Installing an OzTrail RV Shade Awning

Our OzTrail RV Shade Awning needed to be fitted to the LandCruiser so I have written a ‘How To’ step by step guide to assist you with installing your own awning.

This job takes about 2 hours including organising your tools. I gave this job a difficulty rating of 2 (1 being the easiest and 10 being the hardest) so it really is a piece of cake.

Before you start

There are a couple of things you need to consider and get on your way home from the camping store.

• First thing is how many roof rack bars are on your roof?  The OzTrail awning comes with 2 L brackets for attaching the awning to the roof racks. Our LandCruiser has 3 roof rack bars so a second set (they come in pairs) of L brackets and mounting bolts were needed.
• Secondly, to mount the L brackets to the roof rack bars you will need 8 or 12 x 7/16 stainless steel bolts, flat washes, spring washers and nylock nuts. A trip to the hardware shop may be required if you don’t have them lying around.

Fitting your OZtrail shade awning

It’s time to open the awning’s PVC cover and pull out the L brackets.

The brackets attach to the roof racks via 4 bolts per roof rack bar. If your roof racks are already attached to your vehicle you may need to detach the bars. Grab one of the L brackets and place the 4 holed section into the track of your bar (the outer end of my bracket install is pointing down due to a boat loader going on top of the roof racks). Position that L bracket in the centre of the bar and drill your four holes. Once again, it is preferably to remove or overhang the bars so you don’t drill through the bar straight into your roof.

Once you’ve drilled the first hole, put one of your mounting bolts in to help keep the next 3 holes in line. Once your done drilling the holes on the first bar continue with the next one and then if you have the triple bars do the 3rd.

Make sure to collect all of the shavings and put them in the bin so you don’t step on them or they don’t remain on your roof to scratch the paint.

Now that your holes are drilled; install the bolts, washers, nuts and tighten them all.

With the L brackets secure we will now slide the bolts in. Leave your awning on the ground and slide the supplied square headed bolts that were in the L bracket bag into the aluminium track on the back of the awning. The bolts need to line up with the holes in the L bracket. It’s a simple matter of pushing the bolts through the holes, fitting the lock nuts and tightening.

Now the awning is ready to be attached to the L brackets previously fitted. You may may need a second person to help you lift and keep the awning elevated while you’re alighning and tightening the bolts. 

Now you are finished and it’s time to pull out the awning and set it up for the first time.

Enjoy your install and the coldies under the new awning!