From offering added protection to an extended living area, an awning is a must-have on anyone’s list of camping essentials. Here are several different uses for awnings to make the most of your 4WD camping adventures.

Weather Protection

In the diverse, and sometimes unpredictable weather conditions in Australia, vehicle awnings play a crucial role in providing effective weather protection. Awnings offer a quick solution to shield yourself, your vehicle, and camping equipment from the intense sun, sudden rain showers, and gusty winds that characterise the outdoors.

For travellers who are on a 4WD day trip or having a overnight stay and want extra, quick protection, 180 awnings are a great option due to their quick set-up, wide coverage, and durable material. For example, the Darche Eclipse 180 awning.

For travellers needing to shelter a larger family (more than 3 people), 270 awnings may be more appropriate due to their upgraded coverage. For example, the Kings 270 awning – a budget-friendly option for new campers. However, more experienced and regular campers trailing locations with more diverse weather conditions may want to consider upgrading to a more heavy-duty awning for better protection, like the Bushwakka 270 awning.

Adding on an Annex

While travelling in your 4WD has many benefits, including off-grid camping and versatility, you don’t always have enough living space to shelter items and yourselves from adverse weather. That’s where 4WD awnings come in handy. In addition to providing weather protection, awnings can also extend your living space by serving as an annex. By attaching an annex to your vehicle’s awning, you can create an additional sheltered area that can serve as a functional living space for sleeping, cooking, or storing camping gear. For example, the Darche Eclipse Retreat annex can attach to a Darch 180 or 270 awning to create a larger sheltered space.

What to Look For In a Vehicle Awning

To help you make the best purchasing decision on your vehicle awning, below considerations to help guide you:

• • Amount of shade: does the awning provide enough shade and general weather protection for all family members? Do you have slide out draws at the rear of your vehicle that you would also like shaded? Think about the difference between a 180 and 270 degree awning. The projection is also important.

• • Weight: Is the weight of the awning going to effect what else you can carry on top of your vehicle?

• • What is the fabric quality? We recommend a minimum of 280GSM

• • Is it waterproof?

• • 50+UV protection?

• • Can you set it up easily by yourself?

• • Is it free-standing or needs poles? If it is free standing make sure it has fold out poles for added stability if the wind picks up. Make sure the poles are extendable in case your vehicle is higher than average.

• • If you have a rooftop tent is there a zipper opening for the ladder to access your tent?

• • Is the cover bag heavy duty?

• • Are the zippers heavy duty and wont seize up in salty air?

Pro Tips

LED Strip Lighting

Whether you’re cooking up a BBQ or spending quality time by the campfire, adding outdoor lighting enhances visibility during the evenings and nights. One major benefit of adding an awning to your vehicle is that they offer a practical solution for mounting LED lights. Adding LED lighting to your 4×4 awning is relatively straightforward. Many awnings come with built-in LED lighting or attachment points designed for additional lighting fixtures. For example, the Darche 270 Freestanding LED awning includes fully integrated LED strip lights.

Some awnings may also feature additional camping accessories, like USB ports or power outlets that can be directly linked to your vehicle’s power system. This allows campers to charge their LED lights, phones etc directly from their 4WD, ensuring a reliable power source without the need for separate charging equipment.

How to Secure Your Awning in Adverse Weather

Securing your 4WD awning during storms is essential to prevent damage and ensure safety while camping. One effective method is to use ratchet straps to reinforce the stability of your awning. Before adverse weather hits, ensure that your awning is correctly set up and all components are in good condition.

• • Place the ratchet straps diagonally across your awning, attaching them to sturdy points on your 4WD, nearby structures or via ground pegs.

• • Tension the straps carefully to provide lateral support and prevent your awning from flapping or lifting during strong winds.

• • Additionally, you could consider using storm anchor kits specifically designed for 4WD awnings. These typically include heavy-duty straps and stakes to anchor your awning securely to the ground.

In addition to using ratchet straps, here are some other ways to secure your awning:

• • Wind Breaks: Positioning windbreaks or barriers on the windward side of your awning can reduce the impact of strong winds. This could be achieved with additional tarps or purpose-built windbreaks.

• • Awning Walls: If your awning comes with walls or skirts, attach them to add an extra layer of protection from wind or rain. Additionally, many awning brands offer separate walls and skirts, for example, the Darche Eclipse 180 awning wall set.

• • Adjustable Poles: If your awning has adjustable poles, lower them to reduce the sail effect and reduce wind resistance during strong gusts.

Regularly inspect the tension of straps, poles, and guy ropes during stormy weather. Ensure that everything is tightly secured and make adjustments as needed to secure your awning. 

The Ultimate Vehicle Awning As Voted by Caravan and Camping Guide

Honestly, we don’t have vehicle awning at this point in time but we are certainly in the market for one and hence this guide! Based on our research we can’t go past the Campboss Boss Shadow 270 XL with its adjustable support poles, built in LED dimmable lighting and rooftop tent access.

Conclusion

There are many benefits to using awnings, from protecting your camping supplies from diverse weather to expanding your living area for an enhanced camping experience. Most awnings come with built-in LED attachment points for easy installation, allowing you to spend more time outdoors when it gets dark.

Whether you use a 180 awning for a quick set-up or invest in a 270 awning for better protection, you can enjoy a more comfortable camping experience by having a designated space to relax, eat, and socialise. Follow our guide with key points to consider and you can’t go wrong.

Need the perfect camping chair? Check out our Ultimate Guide To Choosing The Perfect Camping Chair.