Blending both comfort and mobility, RVs are great for camping activities. Unlike other methods of travel or camping, RVs allow you to experience nature from the comfort of your very own doorstep. With each and every stop you make, you can take in a stunning new view. Are you a camping and nature enthusiast wondering about motorhome awnings? This camper awning guide covers all you need to know about camping essentials, so keep reading!
What is a Camper Awning Guide?
Camper Awning Guide is an essential part of your overall RV setup. An RV awning extends your living space into the great outdoors, allowing you to spend even more time (comfortably!) appreciating nature. Without an RV awning for protection from the elements, you could miss out on the very reason you hit the road in the first place. We’ll go over different types of RV awnings and materials, popular awning upgrades, and maintenance tips to help you create the perfect setup.
Different Types of RV Awnings
That being said, there are many different RV Awning Types that you can look into. Remember, it all depends on your needs and travel style.
Slide-Out/ Roll-Out Awnings
These are probably the most common type of RV awning. Most roll-out awnings are manual, but they’re pretty easy to operate. There are also mechanical, slide-out awnings that require less manual labour. Manual awnings are more budget-friendly and easier to repair or replace if needed.
Manual Awnings
These are the most basic types. These require you to extend and retract them by hand using poles or cranks. They are more affordable and lightweight but require more effort when setting up or packing. Manual awnings are popular with travellers who prefer simplicity and fewer moving parts.
Electric RV Awnings
They add a level of convenience that many RVers appreciate. With the push of a button, you can extend or retract the awning, often with built-in sensors to detect wind and retract automatically. These are ideal for people who frequently stop at different campsites or want a quick shade solution during short breaks.
Freestanding Awnings
They are another category, often favored by van campers and those who want a separate shaded space next to their vehicle. These are not attached to the RV and can be set up like a tent structure with poles and guy lines. They’re handy for creating a standalone outdoor living area.
Automatic RV Awnings
These are becoming more popular with each passing year as technology improves. They’re super convenient and can transform your outdoor living area with just a quick click of a button. On the downside, automatic awnings tend to be more expensive than manual RV awnings and can be more complex and costly to fix if something goes awry.
Permanent Awnings
Some RVs or campers come with fixed awnings – AKA permanent awnings. However, these aren’t as popular because they don’t offer as much flexibility and can easily fall off while driving.
Proper Awning Guide: Materials that are Durable & Reliable
The two most durable and popular RV awning materials are heavy-duty vinyl and marine-grade acrylic. Because acrylic is a woven fabric, it provides more air circulation, resulting in a cooler type of shade – perfect for hot weather.
Considerations
On the downside, acrylic fabrics are less waterproof and durable than vinyl. As a less-permeable fabric, vinyl is more likely to hold up against harsh weather, grime, UV rays, and pollution over time. Canvas is the third type of material to consider. It is eco-friendly and tough to weather.
Vinyl Awning Fabric
Vinyl RV awning fabric is a common choice for RV owners, known for its waterproof capabilities and ease of cleaning. It’s often preferred in wetter climates because it offers a solid barrier against rain. Vinyl is generally heavier than acrylic, which makes it more stable in certain conditions, though it may not be as breathable.
Acrylic Awning Fabric
Acrylic RV awning fabric is also a popular choice for RV owners. This is due to its durability and ability to provide shade while allowing breathability. While this fabric is not entirely waterproof, it does allow air to circulate, making it great for areas where airflow is needed. This fabric also tends to last longer than vinyl, especially in sunny, dry climates.
Canvas
It is fresh and easy to clean with a brush or a scrub. Lasts long, is eco-friendly and can be disposed if it ends its time, easily. It is also very breathable. But, as a result, it’s not UV protected. You can use it to drape as well, since it is easily malleable to any shape and can hold said shape pretty well with the help of some pins.
Set Your Awnings Right: A Short How-to
- First, always choose a level and stable surface for your setup.
- Uneven ground can stress awning arms and fabric, increasing the risk of tearing or frame bending. If possible, park your camper so that the awning side faces away from strong prevailing winds.
- Make sure the awning is pitched slightly to allow rainwater to run off. A flat awning can collect water, causing sagging and potential damage. Many awnings have adjustable arms to help with angling.
- Secure the awning using tie-down straps or support legs staked into the ground in windy conditions.
- Even electric awnings should be manually anchored if you plan to leave them open for extended periods, especially overnight or when you’re away from the campsite!
- And of course, if high winds are in the forecast, it’s best to retract the awning completely. Damage from sudden gusts is one of the most common causes of failure. And it’s one of the most avoidable.
Accessories That Make Your RV Smart
You can consider these additions to enhance your camping experience for your family.
| Sunblockers | To be safe from harmful UV rays, sunscreen or sunblock shades are also available. |
| Fabric Replacements | Affordable, within a couple of hundred dollars, easily available. Upgrades the look. |
| Awning Extensions | Maximize your awning space with additional roll-out extensions. |
| Stabilizer Kit | In areas with high wind speeds, it helps prevent damage to your vehicle. |
| Awning Mats | Makes your floor pretty. It can be easily customised and replaced. |
| LED Lighting | It can help with safety and visibility at night, and make your interiors beautiful! |
Camper Awning Guide: Proper Maintenance & Upkeep
Now that we’ve covered accessories and awnings, let us see how we can preserve them to make them last for many years.
Avoiding Awning Damage
You’ll want to do everything you can to protect your RV awning. Wind, rain, and falling debris can cause extreme damage that is both expensive and difficult to repair. Put the awning out at a slight angle to allow rainwater to run off easily, bring it in when it’s super windy outside.
How to Protect an RV Awning from the Sun
If you’re away from your RV for the day, keep your awning rolled up to reduce the amount of sunlight it sees. Additionally, you might consider investing in an aluminium awning cover to protect it when it’s all rolled up. Fabric ages less with decreased sunlight.
Clean up Properly
Use warm water with a few squirts of dish soap, or even pre-bottled solutions. Bleach and abrasive cleaners can be damaging to some trailer and motorhome awnings. Scrub with a long brush or a broom, and make sure all the water escapes and doesn’t stagnate in the interiors.
Precautions and Permissions
When planning to set up an awning at a campsite, it’s essential to check the campsite’s policy beforehand, especially if you’re using a larger or more elaborate model. Some campsites may require prior approval for awning setups due to space limitations, local regulations, or safety concerns. Some campsites charge an additional fee to add an awning to your booking. Always ensure the pitch you book. You can also insure your RV.
Conclusion
A well-chosen and well-maintained awning adds a lot more than shade. It adds a sense of home to your campsite. An RV awning is a great thing to have, but in order to ensure it lasts a long time, you will need to use it properly and take good care of it. They provide a simple solution for extra living space, storage, and protection from the elements. With the right awning, you can enjoy outdoor dining, relax in the shade, or store your gear without cluttering your motorhome. With this camper awning guide, you’ve got the basics covered, and now it’s time to set off on your adventures!
FAQs
1͏. ͏What type of camper awning͏ is best f͏or me?
It depends on your tr͏avel style and͏ bud͏get.͏ Man͏ual awning͏s are a͏ffordab͏le and si͏m͏ple, electric aw͏nings are conveni͏ent, and freestanding ones g͏ive you flexibility away from yo͏u͏r RV. Cons͏ide͏r ͏how often ͏y͏ou’ll use it a͏nd in͏ what condi͏tions.
2. Wh͏i͏ch awning ͏material͏ lasts the longest͏?
Vinyl ͏is mor͏e w͏eatherpro͏of and great͏ for rain͏y or harsh climates, whi͏le acrylic offers ͏breathability for hot, dry areas. ͏Canvas is eco-friendly and v͏ers͏atile but n͏eeds ͏mor͏e UV pro͏tectio͏n͏.
3. Ho͏w ͏do I set up a camper awn͏ing safely?
Pick a leve͏l surface, angle the awni͏ng for rain runo͏ff, an͏d͏ se͏cure it with tie-down straps. ͏Alwa͏ys retract it d͏uring hi͏gh win͏ds to avoid͏ damage.͏
͏4. W͏h͏at͏ accessor͏i͏e͏s make an awning m͏or͏e functional?
Popular ͏add-o͏ns in͏c͏l͏ude ͏sunbloc͏k͏er shades,͏ LED l͏ig͏hting, ͏aw͏n͏ing mat͏s, stabil͏izer kits for windy are͏as, an͏d fab͏ric ͏repl͏ac͏ement͏s to͏ re͏fresh ͏the look.
5. ͏How can I keep my camp͏er awning in go͏od con͏d͏i͏tion?
Clean it regul͏a͏rly wit͏h mild soap ͏an͏d water, prote͏ct it from prolonged sun ͏expo͏sure, ͏a͏nd re͏tract it duri͏ng storms. ͏Avo͏id bleach and abr͏asiv͏e ͏c͏leane͏rs tha͏t c͏an weak͏en t͏h͏e fabri͏c.
6.͏ Do campsites have ͏rules a͏bout awnings?
Yes, some re͏quire permission,͏ ͏charge extra fe͏es, or limit size due to sp͏ace or sa͏fety concerns. A͏lways chec͏k policies ͏bef͏ore bo͏oking ͏your ͏p͏itch.
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