Caravan and Motorhome Awnings

OUTDOORS · UNITED KINGDOM

Caravan and Motorhome Awnings

Types and attachment, wind, pitching and carbon monoxide

An awning roughly doubles the usable space of a caravan and is the item most likely to be damaged in bad weather, which shapes almost every decision about one.

Types

Full awnings run the length of the van and give the most space. Porch awnings cover the door area, weigh far less and pitch in minutes. Air awnings use inflatable beams and go up quickly with one pump.

Poled awnings are cheaper and lighter for their size and take longer. Air beams are quicker and bulkier packed.

Attachment and sizing

Full awnings are sized to the awning rail measurement of the caravan, taken around the rail from ground to ground. Measure it properly rather than going by the model, since a wrong size cannot be made to fit.

Check whether it is a caravan or motorhome fitting, since motorhome awnings attach differently and frequently free-stand.

Wind is what destroys them

Peg out every guy line properly from the start rather than only in bad weather, use storm straps, and take the awning down if serious wind is forecast rather than hoping.

A flapping awning damages the van's rail as well as itself.

Carbon monoxide

Never use a stove, barbecue or fuel-burning heater inside an awning, including one that is cooling down. An awning is an enclosed space and carbon monoxide has no smell.

Fit an alarm in the van and take a portable one for the awning if you use any appliance nearby.

Groundsheets and pitches

Check the site's rules, since many require breathable groundsheets to protect the grass.

Buying

Check the weight, since everything carried counts against the caravan's payload and against the towing limits. A full awning with poles is heavier than people expect.

Look for a stated hydrostatic head, taped seams and good ventilation, since condensation inside is normal and is not a leak.

Alternatives

A sun canopy or a simple windbreak covers a summer weekend for a fraction of the cost and weight. Drive-away awnings suit motorhomes where you want to leave the pitch.

Try a porch awning before committing to a full one, since many people find it covers everything they actually needed.

Storage

Store the awning dry and loosely rather than compressed, and check the fabric and poles at the start of each season.

Pitching and taking down

Practise once at home with two people, since doing it for the first time in the dark after a long drive is how people decide they dislike awnings. Number the poles and keep the instructions in the bag.

Peg into firm ground with the correct pegs for the surface — rock pegs on hardstanding are a different item entirely.

Packing away

Dry it fully before storing, or it will be mouldy by spring.

WHERE TO BUY

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