Inexpensive Rear Awning Build

mushdogs

Removing warning labels would solve problems.
Supporting Member
Joined
May 24, 2019
Messages
1,056
Location
Plain. WA
Been wanting an awning for overlanding/base camping that was not a semi-permanent fixture on my roof. My criteria was: easy to erect/dismantle and stow, lightweight yet durable and budget friendly. I looked at both Kelly’s Waypoint and Slumberjack Roadhouse. Each had its attractions, but the prices didn't fit the budget friendly criteria. So I decided to just make my own.

Parts needed would be:

1each 10x15 waterproof nylon camping tarp

1each 1 inch x 10 yards heavyweight polypropylene webbing

2each 1 inch side release webbing buckles

2each 1 inch tri glide ladder lock webbing buckles

1each 3/8 inch grommet kit

2each adjustable tarp poles

Once I had the materials gathered (I already had tarp poles from a defunct tent). I measured from mid-point on one of the wheels, over the top of the Jeep to mid point of the other. I added length to that measurement to go around a spoke and back to a buckle point, allowed for folding back webbing for sewing on buckles and folding webbing ends and sewing them. (Sewing the ends is not absolutely necessary, can be cut and melted.)
The measurement, including allowances came to 260 inches.

I started by sewing a 10 ft side of the tarp to the webbing, centering it and leaving equal measurements of webbing on either side. The webbing lays on the hardtop and the tarp is sewn on top the webbing. After the tarp was sewn on, I laid the tarp and webbing over the rig and centered it. I measured from the sewn edge of the tarp down the webbing to the fender. I didn’t want the ladder adjustment buckle to lay on the fender, so I lengthened the measurement to ensure it wouldn’t, allowed 1 1/2 inch extra for sewing on the buckle, then cut and melted the webbing, repeated on the other side.
This measurement is 8 1/2 inches before attaching the ladder buckles. When the buckles are sewn on, the measurement from the edge of the tarp to the end of the buckle should be 8 inches all told.
With the remaining webbing trimmed from either side, measure down 29 1/2 inches and attach the female half of a quick release buckle using a 3 inch piece of webbing. Thread on the male half at the end of the webbing so it will attach to the female with no twist in the webbing. You want the webbing to make a flat loop. Fold the male buckle end of the webbing twice and sew it (or just melt the end).
Thread the top of the webbing through the ladder buckle, make sure both buckles are on the same side of the webbing, then sew or melt the ladder buckle webbing end. You want the webbing and buckles to lay flat with no twist. Repeat for the other side.
3186AB82-BF46-4A8F-ADB0-A25141C573DB.jpeg


87E64F02-2C62-449D-934C-1498B7212A95.jpeg


F8BD4913-5B33-4C83-94C7-9CBECB2FB4AE.jpeg


17B57666-4E6D-4B77-9405-9F5F613D33EE.jpeg

At this junction you can call it good. However, one of the features I like about the Kelty Waypoint was you could single pole it and the pole itself was set back a little from the edge versus being right out on the end. It seemed to me this would be a little more stable. I measured back 16 inches from the edge of the tarp, and sewed on a 5 inch piece of webbing for reinforcement centered on that 16 inch mark, then put in a 3/8 inch grommet.
4F518198-CF59-489F-A4EB-F5E7BED4226F.jpeg


C68766F7-8941-48A4-B0DC-2D6A380E0639.jpeg


FF33B327-74C5-48C4-9D4B-ED93946AF387.jpeg


68486D17-ADFE-4563-8005-515EEB030B79.jpeg

The tarp came with reflective guy lines, adequate stakes and a stuff sack. The sack was fussy after the addition of the webbing, so I repurposed a cheap old NRA duffle and tarted it up by sewing on a velcro label.
9DC22B3F-730B-47AE-937E-A5BF86221AD6.jpeg

I used it all spring, summer and fall in all kinds of weather with no failures. Using one or two awning poles gave options on how I set it up depending on activity or weather.
97EC34C5-559E-4FCE-B5F7-83E2D2DE8D55.jpeg


9F7297FE-24B5-46CE-99A3-90C3A840094D.jpeg


C92CE279-17C9-4CB4-92DF-C565A7CA0D0E.jpeg


870200FE-687A-4DC8-BFC1-9B70E0BBF112.jpeg


2A4E036A-A6D1-48B2-BF26-3D5C5BAF06E3.jpeg


AB89F657-3583-4532-9B52-2158C96E29EF.jpeg


FE22AFB4-C976-4183-B160-F3423BF9139F.jpeg

The only thing I would have done different is either gone with coyote brown or khaki, or stuck with ranger green outer but with a white inner because it does get dark under it quick in the evenings while it’s still perfectly light out. I added an LED glass lift gate light strip to the Jeep to alleviate the issue, but had planned on adding one before the awning idea had taken root anyhow.
555CF9CE-B10A-4F66-A05C-F2BE2622034F.jpeg


83F65B33-381B-45D8-81DA-00246249C23F.jpeg


All told, I spent 53.90 to make this, and around three hours to measure and sew it together, and I’m no great shakes at the sewing machine. Anyone who knows their way around a sewing machine could probably knock it together faster.

Tarp: 20.32
Webbing: 8.21
Quick release buckles: 5.30
Ladder buckles: 10.80
Grommet kit: 9.30

My wife and son have used it on her XJ and his YJ, so it’s fairly universal.
 
i lovvvvvvve your bag, just renewed and got the same. ive been doing the same tarp setup for years. love it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mushdogs
Thought you were going to do a hard top mounted one like on a motorhome/camper. Loving this, even with my soft top!!
 
Thought you were going to do a hard top mounted one like on a motorhome/camper. Loving this, even with my soft top!!

Nope. I really didn’t want something mounted on the hardtop for a few reasons. Cost; would have to remove and store it in the winter or fight it every time it snows (live in the mountains, no garage). Mounting one wouldn’t necessarily be an issue (have an XJ roof rack, like in this thread: https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/xj-cargo-rack-on-tj-hardtop.2747/ ) or I’d have to put on windshield frame to tub mounted expedition rack, and I personally don’t like how those, or roof mounted awnings in general look as it is, and as this is my daily driver I wouldn’t want to drive around with one on all the time. I really just wanted the convenience of having something I can toss or keep in the Jeep and set up solo in a few minutes. The only drawback is you obviously can’t stake down to pavement. Not an insurmountable obstacle though.

It will absolutely work great with a soft top, my son has used it with his soft top YJ. Enough that he's getting his own for a Christmas present because I’m tired of sharing. 🤣