How to make an awning for a car trailer? Application of an awning Making a frame for an awning trailer

13.02.2017

An awning for a passenger car trailer can be purchased at any specialized store, but it is also not difficult to make an awning yourself.

Material selection

If quite recently tarpaulin was considered the most popular fabric for awnings, now modern industry offers a choice of more durable and lightweight materials, such as fabric with a PVC base. Moreover, such fabric can be simple, or maybe with a synthetic lining.

Modern fabrics for awnings allow you to firmly cover the contents of the trailer from the influence of the external environment. To join the seams of PVC-based fabric, gluing or welding technologies are used using a jet of hot air or hot rollers.

Advantages of fabric with PVC base

Possibility of painting in any color

100% waterproofing

Seam strength

Resistant to external temperature changes.

Making a car awning

Measurements

Before you start sewing a trailer awning, you need to take measurements from the metal frame:

Trailer length

Trailer width

The length of the frame arc from the center of the side to the highest point

Length of the edge of the side arc to the fold

Length from bend to center.

Uncover

To cut the awning you will need a large, flat surface, such as a floor.

Using your measurements, draw the front and back parts of the awning on the laid out fabric. Measure the width of the panel and place a dot in the center, draw an arc according to the measurements.

Important: about 3 cm should be left for seam allowances. When transferring a figure to the material, an allowance of a few centimeters is given to cover the side and about 5 cm for the hem.

Sewing

To sew parts of an awning for a car trailer, you will need a sewing machine that can handle thick, rigid seams, as well as a supply of reinforced threads.

You need to start working by sewing together the main part and two sides. Don’t forget to do hems and finishing stitches.

When all the fragments are sewn, the awning is put on the frame, and the places for the eyelets are marked. This piece of hardware must be made of stainless steel and is riveted in the marked places with a special tool. The distance between eyelets or rings should not exceed 18 cm.

Attaching the awning to the frame

After the awning is placed on the frame, it will need to be secured. This can be done using:

Metal rings attached along the border

Eyelets along the edges of the awning

A cable securing the awning through its upper part.

To fasten all the parts, a steel or sisal cable in a special sheath is used, which is pulled through rings or eyelets and secured.

If a motorist is used to doing everything with his own hands, then making an awning will not be difficult for him.

An expensive necessity, but you can save significant costs if you make it yourself. Before starting production, you need to find a drawing that is already suitable for a specific car, and also select the material for the future covering. Choosing the right fabric and a clear sequence of actions is the key to successful completion of the job.

Do-it-yourself choice of awning material for a car trailer

Typically the cover is made from a fabric called PVC. It is quite dense, durable and reliable, in addition, it is moisture resistant. Despite its strength and relative rigidity, it is comfortable to work with.

What else is needed to make a trailer awning with your own hands:

eyelets;
expander (a rubber band that is pulled through the eyelets);
dense thick threads for stitching parts (reinforced).

How to create a drawing to sew an awning for a trailer

According to the drawing, three parts are needed for stitching. Before starting to make a drawing, it is necessary to take all measurements. What distances need to be measured:

side length;
width;
height from center of side width to highest point arcs;
height from the side to the arc at the lowest point (usually from the corner);
arc diagonal.

All the necessary data is visible in this drawing:

With width PVC fabrics 2.5 meters (it is the most common), for a standard passenger car 8m of PVC fabric will be enough. As already mentioned, the cover will consist of three parts: one large and two small.

To the length and width obtained as a result of subsequent calculations, it is necessary to add at least 10-15 cm of allowance on each side. This is necessary for attaching eyelets, seam allowances and finishing, tightly covering the sides and hermetically sealing the contents in this part of the car.
So, the long side of the main part is calculated by the formula: height of the arc from the side * 2 + diagonal of the arc * 2 + 15 cm for allowances.
The width of this piece of PVC fabric should be equal to the length of the side plus 10-15 cm. Having cut this part on the fabric, it can be cut out.
The remaining two parts will be the same. Such a part can be made according to the following scheme: the width of the part corresponds to the number indicating the length of this side. Plus 10-15 cm for seam allowances. Along the edges of the parts, it is necessary to indicate the height of the arc from the edge from the corner. In the center of the width, you should mark the height of the arc from the side at the highest point, where the diagonals meet, and then connect the resulting points. The piece should look like a house. To make sure the dimensions are true, you can measure the resulting diagonals on the fabric. They must match the size of the diagonals on the frame itself. This part can also be cut out after cutting.

How to sew a trailer awning for a car

Step-by-step instructions on how to sew an awning for a car trailer:

To the side of the large part you need to sew a smaller part on both sides.
One side can be sewn completely, and the other only along the length of the diagonals. This will allow you to open the side part and have access to things lying on the edge.
For stitching, you can use thick reinforced threads and a thick needle, or you can use a sewing machine. Ordinary machines cannot cope with this task, but manual Soviet-style machines can.
After stitching the parts, all open sections must be hidden by folding the edge of the cut of PVC fabric twice and stitching it.

How to attach an awning to a trailer frame

The stitched PVC cover must be placed on the frame. It will take its shape and will be easier to attach. The most convenient method is to attach eyelets to the fabric, but this requires certain skills and dexterity. In this case, you will need to attach it to the frame using a rubber band, and the PVC cover will become much more convenient in use.

Interesting facts about a do-it-yourself trailer awning

PVC, which is used for sewing, has the abbreviation polyvinyl chloride. The fabric comes in different densities, and 650 units are enough to sew an awning for a trailer.

Having made one piece of smaller dimensions and cut it out, you just need to attach this piece to the fabric, trace and cut out again, without making calculations for the second piece, since they are identical.

The frame for the trailer under the awning can be different heights. The higher the frame, the more polyvinyl chloride will be required for sewing.

As can be seen from the information described in this article, sewing a cover yourself onto the frame of a trailer attached to a passenger car is a completely feasible undertaking, even if you have to carry out the work yourself, without the participation of an assistant.

It's no secret that a car trailer awning made from high-quality modern material, has characteristics such as durability and good resistance to any temperature. Careful, and most importantly, correct operation helps extend the life of such coating up to 15 years. After the expiration date, more precisely, 10–12 years, signs of wear appear on the fabric, which are manifested by a lack of former elasticity and strength. It is worth noting that it is very difficult to buy a factory awning that would fit perfectly under the frame. In order to purchase the “correct” awning that will fully satisfy all the owner’s requirements, one should take into account the fact that the areas where the fabric comes into contact with the metal rods of the frame must be additionally sealed, which will allow for a tighter fit. No manufacturer of standard coatings will be able to correctly calculate the distance between the posts without measuring the specific trailer. In such a situation, there is only one true solution - to make an awning for the trailer yourself.

Choosing material for a quality awning

When a car owner confidently decides to sew an awning with his own hands, he must first of all pay attention to the material from which he plans to cut the product. Many factors depend on the choice of material; in particular, it is this aspect that will determine the attractive appearance and period of further operation.

Today there are a huge number of products on the market that are perfect for making an awning. Most often, awnings for passenger car trailers are made from reinforced materials, which are equipped with an additional coating on one or both sides of a substance such as polyvinyl chloride. Thanks to this synthetic material, the cargo stored in the trailer is reliably protected from various types of precipitation.

The basis for this material is dense polyester fabric, which, on the one hand, protects from snow and rain, and on the other, perfectly retains heat.

If a car owner wants to personally sew an awning that would have the lowest cost, you can purchase material such as tarpaulin. Despite the fact that it does not have an attractive appearance, its main advantages are strength and a high degree of moisture resistance.

Awnings for passenger car trailers can also be made from other materials, the more modern of which are special membrane fabrics that can withstand various loads (wind). In addition, using such fabric even an awning of a non-standard size. Tarpaulin, which is a durable polyethylene laminated fabric, the advantage of which is excellent waterproofing, is considered a good material.

Before purchasing a pre-selected material, you should find out about indicators such as thread thickness and strength, indexed by the dtex number (determines the weight of 10 km of thread). In view of this, it is better to buy the fabric that will have a higher dtex number, which will indicate maximum strength and thickness of the thread.

Secondly, you need to pay attention to the tensile strength of the material, the number of possible bends and tensile strength. It is also important to know about the color fastness, adhesion and fire resistance of the fabric you purchase.

We create an awning with our own hands

Making an awning for a trailer is not a very labor-intensive process, as car owners may think. Almost anyone can make a high-quality awning; you just need to first study the features that relate to cutting and sewing the frame. The car enthusiast only needs to be patient and have the necessary materials, which should include:

roulette;
several sheets of white paper;
simple pencil;
scissors;
standard sewing machine;
needles and threads;
construction hairdryer

So let's consider step by step instructions, which will turn a complex process into an algorithm of simple actions.

When will they be available? necessary materials and tools, you need to take measurements from the trailer. First you need to measure everyone general sizes, on which the pattern of the future product will be based. It is important to make a pattern with additional overlaps; if the material is cut according to the measurements taken, it will not be possible to ensure a loose fit.

It is necessary to measure the right, left and rear sides one by one. Convenience can be ensured by plotting the measurements on paper. It is advisable to draw separately all the components of the trailer and indicate the dimensions of those segments to which the covering will be attached in the future. Depending on the length of the device, the distance should not exceed 300 mm.

Making an awning for a trailer requires extreme care; you need to correctly measure the height of the side and the frame, which protrudes a few centimeters on the sides of the unit. To correctly cut the material, you need to take into account the width of the top and the side of the base.

The last measurement should be to determine the distance from the beginning of the frame to the end point of the body. The measurements are applied to a schematic drawing, the outline of the awning is applied to the material, then the components of the entire structure are cut out of it one by one.

The strength of the future device will be added by special linings made of the same material. They need to be located in those places where there is greater tension, as well as contact with the rods of the metal frame.

Sewing the product

Making awnings for passenger trailers requires attention and the presence of correctly measured and neatly cut parts. All awnings are assembled together from several separate pieces, folded at the edges and stitched with two seams spaced 14 mm from the edge. The threads that will be used in sewing must be as strong as possible. Best option- reinforced threads made on the basis of polyester. This kind of thread can withstand frequent use, is resistant to stress, cleaning from leaves, dirt and snow.

If the car owner does not have the skills to use a sewing machine, you can resort to soldering the parts of the awning with a construction hairdryer, which can efficiently connect individual pieces of material.

Methods of fastening the awning structure

The material for the trailer awning provides several mounting options. The car owner can resort to the following methods:

attach the manufactured structure to the main body using metal rings;
create eyelets by placing them along the edges of the fabric;
pull a cable or rope through the rings located above the general structure.

The lugs must be removed by 200 mm, in addition, all rings must be equipped with fasteners.

Cable and rope can be used as a fastening element. Regardless of the method of fastening, the retaining element must consist of a single piece, the edges of which are reinforced with metal tips. When securing the awning, the retaining device must pass through the rings and be tightly stretched.

Conclusion

From all of the above, it becomes clear that making a trailer awning is within the power of anyone who wants to create a reliable shelter for their own trailer and the cargo transported in it. The main thing in this matter is to do it correctly, on which the density and service life of the finished product will depend. Do not neglect correct cutting and compliance with all the above rules.

We must immediately warn you that sewing a protective awning for a passenger trailer is not an easy task. The best option- buy finished product in the store, it won't require large sums. But when there is no other choice, you will have to master the technology of how to sew an awning for a trailer with your own hands.

Fabric selection

From the right choice A lot depends on the material, first of all, the durability of the future product, as well as the appearance, which also matters. Nowadays, stores have a huge selection of modern technological fabrics suitable for making awnings.

Experienced auto mechanics prefer reinforced fabrics that have a one-sided or double-sided coating of polyvinyl chloride. Materials of this composition best protect against precipitation and other weather conditions. The inner layer helps to conserve heat under the awning.

For the price, it is more profitable to purchase a fairly durable and moisture-resistant tarpaulin, although it looks as presentable as others. For example, membrane awning fabrics that can withstand strong wind loads and humidity have an excellent appearance.

What else should you consider when choosing fabric?

In order for the task of how to make a trailer awning with your own hands to be completed successfully, the fabric must be strong enough. Therefore, look at the DTEX indicator (mass of a thread 10 km long). The higher the value of this number, the stronger the threads.
Quality awning fabrics should have a tensile strength rating.
Tensile strength level.
Color fastness parameters.
Adhesion.
Fire resistance.

You need to make sure that all the parameters correspond to the purpose of the fabric, only then will the product be durable. Of course, sometimes craftsmen make their own awning for a trailer from a banner, but who knows how long such a product will last? If you're lucky and the weather is good, then several trips. And if there is strong wind, hail, or rain, then in one trip the entire structure will lose its functionality. So was it worth spending so much time on this? So, buy only quality material.

After choosing the fabric, prepare the necessary tools:

sewing machine;
construction hair dryer;
tape measure or tailor's measuring tape;
simple pencil;
threads, needles;
scissors;
paper for pattern.

So, let's start sewing an awning for a car trailer with our own hands.

Procedure

We measure the dimensions of the trailer. Let's draw a diagram on paper and sign the dimensions of each edge of the structure. Be sure to remember that the pattern should be slightly larger than the actual object to ensure a loose fit.
First, measure the length of the side and rear sides, write down the resulting data, and mark on the diagram the places where the awning will be attached. Where the holes and hooks will be located. As a rule, these distances range from 180 mm to 300, depending on the total length of the platform and how many places for mounting on the sides of the trailer.
After recording the lengths of the various parts of the awning, take measurements of the height of the sides of the vehicle and the frame that rises above the trailer.
Finally, measure how long the fabric will be needed from the awning frame to the end of the platform.
After all the measurements, draw a design diagram on paper and begin creating a pattern of all the details of the future awning on the fabric.

To make the product last longer, it makes sense to sew additional strips of material to those areas where there will be the greatest tension in the fabric, and where it will be in contact with the metal frame of the frame.

Let's start sewing

To successfully cope with such a task as sewing an awning for a trailer with your own hands, you need to use the right technology.

Use high strength threads. It is best to take threads made of 100% polyester, which can withstand the upcoming loads and adverse weather conditions.
The edges of all parts must be folded one into the other, then stitched twice.
The space between the two seams should be approximately 15 mm.
When there is no sewing machine, you can connect individual parts of the product by soldering using a special construction hair dryer.

The awning can be attached using several methods. Most often, metal rings are mounted on the sides of the trailer, and eyelets are made along the edges of the fabric; a cable is passed through them, which attaches the awning to the body of the trailer platform. The ends of the cables must be decorated with metal tips.

As you can see, the technology for sewing a trailer awning is quite complex and requires a lot of time, as well as a specially equipped workplace. Therefore, be sure to think before you start sewing an awning with your own hands. Our online store offers awnings for sale at very attractive prices!

Having a trailer for a car has many advantages, which we discussed in.

Of course it is improvised means significantly facilitates the solution of many household, economic and work problems. But most often, buying just a trailer is not enough. Why?

Let's imagine a situation: you are transporting furniture or building materials in your trailer. Suddenly a heavy downpour begins. What will happen? That's right, the entire contents of the trailer will be flooded with water and your things may simply get ruined. The same danger awaits in winter during snowfall. Or, for example, you can transport wooden beams, boards, scrap metal, bulk materials. Even if you somehow fix them inside the trailer, there is no guarantee that all this “goodness” will not fall out along the way on the next pothole known for its “quality” Russian roads. And besides, not everyone likes it when strangers see the contents of the trailer. Especially considering the not-so-favorable criminal situation.

To protect yourself from all these misfortunes at once, you just need to make your trailer covered - that is, buy an awning for it.

Today there are many types of awnings. As a rule, car awnings are classified according to the following parameters:

Covering area;

Compliance with standard sizes;

Design;

Method of attachment to the covered vehicle;

Material;

Manufacturing method;

Availability of special inserts.

Sewing of awnings is usually carried out in two main versions: under an onboard body or under an awning frame.

Most often, awnings are attached to the trailer using metal holes - eyelets or loops made of durable synthetic tape. Sometimes buckles, Velcro or even snaps may be used.

Serious manufacturers use special awning fabric as a material. The strength and durability of your awning depends on the material.

It is very important that the area covered by the awning exactly matches the edges of your trailer - in this case, the awning will perform its direct functions more reliably and will last longer.

Many car enthusiasts prefer to make custom awnings for their trailers. And this makes sense: you don’t have to painstakingly measure every centimeter of the trailer or be content standard sizes and flowers. Professional tailors will do everything for you, taking into account all the features of your trailer and your cargo.

In Volgodonsk you can easily order such awnings from the company Mak-Don LLC. Professional craftsmen of "Mak-Don" have extensive experience in manufacturing awnings of various types from high-quality awning fabrics for almost all types of vehicles.