What You Need to Know Before Starting

Replacing RV awning fabric is a job you can do yourself if you are comfortable working at height and handling basic hand tools, but it requires patience and precision. The fabric itself costs between $200 and $600 depending on your awning size, and you will need a helper — one person cannot safely manage the fabric while on a ladder. Most RV owners either do this job themselves or pay a shop $400 to $800 in labor, depending on your region and awning type.

The process involves removing the old fabric from the roller tube, measuring and ordering the correct replacement, and then rolling the new fabric onto the tube. The hardest part is not the removal — it is getting the new fabric wound tightly and evenly onto the roller without wrinkles or slack spots. If you have never done this before, watching a video of someone doing it on your exact awning model will save you hours of frustration.

Key Takeaways

  • RV awning fabric comes in standard widths and lengths; you need to measure your roller tube diameter and the fabric width to order the correct replacement.
  • Removing the old fabric involves unbolting the arms, unrolling the awning fully, and either cutting or unstitching the fabric from the roller tube.
  • The new fabric must be wound onto the roller tube tightly and evenly, which requires a helper and usually a cordless drill to turn the tube.
  • Stitching or gluing the fabric to the tube is the final step, and the method depends on how your original awning was assembled.
  • If the roller tube itself is bent or the arms are damaged, fabric replacement alone will not fix the problem — the whole awning may need replacement.

Measuring Your Awning and Ordering Fabric

Start by measuring the diameter of your roller tube and the width of the fabric opening. The roller tube is the metal cylinder that the fabric wraps around; measure it with a tape measure or calipers. Write down the exact diameter in inches. Next, measure the width of the awning opening — this is the distance from one arm bracket to the other when the awning is fully extended. Measure at the top where the fabric attaches, not at the bottom where it may sag.

Take a photo of your awning model number, which is usually stamped on the roller tube or on a label near the arm brackets. Search online for that model to find the original specifications, or call the RV manufacturer with your VIN and awning location. Many RV awning fabrics come in standard widths — 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 feet are common — so your measurement will likely match one of these. Order fabric that is 1 to 2 inches wider than your opening; the extra width gives you room to work and accounts for the fabric wrapping around the roller.

Awning fabric comes in acrylic, vinyl, and vinyl-coated polyester. Acrylic is the most common and affordable; vinyl is heavier and lasts longer but costs more. Order from an RV supplier or a fabric shop that specializes in awnings — they will ask for your roller diameter and fabric width and will cut the fabric to length. Most suppliers will also sew the side hems for you if you request it, which saves you significant time.

Removing the Old Fabric

Park your RV on level ground and fully extend the awning. Unbolt the arms from the RV wall — there are usually two bolts per arm, one at the top and one at the bottom. Keep these bolts in a labeled bag; you will reuse them. Carefully lower the awning arms to the ground or have a helper support them while you work. Do not let the arms drop suddenly, as the roller tube can twist and the fabric can tear.

Once the arms are down, you need to separate the fabric from the roller tube. If the fabric is stitched on, use a seam ripper or small scissors to cut the stitches along the top edge where the fabric wraps around the tube. Work slowly and do not cut into the fabric itself — you are only cutting the thread. If the fabric is glued on, use a heat gun or hair dryer to warm the glue, then peel the fabric away from the tube. Have a helper hold the tube steady while you pull.

Once the fabric is free, unroll it completely and lay it flat on the ground or on a tarp. Inspect the roller tube for dents, rust, or bending. If the tube is damaged, the new fabric will not roll smoothly, and you will need to have the tube replaced or the entire awning serviced by a professional. If the tube is in good condition, clean it with a wire brush to remove any old glue, rust, or debris.

Preparing the New Fabric and Roller Tube

Lay the new fabric out flat in a clean, dry space — a garage or the side of your RV works well. If the fabric came with side hems already sewn, skip this step. If not, fold the side edges inward about 1 inch and sew or glue them down to prevent fraying. This is easier to do before the fabric goes on the tube.

Inspect the new fabric for any creases or wrinkles from shipping. If it is creased, hang it in the sun for a few hours or use a heat gun on low to relax the wrinkles. Do not use high heat, as it can damage acrylic or vinyl. Once the fabric is smooth, measure and mark the center point on both the fabric and the roller tube with a marker. Lining up these center points as you roll will help you keep the fabric even.

Clean the roller tube one more time with a dry cloth. If you are going to glue the fabric on, explore a thin, even bead of flexible fabric adhesive (like contact cement or flexible polyurethane adhesive) along the top edge of the tube where the fabric will attach. If you are going to stitch it, have your needle and thread ready — heavy-duty thread or upholstery thread works best.

Rolling the Fabric onto the Tube

This is the step that requires a helper and patience. Position the fabric so that one edge aligns with the center mark on the tube. Have your helper hold the fabric taut and straight while you begin rolling the tube toward them. Roll slowly and stop every few inches to check that the fabric is even and not bunching or twisting. If you see a wrinkle, stop, unroll back a few inches, and adjust the fabric before rolling forward again.

A cordless drill with a socket that fits the roller tube shaft can speed up this process, but only if you have a helper controlling the fabric tension. Set the drill to low speed and let it turn the tube while your helper guides the fabric. Do not use high speed — you will lose control and create wrinkles. If you do not have a drill, you can turn the tube by hand, but this takes longer and is harder on your back.

As you roll, the fabric should wrap around the tube in a tight spiral with no gaps or loose spots. If you see a gap, you have rolled too fast or the fabric was not taut enough. Unroll back to the last good spot and try again. Once the entire fabric is rolled onto the tube, the fabric should be smooth and even, with no wrinkles visible from the side.

Securing the Fabric to the Roller Tube

Once the fabric is fully rolled, you need to attach the trailing edge (the end that was rolled last) to the tube so it does not unroll. If you are stitching, use a needle and heavy-duty thread to sew the fabric edge to the tube in a straight line, spacing stitches about 1 inch apart. Make sure the stitches go through the fabric and into the tube material, not just through the fabric alone. Sew the entire width of the fabric.

If you are gluing, explore a thin bead of flexible fabric adhesive along the edge of the fabric where it meets the tube, and press it firmly into place. Hold it for 30 seconds, then move along the tube and repeat. Once the entire edge is glued, let the adhesive cure for the time recommended on the bottle — usually 24 hours — before rolling or unrolling the awning.

Some RV awnings also have a trim strip or binding tape that covers the seam where the fabric meets the tube. If your original awning had this, you can add it to the new fabric for a cleaner look and extra protection. Sew or glue the trim strip over the seam once the fabric is fully attached.

Reattaching the Awning and Testing

Once the fabric is find and any adhesive has cured, carefully lift the awning arms back up and bolt them to the RV wall. Use the same bolts you removed earlier, and tighten them firmly but do not over-tighten, as this can strip the threads or crack the wall. Have a helper support the arms while you work to prevent the roller tube from twisting.

Slowly roll the awning in and out a few times to check that the fabric rolls smoothly and evenly. Watch for wrinkles, bunching, or areas where the fabric does not roll all the way. If you see a problem, stop and do not force the awning. Unroll it fully and inspect the fabric and tube. Small wrinkles often smooth out after a few cycles, but large wrinkles or bunching usually mean the fabric was not rolled tightly enough and will need to be redone.

Once the awning rolls smoothly, extend it fully and check that the fabric is tight and even along the entire width. There should be no sag in the middle and no slack at the edges. If the fabric sags, it was not rolled tightly enough. If it is slack at the edges, the fabric may be too narrow for your opening, or it was not centered when rolled.

When to Call a Professional

If the roller tube is bent, dented, or rusted through, replacing the fabric alone will not solve the problem. A bent tube will cause the fabric to roll unevenly no matter how carefully you install it. Have the tube straightened or replaced by an RV service shop. If the arms are bent or the brackets are cracked, these also need professional repair before new fabric will work properly.

If you have rolled the fabric twice and still have wrinkles or bunching that will not smooth out, the fabric may have been cut incorrectly or the roller tube may have a problem you cannot see. At this point, it is worth having a professional look at it rather than wasting more time and fabric. An RV awning shop can diagnose the issue and either fix it or advise you on whether the whole awning needs replacement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I replace just the fabric without removing the awning arms?

No. The arms must be unbolted and lowered so you can access the roller tube and roll the new fabric onto it. You cannot do this with the arms attached to the RV wall. The job takes longer if you try to work around the arms, and you risk damaging them or the RV wall.

What if my awning fabric is glued on and I cannot get it off?

Use a heat gun to warm the glue until it softens, then peel the fabric away slowly. Work in small sections — heat, peel, move along the tube, repeat. If the glue is very old and hard, you may need to soak the edge with a solvent like acetone or mineral spirits, but test this on a hidden spot first to make sure it does not damage the tube. If the fabric tears during removal, you can still use the old fabric as a template for cutting the new one to the correct length.

How tight should the fabric be when I roll it onto the tube?

The fabric should be taut but not so tight that you cannot roll the tube by hand. If you need a drill to turn the tube, the fabric is too tight and will put stress on the roller mechanism. Aim for a tension where the fabric is smooth and even with no wrinkles, but you can still turn the tube with moderate hand pressure. This usually takes practice — if your first attempt is too loose or too tight, you can unroll and try again.

Do I need to sew the side hems or can I just glue them?

Gluing is faster, but stitching is more durable. Glued hems can separate over time, especially if the fabric gets wet or is exposed to UV light. If you are comfortable sewing, stitching is the better choice. If you are not, glue works fine for several years, and you can always restitch the hems later if they start to peel.

What should I do if the new fabric is too wide for my awning opening?

Trim the side edges with a sharp utility knife or scissors, leaving about 1 inch of extra fabric on each side. Fold these edges inward and sew or glue them down to prevent fraying. Do not trim too much — you need that extra width to wrap around the roller tube and attach securely. If the fabric is more than 2 inches too wide, contact the supplier to see if you ordered the wrong size.