Unlike roof tents, awnings are a bit more flexible, but you still need to check your mounting points.
Height: Consider the height of your vehicle. A tall van might need a different mounting position than a lower hatchback to ensure the awning sits at a usable height (legs extend to a max. height of 220cm).
Length: Measure the length of your roof. You don’t want an awning that is significantly longer than your vehicle’s roofline, as it can be dangerous to other road users or pedestrians and look out of proportion.
Opening Clearance: Check that the awning won’t interfere with your boot or side doors when they are fully opened.
Your awning needs a solid connection to your vehicle.
Compatibility: Most awnings attach directly to your roof bars or the edge of a roof rack using “L-shaped” brackets.
We strongly recommend choosing aluminium roof bars with an integrated top channel. These channels are specifically designed for “T-track” bolts, allowing you to slide your awning brackets directly into the bar.
The Best Places to Buy:
The Roof Box Company: An excellent online specialist with a massive selection. Their website features a brilliant “look-up” tool to find the exact bars for your car.
Halfords: The most well-known reseller in the UK for quick, local pickup and fitting services.
The Secondhand Market: Don’t overlook Facebook Marketplace and eBay. They are goldmines for high-quality, branded roof bars (like Thule or Yakima) at a fraction of the retail price.
The fun part! We offer different styles depending on how much covered space you need.
Ready to upgrade your camp setup? We make the buying process as smooth as possible:
Secure Card Payments: Via Stripe for all major networks.
Flexible Finance: Use Klarna or PayPal Credit to get your awning now and pay in manageable monthly chunks.
Eco-Friendly Shipping: Just like our tents, our awnings are shipped in recyclable packaging to keep our environmental footprint small.
Installing an awning is generally a one-person job, though a second pair of hands makes it easier.
Brackets: All Tent & Trail awnings come with a universal fitting kit. These bolt onto your roof bars or rack.
Tensioning: Once mounted, ensure the legs are adjusted to the correct height so that rain runs off the fabric rather than pooling in the middle.
Safety First: Always use the provided guy ropes and pegs. The British wind can turn an un-pegged awning into a sail very quickly!
Now for the best part. Your car is no longer just a vehicle; it’s a basecamp.
Instant Shelter: Deploy your awning in under 2 minutes for a dry place to change out of muddy gear or a shaded spot for a coffee.
Expand Your Space: Many of our awnings can be fitted with side walls or awning rooms, turning your awning into a fully enclosed, private living area.
Whether you’re looking for a compact side awning for your daily driver or a massive 270-degree setup for your overland rig, we have the gear to keep you covered.
