Hi Richard----thanks for asking, as I should have posted an update on how it held up all summer.
The material that I used is from a local fabric store. It is heavier than ripstop nylon and water-resistant. Not rubberized waterproof, just water resistant. It came in white and black and another brownish colour. I chose white, thinking it'd reflect the sunlight better.....and it worked well.
The frame is made from PVC piping. I would have gone with 1/2 inch but I decided to use 3/4 inch simply to match it to the clothesline that we made that sits at the back of the trailer in the spare tire holder. Thought it'd look better but in reality, it really doesn't matter and the 1/2 inch would have been fine.
The product that Sailrite sells, the Keder awning rope, is excellent and was easy to sew onto the awning by my sewing machine. If it'd been thicker I might have run into difficulties but as it was, no problems. What I did do was run a candle along the seam (both sides) to waterproof where I'd sewn. Worked like a charm. Hadn't done that initially...watching the droplets of water run down the window during the first rainstorm alerted me to my error and having a candle on hand in the trailer proved very timely. lol
The awning rail itself, the Keder rain, that I purchased was the black standard size without the extra "lip". I secured it above the window after cleaning everything well (with alcohol to degrease) and it has been 100% secured thru high winds, heavy, heavy rains, hail, numerous car washes and even snow (last week) and it is still stuck like glue. Yahoo!!!
All in all, I am thrilled with how it worked out. We kept the
windows wide open during rains where before we were limited to just the small opening afforded by the MaxxAir vents. Naturally we removed the awning for travel and it slipped effortlessly into the awning trough and was up within seconds once parked.
I am very pleased with both products from Sailrite and recommend them 100%.