Build Video - DIY Truck/Van Awning Instructions! Under $100

Edit: I realize now that there is a somewhat of a disconnect in the video when it comes to drilling holes. Do your best to watch when we are bolting it together to help you understand where all the drilled holes go.
This little description should help:
- Main support bar (that attaches to vehicle) 2x vertical holes - 3/8"
- The horizontal swing arms
• The vehicle side of this arm has 1x vertical hole - 3/8" and attaches to the main support bar.
• The far side of this bars gets 2 holes, 1 vertical hole about 1" from the very end and 1 horizontal hole 1 1/2" in from the vertical hole - 3/8". (Horizontal hole is for the swing dow legs)(Vertical hole is for the bolt that ends up holding the removable crossbar)
- The swing down legs each get a hole drilled through 1" from the end - 3/8". (That is where they attach to the end of the horizontal swing arms)
- Removable cross bar gets a hole at each end about 1" from the ends. Drill 3/8" all the way through and drill the bottom half of both ends big enough for the nut to fit in it when you drop the cross bar on top to the end of the swing arms.

Hopes that helps!

(Build Materials and Cost below)

So we've released a video videos about the our DIY awning and the most requested details were about how to actually build the awning, materials, and cost. Well here it is! An in depth build video showing you everything you need to build the awning yourself. Please comment or message us with any questions and we would be happy to help.

Build materials:

$4-5 each
6x 10 foot 3/4" galvanized conduit poles
(4 cut to 8 feet | 2 cut to 6.5 feet)

$10-12
8x10 "Heavy Duty" Tarp

$8
Box of different sized bungee cords

$20
10x4 Vinyl fabric - cut to around 2x9

$5-10
6x 3/8" bolts:
1x - 3 3/4"
3x - 3 1/4"
2x - 1 3/4"

$10
10x hose clamps (to hold the main bar to the rack)

$5
Black rubber twisty ties

$5
Washers between everything.

The spacer I used on the left side, to drop the bar down, was just a short piece of metal tube I found in my dads shop. But I'm sure you can find something! Find a small tube or stacking up washers would work too

With out the fabric cover, it should be around $80. if you want the cover to, $10-20 depending on what you buy and where you buy it from. I used a vinyl fabric.

[hunterhalo]

Dude this kind of documentation and thorough explanation of stuff makes the world go around. Thanks so much

[nicksbmwservice]

Amazing video. Going to build one based off yours but with another swing out section towards the rear.

[BenjaminHansen]

Good job! Thanks for putting this video together.

[jjiglesiasg]

I have a 4runner same like yours, and this video is quite inspirational to do the same, here the most cheap awning rise to well over 400 USD. Keep Overlanding and Greetings from #Bolivia #Overland_Bolivia

[VonBluesman]

Hey what you need to do is take a pair of pliers, vise grips, or Channel locks and use them to hold the nail that you are striking with your hammer, that way you will not hit your fingers or thumb.

[bradjd]

Great video just a heads up they do make canvas tarps just spray with water proof

[olsmxl]

great video and build. Is the awning at an angle to allow for rain to drip off and not pool? thanks

[paulmonk]

Wrap the outside corner bungee once around the corner poles to take the slack out of the outside edge.

[kikecueva]

really good vibes. thanks for the info.

[ca]

Just curious if you could pound some spikes into the ground as “anchors” for the vertical pipes/bars

[bajar.m.]

Great video. I love when peoples build their own gears. Instead of buying it already build. 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

[yellownp]

I am truly enjoying your garage engineering projects, I am still working on the roof rack project for a Toyota Previa. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and I cannot wait to see the videos of these products out on the wild.

[ronschreiber]

great video .I made one just like your .one Question how did you roll the tarp up so neat ??lol

[Stoic-of-Rome]

wow those bolts could lift the whole car!! mightget away with half that diameter and leave more material at the pipe.

[dkelly]

Hey mate thanks for this from Brisbane Australia. Wondering is this noisy on the freeway?

[hazel]

Thanks for the detailed plan! You guys are so adorable!

[sdbrantley]

Loved your role as Weasel, in Deadpool.

[thorson]

Love the awning!
Thinking about my wife's trailblazer may get one now.

[leekh]

Should use PVC pipe instead. Lighter, cheaper and easier to drill holes.

[Ktand]

This is definitely going to be our starting inspiration for our awning build, which we'll be using soon to snow camp in ski lodge parking lots. We're wondering if you have any specific suggestions for altering this build to include walls. Has anyone else done this already? Any major changes we should think about? Thanks in advance!