Wiktor Wise
Electric RV awnings are great for protection from the elements when you're outdoors. However, the awning fabric can become misaligned over time due to age, sun exposure, wind, and rain. Luckily, adjusting the fabric is a relatively easy DIY project that most RV owners can perform themselves. This involves first fully extending the awning and then unscrewing the screws near the edges of the fabric that affix it to the railing. The fabric can then be adjusted, and the screws put back in place before retracting the awning.
Characteristics and Values Table for Adjusting Electric RV Awning Fabric
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Awning Fabric Material | Canvas, Vinyl, or Fabric |
| Awning Fabric Condition | Worn-out, Wobbly, Misaligned, Crooked, Loose, Tight |
| Awning Maintenance | Regular Cleaning, Lubrication, Tension Adjustment, Screw Tightening, Replacement |
| Awning Replacement Procedure | Extend Awning, Secure Head Assemblies, Remove Polycord Screw, Detach Tube, Feed Fabric, Reinstall Tube, Lubricate Rail, Slide Polycord Tube, Reinstall Tube, Test Tension, Roll Awning |
| Tools Required | Screwdriver, Ladder, Helper |
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What You'll Learn
Adjusting the awning fabric tension
First, ensure the awning is open and unfurled. Locate the railing holding the fabric in place at the RV end of the awning. There should be screws near the edges of the fabric affixing it to the railing. Unscrew these carefully, being mindful of the tension in the extended awning. Gradually move the fabric over, little by little. As you do this, the arms should also move to the side, allowing you to realign them with the railing. Once everything is properly aligned, screw the awning's canvas back into the railing.
If you need to adjust the tension on the awning legs, start by raising the upper section of one of the awning legs. This will pull the support arm out from the side of the camper as it is connected to the upper leg section. Remove the screws at the base of the channel to release the support arm, allowing it to hang freely. Repeat this process for the other awning leg. Now, with a helper, detach the front awning leg from the side of the RV and stand it up, using a ladder to support it so that it can swing around freely. Rotate this leg clockwise, then reattach the leg and lower both sections completely. Test the tension, and if you're satisfied, move on. If not, repeat the process, rotating the legs one or two turns at a time, up to a maximum of 4 or 5 total turns.
Finally, put everything back together. Reattach both legs to the side of the RV, reinsert the "stops" into the upper leg section channels, and return the screws. Lower the legs completely, and your awning is now ready to use or be rolled back up.
It is important to consult your owner's manual for specific instructions and safety precautions, as well as properly lubricating your awning per the user manual.
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Fixing a wobbling awning
If your electric RV awning is wobbling, there are a few things you can try. Firstly, check the motor or its fitting. The fitting is typically a piece of plastic or metal attached to the drive shaft of the awning's electric motor on one side, and screwed in around the bar that the canvas winds around on the other. If the fitting looks loose or can be easily jiggled by hand, tighten the screws connecting the two, being careful not to overtighten as the materials are usually plastic or aluminium and can break or become misshapen. If this doesn't fix the wobble, check that none of the arm mechanisms have any loose screws.
If your awning is still wobbly, the motor may be welded on, and you may need to seek more professional expertise. If you are uncomfortable with troubleshooting electrical issues, it is recommended that you consult a professional RV repair technician.
To prevent awning issues, regular maintenance and inspections are key. Always keep an eye on the weather while travelling and retract your awning at the first sign of bad weather.
Another common issue with RV awnings is misalignment, which can cause jamming and prevent the awning from deploying. To check the alignment, fully extend the awning and place a level on the roller tube. If the roller tube is not level, inspect the fabric tension as sagging may indicate a problem with the spring tension.
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Reinstalling the roll tube
Now, with assistance, slide the polycord tube through the railing, then reinstall the tube into your awning's head assemblies on each side. Before reinstalling your final polycord screws, we recommend extending and retracting your awning several times to ensure that your fabric is centred on your roll. You will need to remove the zip ties to complete this step. Once you are happy with the positioning, screw in your last polycord screws using the previous holes for installation.
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Removing the awning legs
To remove the awning legs, start by raising the upper section of the front awning leg. This will also pull the support arm out from the side of the camper as it is connected to the upper section of the leg. There should be a set of screws at the base of the channel that prevents the support arm from leaving the channel. Using a #2 square head or an appropriate screwdriver for your screws, remove these screws so that the support arm can come out of the channel. The support arm should now be hanging freely at the side of the RV.
Now, move to the back awning leg and raise the upper section. Next, detach the front awning leg from the side of the RV and stand it up. Be careful as the leg will want to fall down without the support arm in place. You can set the awning pole on top of a ladder so the entire leg can swing around freely.
At this point, you should reattach the front leg to the side of the RV and raise it up a bit. Then, lower the rear leg, detach it from the RV, and prop it up on the ladder as you did for the front leg. You should now be at the rear of the awning facing the front.
Rotate this leg clockwise as many times as you did the front leg. Test the tension before proceeding. Reattach the rear awning leg, and lower both leg sections completely. You can leave the support arms hanging freely, but it might be helpful to simply slide the stops back into the leg channel. You do not need to put the screws back in.
Now, roll the awning back up to observe how tight it is. If you are satisfied, you can move on to the next step. If not, simply repeat the previous steps, rotating the legs one or two turns at a time, and performing no more than 4 or 5 total rotations.
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Realigning the awning arms
To ensure the arms are properly aligned, observe the awning arm rail and determine which direction it needs to move to achieve proper alignment. If the upper arm rail needs to move to the left, remove the left screw and pull the awning in the track to the left. Once you have made the necessary adjustments and are happy with the alignment, reinstall the set screw. This is also a good time to lubricate the awning according to the user manual.
Before proceeding, test the tension of the awning. If you are satisfied, reattach the awning legs to the RV and lower both leg sections completely. Ensure the support arms are reinserted into the leg channels, and return the screws to secure them in place. Your awning is now ready to be rolled back up or used as needed.
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