Gearing up for the spring and summer travel season requires a lot of work for RV owners. Between preparing the RV water tanks, checking the durability of tires, and setting aside provisions and materials for your trip, there is no shortage of tasks to add to your to-do list. One easily overlooked aspect of RV preparation is checking to make sure your awning is in good repair.
Your RV’s awning provides an invaluable service to your traveling experience by providing shade and coverage from the elements. If left unattended for too long, damage can impact your awning’s performance. There are 4 key awning issues you want to be on the lookout for when preparing your RV for spring travel:
- Broken awning mechanism
- Splitting seams
- Mildew build-up
- Fabric that has stretched out
Broken Mechanism
Your RV’s awning provides shade, comfort, and a safe, dry space to enjoy the outdoors while you’re on the road. It’s a functional and necessary feature of your RV, but over time it sustains wear and tear from use and being left open under various elements. The mechanisms that bring your awning up and down and lock it into place might get worn out and fail to function properly. When this happens, the mechanisms at least will need to be replaced, if not your awning as a whole.
Splitting Seams
Split seams are never welcome when found in fabric, particularly fabric that holds a structure together. What may start as a tiny rip can quickly get out of hand and damage the integrity of your awning if not dealt with! At the first notice of a split seam, you should take action by fixing the tear immediately. For small tears in the stitching or seams, you might be able to get away with sewing or gluing the tape back together. However, larger tears may be too far gone to be able to replace on your own and will require the entire awning fabric to be replaced.
