More Outdoor Fun With Porch Awnings

One of the great products you can use to live outdoors regardless of the weather is an awning. If you’re looking to protect yourself from the weather and create a peaceful environment for your road trip, then a caravan porch awning is the way to go.

Difficulty: Simple

Directions

Things Required To Build A Caravan Porch Awning:

1. Canvas tarp built to specifications

2. Tape Measure

3. Some Rope (nylon if you can)

4. Stakes for tents

5. Tent Poles (completely adjustable)

6. Weatherproofing Scotchguard

Pre-Building Stage

Using the measuring tape, determine your caravan’s length. How big do you want your awning to be? Canvas tarps can be bought in almost any size, but many are maybe nine feet in depth. Do your best to measure what size will be perfect for your use.

Purchasing Canvas Tarp

Give a few phone calls to authorized canvas tarp dealers and talk to someone who is experienced in the use and various sizes of canvas tarps. Mention the dimensions of your awning and then place an order for what you need.

Purchase Other Necessary Items

Make a stop at your local outdoors store and pick up the tent poles, stakes, and the nylon rope. For best results you should purchase six tent poles and one hundred feet of nylon rope. Try pre-constructed pieces to ensure the building process is as simple as possible. Get all the items and pieces of same together in the same room once your canvas tarp arrives and prepare to assemble your caravan porch awning, first at home.

Using The Right Area

When you’re ready to go, make sure to park your caravan in an area that is big enough to include the awning you’ve just built. It’s a good idea to use a location with soft earth for the stakes. But, if you end up someplace where this is not the case, don’t worry. You can use the tent stakes with metal nails to dig into tar roadways. If you’re over concrete, simply drive your stakes into cracks to avoid damage to the surface.

Putting It All Together

Flatten out your canvas tarp on the ground. Arrange it so that it is placed beside the caravan in the appropriate manner. Move one tent pole’s tip into the grommet at a corner of the canvas tarp that is closest to the caravan, being careful to raise the corresponding awning’s corner until that tent pole has become vertical. Keep this pole in the right position until a securing line is staked into the ground.

Installing Your Awning Line

Make your awning line by using fifteen feet of that nylon rope you bought. At one end, create a loop and knot tightly so that loop will stick around at the proper side of your rope. Use that loop to hook it over the highest point of the vertical pole — this will allow the other end to be secured with a stake which will be pressed down into the canvas by the loop. Make sure the loose end of the rope is always nailed down with a stake.

Finishing Your Remaining Materials

Next, attach those last five tent poles into the caravan awning’s grommets. There should be, at last, three awning poles for the rear and three for the front.

Keeping Your Awning Safe

Now you have your caravan porch awning and it looks great, but it’s very susceptible to weather damage. Spray your canvas tarp down with the Scotchguard you bought. Leave your tarp for three hours so it can dry, then go for a second coat. When you’re through, your awning will be weatherproofed for good. Remember to store your awning in a dry and cool place.

If you are in need of protection from the elements while away on family excursions, you’ll need a caravan awning. Why not grab a retractable awning for yourself or even make it for your own caravan? Do a little digging and you’ll turn up some fine prices for materials and more, as long as you’re looking at trusted websites that carry the appropriate merchandise.