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Last Updated on August 22, 2024 by Paul Clayton
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RV Awning Repair: Don’t Do Anything Before Reading This
To see a big fat hole or a tear in the camper’s awning is disheartening. Disagree? Over time, the awning may suffer from damage that can compromise its effectiveness. The RV awning repair process involves identifying the issue and performing the necessary repairs to restore it to its original condition.
- Assess the damage: Examine the awning thoroughly for tears, holes, or wear.
- Gather necessary tools and materials: Prepare sewing kit, adhesive, and replacement parts.
- Clean the area: Use a suitable cleaner for cleaning.
- Repair tears or holes: Use strong outdoor thread for stitching.
- Replace broken parts: If parts are damaged, replace arms or connectors.
- Test the repair: Extend and retract the awning to check functionality.
You’re having a wonderful day driving your RV in a pleasant view of natural scenery. The sun has bright and radiant rays, and the birdies are chirping melodiously.
After a while, you feel like stretching your legs, so you pull your awning out. That’s when you notice a tear. A big turn-off, right?
Oh no! It is the first thing that comes to mind. But what can you do when you face such a situation?
RV Awning Repair Solution
The cost of replacing the awning and repairing might worry you, and it may look a bit unpleasant. The questions running in your head are inevitable.
You may be wondering if I have to purchase a new RV awning. Is there a chance to fix the tear or prevent the hole from worsening?
Well, here’s the good news! You don’t have to remove the RV awning; you only need some effort and supplies to fix it.
Before jumping to the solution, you might want to know how tears and holes develop in an awning.
What Causes Tears and Holes in an Awning?
Before getting your supplies, let me answer a big question: why and how does an awning rip?
Here are the real culprits behind the torn awning:
- Poor craftsmanship of your camper’s awning
- Inexpensive RV
- Excessive loose threads and stings
- Old or worn-out awning
- Regular sunlight exposure causes fabric thinning over time
- Sticks, stones, rocks, and various other sharp debris
- Snowstorms, thunderstorms, hailstorms, winds, and other severe weather conditions
Interesting Fact
As per the FMCA (Family Motor Coach Association), several awnings are constructed from acrylic or vinyl. Vinyl awnings gather dirt and dust but do not mildew.
In contrast, an acrylic awning can handle water because it is weaved and dries fast. However, it is exposed to more mildew.
What Do You Need?
Compared to other DIY repairs, mending a camper’s awning is easy as it requires little expertise.
Don’t rush to repair the RV awning. Take a deep breath and think about how you can solve this issue. Don’t know? I’ll help.
You’re going to need supplies. But before that, have that RV’s owner manual with you.
It will tell you the materials for constructing the awning. Now, you can select an appropriate replacement material.
And these are the must-haves:
- An awning material for replacement
- Measuring tape
- Screwdriver
- Water-resistant glue for RVs
- A fabric scissor
- A repair tape
- Sewing supplies
- Cleaning solution (water-based) or an awning cleaner
- Wood or a plastic fretboard
Now, we’ll move on to the main thing.
How To Repair RV Awning?
Here are a few simple steps that you can follow to repair your camper’s awning successfully.
Step 1: Evaluate the Damage
Assess the tear or a hole in your camper. There are different kinds of damage.
- Small tears: If you see a tear measuring about 3 ft or less, it’s visible and uncomplicated. Patch it quickly to prevent it from going bigger.
- Small holes are sometimes so tiny that you cannot even see them. Raindrops falling on your head will signal something wrong with your awning. With continued usage, these holes can eventually grow and create more problems.
- Large tears: Ignoring a tiny tear on a stormy or windy day can cause your camper’s awning to rip more. This results in large tears, more than 3 ft. Such tears are sometimes difficult to repair.
- Large holes are often caused when something moves across the awning. The sunlight and rain can pass through the holes easily.
Once you know the damage, you can fix it quickly. The repair method of small tears and holes is straightforward. However, large rips will need more supplies and time.
Step 2: Disassemble Your RV’s Awning
You can’t fix your awning while it is bound to your RV. Don’t take a risk even if you think you can; otherwise, things can get worse. So first, detach the awning from your camper.
Detach it
Have you removed it before? If not, don’t stress out. It is easy.
Installing an awning might differ as it depends on the company. Several campers possess metal arms on both sides, and these arms aim to secure the RV’s awning through travel locks.
- Release the two locks.
- Veer the cam locks, and it will detach your awning. It’s time to patch things up!
Remove the pins
Stretch it out. Once it is extended, the end cap will be visible to you. Disjoin the cotter pins from the sides of the caps. Caps are loaded with spring, so don’t consider removing them.
Unscrew the bolts
Lastly, please search for the tag bolts and unscrew them too. The awning is removed wholly from the RV. If you’re searching for microscopic tears and holes, take your time to observe them.
Step 3: Mend Any Small Tears and Holes
It is excellent news if your awning has small tears and holes. It is in decent shape, and fixing it will be straightforward.
Here are the things you’re going to need in this step:
- A cleaning solution
- Waterproof glue
- Repair tape
This is what you will do:
Remove the dirt and debris
First, we will need a cleaning solution. Ensure that it is non-abrasive and water-based.
With the help of a cleaner, wipe all the dirt, mold, and mildew away. Make sure to wipe the backside, too.
As you clean, go slowly because you don’t want to damage the awning more. Pulling will increase the tear or a hole.
Allow the awning to dry.
Let it dry for a few minutes. If it is still wet, gently dab the wet areas with an absorbent towel or a washcloth. Also, place any flat item underneath your awning to balance.
Repair the torn fabric.
Use a repair tape to join the torn fabric. The tape will keep the torn pieces in position. Replicate the same procedure on the opposite side.
Ensure firmness of the tape.
Remove any bubbles and air pockets from the repair tape by hand to keep the adhesive tape sticky for a longer time.
Step 4: Mend the Bigger Tears and Holes
Catching the damage early will save your awning from more significant issues. If you haven’t patched it up soon enough, you will require different patching materials, such as sewing supplies, a screwdriver, and a measuring tape.
Instead of rushing and turning your awning into a horrible patchwork quilt, slow down and find the material that is precisely or somewhat close to your awning’s color.
To mend more problematic tears and holes, this is what you have to do:
- With a measuring tape, measure the height and width of a tear or hole.
- Add 2-inches more to the numbers you have obtained above.
- Cut your patching material by using fabric scissors or a knife.
- You can stitch or use an adhesive glue (waterproof), like in the 3rd step, to stick your mending material to your awning.
- If you prefer to use waterproof glue, let it dry.
- If you stitch your mending material to your camper’s awning, ensure that you find no visible or loose strings. Cut it if you see any.
Step 5: Reinstall Your Renovated Awning
Pat yourself for fixing the torn awning. Your RV’s awning is patched up and would look much better, regardless of the effort needed.
Now, it’s time to fix it back on your RV.
To reinstall the awning back, you will have to perform similar procedures you did in 1st step, but this time in reverse.
Follow the Manual
Make sure that you’ve all the bolts and screws. Please find all the tag bolts that were once attached and use them as your guideline to fix the awning. Moreover, if you’ve flipped your awning several times, check its correct position.
Set it Accurately
When attaching your awning, ensure you fit it correctly to get optimal weather protection and shade. If the awning is not appropriately set, the chances of getting new tears and holes will increase significantly.
Don’t Remove End Caps
While attaching your awning, do not take the end caps out. Taking them out is pointless unless you want to replace the awning.
Tips to Maintain Your RV Awning
Since it is back in fantastic shape, how can you prevent future holes and tears? Follow these handy tips:
1. Handle it Dry
Before handling, always make sure that your awning is thoroughly dry. Stretching or rolling your wet awning will create a strain on your fabric.
2. In Harsh Conditions
Roll up your awning in severe weather like thunderstorms, windstorms, and hurricanes.
3. Don’t Make it a Rainwater Pool
Allow the water to drain off from a single side of your awning. If it does not usually happen, adjust the angle in such a way as to develop a runoff hill.
However, the fabric can weaken and stretch if excessive rainwater pools up on your awning’s top.
4. Keep Checking Your Awning for Repairs
Inspect it for any damage after a couple of months. Remember, small tears and holes are cheaper, faster, and easier to fix than big fat ones.
How Much Does it Cost to Replace RV Awning Material?
However, the answer isn’t straightforward, as the cost can hinge on several variables. The size of the awning, the chosen fabric, and the location of the replacement service can all influence the final price.
As a general guideline, RV owners can expect to pay between $200 and $800, though costs may exceed this range in cases involving high-end materials or complex installations.
Hence, RV owners must consider these factors when budgeting for an awning replacement.
Summary
In conclusion, the process of RV awning repair involves several key steps. The first step is to assess the damage by thoroughly examining the awning for any signs of tears, holes, or general wear and tear.
Once the extent of the damage is known, gather all the necessary tools and materials required for the repair. This should include a sewing kit, adhesive, and replacement parts where necessary.
Next, clean the area with a suitable cleaner to ensure no debris interferes with the repair process.
After cleaning, repair any tears or holes using a strong outdoor thread suitable for stitching tough awning fabric.
If there are any broken parts, such as arms or connectors, these should be replaced with new ones to ensure a long-lasting repair.
The final step in the RV awning repair process is arguably one of the most important – testing the repair. Extend and retract the awning to check its functionality.
This will confirm whether or not the repair has been successful and if the awning is ready for use. If it functions as expected, you have completed your RV awning repair.
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