John From Detroit
Well-known member
There are many places you can get new fabric. Including most MAJOR Rv places and any tent company. The places that make 'em not put 'em up
Wind took my awning today
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There are many places you can get new fabric. Including most MAJOR Rv places and any tent company. The places that make 'em not put 'em up
Yep, we hate RV awnings. First thing we did when we bought the 1997 coach was roll out the stained, moldy, torn and stinking awning so I could cut it off and remove the battered hardware.
They always mold and hold water after a rain even rolled up and you constantly have to roll them up even to go for a walk here in Wyoming because the wind comes up fast and rips them off the RV before you can get back. I would never waste my money on a replacement. Just our opinion. We just use a pop-up shade shelter if we need shade and that can be staked down.
DonTom
Well-known member
I find they are rather useless anyway. The sun has to be at perfect spot for them to even be helpful. And even then, I had no or very little use for them.
-Don- Auburn, CA
jymbee
Well-known member
How 'bout rain? That's by far the main use of our awning.
DonTom
Well-known member
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I really like ours. Manual and fully adjustable with legs attached to RV or staked down on ground. I can roll out full length or not, as much as needed. It can be deployed in any angle needed by lowering one side and not the other.
If windy, roll it in. No issues for us. Never leave out when we are gone or overnight.
If windy, roll it in. No issues for us. Never leave out when we are gone or overnight.
I decided against installing an awning on my bus. Somehow the awning on my Class C was never really in the right place. A tree was often in the way. And there was the wind problem, not to mention snow and ice in winter. When it rained, we didn't stay outside.
When we had our Apache Solid State popup, we didn't like the "bag awning" that came with it. So we bought a heavy duty free standing popup awning (EZ UP brand I think) that had a gable roof. The original cover didn't last very long but since it was a gable roof, we simply bought the silver tarps and replaced them as needed. It was used year round and held up to rain and wind much better than awnings.
When we moved to NM, we discovered that awnings were almost useless due to the desert winds. But we wanted shade since trees are almost non-existent. And the trees that do exist are pretty pathetic for shade. And then I discovered shade cloth tarps. The mesh shade cloth is much better than the cheaper fluffy type shade cloth.
I currently have a 10x20 "portable" car canopy next to my bus. It's not terribly "portable" as it weighs a lot. It's more like "semi-permanent". I bought two 10x12 90% Shade Cloths with Grommets to use in place of the cover that came with the car canopy. I have it held down with ratchet straps hooked from the frame to spiral pet anchors. I bought the ones I use from Dollar Tree, when they would get them in. I have one on each corner, two at each of the center sides and one on the peak of each gable end. This helps to keep the "mild" 30 to 70mph daily winds from blowing it away. A shade cloth lasts 12 months in the desert sun & wind. But it provides shade and in a light sprinkling rains, it stays kinda dry. I do have to brush the snow off in the winter. My ratchet straps have lasted 4 years, so far. I also have straps that run the length to help hold the frame together in the wind (I didn't want to drill holes in the tubing to bolt it). The lengthwise straps are under the canopy. I have 4 straps that run on the top of the shade cloth over the peak. The lengthwise straps help the weight of the snow/ice from putting too much weight on the shade cloth. The straps on top help to hold the shade cloth down when the wind blows so hard. I have learned that metal zip ties hold up best to long term exposure to weather (ball bungees last about 2 months before they start popping during high wind). I've had the canopy hold together in 85mph gusting wind (we live less than 1 mile from an airport and they report the weather).
When I first got the canopy (it was a return and supposed to be put in the garbage), I only put up one half and used only one shade cloth. I wanted to make sure it would work out. I also had a tree in the way at that campground. When we moved to a different campground, I put up both sections of the canopy. I do have another canopy in storage (another return). So I could put them all together and maybe one day I will be someplace that I will do just that. In the meanwhile, I think that shade cloths are great and if I ever get another camper that has an awning, I'm pretty sure I will replace the fabric with 90% shade cloth.
When we had our Apache Solid State popup, we didn't like the "bag awning" that came with it. So we bought a heavy duty free standing popup awning (EZ UP brand I think) that had a gable roof. The original cover didn't last very long but since it was a gable roof, we simply bought the silver tarps and replaced them as needed. It was used year round and held up to rain and wind much better than awnings.
When we moved to NM, we discovered that awnings were almost useless due to the desert winds. But we wanted shade since trees are almost non-existent. And the trees that do exist are pretty pathetic for shade. And then I discovered shade cloth tarps. The mesh shade cloth is much better than the cheaper fluffy type shade cloth.
I currently have a 10x20 "portable" car canopy next to my bus. It's not terribly "portable" as it weighs a lot. It's more like "semi-permanent". I bought two 10x12 90% Shade Cloths with Grommets to use in place of the cover that came with the car canopy. I have it held down with ratchet straps hooked from the frame to spiral pet anchors. I bought the ones I use from Dollar Tree, when they would get them in. I have one on each corner, two at each of the center sides and one on the peak of each gable end. This helps to keep the "mild" 30 to 70mph daily winds from blowing it away. A shade cloth lasts 12 months in the desert sun & wind. But it provides shade and in a light sprinkling rains, it stays kinda dry. I do have to brush the snow off in the winter. My ratchet straps have lasted 4 years, so far. I also have straps that run the length to help hold the frame together in the wind (I didn't want to drill holes in the tubing to bolt it). The lengthwise straps are under the canopy. I have 4 straps that run on the top of the shade cloth over the peak. The lengthwise straps help the weight of the snow/ice from putting too much weight on the shade cloth. The straps on top help to hold the shade cloth down when the wind blows so hard. I have learned that metal zip ties hold up best to long term exposure to weather (ball bungees last about 2 months before they start popping during high wind). I've had the canopy hold together in 85mph gusting wind (we live less than 1 mile from an airport and they report the weather).
When I first got the canopy (it was a return and supposed to be put in the garbage), I only put up one half and used only one shade cloth. I wanted to make sure it would work out. I also had a tree in the way at that campground. When we moved to a different campground, I put up both sections of the canopy. I do have another canopy in storage (another return). So I could put them all together and maybe one day I will be someplace that I will do just that. In the meanwhile, I think that shade cloths are great and if I ever get another camper that has an awning, I'm pretty sure I will replace the fabric with 90% shade cloth.
Jeff in Ferndale Wa
Well-known member
I just use a velcro strap on each arm that I took from a bag of straps I got on Amazon:
Hi Jeff in Ferndale Wa,
While that will keep the arms from coming down while traveling, It won't keep the awning roller from unfurling. The Rollar has to be pinned so it won't roll. Drive in the right wind and it WILL come out again on you. Best!
While that will keep the arms from coming down while traveling, It won't keep the awning roller from unfurling. The Rollar has to be pinned so it won't roll. Drive in the right wind and it WILL come out again on you. Best!
ButchW
Well-known member
Here is a picture... Should my insurance take care of it?... Or is it out of pocket?... By the way, should I go vinyl or acrylic on the replacement, here in So. Cal.?
Butch
