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Topic: Anyone made their own canopy?

georgiegirl104

28/3/2014 at 8:56pm
Location: East Midlands
Outfit: Outwell Amarillo

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We bought an Outwell Amarillo 6 (green colour) late last year. It has a short 'canopy' bit at the front, but with no sides to it. I was wondering if it is possible to alter it to make the canopy 'full length' as we found our previous Outwell side extension to be invaluable when it came to cooking in inclement weather! Has anyone any experience of altering bits of their tent before?

I know they now do a front extension you can buy but it is a) huge, b) expensive and c) blue in colour!

Thanks

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quiteconTent

28/3/2014 at 10:49pm
Location: Jersey
Outfit: Filey 6; Frinton 5

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Yes.!

Made our own tent in the 70s as penniless students and went all over Europe with it for years. Must have been half decent because the sewing machine operator said yes when the designer asked her to marry him ........
The tent was based on a Vango Force Ten A frame style but with a decent sized extension to double the length of the tent. That was our first home made canopy attempt and worked fine.
Always enjoy "improving" what the makers offer us, and had a go at a home made tarp last year. Though this one was a free standing sunshade for France in August - not a part of the tent itself. Afraid to say my efforts were not very good as I hadn't reinforced and folded the edges and corners properly. First good wind which came up did for the tarp corner connection points

Trying to decide whether to have another go this year, or bite the bullet and get a Tatonka 2
And yes to your question again too. We bought a few really cheap B & Q blue tarps to play with different ideas for canopies or tarps before committing to a design. Spinnaker cloth or other sails type material is far tougher but comes at a price. Any canopy I make from now on will have edges with tape; reinforced corners and cord or bungee connections at each corner.

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May '13 Rozel, Jersey
July '13 Cognac, France
August '13 Domaine Les Gonies, France
September '14 Domaine Les Gonies, France
August 15 Gonies, France
August 17, Gonies , France

KampaWendy

29/3/2014 at 9:26am
Location: High Wycombe
Outfit: Outwell Nevada M + Extension

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Hi
If you look at the pics of the Bear Lake in the review section there are some peoples modified front canopy as your Amarillo is basically a polyester Bear Lake. Or you could use a side extension

bridgeywidge

30/3/2014 at 2:40pm
Location: North Herts
Outfit: Monterey4 Cabanon E

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Hi, I have made a canopy but admittedly this was in cotton canvas for our frame tent (see my profile pic).

Making sides - basically rectangles of fabric I guess, wouldn't be too hard to add in theory.I bought our canvas from Esvo but I'm sure there are UK companies selling suitable fabric too, ditto the accessories.

I was going to add side panels to the existing canopy but ended up making a whole new one, so now I have the choice.

If you're really handy with a needle, you might be able to put in long open zips, so they could be added or removed as you desired?

I'm now wondering on how to add plastic rain shields at the front, a bit like those you put on pushchairs.

I also think someone posted on here last year about a similar project, so maybe try a few searches as well?

Good luck, and don't forget to show us how you get on. I like seeing DIY renovations

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