Over time, your RV awning may sag or become difficult to roll up. This is normal and due to the awning's roller springs stretching from repeated use. Although you can take your RV to a certified shop, the cost can be a bit of a shocker. With some patience and tenacity, you can do the repair yourself as this article explains.
What You Will Need
Along with patience, you will only need a couple other things.
- Stepladder
- Phillips screwdriver
Steps to Take
- The awning wraps around a tube called a roller tube. Lower your awning to drop the roller tube as close to the ground as you can.
- There are two screws in the front support arms outer section. By removing them, the front support arms will be free to slide out.
- Place the stepladder under the roller tube and completely rest the awning on the ladder.
- Slide the tension arm from the channel. Turn the knob until it is tight. The inner section will stay in place, but the tension arm will hang alongside your RV.
- Take out the center section of the support arm, leaving the outer support. Turn your back away from your RV's front and rotate the support arm in a counterclockwise motion one revolution. Do not overtighten.
- Return the inner support arm to its original place and reattach it to the awning bracket.
- Slide the tension arm back into the outer support arm.
- Screw the two screws back into the outer rear section of the support arms.
- Repeat these steps to tighten the rear support arm's spring. Note that when you get to Step 5, rotate the rear support arm in a clockwise rotation rather than counterclockwise. Since you will be working on the rear support arm, the spring will be reversed.
Failure Prevention
Every three or four years, you should tighten your RV awning spring. A sagging awning can lead to your awning breaking should rain fill the droop and make the awning too heavy to be supported. The sag can also allow the awning to catch the wind easier, which can also lead to your awning breaking or even being ripped completely from the RV. If your awning does not have the proper tension when being rolled up, the awning frame can be loosened from the RV and eventually pull away. All of these damages can also be done at an RV repair shop like Cherokee Farms RV Center LLC. But, with a bit a prevention, you can save yourself a lot of money.
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