Occasionally, components on a camper may malfunction, including the awning. If the awning breaks, is it safe to drive the RV or tow the camper home? Absolutely not. Retractable awnings on campers are secured using spring pressure or motors. Damage to any part of the system could cause the awning to unfurl while driving, posing a risk to other vehicles. Awnings enhance camper living space, but their protrusion increases the likelihood of accidents, such as collisions with trees or signs.
Common Causes of Awning Damage
RV awnings are susceptible to various forms of damage. Strong winds can tear the fabric, bend the supports, or damage gears and torsion springs. Leaving the awning open during rainfall can lead to water pooling in the fabric, causing bending and twisting of metal parts. Additionally, collisions or impacts can crush or bend the tubes and side supports.
Wear and Tear on Awnings
Awnings, whether powered or manual, are equipped with components such as springs, gears, and motors that are susceptible to wear and eventual breakage. Additionally, the fabric itself can degrade over time due to flapping in the wind or exposure to moisture, leading to rotting.
Wind Hazards and Awning Deployment
During research, numerous RVers recounted instances where strong winds caused their awnings to deploy unexpectedly while driving. In such cases, the force of the wind was potent enough to overpower the motor or damage the gears, leading to the unwinding of the fabric as the wind deflected beneath the awning.
Preventing Awning Damage
Many instances of awning damage can be avoided by implementing simple safety measures and precautions. By exercising patience and diligence, you can save both time and money in the long run.
Protecting Against Wind Damage
Safeguard your awning from wind damage by rolling it up before leaving your campsite. Even if the weather seems calm upon departure, conditions can change rapidly. Failure to retract the awning in time during strong winds can result in bending or breakage. Moreover, a damaged awning flapping in the wind may cause additional harm to the camper’s sides, roof, or windows.
Consider investing in an anchoring kit, such as the one available on Amazon, if you prefer leaving the awning deployed. While these kits help mitigate wind stress on the awning frame, they’re not foolproof. Always exercise caution and retract the awning if a storm approaches.
Prevent Fabric Wear with Deflappers
Deflappers are essential accessories that clamp onto the fabric, securing the metal frame to prevent flapping in the breeze. This constant flapping accelerates fabric wear. By using deflappers, you can prolong the life of your awning fabric, reducing the risk of tears and fraying caused by light breezes. While deflappers won’t safeguard against extreme winds, they offer effective protection in moderate conditions.
Secure Your Awning While Towing
Before embarking on your journey, ensure your awning is properly stowed according to your model’s specifications. Tighten all knobs, and roll the rewind lever into the up position for added security. The fabric should be snugly wrapped around the tube to prevent any unfurling during transit. Consider investing in an awning lock, such as the one offered by Camco, to safeguard against unexpected gusts of wind unravelling your awning while on the road.
Maneuvering in Tight Spots
Navigate with caution and enlist a spotter when navigating through tight spaces. The spotter should also monitor the slope of the ground, as uneven terrain can cause the top of the camper to lean towards obstacles that the bottom may clear.
Addressing Awning Damage: Steps to Take
If your awning has sustained damage and is unable to be rolled or unrolled, it’s advisable to remove it before continuing your journey. However, if the damage is minor and the awning can be securely stored and tightly secured to the side of the camper, or if an awning lock is available, removal may be avoidable.
In cases where the tube is severely bent or the side supports fail to securely close against the camper’s side, preventing the fabric from rolling tightly around the tube, removal becomes imperative. An awning in this compromised condition is prone to unfurling completely while traveling on the highway, presenting a significant risk.
Capturing Visual Evidence: Take Pictures
Before removing the awning, remember to capture photographs of the damage. These images will be essential if you decide to file an insurance claim.
Awning Removal Procedure
Removing the awning typically requires at least two individuals, with three being even more helpful. Begin by disconnecting the side supports using a wrench. While doing so, your helpers should hold the sides to support them as they are removed. If the top edge remains undamaged, you can slide the fabric off by walking towards the back of the camper. However, depending on the extent of the damage, sliding may not be feasible. In such cases, you may need to cut the canopy from the camper.
If you find yourself unable to remove the awning independently, consider seeking assistance from a mobile RV repair service or contacting the nearest RV dealer for professional help.
Understanding the Necessity of Awning Removal
The imperative to remove the awning arises when damage occurs to the awning tube or the side supports become bent, preventing the awning from rolling up tightly. This damage may affect the locking mechanisms, gears, or torsion springs responsible for keeping the awning securely stored. If these components are broken or bent, they may fail to maintain the awning in its stored position.
The consequences of not removing the awning can be severe, especially when traveling at highway speeds. The force of the wind can exploit the weakened mechanisms, causing the fabric to loosen and unfurl. This uncontrolled unfurling effectively turns the awning into a sail, potentially ripping it and its supports off the camper and into oncoming traffic. Thus, timely removal is crucial to prevent such hazardous situations.
Addressing Rips in the Fabric
Even a small rip in the fabric, particularly at the point where it attaches to the top of the camper, can worsen while driving. This continuous tearing could result in the fabric completely detaching from the camper’s top. In such a scenario, the side supports alone will not suffice to prevent the awning tube from dropping to the ground. This sudden descent could turn the tube into a dangerous projectile, posing a threat to surrounding vehicles on the road. Therefore, addressing even minor rips promptly is essential to avoid such hazards.
Exploring the Cost of a New Awning
Investing in a new awning, complete with fabric and side supports, can entail a significant expense, sometimes reaching up to $2500. In personal experience, when our awning tube was crushed due to an accident involving a telephone pole, the total repair cost exceeded $3800. Approximately half of this amount went towards acquiring the new awning, with the remainder allocated for replacing damaged siding and installing a new gutter. To manage these costs, we opted to file an insurance claim and had the repairs handled by the dealership.