We have decided to make a new awning system for the truck. We have in the past had shade cloth that attaches to the roof bars, a heavy duty tarp for when it's wet. This time we are going to use canvas and something similar to what you get on caravans. This is what we currently have, and it works OK, but shadecloth is not really that good at keeping the heat out, and the tarp is pretty heavy. All up the whole awning and sidewalls should be about 22kg, so about the same as what we carry now, but it should look and work a lot better.
We will also have side walls, that attach via zips. We will have two side walls, that can also attach to the front. The awning will be 4.7m wide across the truck, and 4m away from the truck. We will incorporate some windows into the sidewalls, just normal mesh. The whole thing won't be much use for keeping bugs and flies out, as they will just be able to get in from under the truck.
The awning will attach to the camper via sailtrack. This should make it more waterproof. The best place for me to attach the sailtrack will be to the roof gutter. The gutter is stuck on with Sikaflex 252, and I decided to to the same way with the sailtrack. First was the clean, rough sand and then prime with the Sika-206 G+P primer to the two pack epoxy paint that;s on the gutter. The primer is necessary and works great, not so easy to apply, as you have to do it very quickly when it is hot like it was today. It also runs like water, and can get under the masking tape if it is not stuck down.
Primer goes off in about 10 minutes, and then you have to stick the SIkaflex-252, which is terrible stuff, it goes everywhere, hence the masking tape. .
Once the sailtrack was on, I pulled off the masking tape to prevent it getting stuck in the Sikaflex.
The clamps keep it held in, the are pretty loose in face, as I don't want to squeeze the Sikaflex out, the minimum thickness is 3mm, or the Sikaflex will not be that strong.
As you can see here, Sikaflex and the red outback dust love each other, and it is very difficult to remove. I'll be covering the Sikaflex with some white silicone, that seems to repel the dust not stick to it.
I did add a stainless steel bolt each end of the sailtrack to provide a mechanical lock as well, hopefully they will not be needed, but more of a "just in case"
We have a roll of canvas; 40m of it. We will be able to do all what we want and have quite a bit spare.
This is what we bought.
https://www.paskal.com.au/razorback-12-ripstop.html In the light grey colour.
