If you’re not familiar with RV awning screen rooms, then you’re in for a treat. These versatile rooms are perfect for increasing the usable size of your RV, plus they’re great for allowing you and your family to enjoy the great outdoors without being exposed to harsh weather conditions.
RVs are generally roomy vehicles that allow for plenty of living space — especially compared to a car or van — but things can feel confined after some time. Purchasing a screen room allows you to create a great deal of extra living space, but there are several things to consider before running out and buying your RV awning screen room.
How Does an RV Awning Screen Room Work?
RV awning screen rooms work by attaching to your RV’s existing awning and creating an enclosed area off the side of your camper. This insulates the space against bugs, inhospitable heat, and rain to make the space more livable. They are also sometimes called awning rooms, or extend-a-rooms.
The Difference Between an RV Awning Screen and a Screen Room
When searching for a screen room for your RV, you may also come across a lot of RV awning screens (also known as an RV awning sun screen). The most notable difference here is that an awning screen room can be enclosed on all sides, turning the space into what resembles a room. An awning screen, on the other hand, has just one sheet of screen which comes off the front of your awning, aiming to provide protection from the sun and add some privacy. The sides, however, are completely open to the elements.
Screen Room Advantages
Why do you need to buy an RV awning screen room? Do you really need one? There are more than a few advantages to owning one of these, but they might not be worth it for every RV owner.
- The screen-like material allows ventilation whilst keeping out insects.
- The space could potentially be used for grilling or other types of cooking, as it’s more well-ventilated than an indoor kitchen and may be easier to clean.
- It can increase your living area dramatically.
- It adds a layer of privacy if you’re in an RV park or another public area where you’d prefer not to feel as exposed to prying eyes.
- It offers some basic weather protection, so you don’t get any direct sunlight or rainfall while you’re sitting outside; a good screen will withstand wind quite well too.
Screen Room Disadvantages
There are a few disadvantages, so let’s get out with them so you know.
- The screen room might not have as much air circulation as you’d like, trapping humidity and making cooking difficult when the smoke has nowhere to go.
- The set-up can prove difficult, particularly upon your first purchase. Most RVers get used to attaching and detaching their RV screen rooms for awnings so it goes by quicker after some practice, but that all depends on the specific person and model.
- They can be somewhat pricey. RV awning screens start at around $200 new, but some models will cost a pretty penny depending on the features. Make sure to ask yourself this before making your purchase— will I get enough use out of a screen room on my RV to justify spending the money?
Types of Screen Rooms
Price: The price also depends heavily on the durability and quality of the screen room. Those priced closer to $500 generally offer more insulation and adaptability. These RV awning screens may have zippered compartments to let air in or trap it outside, or zippers that let you detach walls to have even more openness. This adaptability will make the screen room more suited to a wider range of temperatures so you can use it in hotter or cooler temperatures comfortably.
Size: The most important consideration, however, is in size. Measure the length and “drop” (distance from the top of the awning to the ground) of your awning to know the dimensions you’ll need. There should be an RV awning screen shade that corresponds to your specific needs in online stores or at a local retailer.
Features: Other distinctions between screen rooms include the color of the design and the quality of the support beams and tension mechanisms that hold the room in place — you want something that will hold up to the wind, if the need arises. There are also other kinds of screen shades on the market that offer different features. Without going into too much detail, you might look at something like this cabana dome.
Beyond that, there isn’t too much to consider. A screen room is a large purchase, but provided you look for the right size and the best value among screen rooms that include all these features, it should be a relatively easy decision based on your RVing needs.
Where Can You Buy RV Awning Screen Rooms?
If you’re ready to invest in an RV awning screen room, then you’ve come to the right place! You can purchase one through an online retailer (such as Camping World, Dometic, or ShadePro) and can often find a great deal on sites such as Amazon. Alternatively, you can do a quick Google search to find companies in your local area that specialize in this product.
Before you choose your desired screen room, it’s important that you measure the length and “drop” (distance from the top of the awning to the ground) of your awning to know the exact dimensions you’ll need.
You’ll also want to consider how strong and durable you want your screen room to be, as these are features that separate the cheaper RV awning screen rooms from the more expensive models. You’ll need to pay close attention to the quality of the support beams and tension mechanisms that hold the room in place, as these will keep it resistant to damage from strong winds.
Setting Up an RV Awning Screen Room
When it comes to setting up your RV awning screen room, your product should come with installation instructions. If in doubt, there are also plenty of tutorials online (especially on YouTube) that you can benefit from. Depending on your model, you may require a ladder for set-up. Some products also require you to permanently attach some fasteners to your awning or to temporarily hammer stakes into the ground to hold the room down.
Many RV owners who take advantage of an awning screen room believe that the initial set-up can be difficult but is well worth it. As you use your screen room more frequently, the set-up becomes a process that you become more familiar with.
So there you have it – our guide to RV awning screen rooms! Are you considering a screen for your RV awning? We hope that this information will now help you to make the best decision.
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