Awning & Screen Room Installation on a Travel Trailer

Awning Considerations

• The placement of the awning’s rail along the top side of the camper is a key consideration. It needs to be high enough so the awning’s arms don’t interfere with doors, windows, mirrors or anything else on the side of the travel trailer. Solid wood must be behind the outer shell wherever you decide to hang the awning, or else the awning may eventually pull away from the camper.

  When it's time to install the awning, ask two or three people to help you. Although the awning isn't heavy, it can be awkward to maneuver into position in the awning rail. The assistants also could help with setting the position of the side arms onto the sides of the travel trailer.

Awning Installation

• The left and right arms of the awning mount to the awning roller with screws from the assembly kit. Because each awning manufacturer has its own method of attaching the locking mechanism for the awning, follow the manufacturer’s directions carefully. Once you assemble the awning and arms, it’s time to hang the awning rail in the location you chose. That task requires screws from the assembly kit.

  The awning rail is essentially a tube with a slit down its middle where the awning fabric emerges. Starting at one end, you and a helper slide the awning roller into the awning rail. Because both of you need to be on a ladder, use caution. Once the awning roller is in place on the awning rail, secure it with awning brackets from the assembly kit. Afterward, you can unroll the awning and position the arms where you want them to rest on the side of the camper. Solid wood, such as a stud, needs to be behind each arm to provide support. When you have the arms in position, secure the awning and its arms on the rail.

Awning Protection

• Special rollers come with the awning to help protect them when an opened door comes in contact with them. If your travel trailer has an optional screen door, attach a roller to it as well as the main door. Protect the awning by covering all exposed screws and rough surfaces with masking tape.

Screen Room Installation

• The screen room comes folded into a package about the size of a large duffel bag. Once you unfold the screen room, position it with the front wall of the screen room facing away from the travel trailer. Special fasteners connect the top front of the screen room to the open slot on the awning’s front tube. The adjustable straps on the upper four corners of the screen room loop around the ends of the awning roller’s front tube and the awning tube that is attached to the travel trailer. Once the ceiling connections for the screen room are in place, stakes anchor the floor of the screen room to the ground.