Awning

We have a smaller Class C and find that the awning is very useful in good weather to allow one to sit outside and read, play games, or whatever. It's a must item in hotter sunny days, can't see ourselves cooped up inside with the airconditioning running with the curtains pulled on the sunny side when we prefer fresh air outside and the extra space that the awning provides. It's one of the first things we deploy when we are going to be in a spot for more than just a quick overnight stop.

If our RV didn't have one, we wouldn't put it on. However our "coming soon" new MH has an electric one, and I think we will get a lot more use out of it than we do with regular ones.

Where will you hang your party lights??? We also cook outside and the awning is a must for keeping stuff from falling on your griddle.

I do most of our cooking outdoors...rain or shine so the awning is always out. I haven't seen very many campers that don't deploy their awnings but personal preference trumps what someone else thinks you should do every time.

We have had awnings for years, but rarely find a use for them. If that side is facing west, you may have an hour or two during the day where the sun is in a position where the awning is useful. We do pull ours out when we are in a warm climate and it is raining--that is the biggest value we find. That allows us to get our chairs out and read outside when it is raining.

I couldn't imagine having a camper without one. In my 27 years of owning campers I can honestly say I have never spent a night with it not out except just a couple of times when severe weather was predicted. 90% of campers at the campgrounds we go to have their awnings out also.

If you have the right awning it will get used a lot more. The awning on our old TT was a PITA to deploy and roll up, spring tensioned with not much room for error and a good breeze would send it flying out of control. On our new C we have an electric awning that deploys smoothly in 30 seconds and is much more robust than its predecessor.

Even if we are not sitting under it, which we often do, it will keep the coach much cooler especially in the mid day to late afternoon sun. Keep in mind we live in Arizona and do most of our camping out here in the western states. I would not own a rig without a good one like we now have.

They will stay cleaner and work better if you run them out on a regular basis and a little water and a brush/broom is all we have had to use to keep them both looking good. A little dry lube at the "joints" is a simple, regular maintenance moment that helps to keep them operating smoothly. :C

TyroneandGladys wrote:
When it is 100 plus outside and you have parked where the awning side is facing west it makes a huge difference in cooling the RV.

x2 and if you are parked the right way it makes good shade.

And its so pretty when its down lol

It doesn't feel like camping, just parking, when sitting outside with the awning stowed. Sitting inside is OK at night or in the morning for a while, but we can do that in the driveway or in the house. Prefer to cook and eat outside when practical. Would not own or rent an RV without an awning. Had an awning lock installed to prevent another unfurling while driving incident.

Love my Awning!
Use it all the time - Covers my Chairs, Grill, Bikes, Motorcycle, Etc...
I live in Florida so during rainy season I find it invaluable.