordable less-obtrusive alternative to massive side awning assemblies.

Randomly thinking about (and missing) my hike, I thought I'd share a random smattering of shots from my walk back in Fall of 2014. God, how I miss stretching my legs.