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Camping adventures are not just about the destination, they are also about enjoying the journey. Therefore, if you see beautiful places on your way to your camping site, it is okay to turn off the vehicle, get some chairs and a table and enjoy the vicinity and beautiful view. This can only be fun if your RV has an awning to shield you from extreme weather. An RV awning also comes in handy to make a memorable camping experience because it converts the RV front into a personal mobile patio where you can relax with loved ones for hours despite having extreme weather.
Despite an RV awning providing shade from the sun, it also shelters you from rain and wind, giving you the best outdoor moment with loved ones. Here is an article that will guide you through everything you need to know about RV awnings to make sure that you pick a product that gives you value for your money.
Types of RV Awning Shades
- Fixed awnings
These are similar to awnings installed in houses but come in smaller sizes to perfectly fit an RV. They come in handy to protect campers from extreme weather like rain and sun.
- Roller awnings
Here is an awning type that has flexible, soft but strong material. It is easy to roll the awning material underneath the roofline of the RV when not in use. This awning type is most prevalent among RV owners because it tends to be bigger than other awning types. Ideally, it comes in handy for those traveling in a group or for families. Nonetheless, this type of awning requires preventative maintenance because it features more moving parts.
- Slide-out awnings
This one is installed under the roof of the RV to protect the vehicle from the damage of weather elements. Mainly, it features canvas material, has gears and springs that ensure it is rolled up. Ideally, this makes it easy to assemble and disassemble whenever required. This type of awnings is highly affordable, making it common among occasional campers.
- Patio awnings
It looks a lot like the roller and slide-out awnings but its sides feature drop-down panels. Additionally, you can create a temporary room with this awning as it allows you to fasten the panels on the ground while securing it on the outer RV walls.
Setting this awning up is, however time-consuming and so it pays when you use it for a camping experience that is several days long. It creates a spacious floor space for you and your loved ones, giving you home-like comfort with privacy when away from home.
- Automatic electric retractable awning
This type of awning gives you a user-friendly, effortless, hands-free installation. With just a simple press of a button, this type of awning automatically sets itself up and features high-tech wind sensors that detect wind from afar. To prevent damage from extreme wind, this awning automatically folds up until the wind is over. Buying and installing this type of awnings is expensive and repairing it when damaged costs a lot of money. Ideally, these awnings use the RV battery to operate and this means that the battery can drain fast.
Factors to Consider When Buying an RV Awning
- Material
To get an awning that matches your needs, you must consider the material that makes the product. It is important to think about the season of the year when you will be using the RV awning to get a material suitable for that season. For instance, camping in summer requires you to get one that has breathable material.
Additionally, the material should block harmful UV rays to give you the comfort you require during such a season. An acrylic material will give you all that, making it great for summer camping. For a colder season, you need an awning that is waterproof to protect you from rain. Some of the common RV awning materials include;
- Polyester
This one is a prevalent material for RV awnings. The material is lightweight and this means that it can quickly dry when rained on. Its lightweight design also ensures that it is easy to set up.
- Acrylic
This one makes sturdy RV awnings but has a lightweight design. The material is rigid and this implies that it perfectly blocks sunlight and its harmful UV rays. Campers appreciate that it still allows light to penetrate through it despite blocking the sun’s rays. This type of RV awning material is more costly but worth the purchase.
- Traveling needs
The awning you get should perfectly fit your traveling destination, schedule, and needs. For adventures in the mountainsides, for instance, you should minimize electric consumption; therefore, avoid using the automatic awnings.
- Size
It is important to buy an awning that perfectly fits your RV to avoid wasting money. Go for a product that is half or a third the length of your RV for a suitable fit. Otherwise, consult with the RV’s manufacturer to get handy information about what exact size you should buy.
Benefits of Investing in an RV Awning
- Keeps you cool
If you are a summer camper, you definitely know how hard it is to bask under the sun all day without shelter. You need an RV awning to keep the temperatures regulated while outdoors. The RV awning also allows a cool breeze to penetrate through, keeping you and your loved ones cool throughout the camping adventure.
- Offers privacy
Even if you have the best campsite neighbors, you will need some privacy. An RV awning gives you that without blocking your view.
- Keeps you from the rain
Sometimes it might rain when outside camping. With an RV awning, you do not need to rush indoors because it keeps the rain at bay, giving you the best camping experience as you watch the rainfall. Most RV awnings will keep light rain away, but for heavy rains, you might have to seek shelter inside the RV.
- Offers an extra room
An RV awning creates extra space outdoors where you can relax with loved ones. Extending the awning with a shade creates an extra living space outside the RV where you can talk and enjoy drinks and meals with loved ones.
Conclusion
Camping and other outdoor events are enriching adventures in life and you need to make them as memorable as possible. One way to do this is by ensuring that you enjoy the moment to the full. Maximize the use of an RV awning and create the best camping experience for your loved ones.
It was helpful when you said to consider its material. My husband and I want to look into getting an awning for our RV in a couple of weeks so that we can be protected from the sun on our camping trips. We’ll keep this information in mind as we search for an RV awning to get!