Which Campervan Awning should you use for your Campervan Conversion?

A drawback to this is the storage of the tent whilst it’s not being used, which may take up valuable room in your campervan when you initially pack up for your holiday. They can be bulky and heavy and if they are packed away when wet they need to be sorted asap once home to make sure they don’t become ruined by mould!

A customer uses their Vamoose Multirail to secure a sun shade to whilst camping!

Another customer using their multi-rail for their Drive Away Awning

If you are wondering where to shop for these Drive Away Awnings we always recommend the local company Devon Outdoors based in Ashford Garden Centre near Barnstaple which stock a variety for you to choose from.

We think these are a brilliant choice for those who know they'll be utilising the tents when on campsites. The rail itself is well priced and it leaves the decision up to you as to what drive-away awning you chose for your camping trips.

Wind Out Awning

The other option of awnings is the Wind Out Awnings, predominately from Thule, Fiamma and Dometic. 

These are vehicle-mounted awnings permanently attached to the side of your campervan but are also a discreet attachment! The awning has a telescopic hand crank which you use to wind out the canopy, and then use the two legs to support the structure at the front. These legs are easily adjustable too. You can buy lots of different attachments for these awnings to make a private room, a sun shade or a rain blocker. Each manufacturer offers a different accessory so you should research each to see which option would benefit you the most. These attachments are interchangeable and you can use whatever fitment meets your needs at that time. 

The benefit of these is that you don’t have to carry any additional equipment if you purely want to use it as a shelter when you park up. It’s on the side of your campervan ready to go! This is especially great when needing some shade or a little bit of shelter from the rain. 

Another benefit is they’re super speedy to put up and take back down again, which means spontaneous trips are always on the cards as immediate protection against the elements is given. 

The only drawback to these awnings are that they cannot withstand medium to high winds as it could cause damage to the awning itself and when you want to leave your pitch you will always have to close it back up again.

The guys showcasing the Thule Omnistor and Fiamma F45S Awnings on both a Volkswagen T6.1 and a Ford Transit Custom

The Wind Out Awnings can also be used on the bigger vans - here is a Fiamma F80S on a MWB Crafter

Prices for the Wind Out Awnings start from £600 fitted, and can be done within a couple of hours! Once it's on you're done and ready to use on every adventure.

We generally fit the Thule Omnistor, the Fiamma F45S and the Dometic PW1500 to our Volkswagen T6/T6.1, Ford Transit Customs, Vauxhall Vivaro's and Renault Trafic's.

We think that the Wind Out Awnings are a brilliant solution for those who want a more flexible approach to sheltering whilst out in their campervan. They are really easy and quick to use and make light work of creating a shade whilst you enjoy the great outdoors!

So there you have it! The benefits of both the Multi/Combi Rails and the Wind Out Awnings! It's completely down to what you think you'll use the most and how much you want to spend, but we think either are a key accessory to anyone who owns a Campervan to make their outdoor living experience just that bit more practical.