DIY Custom Truck or Van Awning Under $100 

Check the description to see links to where we bought stuff!

This is the best DIY awning I have seen. I have been looking for this to do myself.

To make a cover use 4" Pvc plumbing pipe with a 2" slit cut out length wise and a cap on one end to slide over the length of the awning.

Nice one! Just sew 3 or 4 velcro straps on each side to flap them over the poles to keep your tarp in place.

This is awesome! It's really close to what I was thinking of building. I was looking at bungie balls thru grommets to secure the two sides of the awning to the horizontal arms in case of wind.

So awesome! I modified a Toyota Previa all wheel drive mini van back in the mid 90's for camping mostly in the North Cascades. Although I really wanted an attached awning I could never bring myself to spend the kind of money they wanted...sure wish I'd thought of something like this! Nice job!!!

This is bad-ass. When thinking about building one myself what I would do different is how I would attach the tarp to the poles. I would keep a full rotation of the tarp wrapped on each pole. But first I would use a weather resistant strong adhesive tape and tape the entire tarp length wise to the pole, roll it one full turn then fasten it with screws. This will lengthen the life of the tarp, and prevent premature tearing. I have a pick-up truck bed unloader and the material is attached to the pipe on this fashion; while unloading 1500lbs of material it has not ripped. And lastly is the slope; I would ensure that is slopes to the left, right, or front so water does not accumulate. Another project on my list. THANKS!

Waxed canvas military tarp ! Heavy but lasts a LONG time !

Brilliant design! Good on ya for not caving and paying those ridiculous prices!

2 years later and I just found this video for my diy van build! I’m so elated that I found your video because this awning is genius!!

Great idea for a diy awning. I just saw a thread for a roof rack made with conduit as well. Cheap, durable, and cut to whatever size you need.

About to camping for a music fest and this has been a major help. We're gonna work with a truck bed, probably same dimensions, but this was amazing. Thanks for the instruction!

Fantastic idea. We are working on a truck cap camper that we want a canopy for. We've got plenty of tarps, and extendible poles. Just need conduit and hinges.... Consider this idea snagged.

I was looking at different ideas to make a awning, but yours are the best, thanks for sharing

It looks good, but i think the vertical polls will pull out in a windy situation, i think you should thread the ends and bolt it tight. good luck.

Thanks for sharing such great information. It is really helpful to me. I always search to watch the quality content and finally I found your post. Keep it up, keep posting!

try using a piece of pvc to secure your awning when is rolled up. that would probably work pretty slick.

Love your posts. Informative and useful. Made me feel like I was listening to a couple of friends. Enjoy the journey!

saw your video on another page and was curious about the awning. glad I found this one.

Excellent arrangement..iam also looking to fix such type in my honda fit

It would be great to see how you did your solar hook up. The tarp awning looks great!

That's pretty awesome. I want to build one of those for our Suburban someday!!

Good setup. May i suggest putting an extra cover strip of heavy duty tarp to cover the top when it is rolled up-to protect it when not in use. Looks like the weather has effected that area. Great work! Cheers.

i have been looking for something like this for soooo long...

really nice job, as you were talking about the UV damage on the tarp i thought, "if you mounted a 4" PVC pipe along where you have the polls rolled up and come off of that instead of the framing you could store the polls inside the PVC and if you mounted hooks alone the PVC that you could hook the tarp grommets along that than you would have something a lot cleaner looking and that tarp could just be folded up and stored inside. again, really nice job, simple and functional. i have a teardrop and this would be perfect for a roof rack awning.

Very nice. I don't think I can make one. Yours looks nice.

Nicely done. 👌🏻 Very old video, but I'd love some info on your hammock setup

glad this came my way,I'm building 1 now ,will buy some decent expandable poles for the whole system. mine will cost 2 hundred

Thanks so much guys! Killer idea. I have a project for next weekend. Take care

great job on the awning.

That’s awesome! I’ve been in the market for one and yes they are so expensive. I’m gonna try and do this for my Kia👍🏼

Thumbs up on the video. This gives me a bunch of ideas for doing one on my van. Love the peek-a-boo by Cathleen at 3:15

Awesome! Doing this for our camper this summer. Thanks for posting.

thanks for sharing..got some ideas i can use

Nice job, looking to build an awning myself! Thanks!

Thanks for being Honest about the tarp problem ! I enjoyed your video , Also I think you done a good & simple job making your awing ! thanks for sharing .

Hope you could do a video on how to make it. Thanks

Pretty slick

This is ace - but wonder if the rain would just collect on top as it gets heavier - great idea tho - will definitely give this a try - thank you.

Good Idea.

Simple and beautiful

Thank you for the video and the build list. Mine is coming along very well.

That is awesome. I'll be using this idea in my build for sure.

To protect the tarp when rolled up, you could do a similar thing with duct tape that would fully cover whatever shows when it is rolled up. Could always replace/add more if it gets damaged

Very Good! I'm taking inspiration to do the same on my defender

This is awesome my z71 Suburban needs this! Thanks for this info.

Very nice also.

Very Cool!

What a fantastic idea!!

Love it!

just a thought, to save from wear and tear from the weather etc, what about storing it away in a large pvc pipe with screw cap ends or something similar to that?

Wow, you guys are so helpful! This channel is the best right now. I think I might just build this thing too. Haha I have a similar Suburban, just a little older than yours. Gonna take it out near some of the same areas too that's wild

Wow!!! Great job on the Awning. Digging it Bro!! Thanks for the post

You done a great job

I really wish you had gotten one closeup of the darn hinge

great video awesome tarp awesome idea

Try getting a piece of pvc pipe that it will fit in with 2 end caps .Cut a piece out of the pipe slip it over and put the caps on each end...

He'll yeah bro love it

i'm currently looking to build up something similar. great tips guys! thanks

Thanks for the vid. I plan on doing a similar awning build for my Sub. Hope yours is holding up well.

WORKS FOR ME BRO...Great video man

Fantastic video. Thanks for sharing!!!

Cool idea. I loved it

Brilliant. Thats going on my van.

I bought a 10x10 EZ UP canopy and just set it up against my truck when we hit the outdoors.

Awesome video! Thanks for sharing. How did you do your hammock?

If this were me I would have rolled the awning end that attached to the van a few times to keep the wind from ripping your screws threw the awning. Could probably help on both ends

you could always cut a three inch section out of a like a 5 inch PVC pipe and just slide it over the whole thing like a hard cover. you can even add end caps to finish it off.

Nicely done. Your dude be handy.

Thx

Great tips an Demo. .

Sweet awning!!! Mahalo for the video:)

I love this shit. It's like arts and crafts for adults

Where did you get the extendable poles? Did they come with the pointy ends or did you add that? If you added it how did you do that? Thanks!

Thank you.

Very nice! :)

very cool

We can get awnings similar to this in Australia for about 100 bucks.. I'm surprised other places don't make something similar for that much...

the awning could've been made better but that's just me... dope videos btw...

Try heavy canvas instead of tarpaulin when you replace the current tarp. Also anchor it with a metal strip rather than just screws to spread the load on the material.

I wonder if you could put sides on the awning? made out of tarp?

good idea though, never thought of this.... i love ppl that come up with ideas

Try a heavy canvas tarp, wind proof and hold up but are pricey

Is there a video of show step by step of building the awning?

I have a 2002 Chevy Suburban Z71 as well, so it's great to come across your channel and see what you've done. I picked mine up with about 125k miles and I'm now at 258k. Luckily there have been no major engine repairs, but I did do a front end job myself about a year ago. Good luck to the both of you! I do have a question, it looks like you used a different way of mounting the tubing to the roof rack. Or is that just thin 3/4" conduit straps? I'm thinking about doing this job within the next few weeks.

cool video wheres the video of the tour with the diy shower and the instructions on the solar panels? :(

How is the top part that rolls up attached to the roof rack?

Take a 8 inch pvc pipe cut it in half long wise with piano hinge t roll tarp into and cap both ends

cool

Hi...your project is amazing. Could you please send me close details about the poles attachment ? Are there hinges ? Thank you

Where did you find the adjustable poles?

Nice set up. Can you provide a source for the adjustable pole slides and the pointed stud inserts?

Very nice. I would like to know where you wash your berries?

How do you do the hinges?

Can you post a link for the hinge? The hinge component of this setup is the only part that I don't understand.

The poles that are listed in your description are no longer available. Suggest a similar?

the only thing I will do different is make the tarp out of a canvas tarp HF sells those also and they should last a lot longer. Just need to oil it.

What did you use for the roff tarpaulin or canvas

PVC tube, place tarp in it.

That was a great idea! just came across your channel, Im a new sub :) Thanks for the great how to and showing all the details! Very helpful, safe travels my friends :)