Campervan awnings explained

For not a lot of money, an awning gives you a sheltered outdoor room down the side of the van. It is one of the better-value things you can add to a conversion, as long as you buy the right size and, crucially, the right bracket kit for your van.

This guide is the advice we give people who come to us before buying. It covers roof versus wall mounting, sizing the awning to your van, the bracket-kit question that causes most wrong orders in this category, wind and rain protection, and what the fit actually involves.

A wind-out campervan awning attaches to the van in one of two places.

Wall-mounted awnings fix to the side wall of the van, below the roofline. They are a long-established design and often slightly cheaper. They work well where the van has a strong, straight section of side wall to fix to.

Roof-mounted awnings fix to the roof of the van and sit above door height. They suit vans where the side wall has no clean fixing line, panel vans with windows, ribs or trim in the way, and they keep the awning clear of the doors. They need a van-specific bracket kit to create the fixing line, but the result is cleaner on most conversions.

For a typical panel-van conversion, a roof mount is usually the better answer, which is why the awning we stock, the Fiamma F80S, is a roof-mounted design. The trade-off is that you must buy the correct bracket kit for your van.

Awnings are quoted by length in metres. The figure to get right is your van's clear roof fixing length, the straight, unobstructed run where the awning can mount.

• A short or medium-wheelbase van typically suits a 3.2m awning.
• A long-wheelbase van typically suits a 4m awning.

Two rules. The awning must not overhang past the back of the van, where it catches wind and looks wrong, and it must not foul the cab or front doors at the other end. Measure the clear fixing run before you choose a length. When in doubt, size down: an awning slightly shorter than the van is fine, one that overhangs is not.

Awnings are also quoted by shade area, the square-metre figure tells you how much covered space you get. A 3.2m awning gives roughly 7.7m²; a 4m gives around 9.7m².

This is the part that causes the most wrong orders in the whole category, so it is worth being clear.

A roof-mounted awning does not bolt straight onto a van roof. Every van shape is different, so the awning needs a van-specific bracket kit, a set of adapters that creates the correct fixing line and spacing for that exact vehicle. The awning and the bracket kit are two separate purchases.

The right kit depends on two things:

• Your van, and its generation. A VW Crafter from 2017 onwards needs a different kit from an older one. A Mercedes Sprinter has several generations (W906, W907/VS30) with different roof geometry, and the wrong-generation kit will not fit.
• Your roof. A van with factory roof rails uses a kit that clamps to the rails. A van without rails uses a different fixing approach, usually drilled.

If you are not certain which kit you need, the quickest way to find it is our awning Fit Finder — answer a couple of questions about your van and it returns the exact Fiamma F80S bracket kit that fits. Or send us your van's make, model, year and a photo of the roofline and we will confirm it. Getting this right first time is the difference between a clean fit and a returns headache.

An awning is a large fabric surface, so weather management matters.

• Wind. For overnight stops or any breezy conditions, a Tie-Down Kit anchors the awning to the ground and stops the lead bar lifting. It is close to essential for solo overnight use; do not leave an awning out unattended in wind without one.
• Rain. A flat awning lets rain pool in the middle, and a pool of water is heavy enough to damage the awning. A Rafter accessory adds a curve so water runs off. Worth having if you camp in British weather.
• Re-tensioning. Over time the lead arms can need re-tensioning. It is a normal bit of maintenance, not a fault.

• Buy the bracket kit with the awning. Without the correct kit you cannot fit a roof-mounted awning at all.
• Two-person job. A 3.2m to 4m awning weighs roughly 29 to 34 kg. Lifting it onto the roof is not a solo task.
• Sealing. Any roof penetration must be bedded and sealed properly with polyurethane sealant. A roof leak is the worst-case outcome.
• Fixing line. The roof needs a clear, straight run and enough strength to carry the load. The bracket kit handles this on most vans.

We stock the Fiamma F80S, a roof-mounted wind-out awning, in 3.2m and 4m, Polar White or Deep Black case. It is the awning fitted to a large share of modern UK conversions: a slim aerodynamic case, a washable UV-resistant vinyl canopy, supplied with a hand crank and ready for an optional motor and LED lighting.

We also stock the van-specific bracket kits:

• VW Crafter bracket kits
• Mercedes Sprinter bracket kits

Buy the awning and the matching kit together. If you are unsure which kit fits your van, ask us first.

• Tool: Awning Fit Finder — find your van's bracket kit
• Product: Fiamma F80S campervan awning
• Product: Fiamma awning brackets, VW Crafter
• Product: Fiamma awning brackets, Mercedes Sprinter