Canopy Ideas for Camping

Hey guys, I am looking for some ideas on a canopy/awning for use when camping. Ideally it would mount to my OEM roof rack, as that’s what I have now. Just shoot some ideas at me please and thanks! Picture of truck so you might can tell what will and won’t work. Thanks!

 

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What’s wrong with using a regular 10x10 or 10x15 pop up canopy?

 

Google search for "truck awning".

Or use a free-standing popup canopy as mentioned above.

Or buy a regular old tarp and a couple poles.

 

I’d just rather not add things to haul on the truck. Would rather it stay there and me not have another thing to load every time I go camping. Hence why I said ideally, but thanks for the reply!

 

Thanks, just wanted to see some ideas the community may have already tried out and liked.

 

I think the community is communicating ideas.

Ive tied a canvas tarp to a couple of trees. That cost me 20 bucks and it was a far superior awning to any vehicle-mount or free standing I have ever owned.
I do have an EZ up. That cost me about 100 bucks.
And I have a Dometic awning on my camper that I have to hand roll and set stakes. Its replacement cost is $450.

And then theres the super tacticool batwing truck rack awning lines - expect to pay anywhere between $500-1500 to look cool.


Me, I'd rather spend that on gas money, get a nice tarp and a spool of nylon rope.

 

Awesome, I agree with not wanting to break the bank. I just need a reasonably priced option that I can leave on there and not worry about. I’m really not above the tarp idea, my only concern with that is we are not scared to camp in the rain and I really don’t want to have to deal with a tarp catching water if I don’t have to lol

I will look into the other options you mentioned, thanks for the reply!

 

Agree. The roof mounted ones are cool for the gram, but a tarp or an ez up works better for every campsite I’ve been to

 

So, silly opinions aside, I have logical thoughts going on in my weirdo middle aged brain.

Once, in my younger days, I fastened a tarp to the roof rails. And 30 minutes after I had done so, the ex demanded we run into town for an ice and soda run. It admittedly took me a few years to understand that this meant "I'm not willing to dig a cat hole."

And that resulting bicker session pretty much drove my camping philosophy for the next 20 years - always have your vehicle in a ready state for ice, soda, and/or missing limbs.

Say for example you have a rolled ankle, sprained elbow, or if you're like me, a thrown back. Common scenarios where you'd be able to crawl behind the wheel and find urgent care, but probably not be able to stow a canopy or RTT. Or it's something stupid, where the wife looks you in the eye and says "I need a pint of Ben and Jerry's, and I need it now."

I stopped tying things to the rack or bumper. I always keep my vehicle in a ready state now. You never know when you need to bug out right then and there.


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I've used this old tarp many times. Actually, it was just repurposed this year to help reupholster the camper (it's currently living on as the back of our dinette cushions.)


The very last time I tent camped:




And the current camp rain guard:

 

Yup^^^^. Exactly why I never did a RTT.

I’m even taking that a step further and will be getting an auto trans on next vehicle. Both of my vehicles are manual, but with regard to camp trips and for exact reasons you mentioned, if I need to get out of dodge and have a busted left foot/ankle/leg I need to either require less pedals to do it or have a vehicle someone else knows how to drive.

 

I just picked up a commuter car, and I can get all of my downshifting, clutch-popping, sideways-around-corners jollies on it. On a truck...there are days when I really appreciate having a truck with one-foot operation. It takes a lot less brain power to go from zero to 70 without making your passengers do the bobble-neck.


I never thought I would say that.

 

Rack awnings mount to metal racks with holes using brackets and hardware.

that is not such rack.

 

What pop up canopy is that?

 

The 10x10 is a Coleman. The awning on the pop-up is a dometic.

 

Thanks for the info, didn’t know that.

 

If you want something mobile that doesn’t break the bank give this a try. I was surprised how nice it was. I don’t have a roof rack so I bought suction cup mounts off Amazons to secure the top. https://slumberjack.com/roadhouse-tarp/

I bought mine on a camofire sale for 60$ I’d buy another one. I bought extra poles that are adjustable, these are a must have in the rain.

 

More than likely you won’t find an awning to mount directly to the OE roof rack. Pretty much all the one I’ll assume thinking of that you’ve seen mounted on a RTT will some sort of aftermarket roof rack.