Dometic 8500 Manual Patio Awning, 17 ft Sandstone Vinyl
Dometic 8500 Manual Patio Awning, 17 ft Sandstone Vinyl — Product description
The Dometic 8500 is a manual RV patio awning that gives you a wide, deep patch of shade right where you need it. This is the 17 foot version with an 8 foot extension, finished in warm Sandstone vinyl with a Polar White weathershield. No motor to fail, just roll it out with the rod and set the arms. Simple, well-built shade for travel trailers, fifth wheels, and motorhomes.
The Dometic 8500 is a manual patio awning built for RV owners who want real shade at the campsite without paying for a motorized system. This is the 17 foot version, so it fits a rail run right around 17 feet and rolls out to an 8 foot extension. That's a wide, deep patch of shade over your door, your chairs, and the grill. Set up at a state park or a full-hookup site, it turns the sunny side of the rig into the spot everyone actually wants to sit.
Manual means you deploy it yourself with the awning rod, and honestly that's a feature for a lot of people. There's no motor to burn out, no wiring to chase, and no worrying about a stuck electric arm three states from home. You unlock the travel locks, walk the lead rail out, set the support arms, and you're done in a couple of minutes. The 8500 uses Dometic's rafter lock system, which keeps automatic tension on the fabric so it stays taut instead of sagging and pooling water in the middle.
The fabric is Sandstone vinyl, a warm neutral that hides road dust and blends with just about any RV paint scheme. Vinyl is the right call for a patio awning that lives outside. It's scratch resistant, it's got UV protection built in so it doesn't chalk out after a season in the desert sun, and it sheds water instead of soaking it up the way an acrylic weave will. Rinse it off, let it dry, roll it up. That's the whole maintenance routine.
When it's rolled up for travel, the Polar White vinyl weathershield wraps the fabric and protects it from road grime, bugs, and UV while you're moving down the highway. The end castings are Polar White too, so the hardware looks clean against a white-capped RV and doesn't yellow the way cheaper plastic caps can. It's a tidy, finished look whether the awning is out or stowed.
A couple of honest notes before you order. First, the mounting hardware is sold separately. Dometic ships the 8500 as the awning assembly in carton packaging, and the brackets and hardware you need depend on your specific RV and rail, so you'll want to grab the correct hardware kit for your rig. If you're not sure what you need, ask us and we'll help you sort it out. Second, this is a replacement-grade patio awning, not a slide topper or a window awning. Measure your existing rail before you buy. The 17 foot fabric length is designed to match a rail slightly longer than the fabric itself, so confirm your measurement first.
One more thing worth knowing about manual awnings. In wind or weather, you roll it up. A patio awning of any kind isn't meant to ride out a thunderstorm or a gusty afternoon fully extended, and the fastest way to bend an arm or tear fabric is to walk away from a deployed awning when the wind kicks up. The upside of the manual 8500 is that stowing it takes under a minute, so it's easy to be disciplined about it. Drop the arms, roll the fabric back onto the roller, snug the travel locks, and you're road ready.
Who's this for? Anybody running a travel trailer, fifth wheel, or motorhome who wants to replace a tired, torn, or sun-rotted awning with a quality Dometic unit, or add proper shade to a rig that came bare. It's a straightforward, well-built manual awning from a name that's been doing RV and outdoor gear for decades. Get it rigged up right, keep the fabric clean, and it'll give you years of easy afternoons in the shade.
Key Features
- 17 foot fabric length with an 8 foot extension for wide, deep shade over the RV door and patio area
- Manual operation with the awning rod, no motor or wiring to fail on the road
- Rafter lock system holds automatic tension so the fabric stays taut and sheds water instead of pooling
- Sandstone vinyl fabric with built-in UV protection resists scratches, chalking, and fading
- Waterproof vinyl construction rinses clean and dries fast, no soaking like an acrylic weave
- Polar White vinyl weathershield wraps the rolled fabric to protect it from road grime and UV in transit
- Polar White end castings resist yellowing for a clean, finished look stowed or deployed
- Ships as a carton-packaged awning assembly, ideal for replacing a worn or torn RV awning
Why Buy from NVN Marine
- Authorized Dometic reseller, full manufacturer warranty
- NMEA member and ABYC certified, advice from real boat techs
- Same-day shipping before 3 PM ET on in-stock items
- NY headquarters and Fort Lauderdale flagship retail store
Technical specifications
| Title | Dometic 8500 Manual Patio Awning, 17 ft Sandstone Vinyl |
|---|---|
| Brand | Dometic |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 848NS17.400B |
| UPC | 713814252229 |
| Series | 8500 |
| Operation | Manual |
| Fabric Length | 17 ft |
| Extension | 8 ft |
| Fabric Type | Vinyl |
| Fabric Color | Sandstone |
| UV Protection | Yes, scratch-resistant |
| Rafter Lock System | Automatic tension |
| Weathershield Material | Vinyl |
| Weathershield Color | Polar White |
| End Casting Color | Polar White |
| Mounting Hardware | Sold separately |
| Packaging | Carton |
Frequently asked questions
Is this awning manual or electric?
It's manual. You deploy and retract it with the awning rod, no motor and no wiring involved. A lot of RVers actually prefer that, since there's no electric arm to jam or burn out when you're far from home.
What size RV rail does the 17 foot awning fit?
The fabric length is 17 feet, and it's designed to fit an awning rail slightly longer than the fabric itself. Measure your existing rail before ordering to make sure this is the right length for your rig.
How far does it extend out from the RV?
It rolls out to an 8 foot extension, giving you a deep patch of shade over your door, chairs, and cooking area.
Is the mounting hardware included?
No. Dometic ships the 8500 as the awning assembly only, so the mounting hardware is sold separately. The right brackets and hardware depend on your specific RV and rail, so grab the correct kit for your rig or ask us and we'll help you sort it out.
What are the colors?
The fabric is Sandstone vinyl, a warm neutral that hides road dust. The weathershield and the end castings are both Polar White.
Is the fabric waterproof?
Yes. It's waterproof vinyl with built-in UV protection and a scratch-resistant surface, so it stands up to sun and weather better than an acrylic weave and cleans up with a rinse.
Will water pool on the fabric?
The rafter lock system keeps automatic tension on the fabric so it stays taut and pitched to shed water rather than pooling in the middle. In heavy rain you should still roll it up.
Can I leave it out in the wind?
No. Like any patio awning, you roll it up in wind or storms. Leaving it deployed in a gust is the quickest way to bend an arm or tear the fabric. The good news is the manual 8500 stows in under a minute.
What comes in the box?
You get the awning assembly with the Sandstone vinyl fabric, the Polar White vinyl weathershield, and the Polar White end castings, in carton packaging. Mounting hardware is not included.
Does it fit travel trailers and fifth wheels?
Yes. It works on travel trailers, fifth wheels, and motorhomes that take a compatible awning rail. Confirm your rail length against the 17 foot fabric before ordering.
