Sunshade on push truck?

[javajoe79]

 We have been kicking around an idea to provide shade in the staging lanes for the race truck and the crew. What we want to do is build a flat awning out of 1" aluminum square tube and tarps, that covers all of the bed area on the push truck as well as extend back to cover the race truck as far back as the end of the cab and about tree feet out the drivers side. The plan would be to build it so that the portion that hangs off the back would fold forward onto the front portion of awning and pin down to secure it while pushing off and driving down to pick up the race truck.
  Does anyone see any problem with that?

[Dr Goggles]

I got some canvas retractable awnings that were being replaced at work,they were the ideal length attached one to the light bar at the back of the cab on the truck and made two legs , it had a rod across the loose end and guy ropes then attached to the rear of the bed....hadn't tried to drive with it though.....

I'd use steel tube though, if you are going to do what you say.....

[javajoe79]

Ok good. Thanks for the input.   Anyone else do anything like this?

[Bob Drury]

  Yep, two years ago.  I made mine out of 1/2" emt conduit which fits into receiver brackets on my canopy and lower bed sides.  I had a buddy cut down a mesh canopy cover to slide over the 8' conduit.  It takes less than a minute to put up or remove.  It is 8'x4'.     Bob

[javajoe79]

We measured and it would end up being 20'x8'

[Stainless1]

use the black mesh tarp, 20 x 12 is a common size.  It will be a lot cooler than any other tarp.

[javajoe79]

Can you elaborate on black mesh tarp?

[javajoe79]

Like this?  http://tarps-plus.blogspot.com/2010/04/mesh-tarps-are-tarps-of-season.html

[Stainless1]

Yea, pretty much... we have been using them since 1990... they were developed for livestock shade... best shade on the salt. 

[jdincau]

Also in the wind the mesh tarp allows air to migrate from the bottom surface to the top killing the lift that can make the canopy into an unguided glider.

[Dr Goggles]

Also in the wind the mesh tarp allows air to migrate from the bottom surface to the top killing the lift that can make the canopy into an unguided glider.

Those elaborate penttop pop up shade tents are made to fly and buckle.....flat top, mesh, you can leave them up ovenight.

[javajoe79]

Good input guys, thanks.

[modelAsteve]

You should be able to secure it very quickly! That dark cloud the looks like it is over Wendover can generate a lot of wind on the salt, instantly.

[dw230]

Lets start a pool.

On which push off will tarp/canopy be left unsecured and fly off the truck?

I vote for #3.

DW

[Bob Drury]

  Being a "near" genius, about ten years ago I left my canopy's up and hung 5 gallon fuel jug's, floor jack's, and even a nitrogen bottle secured to one post.
  The next morning I arrived to a "war zone" which included one inside out "easy up" which was beyond repair, a collapsed 20x10 conduit canopy which was drapped over my race car, and a fallen nitrogen bottle which while still attached to the 1" heavy wall emt (conduit wich was now bent 90 degrees) and left a reminder down the side of the car.
  Since then, I have new respect for the winds of Bonneville.
  The last big storm we had four or five years ago, I parked my truck sideway's in front of my pit to deflect a few of Slim's sliding PortaPotty's from attacking my race car.
  There were plenty of canopy's flying by at a pretty good pace.
  I would have snagged a few but was too busy trying to get my own one's down.
p.s.  Dan, if my "awning" is not removed, it may clip Jim Jenson's "rabbit ear's" off going by the starting line.  If so, He has my full permission to shoot my crew at Sundown..........