| If you have a motor home, trailer, or pop-up camper, | | | | To cut down on costs when buying an awning, |
| you may want to consider purchasing a camper | | | | consider installing it yourself. Most sellers of awnings |
| awning. Camper awnings are made up of a large | | | | for campers will also sell or provide an installation kit |
| piece of weather-proof, retractable material that | | | | with arms or braces, horizontal rafters and the |
| attaches to the side of your recreational vehicle. | | | | awning material. Be sure to follow the detailed |
| Installing a camper awning is an inexpensive way to | | | | assembly instructions to ensure that you do not |
| increase your living space, provide greater rainproof | | | | damage the camper awning or injure yourself. You |
| space during a rain shower, offer increased shade in | | | | can generally install the awning in about an hour. |
| the sun, and reduce air temperatures within the trailer | | | | When cared for well, awnings can last the life of your |
| or motor home, allowing air conditioning to work | | | | RV. Be sure the awning is dry, wrinkle-free and |
| more efficiently. | | | | smooth when stowed. To keep water from pooling |
| The awning is generally made of either canvas, acrylic | | | | in the center, always set up your awning with a slight |
| or plastic material and attaches to the outside of the | | | | slant away from the center. As water pools, it will |
| RV with a wood, aluminum or light steel structure. | | | | break down the material and can lead to decreased |
| The awning can cover the whole length of the RV or | | | | water-proofing. Repair or replace awning supports |
| just a window or door. They can be purchased from | | | | regularly. An unrepaired support can damage the |
| an RV dealer, from a camping store or from an online | | | | material and lead to the whole awning being replace. |
| store. There are advantages and disadvantages to | | | | Clean the awning frequently, especially if you have |
| each purveyor. You will generally pay the highest | | | | camped in a dusty area. When not in use, roll up your |
| price from a dealer, though they will usually install the | | | | awning to protect it from wind damage. |
| camper awning for you. A camping store may be | | | | To ensure that camper awnings lasts as long as |
| cheaper than a dealer, but often has a poor selection. | | | | possible, buy name-brand, even if it costs more. It is |
| Finally, an online store may be cheapest still, though | | | | also preferable to avoid the electric awnings, as more |
| you may have to pay shipping and install the awning | | | | moving parts means more things to break and repair. |
| yourself. | | | | |