Replacing Awning Fabric
My current awning fabric is shot! How hard is it to replace? I have seen fabric sold online for about $150 (15 feet) and wondered if this is a DIY project. Also, if you have experience, is this a two-man job? Thanks
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18 Replies
- Make sure you pay close attention to how to unwind the springs, and how to rewind them. You can get hurt if not careful. It is a good DIY project.
- I had been quoted about $1100 as well for a full replacement of the awning fabric. I went to www.dyersrv.com and got a replacement arm I needed and the fabric. I had a buddy help and it didn't take too long. We did screw up with the positioning of the up/down switch on the roller bar when we put it all back together, but I could still get to it and pull the awning in or out. Lucky for me I got caught with my awning out in a heavy rain while I was away from my RV for a short time and it filled up with about 50 gallons of water. The awning was angled, but I guess not enough for a random FL rainstorm. When I tried to release the water the whole thing came crashing down. At that point I put in a comprehensive claim with my insurance company and paid the $250 deductible for someone else to do it since the roller bar was completely ruined, as was the new fabric. Oh and this happened when I got back to the RV at like 11pm on Christmas Eve. Good times!
In the end, save the money, find a friend and do it yourself. - The October 2014 issue of Trailer life has an article on replacing awning fabric you might want to check out.
Also just an aside. The best hands down fabric for this is Sunbrella, its more expensive but it will likely outlive your camper. It's primarily used for Sailboat covers for hatches and winches and the dodgers and awnings, seats and such. It will NEVER fade. It is also very very tough.
Good Luck and take photos of your project for us all. - It is a DIY. Got the fabric from PPL. Call them they are very helpfull. Watch the you tube vidieo. Becarful with the springs in roller.
copsey wrote:
Huntindog wrote:
I did it. It really is best done with 3 people, and they all gotta be on the same page. Removing the remanents of the old one is pretty staight forward.
If your roller endcaps do not have the slot in them that matches up with the roller, you can make it with a dremel and a drill.
You will need a ladder person to feed the fabric into the top slot, and another ladder person to pull it along, and he has to keep repositioning the ladder as the fabric advances. The lower person can walk back and forth pretty easy.
The goal is to feed the fabric into the upper wall track/slot at the same rate as the lower/roller side, It must be fed at the same rate, and care must be taken to make sure it enters the upper track smoothly. Getting off kilter will result in the new fabric snaging and tearing on the edge of the upper track.
We installed the fabric in the roller first and walked the roller along as we fed the upper rail. My awning was a one piece, a two piece may be easier another way.
Are you saying that you removed the roller?- I helped a friend replace his fabric and it's definitely a diy project. As others noted it's much easier with 3 people.
Huntindog wrote:
I did it. It really is best done with 3 people, and they all gotta be on the same page. Removing the remanents of the old one is pretty staight forward.
If your roller endcaps do not have the slot in them that matches up with the roller, you can make it with a dremel and a drill.
You will need a ladder person to feed the fabric into the top slot, and another ladder person to pull it along, and he has to keep repositioning the ladder as the fabric advances. The lower person can walk back and forth pretty easy.
The goal is to feed the fabric into the upper wall track/slot at the same rate as the lower/roller side, It must be fed at the same rate, and care must be taken to make sure it enters the upper track smoothly. Getting off kilter will result in the new fabric snaging and tearing on the edge of the upper track.
We installed the fabric in the roller first and walked the roller along as we fed the upper rail. My awning was a one piece, a two piece may be easier another way.- I did it. It really is best done with 3 people, and they all gotta be on the same page. Removing the remanents of the old one is pretty staight forward.
If your roller endcaps do not have the slot in them that matches up with the roller, you can make it with a dremel and a drill.
You will need a ladder person to feed the fabric into the top slot, and another ladder person to pull it along, and he has to keep repositioning the ladder as the fabric advances. The lower person can walk back and forth pretty easy.
The goal is to feed the fabric into the upper wall track/slot at the same rate as the lower/roller side, It must be fed at the same rate, and care must be taken to make sure it enters the upper track smoothly. Getting off kilter will result in the new fabric snaging and tearing on the edge of the upper track. - Another source for awning fabric Replacement Awning Fabric
ghaindle wrote:
oakbowery wrote:
I just replaced the fabric on both my father's and my campers. We thought it was relatively easy. Definitely watch you tube videos prior to doing it. We bought our fabric at http://www.rvawningsmart.com/ and I am pleased with them. Mine was 21' and my father's was 16'. Took about 2 hours per awning for us. I priced the dealer doing it and the labor alone was $450 for just my awning. We bought the awning fabrics and all the necessary stuff for BOTH awnings for around $350.
My dealer quoted $440.00 labor to replace the fabric. I have had good service at reasonable prices from theses people before and since but I felt this was out of line for 45 mins of labor. I called Camping World and they quoted a price of $125.00 labor and $210.00 for the fabric. They ended up charging $95.00 labor. I waited for it while they changed it out. From the time I pulled in until I left was 48 mins. That amount of time aint worth $450.00.
Man.....I knew the local dealer here was high but it sounds like they are just ripping people off based on the numbers several of you have mentioned. Local dealer wanted $1100 for complete install. $450 labor and $650 for just the fabric. I quickly said "no thanks" and haven't been back. I've been driving an hour away to another much smaller dealer who seems very reasonable so far.
