DIY: How to Replace the Awning on Your RV

If you have found that your RV awning is a bit worse for wear and you are thinking of replacing it, then the first thing you will have to do is acquire an RV awning replacement. Make sure it is the same as the one you have or will fit your model of vehicle. Once you have purchased the replacement and have it on hand, find a couple of other people who can give you some help to do the job as it will be much easier. You will also need a couple of other things on hand when you start, make sure you have a drill, a socket set, needle nose vice grips and some self tapping screws. There are two ways to release the awning arms and the first is to remove a cotter pin from the bottom of each arm, this locks the awning arms to the body of the RV. The second is to pull the release lever located on the upper section of the arm close to the roller; it may be right or left depending on the manufacturer. Move backwards with the awning until you have the fabric fully unwound out of the roller, you can now lay the arms on the ground and the fabric will be fully extended.

You will now need to clamp down hard with the needle nose vice grips, on the attachment plate of the roller assembly, this is located in the shaft cap on the end section of the roller. Get someone to do the same on the other end of the roller, your will then need to detach the two lag bolts, these attach the arm assembly to the attachment plate of the roller. These bolts are generally a 7/16" so using a socket wrench that fits the head of the bolt and another to fit the nut, undo the head in a clockwise direction till you can pull the bolt out. The awning may also have extra rivets, if it does drill these out. Once you have done these steps you can then remove the RV awning assembly.

To reinstall the RV awning replacement it is basically a reverse procedure. Start by installing the roller of the replacement into the shaft caps. Bring the fabric of the awning over the roller top towards the ground, then put the lag bolts back in and tighten, then replace the section of the awning where the rivets where drilled out, using the self tapping screws. If you feel that doing the replacement yourself is a little daunting you can always get someone else who has already done this type of work to do it for you.