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After having no luck ordering a tow skirt online, I decided to just make one from some left over shade cloth. It has worked flawlessly and is easy to put on. Cost for everything was about $60.00

Quote from: Rick – December 10, 2011, 07:05:46 pm

After having no luck ordering a tow skirt online, I decided to just make one from some left over shade cloth. It has worked flawlessly and is easy to put on. Cost for everything was about $60.00

Now THAT'S slick!    Looks very similar to our $250 Protect-A-Tow, but more "designer" with the colorful shade cloth (and obviously much more affordable).  How did you determine the appropriate dimensions for the fabric and bungee cord (and where did you buy the bungee)?

I'll bet you could turn that into a nice little business if you wanted to.

Michelle

One question Rick, when you go around a corner does the cross bar (tube) in the middle keep it off the ground on the side that gets closer?
john H

One more question Rick.
 Is the bungie cord one piece, sewed into the edges of the material?
  Thanks, Richard B.

At some point I submitted a list of materials for this and their sources but don't know where it is now.

Michelle,

                    Here are the materials for the tow skirt along with an alternative for the shade cloth. Below are the links or info for the purchase of the materials.

shade cloth (Approx 6' x 9')

bungee cord (Approx 25')

sail thread (Sailrite V92 or V96?)

eyebolts and caribiners (6 each total, 4 on coach, 2 on toad)

3/4" PVC pipe and 2 couplers (approx 6')

1/4" diameter clip pin to join the two halves of the PVC together







            The green tow skirt that I made was from the Home Depot material noted below

From Home Depot

Coolaroo 6 ft. x 15 ft. Shade Cloth Heritage Green (90% UV Block)

 
Model # 302238
 
Internet # 100656899
$36.97 /RL-Roll



              I eventually bought a 12' wide x 15' long piece of 90% black for use as a patio awning shade from;

Custom size outdoor knitted shade fabric (shadecloth) and shade netting for sun

I also bought a bag of the plastic clips shown below to affix to the lower end of the patio awning and thus to the ground with some bungees. I have not finished the development of the patio shade cloth yet but I have some new ideas for attaching it to the Zip Dee awning flap. I used a UV resistant thread from Sailrite, not sure if it was V-69 or V-92 and the thread is in the coach in FL. I will get that info when I go back Feb 3.  I do not have a word processor on this netbook so I have to do everything in this e-mail. I will formulate a better material list when I have access to my base computer. I will aslo write up a description of how to measure and sew up the tow skirt.




Up to 32 foot wide - Automatic Quoting and Ordering Form
Black 30% to 90%, Green 60% and White 50% in stock 6, 8, 10, 12, 20, 26 and 32 foot widths
8 foot width is not available in 30% or 40% Black and Green 60% - White 50% is not stocked in 8, 10 or 32 foot
FREE SHIPPING with tracking information automatically emailed after your order leaves the factory
sorry ... no expedited orders and no APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, US VI, Mexico or Canada
* lead time to make your panel is +/- six (6) business days this time of year *
plain cloth orders - without reinforced sewn perimeter hem - typically ship a few days sooner
Please select the color and level of shading for your custom panel
Selection is limited to knit color and density shown above and on this drop down list
30 percent Black Knit40 percent Black Knit50 percent Black Knit60 percent Black Knit70 percent Black Knit80 percent Black Knit90 percent Black Knit60 percent GREEN Knit50 percent WHITE Knit

Check here to install black reinforcing tape and hem on all four sides of your panel

Check here to install reinforced hem and brass grommets every foot with double corners

Check here for a double layer panel where we fold the fabric over, to create two layers

Colorado shipments only check here to add 2.9% sales tax (all other states, no tax)

Total cost of panel(s) with FREE SHIPPING via UPS Ground (motor freight on large orders)
 ($75 minimum delivered price per panel)

Quantity and description of your custom shade panel(s)

 
********************************************************************************************************

plastic locking clip shade netting fasteners for cable, wire fencing, lashing, nailing, ...plastic Locking Clips - $15 per bag of 36 fasteners
FREE Shipping to 48 contiguous states
Sorry ... no APO/FPO, HI, AK, PR, US VI, Mexico or Canada
fasteners leave the next business day via UPS or USPS


$15 per bag of 36 clips - Select Quantity:
Buy 10 bags and save 25% at $11.25 each (360 clips for $112.50

********************************************************************


 Bungee cord off of E-bay

50 ft x 1 4" Shock Cord Dacron Jacket | eBay

50 ft x 1/4" shock cord (Dacron Jacket)

Price:

US $8.99
$5.00 Expedited Shipping See more services See shipping discounts
$4.85 shipping for each additional eligible item you buy from ropeydopey.
Start of LayerEnd of Layer | See all shipping details
Returns:
7 days money back, buyer pays return shipping | Read return policy details
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Member id ropeydopey ( Feedback Score Of 2679)
100% Positive feedback
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Other item info
Item number:

320737230293
Item location:
Westfield, MA, United States

Rick,

Just to clarify, in the BOM (Bill of Materials   ) in your PM, you mention some plastic clips - I believe those were just for your patio awning shade project, not the tow skirt, correct?  The PM discussion we had was for both projects.

A note on the tow skirt design, since it's very similar to our Protect-a-Tow...  The P-a-T has a bungie loop in the center of it that goes through a reinforced hole/slot.  Plastic ball on the underside, loop on top and you thread the PVC rod through the loop.  I believe this is to keep the tow skirt from hanging too low in the middle.

Michelle

Great job Rick.
 I've been contemplating doing the same thing for quite a while and now you have giving me the visual image I needed to start this project. Thank you.

 Richard B.