Category: Van Awnings

When planning your van conversion the addition of awnings for vans is something you’ll want to consider. It’s a great way to add extra floor space to your van, as well as providing outdoor space for activities, shelter from the weather, storage, or even an extra sleeping area for guests.

There are different types of awnings to consider, depending on whether you’ll be staying at campsites and want something you can detach while you take your van out for the day, or whether you plan to wild camp a lot and just want a simple sun shade. The good news is though, unlike a roof vent fan or interior lighting, an awning is something you can add in as an afterthought, so it’s never too late to install one.

I’ve compiled a breakdown of the different types of awnings, their advantages and disadvantages, and we’ve provided the best awnings currently available on the market.

Canopy Awnings

Canopy awnings are different to drive away awnings in that they are permanently attached to your van, making them a much more portable and lightweight option. They are extremely easy to set up, usually working as a manual roll out awning for your van, although some can even be deployed electronically. They offer basic protection from sunlight or rain although extra sides and rooms can be purchased separately to make them weatherproof, but even without these they create the illusion of having an extra space and make eating and cooking outdoors much more enjoyable.

It’s important to note that there are two different types of canopy awning: roof-mounted ones and wall-mounted ones. Most of the time roof-mounted awnings attach to the van’s roof rack or bars, so without these your best option would be a wall-mounted awning, however this will involve putting holes in the side of your van, so what kind you’ll need depends largely on how well it will fit onto your camper van.

Drive away awnings

Drive away awnings are much like tents. They can be erected with either steel or fiberglass poles or inflatable ones and attached temporarily to your van to create an enclosed, waterproof outdoor space, making them perfect for rainy days but also for escaping the sun. They are great for adding some precious floor space to your van, which we all know is a premium, and can be used for anything from lounging to cooking to sleeping extra friends or family. When you want to go out for the day the awning can be detached and left on site to provide extra storage for items you may not want to haul around in your van all day, and they are usually zippable to secure your stuff.

For this reason, they are only really useful on campsites, primarily for reserving your pitch, although they can also be great for festivals. For wild camping, erecting a huge extension onto the side of your van is likely to draw unwanted attention, so you’ll want to weigh whether this kind of awning is suitable for you based on what style of camping you generally do.

It’s important to note that there are left-hand drive and right-hand drive awnings available, and that not all awnings will be the right height to fit your camper, so it’s best to check these things first before committing to a purchase.

There are all sorts of accessories available for drive away awnings, everything from windows, solid or mesh doors, porches, inner tents, rugs and carpets. There’s also a choice between the traditional fiberglass or steel tent pole or the more practical and modern inflatable version; we’ve included a selection of both in our list to help you decide.

Tailgate awnings

Tailgate awnings aren’t technically a type of awning- they’re actually considered more of an accessory, but they serve exactly the same purpose as a drive away or canopy awning: to create shade and shelter, or an extra room but at the rear of your camper instead of the side. They can be used as a standalone awning if your main entrance is at the rear of your camper, or they can be used in conjunction with other awnings to expand your outdoor space even further.

These aren’t suitable for every kind of van due to their smaller size, but they are ideal for small vans with tailgates and particularly truck campers and 4x4s who often rely on having that extra bit of outdoor space out on the trails.

Tailgate awnings are generally far easier to assemble than other kinds, as they simply slide over the back of your vehicle, or work very much like a roof-mounted roll-out awning for vans. They don’t offer heaps of space but having an extra room at the rear of your camper could be handy for creating a washroom, adding storage space or a private toilet area, or even sleeping extra people and pets.

Conclusion

There is so much choice when it comes to choosing an awning for your van or camping vehicle, and many things to consider before you buy, from style and design to size and weight.

As with all things when converting your van, your choice of awning is totally personal to you, based on your preferred camping style, your size van and of course your budget. They can be as basic as a roll-out sun shade, or as technical as a motorized van awning canopy. They can be used for storage, to save your spot at a campsite, to create a guest room or an extra outdoor cooking space. Just make sure you do your research and note the measurements to make sure whichever awning you choose will be the right size for your van.

Camper awnings come in all shapes and sizes so the decision is purely personal to you and your needs, whether you have a minivan, a truck camper or a full-sized RV, and I hope this guide will provide you with all the information you need to help you to narrow down your choices.

We narrowed it down to 5 roof rack awnings. Find out which one wins the title as the best camper van awning (or car awning if you’re into that)!

We all understand that van life means occupying a small space that allows you to see the world in a new and exciting manner. 

For many, this means doubling down and trading possessions for experiences and new adventures. There’s excitement to the notion of traveling the world living out of a campervan and seeing new places. There’s also the reality that your home is now limited to the space inside your vehicle. 

A van awning can allow you to utilize your camper van’s space to its fullest potential and maximize your enjoyment of van life. Van awnings are perfect for both those who are setting up to camp for a week or a night—they are quick and simple to set up and stow away on the outside of your vehicle maintaining a low profile. 

Many companies produce awnings for overland or 4×4 use and these translate well to van life whether you’re a serious off roader or a weekend camper.

These are all excellent reasons to buy a van awning, but some van lifers may find that it just isn’t for them.  If you’re planning on mostly stealth camping in urban areas or getting into van life on a strict budget you may want to hold off on buying a camper van awning.

If you’re ready to expand your van’s capabilities then dive in, we’re going to check out a few popular roof rack awning choices for all budgets and needs and help you decide which one is the best van awning.

Tuff Stuff Overland Rooftop Awning – 4.5’ x 6’ and 6.5′ x 8′

Pros:

• Inexpensive
• Simple use and installation 
• UV Protection
• Shade wall and other upgrades

Cons:

• The (4.5′ x 6′) size is small, good for only 1-2 people
• Can pool water in the rain

Tuff Stuff specializes in overland equipment from roof racks to winches and offers this simple roof rack awning at a budget price. 

Like most of the awnings we’re looking at, the Tuff Stuff Rooftop Awning mounts to your existing roof rack with the provided L-brackets.  This allows for a simple and quick installation and doesn’t require you to have anything but whatever roof rack you’re already rolling with. 

The 4.5′ x 6′ sized awning provides nice shade coverage for one or two people and a small table around the doorway that you’re mounting it over.  The advantage of having a smaller awning like this is that you can mount it either over the side door of your van or over the tailgate.  You could even combine this smaller tailgate sized awning with an addition awning mounted on the side of your vehicle. 

Smittybilt Awning – 6.5’ x 6.5’

Pros:

• Inexpensive
• Simple use and installation
• UV Protection

Cons:

• Small size, good for 1-2 people
• Pools water in the rain
• No shade wall

Smittybilt has been producing off-road products geared for Jeep drivers for over 50 years. It offers another choice when it comes to a simple roof rack awning for a lower price.

This awning is very similar to the Tuff Stuff Overland awning in that it’s made of the same 280g polycotton and uses four aluminum poles to extend and support itself.  It also mounts to most roof racks and is solid as a camper van awning.

After checking out the Tuff Stuff awning we found that this awning doesn’t differ much except for it’s size.  You can expect the same easy set up and breakdown as well as enough shade for a couple of people, though of course the larger size of the Smittybilt provides more a bit more room.   It’s got UV protection, and is durable enough for all but the most extreme off roaders. 

Thule Hideaway Awning – 10.7’ x 8’

Pros:

• Rain runs off awning
• Telescoping legs and crank winder
• Highly durable construction
• Large coverage
• Many options for upgrades

Cons:

• Expensive
• Heavier than other options

Now we’re getting into the world of big and expensive camper van awnings.  

These are the awnings you see on the $100,000 4×4 Sprinters, the awnings that make you envy not only the van they’re attached to but also the shade they provide. 

But why would you want to spend five times more for a Thule Hideaway? 

Thule has been making vehicle accessory and storage products since WWII and is regarded as one of the most rugged and reliable brands on the planet.  If you haven’t heard of them or seen their products then you haven’t been paying attention on any major road.  The popularity of Thule is due to the reliability and build quality of their products.

Rhino-Rack Batwing Awning – 118 sq ft of coverage

Pros:

• The largest awning available
• Durable construction
• Comes with stakes and guys ropes for wind
• High quality material
• Options to mount on left or right side of vehicle

Cons:

• More complex set up and break down
• Only fits on Rhino-Rack roof racks

Do you want your camper van awning to provide the most shade and outdoor space possible?  Then invest in a Rhino-Rack system. 

Rhino-Rack’s Batwing Awning only comes with mounts that will attach it to an already installed Rhino-Rack roof rack so be aware that if you want the coverage the Batwing provides you’ll need to buy into Rhino-Rack’s proprietary system.  If you do though, you’ll be blessed by a massive amount of shelter outside of your vehicle. 

The awning unfolds not only along the side of your vehicle, but around the rear where it reattaches to the Rhino-Rack roof rack.  This set up is solid and well thought out. 

ARB Awning – 8.2’ x 8.2’ (other sizes offered as well)

Pros:

• Great value
• Telescoping legs
• High quality material
• Large covering

Cons:  

• Some complain of mounting issues

The awning functions wonderfully and provides a large shaded area for an affordable price range price. 

The advantage of using the ARB system is the telescoping legs that allow for height adjustments to prevent rain from pooling.  This feature sets it apart from the Tuff Stuff and Smittybuilt awnings, despite its similar appearance to these two awnings. 

This camper van awning comes with pegs and guy ropes to secure the legs and provides the same UV protection.  

ARB also provides optional LED lights with the awning and offers upgrades such as shade walls.  If you’re looking for a simple and affordable awning for your camper van life and live or travel in a rainy climate, this is the perfect awning for you. 

Come sun, rain, wind or snow, van awnings deserve their place on your vehicle and will be one of your greatest assets throughout the year.

Van awnings provide welcome shade in the sun

If you work as a mobile technician, emergency service worker or as roadside assistance, then you likely spend a lot of your time working outdoors. Working in the full-heat of the sun without protection can be very uncomfortable, expose you to harmful UV rays and make it difficult to concentrate and do your job well. 

A new van awning is the perfect solution for keeping you and your work out of the sun, so you no longer need to be worried about overheating or keeping your tools inside your van so they don’t become too hot.

Van awnings can provide a lit work space when it’s dark

Lack of light can be extremely limiting for outdoor workers, especially during the winter when daylight hours are greatly reduced. Some businesses may have to close earlier than in the summer because they are unable to work effectively, whilst others who do work through the darkness may be frustrated having to carry and set up extra torches and lamps.

Many of our van awnings come with the option of integrated LED lighting, making darkness a total non-issue for outdoor workers and allowing them to work both day and night throughout the year, increasing productivity.

Van awnings offer protection against adverse weather

It’s not nice to work outside in a storm and having to contend with constant wind and rain can not only make you miserable but impede your work progress too, as many electrical tools will be inoperable.

Camper van awnings expand van space, here’s how

Camper van awnings can transform your basic campsite into a cozy, personal, and highly functional space.

A few of the advantages of van awnings include

• Cooling the van by providing shade
• Creating a place to stay dry from rain, mist, lite snow…
• A place to set up camping chairs, cooking, eating or just relaxing
• Create a feeling of expanded space outside of, but connected to the van
• Add screens for a bug proof area for sleeping or just hanging out.

And there are a wide range of campervans awnings available of all types of vehicles.

There are a variety of types of awnings available, each designed for a variety of needs and types of campervans.

How wide are camper van awnings?

This depends on the awning, and it’s a very important question because you need to buy the right width for your campervan.

Each of the products we’ve researched shows the full dimensions of the awning in the product description.

Make sure to carefully measure your van roof or roof rack before purchasing an awning.

Please see our “How to install a campervan awning” section, below for more details about finding the best awning for your van.

Basic sun shades

Light, easy to handle, tend to be lower in price and pack away in a bag. It’s a section of nylon or polyester that slides into and attaches to a rail to the roof of the van.

Sun shades are held up with poles, cord and pegs and they’ll fit almost any van type.

Shapes and features vary widely and you’ll find many types to fit your needs.

The simpler sun shade awnings for vans will not withstand any serious weather. Keep this in mind when planning your routes.

Slide out awnings

These are more substantial for greater weather protection and permanently mounted on your van. They come in a range of features from light and basic to super deluxe.

These include integrated supporting arms and poles. Slide out awnings tend to have durability features like rot resistance, wash-ability and rip/weather proof fabric.

Adjustable length, walls for sides and front are options. There’s lots of sizing and mounting variability for a wide range of van types.

Tent style, or drive away awning tents

We wrote about these at length. If you need more sleeping space, you’ll want to click here to read all about them. You might consider getting one of these and a simple bag type for flexibility. Or go all out and get the deluxe shade, too.

What is an awning?

Completely new to the world of driveaway awnings? A van awning is essentially a tent that attaches to the side of your campervan (or motorhome).

You attach it when you are at the campsite and detach when you want to drive away to explore the area. It usually consists of a main living area and an attaching panel.

As we’ve already established, having the extra space of a tent or an awning is preferable for anything more than a weekend. Whilst we have become quite good at packing for a family trip, there just isn’t enough space in the van for us all to sleep comfortably with all of our stuff in there too.

Some people prefer to have a standalone tent next to their camper van but here are the main reasons most people choose a drive away awning over a freestanding tent:

it seamlessly attaches to your van to form one big space which is essential in wet weather.

some campsites require you to pay extra for a freestanding tent.

they are more flexible as you can actually use them as a freestanding tent too.

you can let the kids sleep in the awning and still be able to see them if you are concerned about security.

you can leave the van door open at night in warm weather when the awning is attached

Several years ago, awnings consisted of a tarp and ropes that were tied to the side of a 4×4 vehicle. Nowadays, there are many different types of roof awnings 4×4 enthusiasts can choose from so that they can get to experience the Australian outdoors in comfort. Awnings for vans are one of the best value-for-money accessories for your 4×4 camping experience. Here are some of the benefits you’d get from a 4×4 awning.

More Space

Obviously, the fact that you’ll have more space to use is reason enough to get a roof awning. If you’re on a camping site and you need extra space around your 4×4 or caravan, you can use the awning to cover the area and make it feel more like yours. You can put a table there to enjoy your meals or even cook them. Basically, it will make you feel like you’re in your own little yard.

Sun Protection

Awnings help block the sun without obstructing your view. Some types, like the rack and full roof awnings 4×4 enthusiasts prefer simply because they completely block off the sun. If that’s not your main goal though, you can go for a canopy awning. Regardless, it will provide you with sun and rain protection at all times, allowing you to enjoy the outdoors with a pint of beer even in unfavorable weather.

Privacy

Awnings give you control over how much privacy you have. You can lift it up or shut it down completely. Porch awnings provide the most privacy as you can completely shut them off. Full awnings offer similar levels of privacy as porch awnings. Canopy awnings are similar to roller blinds that are horizontally set up instead of vertically, and they offer optimum sunlight and rain protection, but less privacy.

So how do you pick the ideal awnings? Well, it’s rather simple, you need to consider a few important factors when deciding between the different types, namely: the quality of the canvas, their construction, and how easy they are to set up. If setting the awning up requires a lot of effort, chances are you’ll use it less. Most awnings can freely stand on their own using two supporting poles, while others will require some rope work.

The quality of the canvas will determine its UV-resistance, waterproofness, and weight. All of these properties should be listed when shopping for roof awnings so that you can decide for yourself how tough and lightweight you want your awning to be.

Awnings for vans are made up of canvas or vinyl material which are used mainly for protection from harsh sunlight and rain during camping. Many people also opt for permanent camping awnings so that there is no chance for any discomfort while camping.

The awnings are usually fitted inside a roller tube and when you press the remote control they extend to its original size and you can even position them flexibly by inserting the supporting rods in them and placing them at an angle you want. There are a lot of benefits of awnings while camping and below given is the list of the same:

• Camper awnings protect the campers from the harsh and harmful UV rays of the sun when they are sitting outside the camper van.

• The awnings will also save the campers from getting soaked.

• The camper awnings will protect the front doorway portion of the camper van in rainy season by creating an overhead shelter so that the rain water does not fall directly on the front glass of the vehicle.

• Camping experiences are often disturbed because of insects and mosquitos and the repellent creams and lotions which we carry don’t really help. In this case, the awnings help keeping the mosquitoes and insects away with the help of netted extensions.
• When not in use these camping awnings can be installed by at houses to make them energy efficient.

• The camper awnings can be rolled back again into the metal rods when they are not in use and hence they would not occupy a lot of space in you camping luggage.

• Awnings provide the campers with a protection from cold wind as the campers can easily get protection from it by installing awnings in the required angles.

• Awnings are the best way to increase the living space at camping and hence, if you want to have a barbecue or a small camp fire outside your tent, you can put the chairs under the awning so that you have some protection above you.

• Awnings almost double the living area of your tents and hence, if you have a small tent but more people for camping, you can put down the net extensions of the awnings and make one or two people sleep under the awnings comfortably inside sleeping bags.

• There are camping awnings with attached sleeping cabins so that the space of the tent can be extended enough to increase it to fit more people.

• Camping awnings also come with removable panels so that if you want to enjoy the warm sunlight while camping, you can remove he panels and enjoy basking in the sun.

• If you choose to buy deep awnings, you will get a large floor space inside.

These benefits of camping awnings make it essential for you to purchase one as it is a long term investment useful for camping, especially when you are going with your family so that everyone stays comfortable and protected from harsh weather and other conditions.