Awning mounting options

Decided against a RTT for now so I bought a 6.5’ ARB awning and the corresponding awning tent to go along with it.

Debating where/how to mount it.

Truck is a 2011 DCSB with a shell and both Prinsu cabrack and shell rack.

From what I gather, one does not want to mount it spanning both racks due to cab/bed movement.

So I am trying to decide if I want it on the shell or the cab. Decision is compounded by the shell rack being a really early model (or maybe even a knockoff, came with the truck so I am not sure). It is 1.5” narrower per side then the cab rack.

If I fab up some mounts for the shell, how much space should I leave so it doesn’t smack into the cab offroading? Also: thoughts on mounting on cab versus shell?

Thanks all.

 

Off the shell for sure.

 

Shell

 

Shell. Easy access to the bed, and you don’t have the doors sticking into your tent.

 

X4 for the shell. I mounted mine on my cab rack for a trip, but didn’t care for how far it stuck out past the windshield. The Prinsu awnings mounts might be your easiest option.

 

Nice!
How much of a gap do you have between the backside of the awning and the cab rack where the awning overhangs? I want to make sure it is far enough out so it isn't banging against it.

 

I have the Prinsu cab rack, but my shell is the ARE HD so it just has the two ARE bars. The Prinsu awning mounts actually made the awning sit above the rack, but I’m not sure if it would be enough to clear your cab rack. My main reason for moving mine is that it blocked the poles on that side for the RTT rain fly. I ended up making two mounts that attach to the ARE bars t-slots and mount the awning just below the RTT so that I can still get the rain fly poles in.

Your offset between the two racks kinda throws a wrench in things. You might could make some sort of spacer that used the two extrusion bolts to attach on the rack side and have the awning attach to the other side.

 

That is kind of what I was thinking about doing, fabricating a mount out of some sections of box tubing. I have 1.5" and 2" floating around here. 1.5 would put it really, really close to the cab rack, 2" might be just right.

Edited. Maybe I will do some 2x3 if that will catch the bottom slot, that way I can get hardware on both top and bottom. Is that necessary, or does top only or bottom only work fine?

 

Box tubing would probably work well and then weld a flat plate onto the front wide enough to mount the awning.

 

Thinking I might do something along those lines. Probably build a backing plate to sit on the other side of the rack with two nuts welded to it, sandwiching the side of the rack through some of the slots. Awning is probably not going to live on the truck full time so getting it on/off easily would be nice. Doesn't need to be quick release, just easy to unbolt.

 

Great minds think alike, this one just can’t weld…

 

After much delay, I present the world's most needlessly complicated awning mount.
A little CADboard template.





Ooh, I know. I will make this out of 1/4" plate. Because overkill (and I had it on hand).



A little bandsawing, some drilling.



Mock up.



Only way I could get this shit to all line up was to tack it on the truck. Managed to not catch anything on fire (this time).



Tacked and test fitted to awning.



Tacoma(s) got a new big brother.



Stackin dimes (err more like chewing gum and boogers)




Wow, it actually worked.



Still gotta blow it all back apart, finish weld the mounting plate that bolts to the awning, clean it up, paint it and put it back together.

It has worked out pretty well. To install it I just lift it over the top of the rack, set it in place, put the bolts through the slots in the rack and tighten them down.

 

Nice!