5 Things I Learned About RV Awning Care
For the most part, RV awnings are comprised of fabric, a roller tube and two tension arms. Despite the simplicity of its parts, there are a multitude of things that can go wrong. I found this out the hard way. My parents’ first camper was a used pop-up with an attached awning. Our maiden voyage involved unfurling the awning and things did not go well. On the upside, I did learn a few things. Here’s what I learned about RV awning care and repair:
1. Reproof Periodically
The first thing that I learned is that the fabric used in a RV’s awning needs to be reproofed and replaced from time to time. Initially, my parents did not realize this and the first time that it rained the awning leaked. A can of reproofing wax will cost you a modest $12 as opposed to new awning fabric, which will typically set you back $225 or more. My family went with the reproofing route. Reproofing will take you some time and a bit of a mess, but it is well worth it if you’re light on cash.
2. Carry a Repair Kit
The second thing that I learned about RV awning care and repair was to pack a repair kit. Based on my experience, the best things to put in your RV awning repair kit are awning repair tape ($13), a can of silicone spray ($4), high grade Velcro tape ($28), a stabilizer kit ($12) and some extra hardware ($11). You might even want to throw in a replacement roller tube. If you do decide to order a replacement roller tube, you’ll want to look on the awning’s arm channel for a model number before making some calls. Most RV dealers will need that number in order to determine what roller will work for your particular awning. With those items in hand, you should be able to complete most emergency repairs. The repair tape will take care of rips in the fabric and the silicone spray will help the tension arms from seizing up. The Velcro and stabilizer kit are good to have if there is wind, soft soil or damage to the metal bars.
3. Rain Protocol
The third thing that I learned was to lower at least one of the awning’s tension arms during a rain storm so the water can run off of the awning. My parents did not do that and it caused minor damage to the fabric, roller and arms. The weight of the water sitting in the awning caused the fabric to rip and the metal parts to bend slightly. Thankfully, we were able to correct the problem quickly before things really got out of hand.
4. Store Dry
The fourth thing that I learned about RV awning care was to never close the awning while the fabric is still wet. We were pressed for time and made that mistake. We drove home with the awning rolled up like that. By the time we got home it was late and we didn’t end up opening up the awning until much later the next day. Believe it or not, it was enough of a delay to cause a funky odor in the fabric and the start of mildew.
5. Mildew Removal Techniques
This brings me to the fifth thing that I learned about RV awning care, the removal of mildew. Many people recommend a bleach and water solution be used to remove mildew but not all RV awnings are bleach safe. The fabric on my parents’ awning was not bleach safe, so we had to use a stiff brush, lemon juice, salt and water instead. We made a paste with the salt and lemon juice and scrubbed the affected areas with it. Once all the mildew was gone, we made sure that the awning was completely dry before rolling it back up again. If anything, it was a good learning experience for us and hopefully others will be able to learn from our mistakes.
Killeen Gonzalez enjoys camping with her family and has traveled extensively.
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