There are a few important RV Awning accessories that I believe everyone should have, which is why I started writing this post.
While a few of the awning accessories listed out below are expensive, most of these you can buy for less than $50.
RV Awning Accessories- Essential Items First:
#1 Shade Screens- Sunblockers and Side Blockers
A sunblocker is necessary if you’d like to sit outside in the sun. It provides shade, provides a bit of respite from the heat and also blocks off harmful UV rays.
This Sun Shade by
TentProInc
It comes with tie downs, bungees and a zipper bag to store the Shade Screen when not needed. Do make sure you choose the right size for your awning though- with sizes ranging from 6′ X 7′ to 6′ X 19′.
If I had to really recommend one though-
this one
#2 Awning Tie Downs
A really important accessory that is recommended to be bought separately- on priority for all.
Why?Because the ones that come along with sun shades and Awning extensions usually leave the user wanting for more.
It goes without saying that investing 20$ on a nice sturdy little tie down will serve you well in the long run- especially given that damage from excessive winds can tear off your awning entirely, or worse, damage the side of your RV.
So, long story short- do ensure you have a few pairs of
these
#3 De-Flapper For Awning
This is a nice little product that will save you potential awning damage from high winds.
It basically two small clamps that will tie your awning fabric to the side rails, further securing it against the wind.
It’s pretty cheap and works well enough that I’ll recommend
this de-flapper
#4 Bird Spikes
Birds can cause serious damage to your awnings by perching on top of them. You don’t want any tears in the fabric which is costly to repair or bird poo on the awning which takes up your time to clean it off.
Which is why you should be installing bird spikes, such as
this one
And don’t worry, these are humane plastic spikes that won’t harm the birds, just won’t allow them anywhere near your awnings.
#5 Awning Repair Tape
On the off chance that your awning fabric gets torn, you’ll need some of this
this heavy duty awning repair tape
The tape will not work well if you apply it on a dirty surface, so thoroughly clean the awning fabric first and apply some alcohol or mineral spirits, before you apply the tape.
There are mixed reviews for this product though, with some saying it works exactly as advertised and others saying it didn’t work at all. My guess would be that the ones that used it exactly as given in the instructions are the positive reviewers.
In any case, you won’t exactly be breaking the bank by trying it out once.
#6 Awning Cleaner Liquid and Brush
Just spray on some of
this liquid cleaner
The good part is that the liquid won’t discolor or stain your awning as it isn’t bleach based. Again, these are two of those products, that you MUST have at all times.
RV Awning Accessories- Cool Items You Should Have
#7 LED Lighting
You’re out camping with your family, and it’s a nice, cool evening. Wouldn’t it be a total bummer if you had to go back inside just because you didn’t come prepared?
This is why it’s important to invest in a nice strip of LED lighting. There’s just something really relaxing about the idea of just chilling in your comfy chairs with the perfect mood lighting in the outdoors.
There are a couple of great products on the market. I really liked
this
In layman’s terms, that means it’s waterproof due to a silicon covering on top of the standard crystal resin covering that most LED lights have. It’s got over 90% positive reviews out of a total of 232 at the time of writing this post.
Do make sure you buy the appropriate length for the side of your trailer/camper/RV. A 16′ strip would probably be the minimum you’d need.
Another helpful tip to remember is to install the lighting by plugging it in with the existing outdoor light and installing it under the rain gutter, so that it remains under your Awning.
#8 Awning Hangers
These
What do you do with them?
Hang party lights, wind chimes, flowers or whatever you please ( as long as it’s not too heavy- in which case, please do not!)
#9 Awning Room Attachments
This product may not be for everyone but if you usually go on long-ish trips, you may consider getting a room attachment. It provides you an extra room on the outside that’s like a private zone to go get your work done, for instance, or just relax and read a book.
Easy to install and pack up once you’re done, check out
this Awning Room Attachment
It’s designed to for nearly all awnings from 10’ to 21’ with awning rail to ground measurements of 86” – 138”. It will fit all traditional and 12 volt patio awnings with an 8 Feet extension.
#10 Awning Mats
Definitely not a must-have, but a nice-to-have product.
This awning mat
It’s mildew resistant, and drains moisture through it pretty fast. It also has grommets in each corner and 4 lightweight stakes to secure it to the ground.
After all, how annoying is it to have the sides of your picnic blanket be flapping about because of the wind?
#11 Small Cooler/ Refrigerator
Sitting outside, under the shade of your awning on a nice pleasant day- wouldn’t it be even nicer to be able to crack a couple cold ones?
Instead of making the trip back and forth to your refrigerator inside, why not invest in a small cooler or portable refrigerator that will keep your beer cold?
This one
#12 Window Sunshades
A logical extension of buying awnings is that you should get
window sunshades
The added advantage of doing this is that it helps make the work of your air conditioners and refrigerator easier, which in turn, increases their life.
Just a simple hack that you should keep in mind.
#13 Foldable Chairs and Pet Tables
You don’t always want to sit on the grass outside, and so you must have a couple of
folding chairs
Tyler Johnson says
That’s a good idea to get a mat that would be able to extend under the awning. I would think that would make it nice to sit under the shade. I’ll have to consider getting an RV that would have both an awning and the mat under it.