Vinyl awning fabric shot

What ever you end up with, make yourself an awning cover for the top. That's where the sun kills them when rolled up.

Here's my Cheap-O Awning Cover:

Cheap-O Awning Cover

Not to revive this but I got one more trip out of my awning by applying another coat of RV Roof Kote on the exposed fabric exposed by the damaged vinyl. Then I secured the lose edge of the vinyl with white Gorilla Tape. This tape is really amazing. It is super sticky and about 2 times as thick as duct tape. Every RV should have a roll of this onboard. I really think it would get me through the summer but I have found a mobile RV guy that is going to assist me in replacing it for less than 1/2 of that the local RV centers want to charge.

Dr Quick, Thanks. Interestingly, two local RV dealers want $230 and $260 labor to replace the awning if you buy if from them. Camping World will do it for $39 if you buy it from them and it would cost me a tank of fuel getting it there and back. The problem with doing it myself is finding the helpers.

Hank, I read in the post you mentioned that someone used rubber roof paint for a temporary repair. I started applying that to the first foot about 5 years ago and I am sure I extended the service life of my awning by at least that much. It sealed the exposed webbing between the layers from deterioration. I would suggest anyone start applying several coats of the product at the first sign of trouble.

If you are going to replace the fabric your self, here is an easier way. :)

Also on a previous trailer I cut the first 1 foot off a 19' awning, and re-stitched the "Welt" back in place by had using fish line. Took about 3 hours to stitch. Had trailer another 3 years and it worked fine

I recently gave these directions to someone else on the RV Net, and he wrote me back and thanked me, as he said he was done in an hour. This is how I helped my neighbor replace two awnings. You will need two helpers. Flip "open catch" and pull awning about 2 or 3 inches. Unhook bottom end of legs and drop leg to ground using extension legs to take weight of awning. Unbolt top bolts to trailer and take out screw that keeps awning in place from sliding back and forth. Get one person on each end of awning and slide it out of track. Lay awning on ground and place a block of wood or a pail under each end near tube. DO NOT TRY TO TAKE AWNING ARMS OFF ENDS OF SHAFT.KEEPING IT ATTCHED KEEPS SPRINGS FROM UNWINDING. Unwrap fabric from tube. Drill out pop rivets at rear, non-catch end of tube. Slide end cap off tube 2 or 3 inches to allow clearance to slide fabric off.(DO NOT PULL ALL THE WAY OUT AS SPRING WILL UNWIND. SPRING IS ABOUT 18 INCHES LONG.) Slide new fabric on, and re wrap fabric. Slide end cap in place and pop rivet. Get one person at each end of awning support, and have third on ladder to guide awning into rail. Once awning is in place, bolt to trailer, center fabric between supports and install screw. Lift legs in to lower catches. Flip ratchet lock and awning will close. This way you do not have to deal with springs.

CJW8 wrote:
Thanks Hank. If acrylic is not an option, has anyone used some of the aftermarket options of vinyl? Some claim the first foot, the part that is exposed when it is rolled up, is treated.

We looked into replacing the vinyl with acrylic and metal wrapper a couple of years ago. Wasn't interested in investing that much money in our older MH. Ended up replacing vinyl with vinyl this summer. Refer to this post, Awning. I replied a couple of times with the brand, cost and procedure to replace.

Cutting off a foot is not an option now as it is delaminated and it fills up like a hot water bottle when it rains! This is a 20 footer. If I was going to the trouble to remove it, I will replace the fabric. Since I now have covered storage, I'll probably go with a Tough Top.

We replaced our awing that came on our 24V Itasca with a longer one, as longer on the side of the mh, not unroll longer. It's maybe 11' long. I believe it's Acrylic. It's like new and stored inside. If anyone is interrested in it PM me.

Dusty

j-d wrote:
We had an old A&E vinyl awning with a first foot or so that was just plain crispy from sun and weather. We pinned the retract springs, and took it off the coach. Then got some boat cover material. Ours was called Top Gun, there are now probably better ones. Had to piece it to get the length of the awning. Carefully measured and cut, stitched a new "first foot" ( I think we did a little more than that) and it slid right back in. The fix is easy and the price is right ***IF*** you have access to a commercial upholstery/sailmaker's sewing machine and a rugged thread. If you have to pay much labor, probably pays to just get a new fabric.

An even cheaper version of this trick is to simply cut off the crispy first wrap and stitch in a new channel for the rail spline.

One loses some extended area, but it's not that noticeable.

I got a real good deal on awning fabric on Ebay. Was 2' too long so I took it down to the fabric shop. They charged me $80.00 smackers just to cut 2' off the end & hem!!

We had an old A&E vinyl awning with a first foot or so that was just plain crispy from sun and weather. We pinned the retract springs, and took it off the coach. Then got some boat cover material. Ours was called Top Gun, there are now probably better ones. Had to piece it to get the length of the awning. Carefully measured and cut, stitched a new "first foot" ( I think we did a little more than that) and it slid right back in. The fix is easy and the price is right ***IF*** you have access to a commercial upholstery/sailmaker's sewing machine and a rugged thread. If you have to pay much labor, probably pays to just get a new fabric.