Aha!  After starting the most recent incarnation of this thread (should we
call it "Awnings '99"?) I am happy to say that I beat even you, Bulley - I
got what I would venture is the exact same thing at Kmart yesterday for
$12.99!  :-)

I erected the entire thing in my driveway this morning to test it out for
our upcoming trip.  people kept stopping wondering if we were having a swap
meet!  <g>     (Seems to work well, by the way)

Brent Christensen
'89 Syncro Westy "Klaus"
'95 Cherokee Sport

----- Original Message -----
From: Bulley <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 1999 2:47 PM
Subject: Re: poor man's awning - another solution

> Whoa there, Joel. Some intelligent folks have done the work for you.
>
> We bought a "Family Dining Canopy" at BIG LOTS. These are 12' x 12' blue
> poly tarps and a selection of perfectly-suited, hollow aluminiumunumum
> tubing multi-section poles, and a selection of guy-cord (which gals can
use
> as well).
>
> Amazingly, The tarp is almost EXACTLY the length of our Weshouldfollowya,
> so we can attach one edge easily to the drip rail by folding the pair of
> the surplus aluminiumunumum tubing legs into the edge, and using 4"
> C-clamps to hold it in place. The rest of the canopy is erected as usual,
> including the center "Big Top" pole, and the guy cords.
>
> It has stood up to 15-25 mile winds during a thunderstorm, so it can't be
> all bad. It is however, truly a "Spanky and Alfalfa" rig, only for use
well
> away from civilized people. Total cost, $15 for the canopy, C-clamps from
> the tool shed.
>
> G. Matthew Bulley
> Bulley-Hewlett & Associates
> www.bulley-hewlett.com
> Cary, NC USA
> 888.468.4880 tollfree
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From:   Joel Walker [SMTP:jwalker@BAMA.UA.EDU]
> Sent:   Tuesday, June 15, 1999 3:54 PM
> To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject:        Re: poor man's awning - another solution
>
> one thing you guys and gals might want to consider for
> awning/tent poles:
>
> those aluminum poles that you use for roller-painting the
> ceiling. about $8 each at various large 'hardware' stores
> (Lowe's, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, etc), and they have a plastic
> screw-thread on one end. they also extend several feet (but
> collapse into a easily-stored length) and twist/grip to stay
> at any length (up to maximum). with a little
> shaving/whittling, the plastic screw end can be made to fit
> into a grommet hole on a tarp.
>
> i've got them and am planning/scheming/plotting some sort of
> tarp-tent ... just haven't gotten the kinks worked out yet.
> :)
>
> joel
>