Forum Discussion

Ralph_Cramden's avatar
Ralph_Cramden
Explorer II
Jul 30, 2017

Experience with "Tough Top" or "Shade Pro" awning fabric?.

Our 2017 Rockwood Roo has the previous Dometic color scheme of charcoal for the awning fabric on the 9100 powered awning. What moron ever came up with this color for an awning is beyond me. It's like sitting under a radiant heater when the sun hits the totally black awning. It sure does look good though lol.

On the way home a few weeks back I scraped a road sign and although it only marked the rolled up fabric at the weathershield portion, that's my excuse to change the fabric from the idiotic charcoal.

Most Dometic or other replacement fabrics all are dark tones for the most part. I have found that both Tough top and Shade pro make solid color fabrics that can be obtained in a tan or even solid white on top.

Does anyone have any past or current experience with either company or their product?
  • Ralph_Cramden's avatar
    Ralph_Cramden
    Explorer II
    Jul 30, 2017
    Chris Bryant wrote:
    Acrylic is a woven fabric, so it will leak water. You can treat it to help a bit, but heavy rain will always leak.


    Well that settles that.......vinyl it is. I'll save the extra bill and a half for the bourbon and beer kitty.
  • Chris_Bryant's avatar
    Chris_Bryant
    Explorer II
    Jul 30, 2017
    Acrylic is a woven fabric, so it will leak water. You can treat it to help a bit, but heavy rain will always leak.
  • Ralph_Cramden's avatar
    Ralph_Cramden
    Explorer II
    Jul 30, 2017
    Next question......vinyl or acrylic?

    Tough Top = Vinyl although heavier than the OEM Dometic.

    Shade Pro = Vinyl or Acrylic. The Acrylic is not much more and per their info/FAQ breaths and is cooler. They say it lets moisture through. By that I am curious to will it let rain through. We leave the awning out 100% of the time at the campground as we set up an outdoor kitchen under it with a Campchef stove. I'm not familiar with the Acrylic bit it seems to have a few pluses over the vinyl.

    Thanks for the responses. Both seem to be good companies from what I can find on the net.
  • path1's avatar
    path1
    Explorer
    Jul 30, 2017
    Does anyone have any past or current experience with either company or their product?


    I have experience with Shade Pro. Mostly with one of their techs. Our new to us Carefree elec awning didn't work right. While in Yuma AZ a neighbor had their awning replaced. Shade pro did neighbors awning work. I asked the installer if he could take a look at ours. Installer finished with our neighbors and came over and in about 5 min had our awning working right. He said no charge and gave me shade pro card with his cell number on back and said call if anymore problems. He also said he has been working for them 16 years. Turns out awning was way out of adjustment. Then couple weeks later while at the swap meet (still in Yuma) I ran into their display sales booth. We bought what they call "Vista shade". The Vista shade works great.
  • alcaracu's avatar
    alcaracu
    Explorer
    Jul 30, 2017
    I replaced with tough top and was pleased with mat'l and cust. service
  • rv2go's avatar
    rv2go
    Explorer II
    Jul 30, 2017
    I replaced my slide out covers with toppers from Tough Top. Pleased with the service and material.

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