How To Change Gas Struts On Rv Awning

Cleaning the Awning the Easy Way

Our large 21 pes Dometic 9100 RV ability awning is made out of vinyl and has held up very well after four years of full-time RVing. I mostly clean information technology every few months by post-obit the procedure outlined in the owner's manual.

The manual advises using a mixture of ¼ loving cup bleach, ¼ cup dishwashing liquid added to 5 gallons of water. It and then states to spray this solution liberally all over the height of the awning and roll it back up. Wait nigh five minutes, unroll the canopy and hose it off well with fresh water.

I have my own lilliputian method of doing this. I use a one.v-gallon manual pump garden sprayer filled with water and add about i/8^th cup of bleach and 1/viii^th loving cup of Dawn dish soap. I give the open awning a good hose off to remove any loose debris then spray the top side downwardly with my garden sprayer. I then whorl her back upwardly and look 10 or 15 minutes.

Awning cleaning solution

After finishing off my beverage of choice, I unroll the canopy and give it a actually proficient rinse. You lot want to make sure all the bleach is gone or information technology may damage the fabric threads holding the awning together. I may do the cleaning procedure ii or three times depending how muddied the awning is.

To complete the awning clean, I use something called Unproblematic Green spray cleaner. I use information technology to clean whatever stubborn stains that may be left over and as well make clean the arm levers and slider mechanisms, so rinse again.

Spot cleaning with Simple Green

Lubricating the RV Ability Awning

The owner'south manual for the 9100 Dometic power awning states to utilize a silicone lubricant. I spray a silicone based lubricant into all the awning's arm joints and at each stop of the long roller tube. I also apply the lubricant to the adjuster thumb screw, slide groove and on the exposed piston rod. I and so open and close the canopy multiple times to piece of work the lubricant in. Our Keystone Cougar remote comes in handy at this point allowing me to relax my camp chair while hard at piece of work maintaining the rig.

Lubricating the awning arm

Protecting My Vinyl RV Canopy

Once the canopy is all clean and lubed I use a product chosen 303 Aerospace Protectant to finish things off. The 303 Aerospace Protectant keeps the sun and elements from causing the canopy vinyl to fade and crevice, extending its lifespan. To get at the hard to reach areas I use my long RV washing brush with a chamois cloth wrapped around it.

Applying 303 Aerospace protectant

RV Awning Roller Ball

When our canopy is tilted to shed rain water our RVs archway door rubs on the canopy when open. This creates a black streak on the underside and could eventually cause permanent harm. And then to forestall that I've installed a neat piddling gadget called an Canopy Roller Ball from Camco. It attaches to the door with two screws and on the end has a slick round plastic ball that glides across the awning fabric instead of the metal door edge.

Video Detailing My RV Awning Maintenance

Concluding Odds and Ends

At present that the awning is whistle clean and shiny new looking it'due south a good time to inspect the hardware and tighten up any loose screws. I also check the electric connection for corrosion, the stitching and clean out any droppings that may accept jammed up in the gutter above the canopy.

EZ Travel Collection RV Awning Shade Complete Kit 8'x20' (Black)

Awing Failure Tip – I've always wondered what the heck I would practice if the ability canopy one day failed and wouldn't retract. Turns out there are to possible courses of action if this happens to my Dometic 9100 awning.

On the arm closest to the trailer front end is a 12-volt wire connection. You can unplug information technology and utilise 12 volts from an external supply or battery and see if it will burn down up the motor. If it doesn't budge then go to option number two.
Attach an included strap to a groove in the long awning roller and get a friend to hold onto it. Next unplug the power connector and remove the two five/32 hex key screws located on the canopy tube end closest to the front of the RV. The awning should roll up manually. Then add together back the 2 screws so you tin can travel with the broken awning.

Manual awning retraction