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quoteAdd a motorhome awning and you’ve got the perfect way of maximising your on-site living space, and more. Costs vary and so do the awnings themselves.
Give me shelter
So, what better place to start than at a specialist retailer – which might well be the dealer you bought your motorhome from. Don’t be afraid to seek out advice from anyone with a motorhome awning that you encounter on a campsite, too. Also, some of the bigger motorhome shows are ideal places to go and see awnings set up.
Read on for awning advice and a round-up of several offerings from key names in the motorhome awnings sector.
Top motorhome awning buying tips
- Motorhome awnings can be bulky, especially inflatable models where poles and canvas are all together. Make sure you have sufficient space to stow one safely for travel.
- Likewise, check out motorhome awning weights. They vary considerably and you’ll need to make sure you can carry one within your payload.
- First consideration, however, is what you want to use your motorhome awning for. Daytime living? Extra sleeping accommodation? Storage? A mixture of all three?
- Inflatable or traditional poles? There are advantages and disadvantages to each. Inflatable awnings are generally easier to put up, with no metal poles meaning less chance of any accidental damage to your motorhome; traditional pole awnings advantages include the fact you can separate pole and awning bags for easier transportation, and less bulk. Prices vary across both types.
- Check out, also, what else is part of the package. In a lot of cases, you may want to upgrade the pegs, for example.
- Look out also for accessories to kit out your awning, e.g. lighting, storage pockets and hangers etc.
- All awnings come with carrybags. Just make sure they’re sturdy and big enough once the awning is used and naturally takes up more space when packed.
- It’s also worth asking about awnings if you’re about to buy a motorhome. You might get offered one at a reduced price to help secure a deal.
- Finally, check out how the awning is to be attached to your motorhome. It might already have an awning rail (if not, there may be ways of adding one – ask your local specialist workshop). Also, if you already have a wind-out canopy-style awning, it’s probably got a fitting to accept a full awning. In all cases, you’ll need to determine the size of beading it can accept.
Motorhome awnings and insurance
Our specialist and comprehensive motorhome insurance policy also covers damage to your awning or motorhome /campervan if hit by stormy weather.
It’s also important to set up your awning correctly for maximum strength to protect it against unnecessary damage should the weather suddenly get wild and windy. Always take down your motorhome awning if stormy weather is forecast to avoid damaging your awning and possibly your leisure vehicle.
Star Player #1
Outwell Fastlane 300
New for 2024,the Outwell Fastlane 300 is a shelter that uses telescopic steel poles, with a central hub to make pitching particularly easy, and Outwell’s own Outtex 1500 Pro Silver double-weave polyester fabric that also comes with UPF50+ sun protection.
Outwell’s proven Wind Stabilizer System directly connects fabric to poles to pegs, giving the kind of stability that means it can withstand winds up to Force 8.
It’s all about versatility here. Two of the Fastlane’s sides can be rolled up and held back, while the other two can be unzipped and removed altogether.
You can also add a vehicle connector (normal price £69.99, but ideal for most campervans as well as vans). Indeed, you can even attach multiple vehicles to the same shelter, using extra connectors. An annexe is also an enticing option.
On its own, the Outwell Fastlane 300 weighs 16.7kg, packing down to 113cm x 22cm x 22cm. Erected, it’s 300cm x 300cm, with height ranging from 165cm to 200cm.
Key features 1,500mm hydrostatic head, removable sides, double coated polyethylene ground sheet, taped seams, tinted windows to two walls, toggle-up curtain, guyline retainer system
Expect to pay £291.99
*WIN: Do you fancy winning one of these? That’s the great prize we have on offer to the Caravan Guard community. Click here to enter our Outwell competition.
Star Player #2
Coleman Journeymaster Deluxe Air BlackOut M
BlackOut has been a key feature in tents from Coleman in recent years – claiming to block out up to 99% of daylight getting to the sleeping area where it’s fitted, which means more restful nights, and also keeping daytime temperatures down whilst also maintaining better warmth during the night.
There’s sleeping for two here in the Journeymaster Deluxe Air M, too, thanks to a 220cm x 140cm inner.
Journeymaster drive-away motorhome awnings come with inflatable poles. Height attachment is 180cm-220cm and external dimensions are 415cm x 240cm with a 100cm attachment tunnel. Once up, headroom is 200cm and total living area is 3.8m2. Pack size is 78cm x 53cm x 38cm and it weighs 22.4kg.
Also available are two larger sizes – L and XL, offering sleeping accommodation for up to four people.
Key features Sewn-in groundsheet, 150D polyester fabric with SP50 UV protection, 6,000mm hydrostatic head rating, five windows, storm straps, drive-away attachment kit optional
Expect to pay £999.99
Star Player #3
Isabella Ventura Air Dove
Isabella enjoys premium status in the world of caravan awnings, so it’s no surprise to see it increasingly turning its attention to motorhomes.
The Dove is, in fact, suitable for motorhomes and caravans, coming in two sizes – 350cm and 400cm – both the same 260cm depth. It will fit vehicles with a rail attachment length up to 386cm and heights in the 245cm-270cm category, thanks to a unique height adjustment system.
Attachment is via a strip with a choice of 5mm or 7.5mm beading and it also comes with a manual pump, grey curtains, draught skirt and wheel arch cover, plus Isabella’s own Typhoon guyropes. Annexes and a sun canopy are among the options.
Key features 250cm depth, IsaLite main fabric, PVC floor, Isaroof two-layer breathable acrylic roof fabric with extra UV resistance, zip removable/fold-down front and side panels, removable zipped overhang
Expect to pay £1,990
Star Player #4
Outdoor Revolution Movelite T3E PC
New for 2024, this is the latest addition to Outdoor Revolution’s popular line-up of Movelite drive-away motorhome awnings but, unlike its predecessors, it features a polycotton fabric. It’s more breathable than the usual polyester, making for better ambient comfort when the weather gets hot, at the same time it feels warmer when things turn too cool.
The inflatable poles come with a lifetime guarantee. Total weight is 27.42kg and pack dimensions are 73cm x 50cm x 52cm. When up, dimensions are 375cm long x 310cm deep (plus 100cm connection zone depth) with standing room up to 200cm.
The Movelite T3E PC is large enough to take a four-berth inner option. There’s a full range of lighting and extra storage offerings, and more, from Outdoor Revolution, too.
Key features Available in Low (1.80m-2.00m) and Mid (2.20m and 2.55m) versions, large front porch area, 245cm rail connection width
Expect to pay £899
Star Player #5
OlPro Loop Breeze XL V2 motorhome awning
For motorhomes with attachment height between 200cm and 250cm, the main fabric for this awning uses recycled one-use plastic bottles that have been treated for a particularly good waterproof rating. Attachment is via dual (4mm and 6mm) beading as well as throw-over straps.
Five doors and three windows means there’s lots of flexibility here. A two-person inner, with blackout, is among the options.
As ever, OlPro keeps its prices competitive by offering its products online only and sold direct, with free delivery.
Key features 150D fabric, 5,000mm hydrostatic head, two inflation points, sewn-in groundsheet, repair kit included, lifetime warranty
Expect to pay £595
Star Player #6
Dometic Leggera 260S
How about this for a lightweight option? The Leggera 260 S is a static, inflatable model from a full portfolio of motorhome awnings under the Dometic name. Its 260 S name denotes a 260cm width, while height is 2.65m and depth is 2.40m. It also comes with a patented Multi-Height System to allow it to attach to a variety of heights, from 2.35m to 2.65m. Fitting is via a kador strip with 5mm and 7mm beading, plus single-point inflation meaning you can connect to just one point to inflate the whole awning.
Pack size is 82cm x 35cm x 35cm and weight is just 10.5kg. It’s supplied with storm straps, draught skirt, pegs and a manual pump.
Key features Weathershield 150D polyester fabric, single-point inflation, high-level corner vents, options include carpet and footprint
Expect to pay £490
Star Player #7
Vango Versos Air Low
Available in Low (180cm-210cm attachment height) and Mid (215cm-255cm) versions – the former is for campervans – at almost the same price (the Mid is typically some £25 more). Versos is new for 2024 and boasts a high performance 150D main fabric as well as a clever bedroom and annexe interchange that allows you to have the main awning either side- or front-facing – in total, there are as many as 18 possible configurations with what Vango describes as its most versatile awning to date.
Vango has long pioneered inflatable technology for its motorhome awnings – a concept it introduced over a decade ago.
The Versos comes with pre-angled airbeams (tubes) to optimise standing room and adjustable pegging points to help when pitching on uneven ground. There’s also a sewn-in groundsheet with external storm skirting. Like all its awnings, it comes with a pre-attached 6mm kador, 8m straps for throwing over the vehicle, roof bar attachment tabs, and a sleeve for an optional pole and clamp fitting kit.
It weighs 27.15kg and pack size is 75cm x 45cm x 49cm.
A drive-away kit will set you back a further £26, while other options include adjustable steel poles, carpet and footprint (ie groundsheet protector)
Key features 4,000mm hydrostatic head, windows with zipped curtains, high-visibility guylines, three-year warranty
Expect to pay £1,000 (Low)/£1,025 (Mid)
Over to you…
Got any advice on motorhome awnings you’d like to pass on to fellow motorhome owners? Please feel free to add a comment below.
Please note any insurance benefits are subject to terms, conditions and underwriting criteria. Full details of our policy wording can be found on our motorhome insurance documents page.
Nice to have a awning but beware after we got ours with extra canopy we were told to take it down because it was too big for our pitch should have checked size