Awning deterioration

Has anyone inspected their awning (looking down from the roof to the attachment of the awning fabric to the side wall of the camper)? I was replacing the downspouts of our camper (all the original ones dry-rotted and broke off) and noticed al lot of cracks along the top of the awning and actually the first layer of the fabric (vinyl?) separating. It is pretty much along the whole length of the awning. I know there is this repair tape: http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/rv-awning-repair-tape/31349 , but I am not sure if this is a good and permanent solution for this type of repair. The damage is not ell the way through, just the first layer.
What do you think?

Hi Mike,

I used the tape when I had damage from the hail storm down in ADMIN's neck of the woods. It was back in 2008, and we traded the CAT in, it was still holding up just fine. The only issue I had with it was the tape looked like it sucked all the dirt out of the awning and it became dark, looking.

I think if you are looking to hold off on replacing it for a few more years, the tape will work fine. I put it on both sides for added strength.

Thats the area I've seen awnings start to fail from exposure. I've often thought of why is there not a product on the market to block the sun/rain off this area of the awning?
(Could be something as simple as a flap like on the roller end of the awning.)

I've used the tape on our old 5er and my dads TT. It worked OK for a year or so on ours but its definitey not a permanent fix. Then again, no fabric awnings are permanent.

Dads awning was already allowing water to seep between the layers when we taped it. It didn't last but a couple trips until it was leaking again.

I probably try that and see how long it will hold up. 3" wide will cover the area in question, but I don't think that 15' will be long enough, that would mean I need to buy 3 rolls of that stuff.

Be fore-warned... That tape is extremely sticky!!

Don't get it in your Cats hair and don't ask me how I know.

I wish they mounted the awning the same way slide toppers are mounted. They roll over instead of under.

Thanks for the input.

oldelmer1 wrote:

I think if you are looking to hold off on replacing it for a few more years, the tape will work fine. I put it on both sides for added strength.

I'll start out on one side first since it is not ripped all the way through.

Much of the damage could be prevented if we could block the sunlight and rain from getting on the awning when the trailer is parked at home. I can't remember if Scruffy saw this somewhere or thought of it - use a long piece of rain gutter (the stuff for houses) and attach it to the awning. It would provide shade and shelter from the weather. We haven't done this, but think it would be a good idea - we'll have to add it to our list. If any of you try this, let us know how it works - post pictures too please.

Tater

Shooter,
Good illustration in your first post.

Tater

Thanks Tater, I actually saw something in the last TrailerLife or Good Sams magazine.
Need to find it again and make some up, I guess.

Shooter,
Thanks. It was Trailer Life in the 10 minute techs section (easy to find, still on the coffetable). Although this isn't the same article that Scruffy saw sometime in the past, it's exactly the same idea. It has a photo that shows how it works.

Tater

I might do something like this:

Need to talk to a local sheet metal shop to see if they can bend me 2 pieces of 1/8" aluminum.

I was in my RV-parts department the other day and saw plastic shields that fit over the fabric part of the awning. I don't think it would prevent the problems that Shooter is expierencing, because it's not designed to cover that portion of the awning. It just covers the rolled up protion only. They came in about 4 ft. lengths and you just snap them over the rolled up protion. There made to cut for the exact length needed. Not cheap if I remember they were about 100.00 for a the covers that would cover my 16ft. awining.... I will see if I can get some more information on them...

Shooter,
The aluminum "roof" looks like a good idea. Let us know how it all works out.

I sense another mod coming on...

TC

The higher end awnings have metal in the area where you are experiencing the cracking. It rolls up with the awning. If you have to replace the awning, it would be an option. I plan to go that route if ever needed.

Still, the awning rolls up the wrong way.

Dan,
I meant to ask you about that. My slide-out awning rolled up the same as the big awning. I would say they roll over (top always stays on the outside as it rolls up). Are you saying that one of your awnings rolls the other way where the bottom side of the awning ends up on the outside of the roll? If so, doesn't all of the debris get caught when it rolls up?

TC wrote:I sense another mod coming on...

TC

You might be on to something It has been a while since I did install a larger part (last one was the bumper replacement).

moo2613 wrote:Dan,
I meant to ask you about that. My slide-out awning rolled up the same as the big awning. I would say they roll over (top always stays on the outside as it rolls up). Are you saying that one of your awnings rolls the other way where the bottom side of the awning ends up on the outside of the roll? If so, doesn't all of the debris get caught when it rolls up?

My awning does not. The under side becomes the outside. The awning rolls from the bottom and the the slide toppers roll from the top. I have never seen an awning that rolls from the top. The awning catches water and crap all winter long and as soon as spring has arrived it needs to be unrolled, aired out and washed. It is time for me to do that. Rain may have finally stopped. According to the makers of the awning if you do not do that they rot off.

I have the electric awning. Mine rolls from the top, but it rolls from the out position towards the cat. Sometimes I get a leaf or two that stick and roll up in the awning, but only if it's been raining.

I think if someone were to make an awning cover, they should consider adding something that will lightly squeegee the awning as it rolls back up; something that will float or flex to compensate for the increased diameter of the awning as it accumulates on the spindle.

TC

Portagie1968 wrote:

moo2613 wrote:Dan,
I meant to ask you about that. My slide-out awning rolled up the same as the big awning. I would say they roll over (top always stays on the outside as it rolls up). Are you saying that one of your awnings rolls the other way where the bottom side of the awning ends up on the outside of the roll? If so, doesn't all of the debris get caught when it rolls up?

My awning does not. The under side becomes the outside. The awning rolls from the bottom and the the slide toppers roll from the top. I have never seen an awning that rolls from the top. The awning catches water and crap all winter long and as soon as spring has arrived it needs to be unrolled, aired out and washed. It is time for me to do that. Rain may have finally stopped. According to the makers of the awning if you do not do that they rot off.

Not trying to steal the post here, but I think something is installed wrong with your awning. I have never seen one that rolls-up with the underside becoming the outside. That sounds like a recipe for disaster with like you said all of the crap that would get caught in it. It should look like Shooter's diagram in the original post.

If U open this PDF file U will see that all of there awnings open that way. When you wash it U apply the mixture to the top and as U roll it up the top applies it to the bottom. Look at figure 5 and it shows it is unwinding from the bottom. In the 7 years of traveling I have never seen one that opens up the way shooter shows it.

http://www.dometic.com/FileOrganizer/1-international/Operation%20&%20Installation%20Manuals/Awnings/8500-Plus_user-guide_EN.pdf

The top side of my electric awning always stays on the outside of the roll, I thought all of them rolled up this way. I know it makes them easier to clean that way.

My computer is running slow today so I can't see that pdf file. Dan I'm not saying you are right or wrong - or that your awning is right or wrong.

But, if you apply soap to one side of anything, when you roll it up, the soapy side will come in contact with the dry side, and it will get the dry side soapy.

Tater

Mine rolls up with the top on the outside.

Back on topic, I noticed mine had holes along the top section last season. I got a roll of Gorilla tape and ran 3 stips along the entire length of the rolled up top side. This repaired the holes and now prevents the sun from hitting the roll. I'm taking her out for the season's maided voyage in the morning so will advise on how it wintered. I used the Gorilla tape to repair the underbelly after cutting it open to run my 110 extension cord for my inverter wiring job. I patched the underbelly with the Gorilla then changed my mind and had to remove it. I could actually pick myself up off the ground with the tape before it let loose of the belly of the trailer! I have high hopes it skinned the awning top nicely.

Now that I looked at it again the drugs and the had me confused. The old, confused, portagie. Terrible to get old. Lets see if I can explain my way out of confusing everybody else. There is a mounting metal track on the RV. This is the part that confused me. All RV's that I have seen have there rolled up awning above the metal track. The slide toppers are lower than the metal track when they are rolled up. Because the awning rolls up above the rail it provides a place for the collection of crap and dampness and then the rot can start unless U have the metal cover. If U look at shooters diagram every awning I have seen, that is rolled up, is above the attachment. Not below it. Shooters roll is to low for every awning I have seen. This tearing can happen if the rot sets in because of all the rain and snow that can collect there. Also wind and wear and tear do not help. Now I got it straight I get confused over this. Thank you for your patience.
me please.

Dan,
61 is NOT old. Sometimes I wish I were 61 again.... well, not. I'm having too much fun.

Tater

You're only as old as you feel like.....