Can Caravan Awnings Be Repaired?

Your awning’s torn, and after a windy night up at Rainbow Beach spent lying awake listening to it flap like a seagull that’s spotted your hot chips, you’ve realised it’s time to do something about it. But can it be repaired, or does it need replacing?

The good news is that, yes, most caravan awnings can be repaired. Torn fabric, bent or broken arms, faulty motors and tired roller springs can all be fixed, usually for a fraction of the price of a new awning. You generally only need a full caravan awning replacement when the frame or roller tube is structurally damaged, or when years of UV have left the fabric brittle and splitting. If your awning copped it in a storm or hailstorm, the repair is often claimable on insurance too.

At The Caravan Guys, awnings come through our Arundel workshop pretty frequently, especially once storm season kicks off. Below, the team will walk you through what we can usually save, when it’s time to let go, what you can expect to pay and how insurance fits in.

Awning damage we can usually repair

Most awning problems are more annoying than serious, which means your Van Life trip fund can stay where it belongs: on fuel, campsites and the odd pub feed. These are the awning repair jobs we see most often:

• Fabric tears and holes: small rips, pinholes and frayed edges can be patched or re-stitched. If the damage is bigger, we can re-skin the awning, which means fitting new fabric to your existing roller and arms
• Bent or broken arms: a support arm or leg that’s buckled in the wind can usually be replaced on its own, so there’s no need to replace the whole awning
• Motor failure: when an electric awning won’t budge, the motor isn’t always to blame. We often find a blown fuse, a dodgy switch or a corroded connection, all of which are, luckily, quick and cheap to fix
• Roller spring problems: if your awning sags or won’t roll back in properly, the spring tension usually needs adjusting or the spring needs replacing
• Torn mounting points: an awning ripped partly off its rail can often be re-seated and re-secured, as long as the van wall behind it is sound

We work on all the common brands you’ll find on Aussie vans, including Dometic, Carefree and Fiamma, so parts are usually pretty easy for us to track down.

When a caravan awning replacement makes more sense

Sometimes a repair would only be throwing good money after bad. We’ll tell you straight when replacement is the better option, which usually comes down to one of these four things:

• Structural frame damage: a kinked or twisted roller tube, or arms bent on both sides, usually means the whole thing is compromised
• Severe UV deterioration: Queensland sun is brutal on awning vinyl. If the fabric feels chalky, cracks when it’s rolled, or tears at the slightest touch, a patch won’t last
• Discontinued parts: parts for some older awning models just aren’t made anymore, so they can’t always be fixed
• Repair costs creeping close to a new awning: if the numbers are nearly the same, you’re better off starting fresh with a full warranty

If the awning has pulled away from the van wall, it’s worth checking for water entry at the same time. Moisture getting into the wall frame is a much bigger problem than a sad-looking awning, and it’s something our caravan repairs team deals with regularly.

How much does caravan awning repair cost?

Every van and awning is different, but here’s a rough guide to caravan awning repair costs:

• Fabric patch or minor re-stitch: $150–$400
• Replacement support arm: $300–$800
• Electric motor diagnosis and repair: $200–$600, or $600–$1,200 for a new motor
• Re-skin with new fabric: $700–$1,500
• Full caravan awning replacement: $1,500–$4,500+

The final price depends on the brand, the size of the awning, whether it’s manual or electric and whether we’re working at our Arundel workshop or coming to you on the road. We’ll always give you a detailed quote before we start work, so there are no hidden surprises.

Why Queensland weather is so tough on awnings

We love our beautiful Sunshine State, but boy-oh-boy, it doesn’t make life easy for awnings. Afternoon storms can roll in fast in spring and summer. An awning left out when you’ve ducked off for a swim acts like a big sail, and one strong gust is enough to snap an arm or tear the fabric clean off the roller.

Hail is another common culprit, and it can punch holes through vinyl and dent roller tubes in minutes. If the storm’s left more than just your awning worse for wear, our hail damage repairs team can help.

Then there’s the day-to-day wear. Our UV levels break down fabric over time, and rolling your awning up wet in humid weather is a fast way to get mould and mildew. Letting it dry out before you pack up makes a real difference to how long it lasts.

Is caravan awning damage covered by insurance?

Storm, hail and wind damage to an awning is typically covered by comprehensive caravan insurance. However, normal wear and tear, UV breakdown and damage from skipped maintenance usually aren’t. Your policy wording is what counts, so it’s always worth giving your insurer a quick call.

If you’re making a claim, here are a few things to help keep it moving:

• Take photos of the damage before you move or roll anything up
• Only secure the awning if you can do it safely, and leave it out rather than forcing a bent arm closed
• Hold off on DIY fixes until an assessor or repairer has looked at it
• Get a detailed quote to send to your insurer

The team at The Caravan Guys handles insurance repairs all the time. We’ll assess the damage and put together a quote your insurer can work with, which takes a lot of the stress out of the process. Our clients agree.

Can you fix a caravan awning yourself?

Some small jobs are fine to DIY, like cleaning the fabric, tightening loose screws or putting a temporary patch on a small tear to get you home. We’d strongly recommend you steer clear of anything involving the roller tube, though. Many awnings use a torsion spring under serious tension, and releasing it without the right tools and know-how can cause a nasty injury.

Motor and wiring faults are also best left to someone who knows their way around a van’s electrical system.

A half-finished awning job is one more thing sitting in the driveway, and nobody needs that. If you’re unsure, give us a call first. We’ll tell you honestly whether it’s a job you can handle or one for the workshop.

Get your awning sorted with The Caravan Guys

Whether it’s a small tear or a full storm casualty, the team at The Caravan Guys can get your awning back in shape so you can get on with living your very best Van Life. For caravan awning repair on the Gold Coast, Brisbane and surrounds, come and visit our Arundel workshop, or we can come to you with an on-road visit.

Give us a call on (07) 5500 5213 to book an awning repair, and we’ll have you back on the road in no time. While you’re at it, a free health check is a great way to spot small problems before they turn into big ones, awning included.