7 TIPS for Replacing RV Patio Awning Fabric Which I Learned THE HARD WAY

Is replacing your RV patio awning fabric a DIY project? YES. Here are some critical installation tips I learned the HARD WAY to help you with your fabric install. I'll also take a tour of Tough Top Awnings to see how the custom replacement fabric is made.

New custom awning fabric will shed years off your RV's appearance! We LOVE the look and quality of this fabric. Here's how you can save a few bucks on your custom order.

*GET 5% OFF on Custom RV Awning Fabric from TOUGH TOP AWNINGS*

*Video Topics*
00:00 Replacing RV Awning Fabric
02:30 How to Measure RV Awning Material
03:00 How RV Replacement Awning Fabric is Made
04:50 How to Replace RV Awning Fabric
07:23 How to Remove RV Awning Tension
18:45 How do You Adjust Tension on Retractable Awning
20:08 How to Remove Fold Lines on Vinyl Replacement Awning Fabric
20:40 How to Keep RV Awning Straps From Making Noise or Creating a Bulge

*More about this video*
If your curious how to install replacement RV awning fabric, then this video will show you how I performed some of the general steps. My awning hardware is a manual pull DOMETIC awning. You may have a different type of awnings.

Several other videos are available on Tough Top Awning's website to walk you through the install for your type of awning.

I hope the LESSONS LEARNED outlined in the video are helpful for you.

You could also consider this a review of Tough Top Awnings materials and service. I've been familiar with the quality of their fabric and support for a long time. This is the reason I decided to turn to Tyler for help with my awning fabric replacement.

Finally, I wanted to challenge myself to see if the patio awning replacement could be done without any additional helpers. I've only seen it done with multiple people. As you'll see in the video, I wasn't able to do it.

In the process of experimenting with alternate ways to do things, I ran into serious trouble and made a few mistakes along the way. I also learned a lot about how to tension an RV awning since I had to do it multiple times. It all worked out in the end and my injuries were minor.

Overall we really love the new awning fabric and look forward to many years of use.

Good luck with your install! Feel free to leave me comments and questions about this project.

*Disclaimer*
The opinions expressed in our videos are our own or from a contributor. Before taking on any project or making a large purchase, we recommend you do your own research and consult a professional for advice. We are NOT liable for any damage to your RV or injury incurred as a result of following our tips, advice or instructions. We are not RV professionals or certified technicians. We are simply RV owners who work on our own RVs and have a desire to share what we learn with others. Be responsible and know your limits.

*Affiliate Disclosure*
This video may include links to merchants with affiliate programs who pay us a commission on purchases made or actions taken after clicking the link. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

[rsg]

I like that you don't hide the mistakes and are humble about when to ask for help. Excellent vid!

[yearsaprepperr.jtilbury.]

I changed my Fabric last week after watching this vid, Thankfully i didnt loose any fingers or any claret, I was a lot easier due to this vid for sure I also had a marker pen and put arrows to remind me the way to preload the springs, Oh and a Bloody big set of Vice grips .Funny thing i went to the rv repairer they quoted me near $2000 to change the fabric I purchased the new fabric for $465.00 AUD saved over fifteen hundred bucks ! I love winning

Thanks again buddy

Rob
NSW
Australia

[davew]

I changed mine by myself (with no help) a couple weeks ago. To pull it through the top track, I tied a small pulley onto the rear arm of the awning. I attached vice grips to the leading edge of the awning (with a protective cloth between the awning material and the vice grips). Then I tied a rope to the vice grips, ran the rope through the pully, and ran the rope back to the front. As I fed the awning into the track, I pulled on the end of the rope, which pulled the leading edge of the awning to the rear of the RV.

[painterbob]

Oh my gosh thank you much for your great video! Man it is so helpful and I love the fact that you included what NOT to do also. I have made so many mistakes along the way and the fact you included them in the video is fabulous. What a great teacher you are. I was not actually looking to replace the fabric but was trying to find out how to replace and put on the coil and housing on my brothers camper that BROKE IN HALF during a heavy rainstorm while we were camping recently. *Note to self....ALWAYS put your awning in at night especially when they are forecasting heavy rains! I really enjoy your videos, keep up the good work!

[badactor]

I need to do this soon. You have no idea how grateful I am for your video. This will be exceedingly helpful when I get my new fabric. Thank you for showing us how to do this.

[rodneyferguson]

This Video is one of the Best I've seen on this, I wish it'd been up a couple of Months ago, LOL!
My Father-In-Law has an OLD Motorhome and when we had that Big Snow Storm (For Texas, anyway, LOL!), he didn't roll his Awning in so the weight of the snow tore his awning completely in two. So he Ordered a new Replacement and My Wife and I Installed it. My FIL said next time, he's just gonna pay to have it installed even though the Company was gonna charge more for Installation than what the Fabric cost.
1 thing I can add is MAKE SURE YOUR CHANNELS ARE CLEAR!. My FIL's fabric had been in there so long, the Piping was sealed in with dirt and oxidation. I used water from a garden hose along with a wire brush and a screwdriver to try to get them clean. Next time, I'll use my pressure washer! If dirt is still in the channels, the Fabric will bind up and not slide.
Also, use a silicone spray lubricant to help it slide in (I had a spray can of Food Grade on hand) and like Tito said....at least 2 people to install! There are Videos saying it's a one person job and I've seen 1 that even says you don't even need to remove any framework, both top and bottom can be done at the same Couldn't.

[jwright]

Ouch, I could feel what your hand was about to feel before your hand felt it. I had the vicegrips slip out of my hand and beat the ever-living-snot out of my fingers. I went into the house and ran it under cold water because I was afraid to look at it. Two person job for sure, I learned that lesson the hard way too.

[rodandanner]

This was the best video for installing an awning I've. Cut and dry, to the point. I have mine still in the box brand new. Just got it July 28th from Shade Pro. Once I get back to my 35 foot Dutchman Denali in another state, my neighbor and I are going to install it. Thanks for showing the wrong ways and right ways.

[WhiteFox]

Perhaps the one thing that I like best about your videos, is that even though you are obviously an experienced RV'r, you understand life, and are not afraid to admit that you don' know EVERYTHING! And that much of your knowledge is earned through misadventure and EXPERIENCE.

[lolal]

👍🏻 to a brave soul in tackling this project on your own !!

[billybrowning]

I have same end caps. You can avoid taking both those off and messing with the springs or rivets. On one side just drill a whole where the slots are to run the fabric in. Cut that little piece of metal over the slot making it a clear shot to stick the cords in and pull fabric through. Done quick and without smashing your hand with spring which I also did as seen on here but worse. I saw the easy trick afterwards

[emanuelneiconi]

I know I should not have laughed out loud, but the "Ah crap!" look on your face at 18:49 was priceless. Thank you for sharing your mistakes, I mean, tips with us!

[edd]

Brian - Know what I love about you more than your excellent informative videos? You keep it real. A lot of guys would have cut out those painful mistakes, not you... valuable lessons! I have done the same project on my rig (my first "big" project). Definitely a multiple-person project! I also used a replacement from Tough Top Awnings. I can't begin to tell you how happy I am with the product and the customer support. One lesson I learned that I will pass along, make sure that on the right side you use short rivets. I didn't have the right size and the locking mechanism wouldn't fully engage (hitting the rivet). BTW - An excellent tip on the strap, thank you... got to try that on mine.

[dunlapmichaell]

I replaced ours with help. It looks like you watched the same video I did before I started. My wife says I have a 3-stooges sense of I had to laugh when the spring flew loose. Thanks man.

[TerrydeAlaska]

Thanks for showing us how you put your awning on and all your mistakes, because we all learned when we make mistakes so I think we learn more by seeing your mistakes. It's always better to have helped but one of the things you could have done is put a pulley on the back side of the RV on the roof and attach 1 line to the awning with a clamp and you pull the other line as you feed the new awning into the the track rail. Great job...

[BillAndersonNS]

Great tips. Thanks. Often times what-not-to-do is the best kind of tip.

[johncaruana]

Great video. Glad you show the mistakes so we can learn from them without the pain.

[jonknouf]

Thanks Brian
For being transparent, it gives us a shot of reality so we can get it done right .I just replaced my power awning on my class C exactly a week ago all by myself and didn’t have to disengage any spring - lucked out .My project went slow but turned out really well .Thanks again Brian : )

[jimmydeen]

Great Video.. I bought a Scaffold ladder from Amazon several years ago now it’s a one person installation for my awning and slide tops, works wonderful..

[russellnesbitt]

Ouch! I have been there. I know that pose, bent over moving your hands up and down. When I did it, it hit my thumb. I thought it broke it, but it did not. Very sore, for a while. Thanks for your video.