RV awning advice
Reg DeYoung provides information, tips and helpful pointers about getting the best out of your RV's patio awning
Of all the options available on RVs today, the patio awning is one feature you will definitely appreciate. There are many benefits to this investment, such as the ability to provide shade and prevent light rain from entering the windows or entrance door. Also, awnings will protect the draperies and furnishings from ultraviolet rays and keep the interior of your RV cooler—making the air conditioner work more efficiently.
Made In The Shade:Awnings protect you and your RV from the elements.
What’s in an awning? The fabric on an RV patio awning is an average width of eight feet and is available in two types of materials. There is acrylic (a cloth—like product) and, of course, the ever—popular vinyl.
The acrylic fabric has the colour woven right into it; it differs largely from vinyl in that it is water repellent, not waterproof. It will dry quickly because of its ability to allow air to circulate through the material. You should not touch the fabric until it is dry; it has the same characteristics as the retro tent trailer canvas that your dad forbade you to touch while it was raining.
The vinyl fabric is more likely seen on entry— and mid—level RVs. It is waterproof and mildew resistant. In either case it is very important not to roll the awning up when it is wet and leave it for extended periods of time. It is understandable to quickly roll the awning up in the case of sudden inclement weather, but roll it back out when the weather improves.
There are quite a few parts on an awning, including the aluminum rail attached to the roof edge. The fabric is slid into this rail to affix it to the coach. The upper and lower brackets complete the attachment points to your RV. The arm hardware contains the adjustment components for raising and lowering the awning with the option of leaving it attached to the coach or away from the RV with the use of tent peg—type pins.
They are available in different finishes and shapes—some of which are specific to the manufacturer. Just take a look at an awning on an Airstream trailer and its special curved hardware. The roller tube can either be aluminum or steel and contains the spring mechanism and lever, which allow the switch from extend to retract. I strongly recommend that you leave any repairs to these components to an RV technician; the tension built into the spring mechanism is substantial enough to cause serious injury if you try to remove the end caps for repairs.
A buyer's guide If you are interested in purchasing an awning, there are a couple of things you will need to do before you order it.
First, you should measure your RV to find which awning size will properly fit your coach. An awning is usually measured from the centre of one arm to the other. You must do your best not to cover baggage compartments, crank—out type window sections, water heaters and so on. One aspect of a new installation that folks don't usually consider is checking the upper and lower structures to make sure that the wood framing beneath the metal is not suffering from dry rot which, in some cases, will take considerable time to repair.
There are many additional features available to upgrade your awning choices. You can purchase a 12—volt, motor-driven option that is available with a remote. There are ones with neat features that will roll the awning up in the event of severe wind or rain. You can also purchase an awning with a weather guard feature that will protect the fabric from the elements or the rigours of road travel. If you would like to protect and shade your coach even more, you can order slide—out awnings, individual window awnings and a special awning available for your truck camper entrance doors. Your local RV parts store will be able to help you choose a colour to match your coach; they can provide a variety of fabric samples from which to choose.
If you would like your awning to become even more functional, you can add a screen room to keep insects and wind at bay.
Tips and tricks An awning requires some maintenance once in a while to ensure it works properly and the fabric keeps a like—new appearance. If you are lubricating the parts, use a silicone-based product to keep dust and dirt from adhering to the components.
With regards to cleaning, there are many different types of products available to clean and protect the fabric. Don't forget to clean the underside of the fabric to remove smoke and dust. If you would like to further protect the fabric, there are fabric conditioners available.
It is not uncommon for the awning to leak water along the rail—usually, this is caused by water seeping past the areas where sections of rail are joined and, most of the time, a small amount of silicone will fix the problem.
If you discover a pin hole or small rip you can buy patch kits to provide a suitable repair—if a new awning fabric is not required.
A common cause of awning failure is when it hasn't been put away in high winds or heavy rain. It is best to roll the awning up or, at least, put the arms in the lowest position when leaving your coach for long periods of time. It also helps to let one side down a little to keep any water from building up in the fabric.
When getting ready to travel you should check the awning travel locks and ensure all adjustment knobs are tightened.
If you take the time to check the awning parts and keep the fabric clean, you'll be surprised at how much longer they will last.
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