Black Awnings on trailers sold in Western US

[rodeotexas]

It is beyond me why dark to black awnings, AC shrouds, and roof vent covers are placed on trailers that are to be sold in the sunny western US!

Evidently it was some designer who lives in the cooler Eastern part of the US who is not aware of heat extremes that occur in the western US.

recently went camping where it got to be 98 to 100 degrees with 20% humidity. Our new trailer came with a 20' awning that is black on top and white underneath.

We could not sit underneath the awning it was absorbing so much heat and then radiating through.

We are waiting on a response if we can reverse the awning so the white side is on top.

Also, even though we have a Microlite 25 DKS with a 15,000 BTU AC, it would not keep the interior cool enough to leave our pet inside and the AC kept on freezing up - even in 20% humidity! The trailer came with a black AC shroud and a tan roof. Four and a half inches of foam insulation in the roof was not adequate insulation for a West Texas summer.

Be interesting to know if Forest River and other RV manufacturers actually conduct heat load calculations to determine the amount of cooling and insulation that is needed for their products.

[waiter21]

I've often thought the same thing, particularly with the dark color paint schemes and graphics. They look very, very nice, but I'm sure contribute immensely to the heat factor inside the MH during the summer.

White or light colors would reflect a lot of that heat, not absorb it. An example, we stayed in Phoenix for a week in mid June. Outside air temperatures were hitting 115 deg.

Our 13.5 BTU AC unit kept the inside of our Mirada at a nice cozy 75 deg. I attribute this to a newly re-coated white roof, tinted windows that reflect 99% infrared, aluminized covers for the windshields and roof vents. And a new awning (its white near the top and maroon near the bottom).

[SeaDog]

With regard to the awning I agree it sure can be hot. I wonder why it was not white with the last section black so when rolled up it blends with the rest of the rig color scheme. I forgot to mention my AC has been great no problems cooling the rig down on very hot days. I did however insulate the AC suction line and covered the major heat generator in the bathroom (sky light)

[nomad297]

I live in the Mid-Atlantic and camp mainly to the north where it is cooler than the south west US and I would never buy an RV with a black awning for the same reason you are complaining about. Why did you buy an RV with a black awning?

Bruce

[SeaDog]

Bruce I think unless you special order you (in my case) have to take what the Factory installs as standard equipment.

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by SeaDog

Bruce I think unless you special order you (in my case) have to take what the Factory installs as standard equipment.

I'm sure you're right, but if the awning on my Windjammer was black and my dealer wasn't willing to change the awning to the color I wanted, I wouldn't have bought the Windjammer - I would have found a different model with a lighter colored awning. I guess if you're set on getting a certain model and have no flexibility, your only choice is what it comes with unless you can work it out with the dealer.

Bruce

[nomad297]

I will say, though, it is a pretty stupid idea for Forest River to think that a black awning is a good thing.

Bruce

[SeaDog]

You are correct sort it is very much like the blue light in the fridge I think they come up with this stuff on paper and no one actually tests it to see how it works out

[spock123]

I rarely open up my awning on camper, if it's hot I sit inside where it's cool and if it's cold I sit inside where it's warm. When I cook outside and it looks like rain I put the awning out


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[Retired JSO]

I don't like the black awning here in Florida where it has been 98-99 degrees since the middle of June. I use 2 fans under the awning, one that blows against the bottom of the awning and one to blow on me. While it doesn't make it frosty, it does make it bearable by removing a great deal of radiant heat from the awning bottom.

[ilmor]

I didn't think the black awning was a great idea here in the northeast either. I doubt it makes much difference to comfort, however my concern is that it won't last as long. On the other hand it's hard to keep the white ones looking good.

[Big Red and 30WR]

I can sum it all up in one word. RETARDS

[drmoparPHD]

Sitting here in California right now with 105 degree temps at storage lot. Sweating like a river. Check my white propane cover with new temp gun, read 98 in 105 temps. Checked the RV next to me with a black propane cover, 147 degrees. That can't be good. Who thinks up this stuff. I know black looks cool, when clean, but try sitting on boat seats made from black material in the sun. You will need EMS. White is warm, but not skin stickin' hot! I looked at a lot of new Toy Haulers with black tank covers, black awning, black everything. They were so hot just sitting at the dealers lot it was unbearable. Just saying

[DouglasReid]

I would not buy a black awning for use here in teh south, but black roof vent covers and AC Shrouds, probably so. The black is not degraded nearly as much by the sun as is white so they last longer

[WFD]

Originally Posted by DouglasReid

I would not buy a black awning for use here in teh south, but black roof vent covers and AC Shrouds, probably so. The black is not degraded nearly as much by the sun as is white so they last longer

Plus the black vent cover prevents more sun from shining through to the inside...thereby helping your a/c.

[Wolverine 1945]

I ask this question a couple of years ago,,,
Some one said its because they look good !!!
If I ever have to replace ours,,, you can bet your backside,,,
It will never be BLACK again !!!

[SeaDog]

After reading this thread I have been thinking how hard would it be to remove the fabric (black/white) turn it over so the white side is toward the sun and have the lower/upper attachment seam with the rod removed and reattached. Nampa Idaho has a guy who makes tarps and such for trucks I need to ask him.

[RollingDownTheHighway]

They're sold here on the east coast as well. We were at a CG recently and saw quite a few with black or dark color awnings and black AC shrouds. They were on the "champagne" color TT and a Entegra Motorcoach

[Mr Havercamp]

Is it that big of a deal? I don't think it is at least with the vinyl fabric. It seems we always had close to the same amount of radiant heat below on our other trailers in direct sun which were not the black, or Onyx, as Dometic calls it. I believe one was the Maroon and the other Sandstone. All the colors in the vinyl selections are towards the darker side and even if ordered with the white weather shield it will not make much of a difference.

I was always a huge critic of the black trim and accessories but we ended up with it on this 2017 Roo.......Even if we did not go with the Sapphire package and went with standard white fiberglass you still get the black trim, awning, and accessories.

Seadog, I don't think you can reverse it due to the way the splines are sewn on the roller side.

[Wolverine 1945]

Black anything will be hotter than White !!!