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An awning is one of the most valuable items you can own as an RV owner. It can save you from rain, sun, and even wind – don’t let the weather dampen your vacation!
But what happens when your awning fabric begins to wear down from lots of use?
The idea of replacing the fabric might sound tedious and difficult, but really, it’s pretty simple. Plus, you’ll save lots of money as you won’t have to buy a new awning!
So, how do you replace the fabric on your RV awning? Stick with us and we’ll show you how.
10 Steps To Replace RV Awning Fabric
Don’t panic – the ten steps are simple to follow!
Prepare Your Awning
First things first, you need to prepare your awning. Extend the awning to around 12” and secure the head assemblies on both sides.
Zip ties are a good and inexpensive way to secure the head assemblies, but feel free to use whatever you have around you.
Now that the head assemblies are secure, remove the poly cord from both sides of the awning. Do this by removing the screw that is around 1 inch away from the awning fabric.
Remove The Roll Tube
Enlist the help of a friend to help you remove the roll tube by detaching it from the head assemblies on either side of the awning.
Feed the fabric tube through the rail and place it on a clean surface to prevent any damage.
Unroll The Fabric
Now remove one cap from the end of the roller tube. You won’t need to remove both, so just choose one side. There will usually be three screws to loosen to remove the cap.
Once the cap is off, start unrolling the fabric. This will be easier if you still have another person to help, but you can do it by yourself.
Take Off The Fabric Altogether
Now your fabric has been unrolled, you should be able to find a few poly cord screws that are attaching the fabric to the roll tube.
Remove these and carefully pull the fabric away from the awning roller. It should come off easily.
Prepare The Fabric Track
Removing the old fabric can be quite taxing on the awning fabric track, so you may as well give it some TLC before you put the new fabric back on!
We recommend using a silicone spray to sufficiently lubricate the fabric track.
Now inspect the new fabric for holes, tears, or imperfections that might lessen its effectiveness. The last thing you want to do is add new fabric just to find it has a massive rip in the middle!
Once you’re happy that it’s ready to be put onto the fabric track, find the polycord on the side of the fabric (near the valance), as this is the side you’ll be installing first.
Make sure the bottom of the fabric is facing the fabric track when installing.
Get To Rolling!
Push the poly cord through the fabric track so that the fabric is completely attached to the roll tube.
Center the fabric and attach it to the polycord with the screws you loosened earlier. Make sure that the fabric remains tight and secure to the roll tube, so that it is not telescoping on one end.
Replace The Roll Tube Cap
Tighten the three screws for the roll tube cap that you removed earlier, and install the awning back onto your RV. You might find it easier to install the awning a little more before installing it, as this will make the job easier.
You can also lubricate the rail with silicone spray like earlier, as this will make sliding the awning back on smoother.
Test The Awning
Slide the polycord tube through the railing, reinstalling the tube onto your awning’s assemblies.
Before you tighten the final screws, though, extend the awning back and forth a few times to make sure the fabric is centered and won’t bunch. This could ruin the new fabric, so we recommend not missing this step.
Don’t forget to remove the zip ties before doing this!
Tighten The Awning
Now that you’re happy with the alignment of your awning fabric, screw the final polycord screws into the previous installation holes. Make sure you do this for both sides of the awning.
Enjoy Your New Awning!
Now all that’s left to do is sit back, relax and enjoy your new awning – no matter what the weather!
Summary
Thanks for reading! We hope you’ve found our guide to replacing your awning fabric helpful and useful.
While this might seem like a daunting task, it is actually rather simple. It will be even quicker if you can get someone to help you!
So, now you know it only takes ten steps to replace the fabric of your awning, what are you waiting for?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Just Replace The Fabric Of An Awning?
Yes! It is absolutely possible to replace the fabric of an awning without buying a completely new one. This is a great DIY for you to do once the old fabric becomes a little shabby or faded from lots of use.
How Much Does It Cost To Have RV Awning Fabric Replaced?
It depends on the extent of how much your awning needs fixing. If you’re looking at a patch fix, you might only need to spend $10 on it. However, if all of the fabric needs to be replaced, the estimated cost will be nearer $250.
However, the cost will depend on the size of your awning, the quality of the material, whether you choose to do it yourself or pay a professional, and more.
What Is The Best Material For An RV Awning?
There are a few materials you can choose from. Vinyl fabric is a good option thanks to its durability and resistance to tearing. It’s also waterproof for rain, heavy wind, and UV light.
Acrylic is also commonly used as it is lightweight and breathable.
Discover How To Use The Power of Authority Marketing To Make You Money While You Adventure!
No Experience, Existing Product Or Technical Skills Are Required
DO YOU BELIEVE ADVENTURES ARE WORTH CHASING?