Ha-ha, good one Dave!  Heck, I'm going to start collecting Social Security next month!!  And there is nobody as cheap as me!

    On Saturday, August 26, 2023 at 05:20:19 PM PDT, David McNeely <davmcneely40@gmail.com> wrote:  
 
 I built my own awning like you did.  I works very well in light showers, and for shade.  I like it.  In the right camping spot, I tie it off to trees rather than use the poles. Trees make great shade, however, the best. But I would never spend hundreds of dollars for a fancy factory built one.  I'm just too cheap, I guess.  old man mcneely

On Sat, Aug 26, 2023 at 4:52 PM Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

Awnings on a Vanagon have always baffled me.  I think it has to do much to do where you live and where you camp.  Sure, on Facebook and advertisements I've seen them all!  What are they for?....sun or rain?  I live in San Diego and mostly camp in the West; when I want some shade but don't have any, I simply move my campchair to the other side of van.  The rain we get out here is either a deluge or nothing.  When a deluge, I sit inside van; after the storm passes, I move outside again and enjoy the fresh wonderful smells.  I've even camped in 48 states in my van....sun or rain issues never seemed to be a problem.  I tried once building my own awning with Harbor Freight tarp and collapsible camping poles; to test, I even went up to local mountains during most severe thunderstorm....to my surprise, the rain actually hit the pavement in the campground and bounced back up!!!  Felt silly as I was being drenched.  Hey, I'm don't mean any bad intent here.  Still....am curious about awnings.  Seems like a lot of hassle and expense.