All You Need to Know About Motor Home Awnings

The value of awnings, it would appear, seems to fall into the same category as dishwashers; many people cope well or opt to go without them but almost
universally, once experienced they become indispensable.

The reason is simple – an awning adds significant space to a small living area, in some cases quite literally doubling it or more. However, with such a
bewildering array of awnings on the market where do you start in deciding which is the right one for you? There is no such thing as the perfect awning,
only the perfect awning for you. One of the best starting points is first to understand the options available and then ask yourself a few
questions to determine which way to go.

Types of Awnings

Broadly speaking these fall into two categories – the ‘canopy’ awning and the ‘drive away’ awning.

Canopy awnings -

some modern, quality motor homes may have these fitted as standard. They provide the motor-homer with an over-head canopy without sides which is worked
simply by a handle to unroll it from its permanent fixing on the vehicle and then supported with poles.

Some canopy awnings have a ‘privacy room’ option which adds an enclosed area.

Very easy to erect and dismantle but offering shade rather than shelter or any protection from the elements. Choices with this option are relatively
few with a couple of companies almost dominating the market.

Drive away awnings –

these offer the motor-homer an enclosed room or rooms which range from small tent size to large conservatory. They are attached to the motor-home via
the van’s pre-fitted awning rails and form a rigid structure supported by a system of poles with similarities to a large tent.

Manufacturers, prices and design/size options are extremely wide ranging, as too are the ease or complexity of their erection. They are not always
suitable unless you are intending to be in one spot for several days and can add considerable weight to your payload.

As choices for drive away awnings are so varied the rest of this article applies, in the main, to them rather than the simpler canopy awning option.

Choices of Construction Materials

The poles for awnings are typically either fibreglass which are lightweight, less rigid and often sold with lower end market products, or steel which
are robust, heavy and associated with higher quality products.

The materials which make up the awning covering or shell also vary widely. Just like tents, awnings are given a water-proof rating which determines how
much pressure of water is needed before the fabric is penetrated. Heavier rainfall or more wind driven rain will raise the water pressure. The minimum
requirement is normally considered to be 3000mm and the higher the figure the more protection you have.

Additionally, awning materials also have varying resistance to and protection against UV rays. Again, just as with tents, prolonged exposure to UV rays
will degrade the fabric which will then be more prone to tears and leaks.

The type of material and how it is treated will sometimes quite significantly affect the overall weight of the awning.

Different Designs

Once upon a time it was difficult to find an awning that wasn’t just a squared off extension of the motor-home. Modern designs have become sleeker and
more stylish and elegant and available in a large range of shapes, colours and patterns.

As mentioned previously sizes vary hugely and some awnings even separate off into different ‘rooms’ or have inner tents.

If you are not particularly practically minded do check erection instructions of an awning before buying. Almost without exception they are
all sold as ‘easily erected’ but some designs seem to require an engineering degree or several spare hours. Others really are simple and quickly
managed.

Most awnings are designed so that one or all of their sides can be rolled up for letting in the sunshine, regulating temperatures or mixing and
matching the indoor and outdoor feel of your awning.

Not all awnings will fit all vans – as a general rule this is dictated by the van’s awning rail height from the ground and the van’s length – so be
sure to check these measurements first to save yourself wasted time researching a product which won’t work with your type of motor-home.

Extras

There are an enormous variety of extras available for awnings. Sometimes these are an integral upgrade and sold as standard for a particular product or
they may be something you have to purchase separately should you decide you need them. These include such things as -

Attachable annexes -usually easily zipped together and add lots of extra space or privacy.

Curtains or blinds – which just as in a house range from the basic to the luxury.

Ground-sheets, floor coverings and carpets – these come in a very wide range of comfort and luxury from items similar to tent ground sheets, through rubber matting and onto proper carpets. Be
aware that some camp-sites will not allow you to erect an awning unless your ground cover is fully breathable and doesn’t kill the grass.

Roof panels - some models come with ceiling lights and ventilation as well as side windows.

Fly-screens – these may be just on main door areas or all areas which can be opened/ventilated.

Accessories

There are an enormous amount of accessories available for awnings which range from the vaguely handy to the indispensable and include such things as
luminous guy lines, lighting options, sealants and repair kits, pegs, pole tensioners and hanging accessories.

Questions You May Want to Ask Yourself

What will I be using the awning for?

Extra sleeping quarters? An area in which to cook and lounge? A storage area for wet clothes/towels/footwear? What you will be primarily using the
awning for will dictate to some degree how much space you need, how much privacy is necessary with separated areas/curtains etc, how much comfort is
needed, the levels of ventilation or light you will need and so forth.

Is weight an issue?

If you are already struggling to keep your payload legal then adding an awning will need to be considered carefully. The lightest awnings will add
around 13 kg to your load while the heaviest may add in excess of 30 kg.

What is my budget?

Unfortunately a consideration for every purchase. The cheapest awnings start around the £150 price range and then just go up and up to well over
the £1000 mark. If you are trying to save money you may wish to factor in all the extras you require and in this case you may save money in the
long run by spending more on a product which includes all your needs from the outset. Also bear in mind that the exact same product can vary
considerably in price from retailer to retailer and you might also want to consider buying  second hand where less money may buy you considerably better quality.  A great place to start looking for used awnings would be the Caravans Accessories section here on C4 Caravans !