Awnings for campervans

Holiday = sun! And preferably also some shade when it gets too hot. Yes, a sunshade provides the necessary cooling. But we camper owners just love our awnings. Awnings offer a cosy place, protected from the sun and light rain, as an extension of your campervan. From awnings to porches, there are many brands and types. Find out what options are available for your campervan below.

Types of awnings

• Rail awning: an awning that can be slid in and out of the rail.
• Cassette awning: an awning that is rolled up and stored in a robust aluminium case.
• Wall awning: a cassette awning mounted on the wall of a camper.
• Roof awning: a cassette awning mounted on the roof of a camper.
• Extension: the distance the awning can be rolled out, in general 2.5m.

There are three main suppliers of awnings: Fiamma (Italy), Dometic (Sweden) and Thule (Belgium). Vanomobil likes to work with solid products and it just so happens that Thule agrees! If you know that the Thule awnings are made in Belgium, the choice is easy! On top of that, you can easily get spare parts for your 10 year old awning at Thule, something that is not always obvious with other brands.

Thule awnings not only have a timeless design, they are also very qualitative and user-friendly. The average price for an assembled awning is between €500 and €1200, depending on the model.

Awnings for camper vans

The small vans with pop-up roof mostly have rail awnings, because cassette awnings are often very heavy and bulky to put on the van. We recommend the sun canopy from Isabella. The awning comes in a handy and durable bag, takes up little space and is easy to set up. Thanks to the frame, extra height is created under the awning, which compensates for the limited installation height. The ideal solution for our campervans.

Another very nice option for the camper vans with rear tailgate is the Space Camp SAS. This trunk tent is very easy to install and does not take up much space when not in use. You can easily create an extra living space with the necessary privacy.

But Thule has also recently launched a cassette awning for vans thatis very budget-friendly and easy to use: the Thule 3200. It's very easy to put up on your own: unroll it, unfold the support legs, tighten up and you're done. With this stunner you enjoy the standard 2.50 m extension.

Roof awning for Ducato campervan

A roof awning is more suitable for Ducato campervans. Because the sliding door reaches the top of the van, there is no room for mounting a wall awning. The Thule 6300 has lengths between 2.60m and 5m and a projection of 2.50m.

Handy accessories

As mentioned before, there are handy LED strips that provide light under the awning when the evening falls. But there is more.

For all awnings, there are matching front and side walls. You can choose between rain screens, sun screens or wind screens. You can buy separate side or front panels, to the ground or limited height, with or without door or window. Feel free to browse through the possibilities for Thule awnings on our web shop or send us an email if you don't immediately find what you are looking for.

Finally, we also offer Travellife groundsheets in various sizes. Our ground sheets are light, sturdy and easy to maintain.

Using an awning?

Should the awning always remain open? It is best to close the awning before going to bed or on an excursion. After all, the weather is very unpredictable and prevention is better than cure.

What if the wind picks up?When it is windy, it is best to close the awning. If you really need shade, you can always roll out the awning a little and anchor it with the original Thule hold down kit or the ingenious Peggy Peg System.

What if it rains? Light rain won’t do any harm. It is best to put one leg a little lower than the other, so no water remains on top and cause damage. Always try to let the awning dry before storing it. If you can't, don't forget to open the awning again later to let it dry out and avoid mould.

In bad weather? Awnings are not meant to offer protection during heavy rain or wind. The risk of damage is real and it is better to store the awning safely.

Maintenance of an awning?

The awning has to endure a lot, so a minimum of maintenance is certainly recommended. Take care not to get it wet or dirty (if you are standing under a tree, you might find leaves or needles on it after one day). A long-handled brush makes it easy to remove dirt.

It is also best to clean the awning twice a year with a product (e.g. before storage and/or after a long trip). For a thorough cleaning we recommend using an awning cleaner. It is better to avoid household and garden products, which could damage the top layer of the fabric.

Rub the awning thoroughly on both sides with a sponge or long-handled washing brush and rinse with the garden hose. Allow the awning to dry before storing it. The cassette also deserves attention. You will notice that the side at the front of the vehicle catches as many flies during a drive as the nose of your camper and they are hard to remove if you wait too long.

Questions or comments on this article? Or interested in having an awning installed? Feel free to give us a call.