What is the Best RV Awning Fabric Material?
Awnings for an RV, camper, travel trailer or van need to be durable, sun-resistant, cool to sit under, and waterproof.
There’s only one material for the job, vinyl.
It may seem daunting to buy and replace RV awning fabric, but it’s easy to measure and buy the right size.
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For more information on measuring and replacing RV awning fabric check out this article here.
Replacing it yourself will take time and a few tools and parts and having multiple people to help is a good idea.
I suggest watching the video at the end of this article on how to replace RV awning fabric before deciding on whether you are up to doing it yourself or if getting professional help will be a better option.
If you decide to go the professional route, you can still get your own replacement RV awning fabric and then hire someone to do the hard part for you.
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In this article, I review some of the best RV awning fabric replacement brands and talk about the unique qualities and materials.
Each brand likely sells the right size of fabric for your trailer, so it’s more about what kind of budget you have, the quality you are looking for, and the style you want for your camper.
Here is my list and review of the best RV awning fabric replacements for manual or electric canopies on the market today.
Most Basic Fabric
Best Overall Fabric
Most Premium Fabric
Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best RV Awning Fabric Reviews & Info
1. ALEKO RV Awning Fabric Replacement
Aleko is a prominent producer of budget-friendly heavy-duty RV awning fabric replacements.
They have a lot of sizes and colors to choose from, all of them having the very popular hombre fade pattern on top.
The fabric is made of tightly woven vinyl that is UV, water, and mildew resistant.
It’s only water-resistant so if you are planning to use it as a rain cover, which I do not recommend for any RV awning, water may drip through it.
There are 4 different color options with the ombre fade pattern: brown, blue, grey, and burgundy.
There are also striped patterns you can buy in blue and black.
If you are considering getting a black awning fabric, remember that the color black soak in the heat and it can be warmer underneath than an RV awning with lighter colors.
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All the canopy fabrics are 8 feet wide, which is the standard for camper awnings.
It doesn’t matter if it is a manual or electric camper awning because the sizes are the same.
The only difference if you buy a kit specifically for a manual RV awning is it will come with a replacement pull-down strap.
There are all different lengths to make the fabrics compatible with all sizes and brands of campers and trailers.
Remember, even if it says a whole number like 12 feet, it’s going to be shorter than that because there needs to be a gap between the end caps of the awning tube.
ALEKO RV Awning Fabric Replacement’s are thinner than other brands but will do the job for those on a budget.
PROS
- Multiple Color Options
- Multiple Pattern Options
CONS
- Thin Material (1 Ply)
- Not Waterproof
2. RecPro RV Awning Fabric
RecPro makes another fantastic basic RV awning fabric replacement.
While it may not be an upgrade from the awning fabric your trailer or camper came with, it will certainly be better than a torn, moldy awning.
Made of vinyl, the fabric is UV and weather resistant.
It is not waterproof, which means water may drip through when it’s raining.
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There are three color options: ocean blue fade, camel fade, and gray fade.
Each color has different size options. Ocean blue has 12, 17, 19, 20, 21, and 22 feet.
Camel fade has 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 21, and 22 feet. Grey fade has sizes that are 19, 21, and 22 feet.
There is sure to be a size to fit almost any kind of RV canopy or 5th-wheel/travel trailer awning.
RecPro RV Awning Fabrics don’t have as many color options as others.
The material is a little thinner than I would like, and it’s not waterproof.
But there are tons of size options to fit a huge variety of campers.
It will keep the sun off of you and your family, which is the main purpose of an RV canopy.
If you have a torn or moldy RV awning, the RecPro is a great basic option to replace the bad fabric.
It’s about the same quality as the awning fabric RVs manufacturers use.
PROS
- Multiple Color Options
- Lots Of Different Sizes
- Great Basic Choice
CONS
- Not Waterproof
- Thin Material (1 Ply)
3. Shade Pro RV Awning Fabric Replacement
Shade Pro makes thick, high-quality camper awning fabrics that are heavy and very durable.
Its standard vinyl is 13 oz 3 ply, cold-crack, and mildew resistant.
With 3 layers of vinyl, the fabric is fairly waterproof and a good option for those who want to risk having their RV canopies out in the rain.
There is a wide variety of colors and sizes available. From 10 to 21 feet.
The colors have and ombre fade and the choices are: slate blue fade, burgundy fade, charcoal fade, dune fade, and reverse charcoal fade.
They also have a unique checkered patterned RV awning fabric that looks great on toy haulers.
It comes in multiple sizes as well.
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The manufacturer says the RV awning fabrics are made to fit Carefree, Dometic, Lippert, Carter, and Faulkner awnings.
But if the measurements are correct, then it should work for whatever awning your RV, travel, trailer, or camper has.
It’s compatible with manual and electric awnings as well. The width is the standard 8 feet.
Shade Pro RV Awning Fabric Replacements are tough, thick, cold-resistant, and will last for years to come.
If you don’t want to replace the RV awning fabric again and again, this is one of the best awning replacements you can buy.
There are a lot of great options and with their 3-year limited warranty, Shade Pro has your back.
PROS
- Thick Vinyl Fabric (3 Ply)
- Durable
- Cold Crack Resistant
- Cool Pattern Options
- Lots Of Size Options
- 3 Year Warrenty
CONS
- None
4. SunWave RV Awning Fabric
SunWave is another high-quality RV awning fabric replacement brand that makes its fabrics from very thick and durable material.
They use 15 oz vinyl with a 16 oz weather shield that is heat welded together.
This creates an extremely durable and hefty canopy material.
A unique feature because of the heat welding is the fabric has a colored pattern on both sides.
Normally RV awnings are white underneath, so you never get to enjoy the patterns.
Using the double sided RV awning fabric, Sunwave lets people enjoy their patterned RV canopies from below.
There are a few color options with an ombre fade.
They include: ocean blue, grey fade, camel fade, brown stripe, teal green stripe, and burgundy fade.
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There are size ranges from 8-22 feet.
Remember, the measurements are from the arms and the actual fabric length is always shorter to fit correctly between the RV awnings end caps.
SunWave RV Awning Fabrics are made to fit any type of camper or trailer awnings and they come with a replacement strap for manual awnings.
They will still work for electric RV awnings. You just won’t need the strap.
If you want a thick RV awning fabric that will look nice and last for years and years, Sunwave is a smart choice.
It will also save you time in the long run because you won’t need to be replacing it as often as a thinner, less durable canopy.
PROS
- Multiple Size Options
- Color & Pattern On Both Sides
- Made With 15 oz Vinyl
- 16 oz Weather Shield
- Comes With Manual Awning Strap
CONS
- None
5. Awnlux RV Awning Replacement Fabric
Awnlux makes the thickest RV, camper, and trailer awnings on the market today.
They use 16 oz 3-ply polyester reinforced vinyl for a waterproof, UV resistant, durable, and long lasting RV awning.
Their kit is geared towards manual RV awnings, but it will work for electric awnings as well.
Included with the purchase of the fabric, you get some poly cord for the roller tube, a replacement strap, an installation manual, a press plate, and an S-hook.
There are multiple color options: ocean blue, black fade, blue stripe, burgundy fade, and grey stripe.
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They have a ton of size options to fit most lengths of campers.
Awnlux RV Awning Replacement Fabrics are made of high-quality fabrics and materials.
They’re a great option if you are looking for a replacement awning fabric that is also an upgrade from the one that came with your RV, camper, or travel trailer.
It’s the most premium option in this review.
If you camp a ton and like to have the RV awning out as much as possible, it’s one of the most durable RV awning fabrics out there.
PROS
- Super Durable
- 16 oz Polyester Reinforced Vinyl Material
- Lots Of Parts To Help With Replacement
- Multiple Color Options
CONS
- Very Premium Option (Not So Budget Friendly)
What To Consider When Replacing Your RV Awning Fabric
Measurements
It may seem like it’s difficult to measure and buy the right size of RV awning replacement fabric, but it’s really pretty easy.
Just measure from arm to arm on your awning to get an idea of the large measurement, then measure from end cap to end cap on the roll tube.
Read what the final length of the awning material is and if it is shorter than the measurement between the end caps, you are good to go.
For more detailed instructions on how to measure for replacement awning fabric, check out this article.
RV Awning Fabric Material
All RV awning fabrics are made with some kind of vinyl because it is durable, UV resistant, water-resistant, and can stand being rolled in and out repeatedly.
But not all vinyl is made equal. The more layers of vinyl the fabric has and the heavier it is, the better quality it will be.
For instance, the basic RV awning fabrics will just be made with a single layer of vinyl. The premium ones will have 3 or even 4 layers.
If you only camp a few times a year and rarely use your RV awning, a basic option will most likely be enough.
If you use your awning all the time and camp a lot, I recommend getting a thicker premium RV awning fabric.
Manual or Electric Camper Awning
Though they are very different to set up and take down manual and electric awnings are very similar in build.
The same awning fabric will work for either of them. The only difference is the strap that manual RV awnings have to open and close them.
The manual RV awning fabric kits will usually come with a replacement strap and you can still use them on electric RV awnings.
Replacement RV Awning Fabric Color
There is a wide selection of colors you can buy for your RV, travel trailer, or camper.
Remember that lighter colors will reflect the sun and darker colors will soak in the sun.
You can feel the difference between a white or light-colored awning when you stand under it compared to a black one.
If you camp where it’s sunny and hot, go with a lighter colored awning fabric over a dark one.
Conclusion & My Recommendation For Best RV Awning Fabric
For RV awning fabrics, the major differences between all the brands and kinds are the material and thickness.
The thicker fabric is going to be a more premium option, while a thinner fabric will be a little more basic and affordable.
If you only camp a few times a year and never have your camper awning out when it’s raining, a thinner fabric should work fine.
If you are a camping fanatic and you want the most durable, waterproof RV awning available, the premium option is going to be the best way to go.
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Luckily, most brands have tons of different size, color, and pattern options to fit any style and color of camper.
There should be an option out there to fit every kind of RV or trailer.
Below are my recommendations based on the different styles of camping.
Best RV Awning Fabric Overall – Shade Pro RV Awning Fabric Replacement
Shade Pro makes some of the best RV awning fabric replacements out there.
It’s made with 3-ply vinyl and while it may not be the thickest fabric in this review, it will hold up against the elements.
What’s great about Shade Pro is the enormous selection of sizes, colors, and patterns they offer.
The selections are easy to navigate and they have a limited 3-year warranty.
RVs, travel trailers, pop-up campers, and even vans have such a wide variety of awning sizes on them.
It can be hard to find the fabric that will fit yours.
That’s why Shade Pro is going to be the best option for most campers.
They offer tons of sizes and they are a good mid range quality between the thickest most premium fabrics and the thinner basic ones.
Most Basic Option – ALEKO RV Awning Fabric Replacement
If you pulled your RV or trailer out of storage recently and opened up the awning only to find mold, tears, or holes, you probably need to replace the fabric.
Some people only camp a few times a year and just need a decent replacement fabric that will keep the sun off of the camper a few times.
The Aleko RV awning fabric is a superb choice for people who just want a very basic fabric to replace the old camper awning with.
It’s not the thickest or the most durable, but it will do the job for most summer/weekend campers.
Most Premium Option – Awnlux RV Awning Replacement Fabric
If you camp a lot or live full time in your RV, a thick camper awning fabric that is waterproof and will hold up against the elements is going to be the best way to go.
RV awnings are not known for their strength against the wind or rain.
A higher quality fabric like the one made by Awnlux will hold up better against regular use.
The high quality fabric combined with the wide variety of size and color options makes this a fantastic option for RVers who want to get more out of their RV awning.
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Frequently Asked Questions About RV Awning Fabric
How much wind can an RV awning take?
Not a lot.
Manual RV awnings can take a little more wind than electric RV awnings.
That being said, it’s never a good idea to leave your awning out in a windstorm or when you will be gone from your trailer for an extended amount of time.
How do I make an RV awning wind resistant?
Manual and even electric can be secured to the ground using poles and straps or just straps to make them a little more sturdy when it’s windy outside.
Use ratchet straps and stakes to secure each corner of your awning to the ground.
Make the straps tight, but not so tight that it damages the awning arms.
Even after securing your RV awning against the wind, a large gust can still damage it.
If a windstorm is coming, it’s a better idea to retract the awning.
What is the best RV awning fabric material?
Vinyl is one of the best materials for things that will be in the elements a lot.
The best RV awnings are made with multiple layers of vinyl.
Multilayered vinyl is the best RV awning material or fabric.
What direction does RV awning fabric replacement go?
90% of RV awning fabric replacement goes color side up and white side down.
When sitting under your awning, you will look at the white side.
How Do I Open A Manual Camper Awning?
You can open an automatic RV awning with just the press of a button, but the manual kind are a little more complicated.
I’ve written a how open a manual RV awning post here you can check out for full instructions.
How to replace RV awning fabric
Replacing RV awning fabric is simple in principle and very possible for people who know a little about repairing.
But it’s a time consuming process that will require at least another person to help.
Manual RV awnings are more difficult to replace than electric ones, but the principle is the same no matter what kind you have.
I recommend watching the video below to help you decide if replacing your RV awning fabric is something you want to do yourself.
If not, it might be worth it to take the replacement fabric and your camper to an RV repair shop or dealer and have them do it for you.
Have any more questions about RV awning fabric? Leave a comment below.
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I have lost my awning to wind gusts before . why can’t they make an awning that has a flap to let the pressure off from wind something like the air flap on an patio umbrela
even if it is held down with velcro it is much easier to reposition it back over the hole than replace a torn awning and broken arms
That’s an awesome idea, lets hope they get more innovative with RV awnings in the future.
A lot of RVs with electric awnings now come with a retract feature that brings the awning in automatically if the wind starts to kick up. An RV awning serves a much broader purpose than a patio umbrella, protecting the things under it from getting soaked, so the vent flap is probably not a good idea and wouldn’t be that effective anyway.
Good morning, I’m looking for the awning fabric on the Starcraft Ar-One Maxx 21FB Travel Trailers. But, the awning model # is peeled off. I reached out to Jayco, whom informed that the Lippert’s part number is V000372597. The awning has a track for LED lights and is for 16’ fabric.
The fabric is falling apart in dire need of replacement. any idea which Awning model is equal to the discontinued model?
Hi Mila,
To replace the fabric you need to measure the distance between the awning arms from the inside, then get a replacement awning fabric that’s a few inches shorter.
It looks like your model might have a 16 foot 6 inch awning, that measurement is from the outside of the awning arms. It’s a little bit of an irregular size, which is why you should measure the distance from inside the arms to see if a standard awning replacement fabric will fit.
I always recommend ShadePro, they have a replacement fabric for 17 foot RV awnings that’s 16 feet 2 inches in total width (click to view on Amazon). If the two extra inches will fit the ShadePro fabric should work great as a replacement.
They also have a smaller size with awning fabric for 16 foot RV awnings that’s 15 feet 2 inches in total length. If the larger size won’t leave a good gap between the edges of the fabric and the awning arms you could go with the smaller size.
You can read more about measuring for replacement RV awning fabric here.