twizzstyle
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2023
- Threads
- 2
- Messages
- 77
- Reaction score
- 173
- Location
- Kenmore, Wa
- Vehicles
- 2022 R1T, 2018 Model 3, 2017 Model X
- Thread starter
- #1
I wanted to add an awning to my truck, but have no other need to put anything on the roof so I didn't want to put crossbars up there. Also I'm short, and didn't want the extra height that the factory crossbars plus some kind of bracket would have put the awning at.
I bought a 6.5ft ROAM awning and made my own mounting brackets that use the factory crossbar attachment points. I wanted the awning as low as possible, and as close to the truck body as possible, without interfering with the doors at all.
The factory crossbar attachment points are not meant to have a cantilevered load on them. There is quite a bit of flex if you clamp onto that and pull on it. But at the same time, I didn't want all of the weight of the awning resting on the painted body panel there. So I designed the brackets to clamp tightly onto the crossbar bracket and cantilever out to the side, having just about 0.5mm gap between the 1/4 foam pads and the painted body when there is no load on the brackets. With the awning installed, the crossbar mount flexes just enough to barely touch the truck. If it flexes more or bounces around while driving, I have no concerns with damage to the body panel there (which I will put some PPF on to protect it from scratches from the foam).
The brackets themselves were CNC laser cut from 0.12" mild steel, then I bent them, welded them, and powder coated them. They attach to the crossbar brackets using some small aluminum blocks I made when using a bed rack I built last spring (which I only use for hauling my kayaks, not camping). The pads are 1/4 neoprene.
This setup is rock solid, and surprisingly has no notable wind noise at 60mph.
I bought a 6.5ft ROAM awning and made my own mounting brackets that use the factory crossbar attachment points. I wanted the awning as low as possible, and as close to the truck body as possible, without interfering with the doors at all.
The factory crossbar attachment points are not meant to have a cantilevered load on them. There is quite a bit of flex if you clamp onto that and pull on it. But at the same time, I didn't want all of the weight of the awning resting on the painted body panel there. So I designed the brackets to clamp tightly onto the crossbar bracket and cantilever out to the side, having just about 0.5mm gap between the 1/4 foam pads and the painted body when there is no load on the brackets. With the awning installed, the crossbar mount flexes just enough to barely touch the truck. If it flexes more or bounces around while driving, I have no concerns with damage to the body panel there (which I will put some PPF on to protect it from scratches from the foam).
The brackets themselves were CNC laser cut from 0.12" mild steel, then I bent them, welded them, and powder coated them. They attach to the crossbar brackets using some small aluminum blocks I made when using a bed rack I built last spring (which I only use for hauling my kayaks, not camping). The pads are 1/4 neoprene.
This setup is rock solid, and surprisingly has no notable wind noise at 60mph.
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