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Jim Bonnardel, San Diego, California
Bolt-On 270 Degree Shade
2005 Nissan Titan
2023 Palomino SS-1240
I wanted the convenience of a free-standing shade. Pop-up truck campers have limited RV shade mounting options. None of the commercially available RV shades have mounting options designed for pop-up campers.
My solution was an Overland Systems 270 shade. To install the shade, I bolted the factory mount brackets sideways on the rear of the shade and put the 1/8” x 7” x 30″ aluminum plate–which I had as scrap–on the forward portion. Then, I used 8mm C-clamps to attach it to the lifting actuator housing already secured to the camper.
This gave me instant adjustability in height. According to the manufacturer, eight feet is ideal for the available walls and enclosure.
The bolt-on installation was very easy for a non-fabricator. I don’t have a welder; just basic metal working tools.
Materials Used:
Overland Vehicle Systems 270 shade – from $499 depending on the required size
Four 8mm U-bolts and hardware – $25
One aluminum plate (salvage)
There are many different options to replace the aluminum plate such as angle iron, plate steel, diamond tread plate, etc.
It took me one hour to complete this modification and cost me the price of the shade and $25 in hardware.
Disclaimer: The modifications above are submitted by Truck Camper Magazine readers. It is your responsibility to make sure that any do-it-yourself modification project you undertake is safe, effective, and legal for your situation.
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