RV Awning and Camping Mat Buying Guide

You are gearing up for your next big RV adventure and the family is packed and ready to go. While at the campground, you've noticed friends with these bright colored mats that seem to be so popular today, particularly with RV'ers and camping enthusiasts. If you have not noticed them before, these mats, in addition to looking pretty cool are actually serving several purposes, which we will explain here.
Ohhh, that's what those things are called!
Call them RV Mats, RV Awning Camping Mats, Patio Mats or just plain Camping Mats but regardless of the name, the purpose is the same - to keep your backside dry, to keep your RV clean and to not kill the grass at the campground.
How are they made?
RV camping mats are typically colorful, reversible Polypropylene (plastic) mats that are made from blown and colored straw that is then weaved using a special machine into the colorful designs you see around the campground. In most cases, the mats are made in 3 or 5-foot panels and each panel is sewn together to get the final dimensions in increments of 3 feet: 6' x 9', 9' x 12' and 9' x 18' are some of the most popular sizes. The seam that is created in each mat by adjoining panels is what makes the mats so easy to fold and store, which is perfect for RV'ing and camping when space is tight and packing must be light.
Purpose of RV Camping Mats
In the "old days" these mats were used in Europe and Asia as prayer mats. People would kneel on the mats and pray. A few American gepanies and others, have beefed up the mats and changed the patterns to acgemodate the rugged outdoorsy theme many campers enjoy. The mats are used mainly to keep people from tracking dirt and debris into your RV.
If you own an RV you know first-hand that every time someone walks in or out of the RV they always leave a little something behind, be it mud, leaves, dirt, etc. RV camping mats keep debris inside your RV to a minimum. Additionally, the mats act as a barrier between you and the elements. Ever go camping after it has rained 3 or 4 days straight? You go to "pop a squat" only to find your backside soaked in mud. Although most RV camping mats are porous due to their weaved design, they do act as a barrier between you and the elements. No more muddy messes, no more damp clothes!
Most of the mats made from this type of weaved design are "Campground Friendly" meaning they will not kill the grass. Being "Campground Friendly" is an especially nice feature of these mats because any true outdoorsman's goal is to leave the campsite as it was when you first got there and the last thing you want to do is leave a 9-foot by 12-foot yellow patch of grass or bald spot where you once had your campsite. Besides, most campgrounds will not even let you use your nice new mat unless it is of the weaved design because repairs to the campsite grass are costly and avoidable.
Grommets or loops?
You can hit all kinds of weather when you are on an extended stay camping trip. Once the wind starts howling and the rain is pouring you want to make sure you don't have to carry your wet, dirty mat back into your RV or tent to avoid it blowing away. The answer? A few properly placed tent stakes in each corner seems to hold these specially designed mats just fine. Simply drive a stake into each corner (assuming a hole is provided) and you won't have to worry about your mat blowing away the entire trip. Some mats include grommets (a hole to place a stake through) in each corner of the mat. Some mats have Nylon loops at each corner. Grommets can be made of brass or plastic. Buyer beware! Not all mats are the same - we have found from experience that the brass grommets tend to rust and the corrosion ends up extending beyond the grommet itself and running into the boundaries of your mat, rotting the mat. Additionally, we've found grommets to fall out and due to the nature of the mat's construction, once you get a little hole in something that is weaved, you end up unraveling the entire mat. From our experience, Nylon loops at each corner seem to work best. Nylon does not rust and because you are not punching a hole at one of the most vulnerable points in the mat to place a grommet, the mats maintains its strength and integrity.
Match the RV or be a rebel?
With several thousand customers under our belts and being one of the largest distributors of these types of mats in the United States, we've found the term "different strokes for different folks" really applies with regard to mat color selection. With so many designs and colors to choose from, how do you pick which mat is for you? Some customers, more conservative in nature will try to match the color of the mat with their RV. Most of the gepanies selling these mats know this is a popular option, so they design mats around popular RV colors. Other customers prefer "Earthy" tones and like to blend into their surroundings - greens and browns are popular with these groups. Next we have our rebel campers - these are the folks who do not care what the camper next door thinks as long as they have a good time doing what they are doing. These are not your average "keep up with the Jones'" type of people. These are fun-loving road warriors looking for their next big adventure. These RV'ers usually opt for a more radical design, like patriotic themes, colored checks, purples and pinks.
RV Camping Mat vs. Fake Grass Stuff
We are always being asked how our mats gepare to "the fake grass stuff" to which we usually reply as follows: If you want a very inexpensive mat-type product that will do an ok job for a season, maybe two, go to a local home building supply center and get yourself a nice sized rectangle of it.
The fake grass is inexpensive and works under the right conditions. Add rain and you have a mess however. The fake grass tends to hold lots of water and in the rain, it begees a heavy, water-logged mess. Additionally, the fake grass is solid underneath so it will ruin the grass at the campground. If you plan on using the fake grass as a mat, please check with the campground before you set out - you might not be allowed to use it at all. Fake grass is also significantly more difficult to lug around in geparison. Its bulky and not made to be a mobile piece. The fake grass better serves the miniature golf market where it can be placed permanently on the ground and water can pool up on it in the rain. By contrast, the specialty RV camping mats are lightweight and foldable. Large 9' x 12' mats fold to a dimension small enough to fit into any remaining space in your rig, where space is very limited.
Not all mats are the same
Last to note, please make sure your mat is UV stabilized. UV stabilizer is a chemical that is added to the production process to allow your mat to stay under the sun for long periods of time. Reputable mat gepanies add enough of this very expensive product during production to keep your mat looking good for a long time. Mats without the UV stabilizer tend to fall apart very quickly - in as little as just a few uses out in the sun without the added ingredient. You truly get what you pay for when purchasing a mat. UV stabilizer can account for almost 25% of the production cost of the mat so less scrupulous gepanies skimp on this very important ingredient in order to offer really inexpensive mats to the public. Customer satisfaction for these gepanies is usually not a priority.
Enjoy your mat, hassle free!
When camping or RV'ing the last thing you want is equipment failure to ruin your good time. When purchasing a mat, understand what you are buying and make an informed decision for years of trouble-free camping bliss. At the end of your trip, simply shake any loose debris off your mat and fold it up. When you get home, open your mat and squirt it down with your garden hose to remove any stubborn dirt that would not shake off back at the campground.
Above and beyond all, camping is a really great family-friendly sport. The folks at The RV Awning Mat Co., Inc. wish you and your family many happy and safe fun-filled adventures. Be sure to check out our okay Store when you get the chance for a fair deal on a high quality mat.