Everything you need to know about motorhome awnings

Holiday = sun! And preferably some shade if it gets too hot. Yes, a parasol provides the necessary cooling. But a campers can no longer do without an awning. Awnings offer a cozy place, protected from sun and light rain, as an extension of your camper. From awnings to a shed, there are many brands and types. Below we will tell you which ones we would recommend to you.

Types of awnings

• Rail awning: an awning that can be slid in and out of the rail.
• Cassette awning: an awning that is stored by being rolled up in a sturdy aluminum casing.
• 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 is 2.5 m as standard, but the largest models sometimes have a projection of 3 m.

There are three major suppliers of awnings: Fiamma (Italy), Dometic (Zw.) and Thule (B.). Vanomobil likes to work with solid products and coincidentally this is also Thule's leitmotif! If you know that Thule awnings are still produced in Belgium, the choice is quickly made! In addition, you can also easily obtain spare parts for your 10-year-old awning from Thule, something that is not always evident with other brands. The Thule awnings not only have a timeless design, they are also very high-quality and user-friendly.

​For an installed awning you pay on average between €800 and €1200 depending on the model. Installation of the largest variants can cost up to €2500.

Which awning for which motorhome?

We provide a wall awning for the vast majority of our campers. Thanks to the accompanying adapters, the cassette awnings fit almost every brand and type of motorhome. As for the length of the awning, it can vary between 1.90m and 6m. At Vanomobil we always recommend the longest possible awning for your camper, so that you can enjoy maximum covered space.

On camper vans you mainly see rail awnings, because cassette awnings are often very heavy and bulky to place on the van. For example, we would like to recommend the Isabella sun canopy. 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 tent, which compensates for the limited installation height. An ideal solution for our pop-up vans.

Another very nice option for camper vans with a rear trunk lid is the Space Camp SAS. This suitcase 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 recently also introduced a cassette awning for camper vans that is very budget and user-friendly: the Thule 3200. You can easily set it up on your own: roll it out, unfold the supporting legs, tension it and you're done. With this star you can enjoy the standard 2.50m projection.

The wall awnings that we most commonly install on (semi-)integrated motorhomes are the 5200 awnings from Thule. This has lengths of 4m and 4.5m and a standard projection of 2.5m and is also equipped for easily attaching all Thule accessories such as an awning, an LED light strip or you can add a motor later (to improve the awning to open automatically). As an extra, they are also equipped with patented tension arms, which makes the awning more resistant to wind. Finally, there is also the wall awning for professional use: the Thule 8000. This is the largest and heaviest wall awning in the range with lengths between 4m and 6m, a projection of no less than 3m and a weight of more than 40kg. This awning is ideal if you regularly go out in all seasons, so the awning must be very sturdy and resistant to wind and weather.

A roof awning is better suited for certain motorhomes, such as the Ducato campervans. Because the sliding door extends to the top of the campervan, there is no room for mounting wall awnings. The Thule 6300 is the standard roof awning with lengths between 2.60m and 5m and a projection of 2.50m.

The heavier roof awning is the Thule 9200. This is available in lengths between 4m and 6m and has a projection of no less than 3m. We recommend working with this awning with a motor (220V), as they are too high and too heavy to open manually.

Motorized awnings are also possible on other models, but this will incur an additional cost. Also keep in mind that not all motorized awnings work on 12V. So you must be connected to the power or have an inverter before you can open the awning.

Accessories for awnings?

As mentioned earlier, there are handy LED strips that provide light under the awning when night falls. But there's more.

There are corresponding front and side walls for all awnings. You can choose between rain screens, sun screens or wind screens. You can purchase side screens or front screens separately, down to the ground or limited height, with or without a door or window. Feel free to browse through the options for Thule awnings in our webshop or send us an email if you don't immediately find what you're looking for.

We can also recommend our anchoring accessories. Nothing is more annoying than a sudden gust of wind, which causes the awning to come off the ground for a moment (in the best case). Our hold down kits are specially designed to secure your awning more firmly with storm straps and pegs. We offer both the original Thule hold down kit and the ingenious Peggy Peg System. After all, these surpass in user-friendliness: you simply place the awning legs in the anchor plates and secure them in the ground with the matching ground stakes. These ground stakes are available in aluminum (for rocky ground) and plastic (for soft ground). Once secured in the ground, the wind no longer stands a chance. But you can easily remove them yourself thanks to the handy spiral system.

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

How to use an awning?

The use of a cassette awning is self-explanatory:

• Choose a cozy spot with a nice view
• Take the crank and turn the awning halfway out
• Fold out the legs and fix them at the ideal height to avoid putting too much strain on the cassette
• Extend the awning further and move the legs along with it
• Take the necessary measures in bad weather
• Enjoy!

Can the awning always remain open? It is best to close the awning before going to sleep or going out. After all, the weather is very unpredictable and prevention is better than cure.

What if the wind picks up? In case of wind it is best to close the awning. If you really need shade, you can always roll out the awning a little and anchor it firmly.

What if it rains? Light rain won't hurt. It is best to place one leg a little lower than the other, so that no water remains and you prevent damage. Always try to let the awning dry before rolling it up. If that is not possible, do not forget to open the awning later to allow it to dry thoroughly to avoid mold.

With bad weather? Awnings are not intended to provide protection during heavy rain or wind. The risk of damage is then 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 definitely recommended. For example, make sure that you do not turn it to wet or dirty water (if you are standing under a tree, there may be a lot of leaves or needles on it after just one day). You can easily remove dirt with a long-handled brush.

It is best to clean the awning twice a year with a specialised product (for example before storage and/or after a long trip). For a thorough cleaning we recommend an awning cleaner. It is better to avoid home and garden products, as they could damage the top layer of the cloth.

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 thoroughly before re-folding. The cassette also deserves the necessary attention. You will notice that the side at the front of the car catches as many flies during a journey as the nose of your camper and they are stubborn to remove if you wait too long.

Questions or comments about this article? Or interested in having an awning installed? Feel free to contact us!