Sun Shades & Screens

Picking sun shades and screens

The first step is figuring out where the sun actually reaches you: through the open side of the awning, through the windows, or in a spot the awning never covers. Each one calls for a different product, so start from the problem.

• Awning sun blockers. A mesh panel like the Carefree EZ ZipBlocker zips onto your awning roller and drops down the open side to block low sun while still passing a breeze. Size it to your awning; these come in 10', 15', and 19' widths at roughly 9 feet of drop, so it covers the gap without dragging.
• Mesh density. Awning shade mesh blocks most UV and glare while leaving some view and airflow. Denser mesh means more shade and privacy but less breeze and visibility, which is the balance to weigh for where you usually camp.
• Window covers. Reflective covers like the Camco SunShield mount on the outside of a window with hook-and-loop and bounce heat before it reaches the glass, which beats an inside shade. Match the cover to the window size.
• Standalone canopies. A bag awning like the Carefree Campout is a pole-mounted canopy you pitch wherever you want shade, handy for a picnic table or a spot the patio awning cannot reach.
• Windshield screens. For a motorhome or tow vehicle, a custom-fit windshield sunscreen like the Covercraft UVS100 keeps the cab from baking. These fit a specific vehicle, so order to your make, model, and year.

Zip-on shades hang off your existing awning, so if the awning fabric itself is worn out, begin with awning fabric. To attach a screen to the roller channel without a zipper, the clips and hangers under awning hardware and arms handle it.