DIY: Camper Awning

Purchase an 8-by-10-foot tarp and remove the grommets on one end. Using a sewing machine with a strong needle, sew a seam along all edges of the tarp, leaving enough room to fit a ¼-inch steel rod. This rod is for support, so make sure the seam is strong. Sew a seam on all sides to strengthen the tarp and allow you to insert three 8-foot steel rods into the seams, leaving the fourth side with the grommet holes for tent pole insertion.

Insert the steel rods to check for perfect fit once the seams have been sewn into the tarp. If the rods don't fit, sew another line in the seam or redo the seam altogether. Now, place two rubber-tipped clamps 10 feet apart on the upper ledge of the camper above the door. Rubber-tipped clamps ensure that there is no paint loss. Clamp one of the poles to the camper roof above the door.

Cut a piece of 50-foot nylon rope into two equal pieces. Tie one end of the rope through the grommet holes, making sure to place a washer on each length of rope (file down the rough edges so that the nylon rope doesn't fray as quickly). Place a slipknot on the other end of the rope so that they can be tied around the tent poles.

Dig some posts for the tent poles to go into. Make sure they are deep and secure and not in any mud. Post the tent poles into the ground with the nylon rope securely tethered to it. Once the awning is up, make sure that the tarp is tight and the ropes are taut.