Been thinking a lot about RV awnings lately (yeah, I know, thrilling topic). I work in the industry - not here to sell anything, just trying to get a reality check from people who actually use these things.
I have heard everything from
- My awning is the best part of my setup
to
- If a gust of wind so much as sneezes at it, I am out $500
Some people swear by them, others barely use them.
So tell me: is your awning a game-changer or just another thing that breaks at the worst possible time? What is great, what is a nightmare, and what is something you wish awning manufacturers actually thought about?
Curious to hear the good, the bad, and the why-the-hell-does-this-even-exist stories.
2) This is the first post since 2024 in this thread
The only thing I can add to your post RVero01 is that awnings are consumable, not accessories. The way people use them, dictate how long they will last. The product itself, in particular the Carefree Brand, with all the extra fittings available, is quite good and strong. But it still has to be treated like a sail at sea.
Same here. You don't really need the awning out every day, especially when on a trip. I have a Thule on one side that, while it is electric quick and easier to setup, is nowhere near as strong as the Carefree I got on the other side. Another thing to remember is that the more you use the awning, the quicker the Vinyl deteriorate under the sun and becomes brittle.
In my travelling, I often noticed people pulling out the awning just to keep the next vehicle at a wider distance, and I also notice that, especially the younger generation, love to pull everything out more for a display of ownership than the actual intended use..
I also see often people using the awning to actually put the laundry undercover while it dries. That's not a bad idea either..
