6 Best Awnings For Full Time RVers That Seasoned Nomads Swear By

You’re parked at the perfect boondocking spot, the desert sun is beating down, and you realize your outdoor space is completely unusable without some shade. An RV awning isn’t just an accessory for a full-timer; it’s the wall of your outdoor living room, your workshop, and your shield against the elements. Choosing the right one is one of the most critical gear decisions you’ll make for a life on the road.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!

Key Awning Features for Full-Time RV Life

Your factory-installed awning might be fine for weekend trips, but full-time life is a different beast. It demands hardware and fabric that can withstand constant exposure and near-daily use. The number one feature seasoned nomads look for is durability in the arms and roller tube, as this is the skeleton that holds everything together. Flimsy arms will bend in a moderate gust of wind, turning your patio into a liability.

Wind resistance is the next critical factor. Many a nomad has been woken up at 2 a.m. by a flapping awning in a surprise storm. Look for features like automatic wind sensors that retract the awning for you, or at the very least, a design that is easy to retract quickly by yourself. A power awning that takes two minutes to roll in feels like an eternity when the wind is howling.

Finally, consider the fabric itself. Most awnings come with either vinyl or acrylic fabric. Vinyl is waterproof and easy to clean but can be prone to mildew if rolled up wet. Acrylic is water-resistant, breathable (which helps prevent mildew), and dries faster, but it costs more and can let a fine mist through in heavy rain. For most full-timers, a heavy-duty, UV-protected vinyl offers the best balance of performance and cost.

Dometic 9100 Power Awning: The Industry Standard

If you’ve walked through any RV park, you’ve seen the Dometic 9100. It’s the workhorse of the industry, installed on countless travel trailers and motorhomes straight from the factory. Its ubiquity is its greatest strength; you can find parts and service for it in almost any town with an RV shop.

The 9100 features a heavy-duty vinyl fabric with a protective vinyl or metal weathershield option. Its simple, one-touch power operation makes extending and retracting it a breeze. The "Knee Action Design" of the arms allows it to flex in light wind and automatically shed pooled rainwater, a feature that has saved many awnings from collapsing under the weight of a sudden downpour. It’s a reliable, no-frills system that just works.

However, being the standard doesn’t mean it’s perfect. The motor can feel a bit slow, and without an added wind sensor, it’s entirely up to you to retract it before the weather turns. It’s a solid, dependable choice that won’t let you down, but it lacks the advanced features or brute strength of some of its competitors.

Carefree Travel’r: Durability for All Seasons

Where Dometic is the standard, Carefree of Colorado often feels like the heavy-duty upgrade. The Travel’r model is a direct competitor to the 9100, but it’s built with a focus on robust construction. Nomads who spend time in windy plains states or face unpredictable mountain weather often swear by the sturdier feel of the Carefree hardware.

The key difference is in the scissor-style arms, which many find to be more rigid and stable when extended. The Travel’r also features a "Direct Response" system, meaning the motor reacts instantly to your command without the slight delay some other systems have. For a premium touch, you can opt for the Alumaguard or Uniguard covers, which are solid aluminum casings that protect the fabric from UV rays and road grime when retracted—a must-have for extending the life of your fabric.

This durability comes at a slightly higher price point, and like the Dometic, the base model doesn’t include a wind sensor. But for the RVer who has had a lesser awning damaged by wind and vows "never again," the extra investment in Carefree’s beefier hardware is money well spent.

Solera Power Awning with Smart Arm Technology

Lippert’s Solera brand is the one pushing the boundaries of what an awning can do. They understand that for a full-timer, the patio is a high-traffic area, and they’ve integrated technology to match. Their awnings are solid, but the real star of the show is the optional Smart Arm assembly.

The Smart Arm moves the control panel from inside your rig to the awning arm itself. This is a game-changer. Instead of running inside to hit a switch, you can extend, retract, or stop the awning with a button right at your campsite. It also includes a one-touch safety lock and an infrared security sensor that can activate your porch light when someone approaches. It’s a small change that dramatically improves the day-to-day usability.

Of course, more tech means more potential points of failure. A dedicated boondocker might shy away from the added electronics. But for those who spend most of their time in established campgrounds and value convenience, the Solera Smart Arm makes interacting with your awning feel modern and intuitive.

Fiamma F45s: Compact and Reliable for Vans

For the van life crowd and owners of smaller Class B or C RVs, space and weight are everything. The Fiamma F45s is the undisputed king in this category. It’s a cassette-style awning, meaning the entire assembly—fabric, arms, and all—retracts into a sleek, compact aluminum case. This not only protects the components but also provides superior aerodynamics on the road.

The F45s is almost always manually operated with a simple hand crank. This is a feature, not a bug. It means there are no motors to fail, no wiring to short out, and no reliance on your house battery. It’s a testament to simple, bulletproof engineering that you can rely on deep in the backcountry. The support legs store right in the lead bar, making setup and takedown a quick, one-person job.

This isn’t the right choice for a 40-foot fifth wheel, as its projection is more limited. But for any rig where a traditional RV awning is too bulky or heavy, the Fiamma offers incredible durability and reliability in a lightweight, self-contained package. It’s the definition of doing one thing and doing it perfectly.

Girard G-2000: The Premium Cassette Awning

Step into the world of high-end Class A motorhomes and you’ll find Girard awnings. The G-2000 is a lateral-arm cassette awning, and its defining feature is what it lacks: vertical support arms. The arms extend horizontally from the cassette mounted on the side of the RV, creating a completely unobstructed patio space. You can walk freely without ducking under supports.

This is the luxury option, and it comes with luxury features. The integrated wind sensor is standard, not an add-on. If the wind picks up beyond a set threshold, the awning retracts itself automatically, providing ultimate peace of mind. The build quality is exceptional, designed to integrate seamlessly with the full-body paint of a high-end coach.

The tradeoff is, unsurprisingly, the cost. A Girard system can cost many times more than a standard patio awning. It’s a significant investment reserved for top-tier rigs. But for the full-timer who wants the best aesthetic, the most open living space, and automated protection against the elements, there is no substitute.

ShadePro Replacement Fabric: A Rugged Upgrade

Here’s a secret that seasoned nomads know: you often don’t need a whole new awning. The arms and roller tube can last for decades, but the fabric will inevitably succumb to UV damage, tears, or mildew. Instead of replacing the entire expensive assembly, you can simply replace the fabric with a tougher, aftermarket option.

ShadePro is a leader in this space, offering replacement fabrics that are often superior to the original material. They use heavy-duty, 16-ounce vinyl with a protective top coating that is more resistant to sun rot and fading. For a few hundred dollars and an afternoon of work, you can essentially give your existing awning a brand-new, more durable lease on life.

This is the most practical and budget-conscious decision a full-timer can make. Why throw away perfectly good hardware? Upgrading the fabric allows you to get a more rugged, longer-lasting awning for a fraction of the cost. It’s about working smarter, not harder, which is the core philosophy of sustainable life on the road.

Manual vs. Electric: Which Awning is for You?

The debate between a manual and an electric awning boils down to a single question: do you prioritize convenience or simplicity? There is no wrong answer, but your choice says a lot about your travel style.

An electric awning is the clear winner for ease of use. Pushing a button to create an instant patio is a beautiful thing, especially when you’re arriving at a site late at night or need to retract it quickly in a sudden storm. For RVers who move frequently or have physical limitations, the convenience of a power awning is non-negotiable. The addition of automatic wind sensors on higher-end models provides a layer of protection that a manual awning simply can’t match.

On the other hand, a manual awning is the epitome of reliability. It has no motor, no wiring, and no switches. It cannot fail unless a physical part breaks, and even then, it’s usually a simple fix. For the dedicated boondocker who might be days from the nearest town, this foolproof simplicity is invaluable. It requires more effort, but it guarantees you’ll always be able to operate your awning, regardless of your battery level or the condition of a tiny electric motor.

Ultimately, this is a personal choice. If your RV is your sanctuary and you value modern comforts, go electric. If your RV is your tool for getting as far away from it all as possible, the unbreakable nature of a manual crank might be your best friend.

In the end, the best awning is the one that reliably expands your living space and removes a point of stress from your daily life. Whether it’s the automated convenience of a Girard or the rugged simplicity of a Fiamma, choose the tool that best fits the life you want to live on the road. Your patio is waiting.