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fyrmnk's avatar
fyrmnk
Explorer
Aug 07, 2020

Replacing Power Awning Fabric

Hi all, I'm needing to replace my awning fabric on a 5th wheel with a power awning. Curious if it is as much of a pain as doing it on a manual awning, which I've done before and swore I'd never do again. Does it have a spring that needs rewound like the manual awning? Any other insight?

Thanks in advance for any input!
  • If you didn't like doing the manual awning, it's likely you won't like doing an electric one either. :) I watched videos on how to do it, and decided I would spend a few bucks and have someone do it. I bought the fabric and had it installed. I think it cost $150 or so to have it done. Well worth it IMO.

    I got the material from Shade Pro. Excellent quality at a reasonable, I thought, price.
  • A friend helped me and we changed the fabric on a 19 ft power awning on our travel trailer. It was pretty straightforward. With power awning, no spring mechanism to deal with, so I would say they are easier to do than non-power awning.
  • crcr wrote:
    A friend helped me and we changed the fabric on a 19 ft power awning on our travel trailer. It was pretty straightforward. With power awning, no spring mechanism to deal with, so I would say they are easier to do than non-power awning.


    There is a spring on the LH rear Torsion on most power awnings. You must have had the brand that has no spring. Doug
  • After watching a video and looking closer, mine should be pretty easy so going to do it. Did standard Shade Pro. Thanks
  • fj12ryder wrote:
    If you didn't like doing the manual awning, it's likely you won't like doing an electric one either. :) I watched videos on how to do it, and decided I would spend a few bucks and have someone do it. I bought the fabric and had it installed. I think it cost $150 or so to have it done. Well worth it IMO.

    I got the material from Shade Pro. Excellent quality at a reasonable, I thought, price.


    Thanks for the input. Do you recall if you did 13oz or 15oz?
  • fj12ryder wrote:
    I went with the 15 oz. vinyl.


    Thanks, ended up ordering standard 13oz since color and price were right, and read it holds up well too.

    Will see how it goes. Thanks again.
  • There IS a spring. Roll it out a very short distance, put a pin (long cotter pin) through the hole in the left end upper bracket, tie the arms on both ends so they don't expand out, unbolt both end brackets and get some help to lift the brackets out of the arms. Unroll the awning down towards the ground, slide the cloth out of the tube then the upper rail. Reverse for installation, and don't forget to remove the cotter pin...extend and retract a couple of times to make sure all is well. My wife and I with 2 ladders did it in less than 2 hours.

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