13 Best Awning Arms for RV

Well, the awning obviously makes an important part of your camper home. Although they are not must-haves, having an awning on the side of your camper will always do you a good turn! Talking of awnings, it’s necessary to keep in mind the accessories required for an awning to function at its best. Among its core parts are the arms. Right? And, if you’re looking for the best awning arms for RV, praise the Lord; you are in luck! In this expert guide, we’re going to present you with the most effective awnings arm options you’ll ever come across.

But before jumping over to our guide, let’s touch on how an awning adds to your camper experience. Yes, of course, the top provides you with healing shade while your camper is at rest. But that’s not all an awning has to offer! The awning also provides you with solid protection against the country winds, and depending on the quality of the canopy, it can also save you from storms. Plus, attach a screen to it, and you get an extended private space outside the RV. And, not to mention, awnings keep the rain out of your camping site too. So, no ado, let’s get down to the best awning arms for camper vans!

Carefree (971501White)

13

The Carefree (971501White) is a user-friendly, cost-effective option for your RV awning arm. The product comes from Carefree of Colorado, a top brand making the finest awnings and related accessories. To name some prominent features, the arm is sturdy and can hold the canopy against strong winds. The awning arm is just 25 pounds in weight and still big enough to fit a canopy that hangs around 68 to 81 inches from the floor line. Moreover, the usage is fairly simple. With a handy crank mechanism, you only need to turn the crank to open or close the shade. Also, as a crank-driven machine, it’s a great replacement for messy spring-operated awning arms.

Afterthought: If you’re on the fence about which arm type to put your finger on, take a look at the exclusive guide on Carefree awning arms!

Solera 434718 Classic Universal

12

Best Value for Money. If you’re looking for the best package on a budget, we recommend opting for the Solera 434718 Classic Universal. This all-inclusive awning kit will prove the best upgrade you could make to the camper awning. The package contains two sturdy awning arms for the camper. Amazingly, you can choose between the manual and automatic type since the brand has both designs on display. Apart from that, you can easily pull through the overall setup with simple DIY skills. With all the necessary instructions plus complimentary hardware at your disposal, installing the arms is a piece of cake. So, we say that this is going to be a worthwhile option!

Carefree R001642BLK

11

The Carefree R001642BLK is the perfect choice for coaches with a straight side. The item weighs around 21 pounds and works best for standard-size camper awnings. These awning arms come in drum-tight packaging so that no part is damaged while in transit. Apart from that, the installation is an easy job. We found out that most users were able to pull through the fitting phase in less than an hour. So, that means you could save a lot of time. The best part is that it comes with the entire set of hardware required for the setup, for example, screws and bolts. Therefore, looking at the price and ease of use, the awning arm is a pretty affordable option, and compared to its counterparts, it offers superb quality!

Solera – 281154 69

10

Best quality. This is a complete package that contains just the right support arms assembly for your flat awning. The Solera – 281154 69 is a product of Lippert, a top-notch brand that is known for delivering highly engineered RV solutions. So, that means you won’t need to have any second thoughts about the product’s quality and durability. Now, talking of the features, this is a complete awning add-on kit for camper vans providing the tools to make the canopy as taut and sturdy as possible. There are two compact arms with built-in gas struts and friction joints to help prevent any damage caused by accumulated water or other elements. And, needless to say, made of robust aluminum, these arms will continue to work at peak level for many years to come!

To help you make a better decision, here’s a detailed Etrailer expert review of this product. Don’t miss it!

ALEKO Retractable Awning Arm

9

The ALEKO Retractable Awning Right Arm is made of pure aluminum. And it easily fits the bill for ALEKO’s standard-size awnings for camper trucks. The quality is unmatched, and you can be sure of its durability and long-lasting service. We say that because the construction material blatantly resists corrosion and all types of weather damage. In addition, since the arm is a retractable design, you can effortlessly adjust the pitch to block the sun throughout the day. Furthermore, the machine is easy to use and provides all the necessary installation instructions. Safe to say, you can set it up with the assistance of just one or two helping hands. While you’re at it, why not take a look at other super-useful awning parts up for grabs at ALEKO? Visit the store!

CAREFREE Longitude

8

If you’re on the hunt for replacement arms for your camper awning, the CAREFREE Longitude will be a perfect stop for you. These arms are longitude style and exclusively fit awnings with a longitude roller. Apart from that, the arms feature some real sophistication and top-level engineering. Why do we say that? Because the arm assembly is a strong and lasting construction and comes with the incredibly useful feature of self-leveling. What is that? Well, the arms level themselves with built-in pitch memory technology. That’s true. Not only that, there are six positions from steep to flat so that you can customize the shade. And, of course, it’s easy to use with a cool, snappy single-switch operation.

Check out the detailed product review done by Camping World on YouTube!

DOMH5 Dometic 8952002 Arms

7

The DOMH5 Dometic 8952002 Arms will turn out to be a great addition to your mobile living. That’s because it readily transforms the functioning of your RV awning. The arm is made of high-quality, hard-wearing aluminum that will last years without showing wear and tear from the weather. In addition to that, many customers have praised the product as reasonably priced – in fact, good value for money. So, this will be a viable option if you’re on a budget. Apart from that, it comes with a powerful motor roller as it’s a modern-style, high-tech automatic model that needs zero muscle effort for operation. Well, since these awning arms bring so many awesome features, they are worth your consideration!

Carefree VXJE50HW

6

Easiest to Install. Choosing the right awning arm set is extremely important. One that goes hand in hand with your RV awning structure will be a blessing for you. Thinking of the right fit, the Carefree VXJE50HW crosses my mind right away. Well, the arm set is a powerful 12-volt machine that will work like a charm for you. With the push of one button, you can extend the awning shade to a full 8-foot extension. Convenient, isn’t it? The arms are robust and built to withstand severe weather conditions that the camper will inevitably bump into. Another stunning feature is the self-locking mechanism. The arms will lock themselves and roll up tightly while you’re on the road. Yes, that is to prevent hazardous billowing!

Carefree R001642WHT

5

Sturdiest. The Carefree R001642WHT will do wonders for you if you own a straight-side camper van. It’s an innovative electric version of awning arms from the big name Carefree of Colorado. Rated among the best, these awning arms are made of high-quality, top-tier aluminum. The material does exceptionally well when it comes to resisting rust as well as the impact of weather. Apart from that, the arm set is a modernist design with an adjustable pitch so you can get optimal protection from the sun. Moving on, the assembly is 8 feet in length, so gives you extra leverage over the canopy. So, being a wonderful replacement option, the arm set will enhance your awning performance just like, say, awning screen rooms or awning lights!

Solera 281152 Standard

4

It would be spot on to label the Solera 281152 Standard as an all-in-one option! These awning arms have so many beneficial high-end features that it all seems too good to be true. To begin with, the awning arms have amazing stability that is provided by the unique gas struct design. The feature lets you lower and raises the awning shade without worrying about disturbing its setting. Moreover, the operation is customer-friendly and, to say so, a walk in the park. It will extend and retract the awning with ease. Talking of ease, the arm set will easily adapt to both power and manual awning types. Awesome, right? Well, also note that the arms are equipped with innovative friction joints to facilitate easy sliding motion of the awning. Having said all that, do make sure not to miss the best slideout awning guide either!

Rack Mount Movable Awning Arm

3

The Rack Mount Movable Awning Arm provides you with optimum shade at all times. The awning arms are specially engineered to swing up and down freely. That keeps you safe from the sun as long as you’re lounging under the awning. Apart from precise control over the sun, the moving arms have a unique feature of locking pins. These allow you to secure the awning in one place when there’s heavy wind. Moreover, the awning arms bring operational convenience for you. They can be easily opened and closed between the side and rear of your RV, so most of the counterparts can never achieve that. All in all, the product will fulfill your needs in so many dynamic ways. So, it’s a great option!

Also, check out the best camper window shades if you want to ban sunlight inside the camper!

Solera Hybrid Universal

2

Very few devices are as versatile as our Solera Hybrid Universal. The versatility makes these awning arms a good deal to grab for most camper owners. So, to begin with, the arms are made of tough and durable aluminum that has the guts to survive winds, rain, and sun rays. Moreover, the arms have a pretty simple operation and function with a crank wand. The handy crank technology allows you to easily extend and retract the shade. Apart from that, there is an ultra-modern auto drain. The drain clears off any pooled water from the canopy top automatically without you having to budge a muscle. And, besides everything, the installation is easy as pie!

Carefree 961501WHT

1

Best Overall. You need to look no further if you want all the best features in one awning arm set because The Carefree 961501WHT will suffice! These arms are top-tier quality and one of the best items of awning accessories from none other than the Carefree of Colorado. Speaking of quality, the arm assembly is made of non-rust, weather-resistant aluminum that is destined to last long. Besides that, the arms are sturdy and designed to give a smooth sliding action without binding. The canopy has a self-storing action, so the clamps keep the awning shade tight. Moreover, a convenient self-locking handle keeps the awning fixed at the perfect angle!

Our Verdict!

The Carefree 961501WHT is, of course, our Best Overall choice. It has all the qualities that ideal awning arms must have. It’s sturdy, easy to use, easy to install, and weather-resistant. Above all, it comes from a brand that’s known for its high-quality, RV-exclusive product range. Apart from that, however, we’ve chosen four other camper awning arm sets from the roundup and categorizes them on the basis of their best features. They are as follows.

• Best value for money: Solera 434718 Classic Universal
• Best quality: Solera – 281154 69
• Easiest to install: Carefree VXJE50HW
• Sturdiest: Carefree R001642BLK

How To Choose The Best Awning Arms for a Camper

The arms are necessary for any camper awning to function at its best. To make sure your awning gives a 100% performance, below are the features to look for. Take a look!

Size

Of course, you need to choose the right size arms for your camper awning. So, getting a pro to measure the awning dimensions is best. However, if you can do the job yourself, that’s also a thumbs up!

Type

There are multiple types of awning arms, including the most common ones: manual and electric. It’s, of course, imperative to select the best type based on your specific needs. So, before you order an arm set, make sure you have the right type in your mind.

Brand

Finally, do take some time to research the best brands for awning arms out there. Not every camper accessories store supplies top-notch quality, right? So, check up on the brand name you’re ordering the thing from!

What is a fixed-arm awning?

Fixed-arm awnings are not retractable, unlike folding awnings that can be extended and retracted as needed. However, they are not suited for campers generally!

How do awning arms work?

Awning arms have a spring tension mechanism that works against gas pistons so that the machine works smoothly. When you press the button, the arms simply follow the cover as it opens and closes softly.

What angle is a folding arm awning?

Generally, most slideout folding awnings have a tilt angle between 5 and 40 degrees. That helps RVers adjust the shade according to their daily sunlight needs.