I have a Carter Silver Shade awning made by Valley Industries, Inc. in
Seattle. Got it in 1990, same year I got my Westy. Paid $316.39, installed,
including the brackets that hold it to the drip rail. You can install them
yourself. Later, I got a third bracket from the distributor, so if one
breaks, there are still two more.
I can deploy it myself, but a third hand would help. I usually removed it
from the van if I wasn't going to be camping for awhile. Suspend it from the
garage ceiling so all I have to do is drive under it and lower it down and
clamp it to the rail.
Now, did I use it very much? At first, yes, later, no. It just got to be a
nuisance. It was a handy place to hang wet clothes, but also a place to bang
your head. If the wind was blowing, the flapping of the fabric and some
rattling of the support arms was annoying, especially at night.
After talking to lots of others I would see with them, the concensus of
opinion seemed to be they were more bother than they were worth. That's why
mine is still hanging from the garage ceiling, looking like new. But, each
to his or her own. If you want more info you can e-mail me.
Jerry