Dometic awning fabric

Vaughan · Veteran Member

Dometic awning fabric

brickies · Guru

Mine lasted 7 years .

Possum3 · Guru

12 Months only on new van. - Awning developed large water bubbles when extended in rain.

banjo · Senior Member

This was a common problem on some fabrics, even the replacements were delaminating again. Yet we have the Dometic 9000 series with aluminium cover, and now just over 4 years old and still fine. We live on road full time and ours really gets regular use, including lots of sunny UV exposure.

Maybe they used inferior fabric on the basic model awnings ?

Vaughan · Veteran Member

Hi Possum 3
Did dometic replace it F O C?

Possum3 · Guru

Vaughan; They reluctantly replaced through van manufacturer (Knott Industries) but supplied a black unit instead of original white/grey stripe - not happy, but needed van back and had to accept.

Vaughan · Veteran Member

Thanks Possum 3 they are hard work

oldvanman · Member

A quick question please from a newby , Im on my first big trip and i rolled out my Dometic 878BK18 awning just before it started pelting down Warragamba Dam in a couple of hours. The brand new Dometic awning was dripping/leaking water all along the sewn seam where the awning connected to the top of the van and it also leaked badly on the inside of the main roller. Would any one know if these Dometic awnings are supposed to be waterproof ? I have paid for a full annex for when my grandchildren come an stay on a trip. If the Dometic awning leaks that would render an annex useless for grandchildren to use if it is raining ?

Any thoughts would be appreciated . Im thinking I should contact my dealer urgently to get an answer .

Regards
Oldvanman

gold dandelion · Senior Member

I have just replaced mine, they told me if not in use in very hot weather to unroll it a bit.

Possum3 · Guru

oldvanman wrote:
A quick question please from a newby , Im on my first big trip and i rolled out my Dometic 878BK18 awning just before it started pelting down Warragamba Dam in a couple of hours. The brand new Dometic awning was dripping/leaking water all along the sewn seam where the awning connected to the top of the van and it also leaked badly on the inside of the main roller. Would any one know if these Dometic awnings are supposed to be waterproof ? I have paid for a full annex for when my grandchildren come an stay on a trip. If the Dometic awning leaks that would render an annex useless for grandchildren to use if it is raining ?

Any thoughts would be appreciated . Im thinking I should contact my dealer urgently to get an answer .

Regards
Oldvanman

They all appear to leak at the seams - suitable for light misty rain and sunshine otherwise buy a swag for kids to sleep in put them up under the awning kids love it - My Grandkids do. Camping Swags For Sale Online Australia | BCF

Awnings can be a hassle and create storage and weight problems when travelling - best left at home, or better still in the shop.

-- Edited by Possum3 on Saturday 3rd of September 2022 11:01:40 AM

KJB · Guru

Possum3 wrote:
oldvanman wrote:
A quick question please from a newby , Im on my first big trip and i rolled out my Dometic 878BK18 awning just before it started pelting down Warragamba Dam in a couple of hours. The brand new Dometic awning was dripping/leaking water all along the sewn seam where the awning connected to the top of the van and it also leaked badly on the inside of the main roller. Would any one know if these Dometic awnings are supposed to be waterproof ? I have paid for a full annex for when my grandchildren come an stay on a trip. If the Dometic awning leaks that would render an annex useless for grandchildren to use if it is raining ?

Any thoughts would be appreciated . Im thinking I should contact my dealer urgently to get an answer .

Regards
Oldvanman
If looking for kids beds , have a look at- KampRite Tent Cots - ......great items , wife and I have a Double - super comfortable no matter what the conditions, rain hail or shine (or ground surface) - up off the ground out of the burrs, stones, rocks , water, mud , sand, ants etc..our 4 grand kids have 1 each and love them..... KB

They all appear to leak at the seams - suitable for light misty rain and sunshine otherwise buy a swag for kids to sleep in put them up under the awning kids love it - My Grandkids do. Camping Swags For Sale Online Australia | BCF
Awnings can be a hassle and create storage and weight problems when travelling - best left at home, or better still in the shop.

-- Edited by Possum3 on Saturday 3rd of September 2022 11:01:40 AM

Mike Harding · Guru

KJB wrote:
They all appear to leak at the seams - suitable for light misty rain and sunshine

Are you talking about roll out awnings attached to the caravan? The Aussie Traveller awning on my Snowy River caravan does not leak at all and has withstood heavy rain (108mm in 12 hours) quite successfully.

I would be surprised and disappointed if an awning were to leak, this is not rocket science technology.

Gundog · Guru

Possum3 wrote:
oldvanman wrote:
A quick question please from a newby , Im on my first big trip and i rolled out my Dometic 878BK18 awning just before it started pelting down Warragamba Dam in a couple of hours. The brand new Dometic awning was dripping/leaking water all along the sewn seam where the awning connected to the top of the van and it also leaked badly on the inside of the main roller. Would any one know if these Dometic awnings are supposed to be waterproof ? I have paid for a full annex for when my grandchildren come an stay on a trip. If the Dometic awning leaks that would render an annex useless for grandchildren to use if it is raining ?

Any thoughts would be appreciated . Im thinking I should contact my dealer urgently to get an answer .

Regards
Oldvanman
They all appear to leak at the seams - suitable for light misty rain and sunshine otherwise buy a swag for kids to sleep in put them up under the awning kids love it - My Grandkids do. Camping Swags For Sale Online Australia | BCF
Awnings can be a hassle and create storage and weight problems when travelling - best left at home, or better still in the shop.

Ding dong your wrong, In the first place they should not leak from the seams, well at least none of mine have and we have spent the last 2 wet seasons in Nth Qld, had 4-6 inches of rain over a couple of days no drips drops to worry about. Because its a new van contact you dealer.
I'm one who would never go without an annex, and yes we put it up almost everytime we stop, if we are staying longer than a couple of days, the big advantage of an annex it creates an extra room, that protects you from the elements.

-- Edited by Possum3 on Saturday 3rd of September 2022 11:01:40 AM

Possum3 · Guru

Gundog wrote:

Ding dong your wrong, In the first place they should not leak from the seams, well at least none of mine have and we have spent the last 2 wet seasons in Nth Qld, had 4-6 inches of rain over a couple of days no drips drops to worry about. Because its a new van contact you dealer.

My original Viscount Supreme (1981) had a canvas awning didn't leak, but so heavy and labourious to erect, sliding edges into sail tracks, it became easier to erect a tent beside the van, for "an extra room".
The Jayco had two different awnings both Dometic and were a substantial vinyl that were always weatherproof.
The AVIDA, well it just leaked like a sieve inside the van itself, all the time even in a light dew, it also was fitted with Dometic awnings that blistered and leaked, replaced under warranty, and replacement did the same.
The Gin Palace "Evernew" has had three awnings all Dometic changed under warranty they still leak at the seams.
So, No GD not wrong.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

They can be sealed with a wax on the seams . Mine is roll up type . Im
On the second awning in 7 years . I painted the top to keep the sun off when rolled up . The centre where its supported wore a hole through . So I cut up some tarp and Sikoflexed it on both sides . No one will notice till I point it out . Often it gets more damage from trees hitting it when driving . A little maintenance doing repaires before things full apart helps !

Dick0 · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
KJB wrote:
They all appear to leak at the seams - suitable for light misty rain and sunshine
Are you talking about roll out awnings attached to the caravan? The Aussie Traveller awning on my Snowy River caravan does not leak at all and has withstood heavy rain (108mm in 12 hours) quite successfully.
I would be surprised and disappointed if an awning were to leak, this is not rocket science technology.

You are right Mike.

But the stitching will shrink in time and water will drip through.

The rope track holding the awning should have sealant before screwed to van. Apparently, many don't. So, maybe, run some silicone on the rope track where it meets the van body.

Best to run silicone over the stitching also, to slow the stitching shrinkage, and when it does happen run silicone over the stitching again.

Preventative maintenance can sometimes be a good thing.

As far as awnings splitting at their layers, just bad quality in the first place.

My suggestions above have seen many drips stopped in their tracks, so to speak.

The Belmont Bear · Guru

After a few years the Dometic awning on our previous van also developed a bad leak through the seam along the inside of the barrel. There was a product that we would get from a canvas repair shop that we painted on the seams of our tents to stop them leaking it would probably work the same on the awning seams... A bigger issue for me was that it became more and more difficult to get the anti flappers to grip the fabric due to shrinkage eventually I had to drill a couple of extra holes in the barrel to compensate for it.

BB