How To Replace RV Awning Fabric

Above, making use of the awning in Quartzsite, Arizona last year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Sooner or later, the fabric to an RV's awning will need to be replaced.

I had to replace mine a little over three years ago as a small tear was beginning to get larger and if it completely tore during a trip, it would be a major hassle. A leaning telephone pole rubbed against it as I was parallel parking. I didn't see the leaning pole.

I had it replaced at La Mesa RV. I am not so "mechanically inclined" enough to do the work myself and I was still recovering from an arterial stent procedure.

But, if one is mechanically inclined, Do It Yourself RV posted an article on fabric replacement on a step-by-step basis.

They begin with:

RV awnings are great because they can provide shade as well as shelter from rain and snow. However, because they’re exposed to the elements, RV awnings end up taking a beating over time. At some point, most people need to know how to replace RV awning fabric.

The fabric used for RV awnings is usually some form of canvas or some other heavy, waterproof material. These fabrics are quite sturdy and durable, but everything will start to wear down eventually. If you notice that your awning’s fabric has become cracked, faded, or ripped, it might be time to start thinking about replacing it. Luckily, this process is fairly straightforward, and most people can do it at home with just a few basic tools.

The replacement process will vary a bit depending on whether you have a manual awning or power RV awning. For the purposes of this article, we’ll mainly be covering manual RV awnings, but the procedure is fairly similar between the two types. Follow along with our step-by-step guide on how to replace RV awning fabric, and you’ll have a new awning in no time!

To read more, go here.