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A Guide to Choosing the Best Fabric for Your RV Awning
Whether you’re looking to buy the first awning for your RV or you’re just planning to replace the old one, most customers stumble upon this one question; “Which awning fabric should I choose?” The fabrics used in awning have a direct impact on its durability, water-resistance, and other characteristics that RVers tend to look for. With so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to pick the right awning material. But when armed with information, you can confidently select which fabric suits your needs. Here is our guide to choosing the best fabric for your caravan awning.
Vinyl fabric
Vinyl fabric is one of the major fabrics used in making RV awnings alongside acrylic. It exhibits waterproofing and fire-retardant characteristics that make it a very popular choice for both newbie and seasoned caravanners. Vinyl fabric is composed of several layers of laminated materials that effectively repel water without compromising its breathability. Usually, vinyl awnings made for RVs are mildew-resistant but aren’t recommended for use in humid environments. They’re also generally heavier than acrylic awnings so keep that in mind when choosing between the two.
Where vinyl fabric excels is its durability. You can expect vinyl awnings to last for years and hold up against all types of weather conditions. Vinyl fabric is resistant to tearing, UV light, heavy wind, and rain, thus making it an excellent choice for the adventurous RVer.
Acrylic fabric
Acrylic fabric is another popular material used for RV awnings. Typically, these awnings are made of a woven cloth that’s lightweight and breathable. Acrylic awnings tend to stay cooler than other types of awnings which makes them perfect for summer road trips and adventures. Because acrylic fabric promotes good airflow, it limits the amount of moisture buildup and prevents mildew growth in wet weather.
Although acrylic fabrics are water-resistant, they aren’t fully waterproof. If you’re RVing during the rainy season, we suggest choosing another type of awning that offers better waterproofing characteristics. One thing worth mentioning is that acrylic awnings retain colour much better than vinyl so if that’s something important to you, then this fabric is a good choice.
Metal
Metal and aluminium awnings were very popular back in the 70s due to their sturdiness and bulletproof reliability. They’re the most durable awning materials out there and are guaranteed to last for years when taken care of. While metal awnings are durable, they often require regular maintenance to keep rust at bay. This meant repainting the awnings whenever the exterior paint starts to deteriorate. It also acts as a heat magnet during the summer months which limits its versatility to a certain extent.
You rarely see metal awnings on RVs nowadays because they’re just too heavy and they cannot be rolled up. Aluminium awnings are slightly better in terms of heat conductivity and they don’t suffer from rust problems. However, they are prone to denting which presented another problem for RVers. Still, if you can manage to look past the weight and prefer solid metal or aluminium over fabrics, then you can definitely have one custom-made according to the specifications of your RV.
Choosing the best awning fabric for your RV
When choosing the best awning fabric for your RV, it’s all about evaluating your needs as a caravanner. Is the climate in your region more tropical than temperate? Or is it the other way around? For example, acrylic awnings are best for caravanning during summer because it stays cool even when the sun is up. Vinyl awnings, on the other hand, are for road trips where you’ll be expecting a bit more weather than usual as its rugged construction is more durable than acrylic.
In general, both materials are excellent for providing shade and protection from the elements without being too bulky. But if you were to ask us on which fabric we recommend, we would definitely go with vinyl. Vinyl awnings are perfect for year-round use and its versatility far outmatches that of acrylic. Regardless of whether you’re hitting the back roads on a bright, sunny day or tackling the mountains on a rainy season, you can expect a vinyl awning to hold up and not suffer from any wear or tear.
But not all RV awnings are created equal and the quality of the fabrics used will vary from one manufacturer to another. A good rule of thumb is to buy the best RV awning you can afford. Reputable brands such as Fiamma and Carefree offer superior quality products that cater to all sorts of RVs like motorhomes, caravans, camper trailers, and even 4x4s. Best of all, their vinyl fabrics are heavier duty compared to other manufactures that use cheap materials. Considering that your RV is a major investment, you want to purchase the best parts and accessories and these types of awnings can definitely enhance your caravanning experience to a new level.
