5 Best Van Awnings For Your Campervan

Living or traveling in a campervan is growing in popularity, with more people having the desire to seek adventure, travel around the world, or even just save money on their household bills.

While living or traveling in a campervan can be all of those things, you have to drastically reduce the space you live in. For many, this results in doubling down on possessions to live in a much more limited space.

However, you can expand your space. By owning a high-quality campervan awning, your living space can be expanded when camping.

Whether it be by the beach or on a clifftop, wherever you head, you can enjoy more space, shelter, and shade.

Bearing this in mind, you need to find a suitable awning for your van. Luckily for you, we have you covered. We’ve compiled a list of the 5 best van awnings on the market right now.

We’ve even answered some frequently asked questions and included a helpful buyer’s guide.

If all of this sounds useful to you, make sure you stick around for the journey.

Let’s get started!

5 Best Van Awnings For Your Campervan

Smittybilt Coyote Tan Tent Awning

The first van awning on our list is the Coyote Tan Tent Awning from Smittybilt.

Smittybilt has been long producing high-quality gear for Jeep drivers, but with this tent awning they have brilliantly manufactured an awning that is versatile when it comes to the vehicles it can be used with, reasonably priced, and simple to use.

This simple-to-install tent awning is made from a durable polycotton material, has four strong aluminum poles that are easily extended, and has a mount that fits most roof racks.

These features make it a solid choice for most campervans.

From the Smittybilt Coyote Tan Tent Awning, you can expect plenty of shade, UV protection, and durability that suits extreme off-roaders too.

When we took a look at the awning, we found that it was super quick and easy to set up, provided enough shade for 1 to 2 people, and offered great stability.

Despite the guide ropes and stakes offering good stability, we wouldn’t recommend using this awning when the weather gets too windy. Like most awnings, you could expect it to blow off.

Pros

• Easy-to-install – This Smittybilt awning is super easy to install.
• Affordable – Compared to other awnings on the market, this awning is fairly priced.
• UV protection – The awning offers you UV protection.

Cons

• Small – This awning doesn’t provide enough shade or protection for larger families.

Also available at: Offroadexpress.com

ARB Retractable Awning

If you’re looking for a beast of a campervan awning, look no further than ARB’s Retractable Awning.

Available in a wide range of sizes to suit every van, this durable and extremely reliable awning was originally designed for the intense conditions found in the Australian outback, therefore we know it can handle most weathers.

The awning has great functionality and durability thanks to the stainless steel, aluminum design, and large shade coverage. Probably the biggest advantage of using this awning is the telescoping legs.

These legs allow for height adjustments that prevent any rain from building up which is a common problem with most awnings.

To secure the awning in place, ARB has included guy ropes and solid pegs with every purchase. These help keep the awning in place, ensuring you have the best shade at all times.

When reviewing this awning, we loved everything about it, however, there was one thing we loved more than anything else. That was the built-in LED light that comes with it.

The LED light is fantastic because it makes life so much easier in the evening.

Pros

• Additional features – The inclusion of a shade wall and LED light are great touches.
• Large coverage – The ARB Retractable Awning covers a large enough space to keep the whole family sheltered.
• Variety of sizes – This awning is available in a number of different sizes to suit most vans.

Cons

• Difficult to mount – Some users have reported finding this awning difficult to mount.

Also available at: Flatdoguk.com

Danchel Outdoor Retractable Rooftop Awning

If it’s a simple, yet effective awning that you’re after, the next one on our list could be perfect for you.

The Danchel Outdoor Retractable Rooftop Awning is a lightweight, easy-to-install awning suitable for cars, jeeps, vans, and campervans.

Getting the job done with no fuss, one or two people can easily throw the awning up, take shelter, and then take it back down in no time at all.

Available in several sizes to ensure you can find the size that fits your van, aside from easy installation, you can expect fast and easy adjustability.

This comes in handy when changing the height of the awnings legs to again fit your van’s specifications.

In terms of durability, this van is very reliable. Made from waterproof oxford fabric you can rest assured that this awning will keep you dry.

It will also block out at least 80% of the sun’s UV rays. We found that the mount on this awning was also particularly strong, helping to keep the awning firmly in place.

When you’ve finished with the awning, simply fold it away into the discreet, compact black bag it comes in.

Pros

• Good value for money – You can buy this awning at an excellent price.
• Stores away easily – This Danchel Outdoor awning can easily be stored away.
• Great adjustability – Easily adjust the awning to suit your needs.

Cons

• Can pool water – Like most awnings this awning has a horizontal design. As a result of this, in wet weather, you can expect it to hold water on top.

Yescom Side Awning Rooftop Pull Out Tent Shelter

The next awning on our list is perfect for anybody on a tight budget.

Despite being one of the most affordable van awnings on this list, the Yescom awning has plenty of perks that make it a solid choice.

For starters, it is nice and durable, coming with rust and water-resistant features, making it ideal for a variety of different wet and humid climates.

Secondly, the awning is made from 420D oxford fabrics that stay firm, provide good shade coverage, and give us UV50+ protection.

Finally, the Yescom awning has strong stainless steel poles, giving the whole structure much more stability.

These poles also have a neat twist-lock design which makes installation and setup a lot easier than with other awnings.

Available in three different sizes to help you find the awning that fits your van, installation couldn’t be any easier.

When we tried this awning out, we simply attached the awning to our roof rack before placing the poles in place. The legs can be quickly adjusted, so you can stand the awning anywhere up to 8 feet high.

The only downside we could find with this awning is that it isn’t sturdy enough for windier conditions. For its extremely low price, this is what we can expect.

Pros

• Amazing price – This awning is one of the cheapest on the market.
• Adjustable – Adjust the awning to suit your needs and requirements.
• Durable – This awning is made from durable fabrics and strong stainless steel.

Cons

• Not great in wind – This awning isn’t suitable for extremely windy environments.

Also available at: Yescomusa.com

Hasika Versatility Teardrop Awning

We’ve left the most affordable awning on our list till last. The Hasika Versatility Teardrop Awning is available at an incredibly low price, making it an awesome choice for anybody wanting to save money.

That’s not all that’s good with this awning though. Unlike the other van awnings on our list, this one has a more unique design that makes it fully portable and resistant to water pooling.

Living up to its name, this umbrella-shaped awning fits virtually any vehicle you can think of. It can even be transformed into a ground shelter for those nights you want to spend outside.

Thanks to the umbrella design of the awning, any rain that lands on it will simply slide down and onto the floor preventing a water build-up seen on top of horizontal awnings.

Made from UV-protective and durable 210T polyester and complete with integrated air vents and windows, you can expect the Hasika awning to give you plenty of protection and shade whilst still providing plenty of fresh air.

In regards to protection, the awning can offer 60 to 76 square feet of shade.

As if that wasn’t enough, installation is super easy as it doesn’t have to be attached to your roof rack. Simply tie the lightweight awning to where you want it and the job is done.

Pros

• Versatile – This is probably the most versatile awning on the market.
• Cheap – You can get this awning for an incredibly low price.
• Easily setup – You don’t need to attach this awning to your roof rack.

Cons

• Wind stretched – Some reviews have stated that the wind can stretch the awning.

Also available at: Teardropgo.com

Buyer’s Guide

Before buying a campervan awning, there are a few things you need to take into consideration. This useful buyer’s guide goes through some of these things.

By taking these important factors into consideration, you should be able to make a better decision and one you don’t regret later.

Size

One of the most important things to consider when buying a campervan awning is how big it is.

Awnings come in a wide range of different sizes with some suiting small cars and others fitting better on large RVs.

You have to make sure that the awning you buy fits onto your van. To do this, you should take the measurements of your van first so that you know what will fit and what won’t.

Another thing to consider is how much coverage the awning offers.

If you’re traveling with a family of four, you need an awning big enough for you all. It doesn’t make sense to buy an awning that only covers two people.

Materials

How durable a campervan awning is depends on the quality of materials used.

Most awnings are made out of extremely durable materials because they have to be able to cope with strong winds, rain, and harsh sunlight. However, there are some awnings on the market that just aren’t up to standard.

We recommend looking for an awning made out of strong metals like stainless steel or aluminum. You should also look for an awning with a strong cover.

Strong covers are usually made out of fabrics like oxford fabric. By purchasing an awning made from these materials, you can rest assured that it will offer the best performance possible.

Awning Style

You also need to consider the style of awning you plan on purchasing.

Some awnings are horizontally designed, attaching to your roof rack, while others are umbrella-shaped, easily being tied to the side of your van. Some awnings can even be built into the van.

You need to decide which style of awning suits you best before making your final purchase.

While the options available to you vary in what they offer, ultimately the one you choose comes down to personal preference.

Having said that, in our opinion, if you’re looking for a quick, easy, and affordable option, a horizontal retractable or umbrella awning is your best option.

These types of awning can be easily folded down and stored away without taking up too much space whilst still providing you with everything you need from an awning.

Budget

Like when you buy any product, your budget has to be taken into consideration.

By not taking your budget into account, you could end up spending way too much money on an awning just because it looks good when in reality, the cheaper awning that you could afford is exactly what you need.

The best thing you can do is set yourself a list of things you want from an awning and the money you have to spend on it. That way, you can look solely at the awnings that fit your budget.

By doing this, you’ll probably also find that there are a lot of cheaper awnings on the market that are just as good as the more expensive ones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Sleep In A Campervan Awning?

Campervan awnings are primarily designed to offer shade and shelter during the day before you then move back inside at night. However, it is possible to sleep in your awning if you so desire.

Some awnings are designed with additional awning shade walls, or the ability to be adjusted to act as a ground cover.

If your awning has this capability, there is no reason you couldn’t sleep under it. You might need an extra blanket though or some more layers.

Which Campervan Awning Is The Best?

If we’re being perfectly honest, we firmly believe that you would be happy with any awning off this list as long as it suited your vehicle.

They all offer excellent performance at a reasonable price, with them also being easy to install.

However, if we had to pick one, we’d probably go for the Hasika Versatility Teardrop Awning.

We would choose this one because it is the most affordable, offers the most versatility, and also has a design that prevents it from holding water.

What Materials Are Awnings Made Out Of?

Awnings are most typically made out of acrylics and vinyl.

They can also be made out of polyester or oxford fabrics. In terms of the poles, these are usually made out of strong and durable metal such as aluminum or stainless steel.

Awnings are made out of these materials because they offer the most reliable and stable performance whilst also offering UV protection and resistance to rust and water.

Final Thoughts

Living out of a campervan is a wonderful experience and one you won’t forget in a hurry.

However, you do have to cut down on space and learn to adjust to a much smaller, confined space.

Luckily for us, a campervan awning can help.

Campervan awnings provide us with a large space to spend our time while camping, keeping us in the shade and shelter in the process.

While there are many awnings to choose from, in this article, we have provided you with 5 of the best.

The awnings on our list may vary slightly to give you a better chance to find one that suits your needs, but they all share one thing in common.

They all extend our living space, keep us sheltered, and give us plenty of shade from the sun.

Now you have our list at your fingertips, it’s time to get down to business. Take your time to narrow down the list until you’ve found the awning that you need.