Why adding a side awning to your vehicle is the best upgrade for car camping
If you love road trips, wild camping, or weekends off the grid, adding a vehicle side awning to your setup might be one of the smartest upgrades you make. Awnings instantly transform your car, SUV, or 4×4 into a more comfortable and practical basecamp by giving you quick shade, weather protection, and extra living space. Whether you’re running a full car camping setup, building an overland rig, or just want more comfort on day trips, a quality car awning offers huge benefits for a relatively small cost. Here’s why so many campers are choosing to add one to their adventure kit.
1. Instant shelter in any weather
A side awning gives you a protected outdoor “room” in seconds.
Whether the British weather brings blazing sun, sideways rain, or both in the same hour (classic), your vehicle awning provides a dry, shaded space to cook, relax, or stash your gear.
With a 270° awning, you get even more wraparound shelter, perfect for camps where conditions change fast.
2. Way more living space without a bigger vehicle
No need for a van conversion or giant 4×4. With a side awning, your small car becomes a big-feeling campsite.
Use it for:
Cooking and brewing up
Changing clothes out of the rain
Keeping muddy boots and wet gear outside
A shaded spot for kids or pets
A social space at camp
If you already use a roof tent, then an awning completes the setup: bed upstairs, living room downstairs.
4. Perfect for day trips & quick stopovers
If you like day trips or quick overnight stops while touring, an awning gives you an instant sheltered setup without the hassle.
Pull up → unroll → done.
Sit back and enjoy the view under your awning!
5. Affordable compared to other camping upgrades
This is where awnings really stand out.
Compared to:
A full campervan build
A pop-top roof conversion
A larger 4×4
Or even a premium tent
A side awning is a tiny investment that makes a huge difference to comfort and practicality. Prices typically range from £190 for a small side awning to £900 for a 270 wraparound awning. Meaning, it is far cheaper than reworking your whole vehicle and you can remove them if you sell the vehicle.
6. Versatile for every type of adventure
A side awning works for:
Weekend campers
Touring Scotland in a roof-tented Defender
Dog owners who need shade for their pets
Families who need space, shade and shelter
Paddleboarders and bikers who want outdoor storage and changing space
Anyone stopping for a brew with a view
Basically, if you park somewhere outdoors, you’ll benefit from one.
7. Easy to install on most vehicles
Most awnings mount to roof racks or cross bars using simple brackets.
Even compact cars such as the Mini and hatchbacks can run a lightweight awning, while larger 4x4s, vans and SUVs can handle big 270° models.
What if you have a pop-top camper and want to fit an awning? No problem, then you can use a Vamoose Awning Rail with one of our awnings.
Installation usually takes less than an hour, and once fitted, deployment takes around 60 seconds.
Thinking about adding one to your vehicle?
If you’re trying to get more from your adventures — more comfort, more space, and more freedom — a vehicle side awning is one of the simplest upgrades you can make.
They pair perfectly with roof tents, but even if you prefer sleeping inside your car or van, an awning gives you extra room for cooking, relaxing, or just getting your gear (and muddy kids or dogs) out of the way so you can sleep comfortably.
You can browse our full range of awnings here whenever you’re ready.
