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Caravan awnings are a good way to extend your living space (without having to buy a new caravan!).
Caravan awnings come in many different styles and materials, plus all sizes to fit all caravans. They include :
If you need further space after adding an awning you can always put up an awning annexe which zips in the place of one of the side panels. These are often used as bedrooms in the awning (especially for children or teenagers so they can have their own space).
There are lots of lightweight porch awnings on the market at the moment. These are easy to stow in the caravan as they pack up into a small bag, easy to erect and an extremely useful undercover storage area for shoes, wellies, bikes, or whatever you need to keep dry!!
We use a lightweight porch awning called a Base Camp Panorama XL which is a little larger than a normal lightweight porch awning, and a Harrison Belgrave full awning. We put up the porch awning when we caravan for just a few days (this can easily be erected by just one person) and the full awning when we are staying longer.
We have also had a Fiamma Caravanstore Zip awning in the past - click here for more information.
UPDATE - Our Harrison awning doesn't fit our new caravan so we have had to order another. We have spoken to someone on our caravan site with the same caravan as us - he said that before he purchased his awning he researched them for six months! So we have ordered a Dorema Montana caravan awning. We will let you know what it is like when we get it. Keep a look out for future updates!
Remember - if you purchase a midi or porch awning it will fit if you ever buy a new caravan but a full size awning may not.
For help on putting up a caravan awning, please click here.
An awning mat will need to be water proof to prevent mud forming on the top which will then be trodden into your caravan. Many sites prefer or insist that you use a permeable awning carpet which will allow the grass to survive underneath, as a PVC mat will kill the grass if left down for a while. PVC groundsheets can also become very slippery when wet. Groundsheets are best pegged out at the edges to prevent it rolling up and tripping people up!
The groundsheet must always be dry when put away otherwise it will rot and become mouldy. If you bring a wet and muddy groundsheet home, hose it down (or even better use a pressure washer) and leave to dry thoroughly before storing.
We have many awning related tips to help you out - please click here.
If you would like advice about Awning Care we are able to help! Please click here.
Just remember - caravan awnings can be very expensive, don't rush into buying the first one you like. Take time to research them and ask other caravanners their opinions (the best way to find out!).
Gazebos can be a quick, easy and cheap alternative to caravan awnings. Click here to find out more.
