How to Replace Fabric on a RV Awning
If the fabric on your RV awning tears or deteriorates beyond the point of repair, you must replace it. But replacing a RV awning is a difficult and possibly dangerous task, because the springs within the awning assembly are under extreme tension. If you do not have much experience working with springs and their tension, hire a professional to replace the fabric.
- Difficulty:
- Challenging
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Cotter pin
- Wrench
- Screwdriver
- Vise grips
- Drill with bit
- Awning fabric
- Rivets
- Rivet gun
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Disconnecting the Awning
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1
Roll out the awning fabric about 1 foot and lock it in place by inserting a cotter pin through the holes on each end cap. Line up the holes by rotating the inner shaft. Bend the cotter pin's ends to keep it in place.
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2
Disconnect the fasteners holding the awning in place. This includes the lag bolts holding the awning's rafters to the vehicle, which will likely require a wrench, and the screws at the sides of the fabric that hold it in position on the rail, which require a screwdriver.
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3
Unwind the fabric from the awning by disconnecting the awning arms from the side of the vehicle and walking the arms, tube and fabric away from the vehicle. This requires two people.
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4
Insert a vice grip up through each awning arm and clamp it down onto the arm's top end from the underside. This compresses these pieces so the arms can be disconnected.
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5
Unscrew and remove each arm from the assembly. There is a single screw at the front end of each arm you need to remove.
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6
Relieve the tension in the awning by removing the cotter pin and carefully unwind the spring. The spring's tension is exact and must have the same tension for reinstallation. Keep track of the number of times you unwind it; checking the instructions for the proper tension is even better.
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7
Remove the torsion assembly on each side of the awning by drilling out the rivets. Mark the cam handle's position on the awning tube before remove the torsion assembly so it can be reinstalled in the exact same position.
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8
Unroll the awning fabric from the tube by lifting up and turning the tube. Mark the tube to help you install the new fabric in the same position as the old.
Installing the New Fabric
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1
Thread the new awning fabric onto the tube, taking care not to tear it. You will likely need your assistant's help. Lay the old fabric underneath the new fabric to keep it from getting damaged. Tuck the fabric's cord ends into the tube once you know the fabric is centered.
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2
Connect the torsion assembly by lining it up with your earlier marks and riveting it in place. Use extreme caution when using the rivet gun.
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3
Return the tension to each torsion assembly by grasping the end pieces as before with the vice grips and winding the spring the exact needed number of turns with the assembly's wind top casting. Your assistant needs to be ready to insert the cotter pin once the spring is wound.
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4
Connect the arms back onto the awning using their screws.
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5
Connect the awning to the awning rail by feeding the awning cord into the rail. This may require a third person--two to hold the awning by the arms while one connects it. You should now be able to roll the fabric back onto the awning rail and connect the arms to the vehicle
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1
Tips & Warnings
Filing down the sharp edges on the tube with a metal file will protect the fabric from tearing.
