Most new motorhomes and journey trailers come outfitted with a retractable RV awning. There’s actually no higher option to deploy added safety from the solar and lightweight rain whenever you’re tenting. However RV awnings don’t final endlessly.
Our information to RV awnings covers tips on how to keep your awning and exchange the awning cloth if it’s broken. However what should you want a wholly new awning?
Discover RV awning substitute and enhancement equipment at Tenting World on-line.
What’s the Distinction Between a Retractable Awning and a Normal Awning?
Retractable awnings completely mount to the facet of your RV and prolong or retract manually or mechanically, with the latter sometimes utilizing a 12-volt DC electrical motor. Awning sizes sometimes vary from 8 to 21 ft, relying on the RV.
Normal awnings (often known as canopies or immediate shelters) are impartial of your RV and should be saved beneath between makes use of. They aren’t as straightforward to deploy, however they are often moved round based on the place you want shade in your campsite.
Retractable awnings are typically extra sturdy and weather-resistant, making them the popular selection for full-time RV campers. Normal awnings complement your retractable awning whenever you want extra shade and rain safety.
Discover Tenting World’s normal awnings and immediate shelters.
What to Think about When Selecting a Retractable RV Awning
You’ll want to search out an awning that matches your RV and could be put in securely. So let’s talk about the components to contemplate when selecting the perfect RV awning.
Awning Dimension
Changing an Current Awning
The best option to get the correct awning dimension is to measure your present awning and purchase a substitute. Measure from the middle of the ahead arm to the middle of the rear arm (as proven above). RV awning cloth will probably be barely smaller than the arm-to-arm measurement, so keep away from measuring the material itself when selecting a brand new retractable RV awning.
Putting in an Awning on an RV With out One
If you happen to’re including an awning to an RV with out one, issues are somewhat extra difficult. For starters, you’ll have to resolve the place to position it. Most RV awnings are positioned on the identical facet because the entry door, however they need to not impede the operation of the entry door, home windows, compartment doorways, different awnings, or slide-outs on that facet of your RV.
Your awning selection may even depend upon the scale of your RV – the biggest RV awnings are about 21 ft lengthy. However you received’t have the ability to set up an awning of that dimension on a 20-foot class B camper van.
Your targets with location selection are to discover a place the place you’ll be able to set up the biggest awning doable whereas doing so safely. A bigger awning will present extra protection space whenever you’re boondocking, and shade is at a premium.
When you select a location, mark it and measure the world to get an concept of your awning dimension choices.
Awning Design
There are numerous designs for awnings. Electrical RV awnings are actually normal on many new RVs, however older used RVs have been sometimes outfitted with handbook awnings. As you’d suspect, there are execs and cons of those RV patio awning varieties:
Electrical Awnings
| Professionals | Cons |
| Straightforward, push-button operation | Costlier |
| Wind-sensitive security options (some, not all) | Extra mechanical parts to take care of |
Guide Awnings
| Professionals | Cons |
| Extra inexpensive | More durable to open |
| Fewer mechanical parts to take care of | No automated security options |
Ease of deployment is arguably the most important issue with regards to selecting the proper RV awning. Electrical awnings may cost extra, however they require little greater than holding a button for 30-60 seconds till the awning is totally deployed.
Guide awnings require rather more effort to open and shut. Learn to open and shut handbook and electrical RV awnings.
As well as, the perfect electrical awnings now include security options that can robotically retract the awning if wind speeds exceed a pre-programmed threshold. Whilst you ought to by no means depart your awning prolonged in case your RV is unattended, a security function like this will prevent from changing your awning once more earlier than you’re prepared.
That stated, electrical awnings can solely be put in on RVs with appropriate electrical programs. The awning should be related to an influence supply, and your RV wants controls to function it as soon as put in.
If you happen to’re set on putting in an electrical automated RV awning on a mannequin beforehand outfitted with a handbook awning, we advocate scheduling a service appointment at your native Tenting World Service Heart.
RV Awning Supplies
The very last thing to consider is the kind of materials used for the awning cloth. In case your awning arms are nonetheless in fine condition, you must exchange the awning cloth as an alternative of your entire awning meeting. Most awnings use both an acrylic cloth or some sort of vinyl materials.
Acrylic awning cloth works nice for many functions and is the most typical. It gives good air circulation, handles all climate circumstances effectively, and dries rapidly. Nevertheless, it isn’t totally waterproof and might stretch and sag over lengthy intervals of time.
Vinyl awnings are scratch and fade-resistant, waterproof, and block all dangerous UV rays and different components. Nevertheless, vinyl attracts grime and dirt extra simply and generally is a hotbed for mould if not correctly cleaned and dried usually.
Can Your RV Help a New Awning?
Your RV should even have the correct framing and {hardware} to assist an awning set up. As an illustration, some awnings require a minimal distance between the awning rail and the entry door or slide-out room.
One of the simplest ways to make sure your leisure car can assist a brand new awning is to contact your native Tenting World Service Heart to debate your awning substitute choices.
Putting in an RV awning with out taking the correct steps to safe and seal it may end up in structural injury, water leaks, and different injury. Keep away from a pricey DIY mistake by entrusting this job to an expert RV technician.
Tenting World’s Design Specialists are one other nice useful resource for upgrading your RV. Discover a Design Heart close to you and converse to a specialist about all of your RV design wants.
Have you ever bought an awning on your RV lately? What did you select? Go away a remark beneath.
Tucker Ballister is our Technical Content material Author. He’s a lover of the open highway and the proud proprietor of a 2021 Sunlite Basic journey trailer (his third RV thus far). Try extra of his RV adventures, gear critiques, and outside recommendation at thebackpackguide.com.