Drive away awning

[Benji Boy]

Hi All Thinking of purchasing a drive away awning but some are saying that they are a waste of money unless you stay on site for at least a couple of days We will probably do a lot of travelling and may only stay on site for no more than 2 days . Just wondering what people think

 

[Blackbrogue1962]

We’ve had our Cali for just over a year. We bought a drive-away awning and an awning room second hand to try them out. Only used the drive-away once and found it too bulky to store and too much of a faff to set up. In contrast the awning room is a quick and easy way of adding outdoor space for storage or relaxing. However we are a retired couple and those with children and pets may really need the extra space a drive-away can give you.

 

[Hayls]

When we had a Cali a few years ago we used a Quechua pop up tent which was really good especially when travelling as it was so easy and quick to put up. We then replaced it with a Cinch tent which is almost identical and we will be using it with our newly purchased T6.1. We have just purchased from Cinch the connector that looks very simple to use and might come in handy depending on what set up we require. We have had a drive away awning in the past but personally it wasn’t for us.

 

[dspuk]

They are only a waste of money if you don’t use them. If you want one and are happy carrying it and putting up and down for a couple of days, they get one. Everyone has an opinion on them, such are forums. We are very happy with ours. We usually use for stays of 2 days and more. Sometimes less. Sometimes not at all. Depends where we are and weather. But now we have it we have the options.

Most tend to use it as a full time awning but we did 5 days at one site last year and the drive away and connect back functionality worked perfectly as we hopped out to nearby beaches every day.

 

[MichaelB65]

I'm relatively new to the camper scene (I bought a new Cali in June 2024) and have so far only managed 5 weekends (2 nights) away in the UK.

I didn't think I would need/want a driveway awning but on each trip, the weather wasn't great (typical UK weather) and I grew slightly envious of the people/vans with awnings who could extend their time outside of the van cooking and enjoying a drink, whilst we retreated into the van to cook and keep warm.

Also, I believe the time you take to set up an awning you make back by not having to pack everything (table, chairs, Cadac etc) away each time you leave the site to go for walks, shopping etc.

Based on the above I started researching awnings and just purchased an Isabella Air X-Tension at the NEC show (they also had a good offer). I'm looking forward to giving it a try for our UK breaks but may leave it at home when we go abroad where hopefully, the weather will be better.

 

[Davilu]

I’m considering an Air X tension and would love to know how much space it takes up when folded away. Could you share dimensions or a photo of it stored in your van?

 

[colintfcolintf]

I think it’s 118x40x37 and 118x18x13 (main awning and attachment piece)

 

[Keith Smith]

I’m considering an Air X tension and would love to know how much space it takes up when folded away. Could you share dimensions or a photo of it stored in your van?

We have just bought one too and it’s big, initially too big to go across the back seat.It’s packed with a big pump which we have taken out and now it is about a metre long and will fit across the back seat. We envisage just using it when we go away for a few days at least. We’ve also got a bike rack so we may try fitting it on that if we are short of space inside.

 

[Wildcamper]

As said each to their own. Some love them some hate them and some have them because they are a necessity - dogs, children, carrying too much stuff etc. Personally I hate them. There are only two of us and we travel very light - no BBQ, no outside table etc. What we hated with the awning was the time to put up, take down, amount of storage space in the van consumed, if put away wet water would run all over the inside of the van and the dampness would last for days. However, there are those here that love them - each to their own!

 

[Davilu]

I understand that the air x tension is quick to put up and take down. Can those that have one confirm if this is the case?

 

[colintfcolintf]

I understand that the air x tension is quick to put up and take down. Can those that have one confirm if this is the case?

There’s a video on the Attwools website

 

[MichaelB65]

I understand that the air x tension is quick to put up and take down. Can those that have one confirm if this is the case?

Mine hasn't been delivered yet, so I'm not able to confirm.

On the Attwells website it does say 8 mins Pitching Time, which is obviously quick but then again it is his profession.

You may get more of a feel for it by watching the Staycation Lifestyle Youtube video. He goes through the set-up and you get to see the size of the awning when packed.

 

[Davilu]

Thanks for the replies. Just watched the video which was really helpful. It looks like a great piece of kit.

 

[Van Diesel VW]

Mine does not take long to inflate, comes with a large pump. Takes longer to peg down, depending on ground conditions. Some of the peg’s supplied are a bit flimsy and replaced with better quality ones. It is bulky in the van, but doable as only 2 of us. It’s not a cheap awning but complements the California and the quality is impressive. No fixed ground sheet, so may want to consider some type of flooring.

 

[PugmeisterCali]

I understand that the air x tension is quick to put up and take down. Can those that have one confirm if this is the case?

Yes, quick and easy. A few mins to pump up, after which it’s so stable you can bang in pegs at leisure. It comes with guy ropes but we’ve never felt the need to use them. Take down is a breeze. No issues getting back in the bag. We tend to pull the rear bench forward a few inches and pack the air x tension on the drivers side. That leaves plenty of space for a family of 4 plus dog for a week’s holiday without any junk in the passenger area. Essential bit of kit for us.

 

[Keith Smith]

I’ve only put mine up once to try it but it was far quicker than the Vango Cove we tried. The big plus for us is there is little need for guy ropes.

 

[Boops]

Back to the original question.

I’ll admit it—I’m an awning addict. Since buying my van just over four years ago, I’ve somehow ended up with three different awnings. Do I need them all? Probably not. Do I love them anyway? Absolutely. Here’s what I’ve got:

1. The Comfortz Awning Room – Perfect for extra storage and, more importantly, for standing up while getting dressed like a civilised human. It takes a few minutes to put up.
2. The Bell Tent Awning – Comes with a wood-burning stove, so I can pretend I’m a rugged outdoorsman while sipping coffee in my slippers.
3. The Dometic Rally Pro 260 Awning – Technically meant for a bigger van (like the Grand California), but thanks to some genius engineering, it fits my California too. This is a whole awning system—you can add annex rooms, bedrooms, and even a sun canopy (yes, an awning for the awning!).

I go on trips all the time, from quick overnighters to full 10-day adventures. Even if I’m only away for one night, I’ll set up the awning room because I like having extra space. I hate clutter, but I’m also too lazy to keep packing and unpacking things.

Some people prefer the quick-and-easy method: drive up, pop the roof, swivel the chairs, done. That’s fine. But for me, setting up camp is part of the fun! It keeps me moving—lifting, stretching, bending, swearing when I forget how something works… it’s like a full-body workout. Tearing it down is even quicker. If it’s raining, I won’t bother setting it up, but I have taken one down in the rain (which was… an experience).

The more you use an awning, the faster you get at setting it up. I took the Dometic awning on a 10-day trip to the South of France, and it was a game-changer. We left our gear in it while out exploring, ate meals inside, and even used it for cooking. Having a camping cupboard and drawers in there meant I didn’t have to keep diving into the van for stuff—it was like having an extra room!

The Downsides of Awning Addiction​

1. Storage Drama – When folded down, an awning is basically a giant, awkward burrito. Where do you put it when not in use? Like any hobby, you can go minimal… or you can go full “I need a separate storage unit” mode. Guess which one I chose.
2. The Wet Awning Struggle – Rain is fine. A wet awning, however, is a nightmare. The real problem is drying it. Unless you have a massive garage or a garden big enough to pitch it again, you’ll be dealing with a soggy mess. One of mine once sat in my garden for two weeks waiting to dry—at which point I started considering just moving into it permanently.

Pro Tip: Buy Second-Hand!​

I’ve never paid full price for any of my awnings. The awning room and Dometic were both picked up from other members on this forum. Awnings are one of the most commonly resold camping items, and honestly, I’d highly recommend buying used. You can get a great deal, and sometimes people even give them away for free (yes, really). If you try one and don’t like it, just re-list it and let someone else take it off your hands.

I'll share some pictures when I get a chance.

 

[Davilu]

Great reply, lots of food for thought. Can I ask for your thoughts on fixed ground sheets. Do you regard them as essential?

 

[Boops]

To be honest, I didn’t do much research on awnings before buying them. I simply liked the look and thought they were good value for money. I bought the bell tent because I wanted one with a wood-burning stove, and I chose the Dometic because it was brand new and came at a great price. I bought the awing room because I wanted some additional space and agains it came at a good price.
I had previously purchased a groundsheet from Decathlon for around £8, which I used both under the California wind-out awning and inside the awning room.

The bell tent comes with a built-in groundsheet, but since its a completely different proposition, I'll focus on the Dometic for reference. Unlike the bell tent, the Dometic did not come with a built-in groundsheet, so I continued using the one from Decathlon. This actually has its advantages—I can roll out the awning room onto the groundsheet to keep it clean and do the same in reverse when packing it up. One great feature of the Dometic system is that you can also purchase a carpet that sits on top of the groundsheet for added comfort.

I have used the Dometic without a groundsheet, and while it was still enjoyable to sit in, it didn’t feel as cozy. On balance, I prefer having a separate groundsheet and carpet rather than a built-in one or none at all.

Another way I use the groundsheet is when packing up after a long camping trip. I usually start the day before, packing things gradually. Once the awning is packed away, I leave it on the pitch, cover it (along with other gear) with the groundsheet, and peg it down in case it rains overnight. The next morning, everything stays dry, making it much easier to load the van and head off.

While I love my van, it’s not exactly the pinnacle of comfort—especially those bench seats. Let’s just say I’d rather sit outside than inside, unless I suddenly develop a fondness for awkward back support. Even in the evenings, when I’m inside the awning reading or watching a film, it still feels more like being outside—just with fewer bugs and less risk of being rained on. It’s the perfect middle ground between nature and, well… not having to suffer for it.

 

[Van Diesel VW]

Great reply, lots of food for thought. Can I ask for your thoughts on fixed ground sheets. Do you regard them as essential?

One of my criteria when looking for an awning was that it didn't have a fixed ground sheet, had to be removable, as some sites where you are pitching on grass don't like you to use ground sheets as will kill the grass. Went with the Air X Tension which does not have a ground sheet, but am looking to buy some sort of mat for it, even though it will be more to carry around.

 

[Ghostbuster]

Bowing to the greater experience of the good people of this group I researched the forum and YouTube then purchased a Vango Tolga, not really knowing what I’m doing?
I know it’s an old model but it wasn’t expensive in the scheme of things.
A mid spec, It’s only 3m but plenty big enough for two of us.
Has a sort of porch canopy which I like and claims to be quick and easy to put up and take down.
I looked at the pack size as my main consideration and will fit behind the bench seat when travelling.

 

[Boops]

I promise I'm not on commission—but I just spotted an awning for sale here that looks like an absolute steal! If you're not local, why not turn it into an adventure? A scenic road trip and an overnight stay at a campsite might still cost you less than buying it brand new! Plus, you can give the rest of the campsite a good laugh as they watch you wrestle with the first setup attempt!

Accessories For Sale - For sale Outdoor Revolution Movelite T1 awning - £130

Hi We’re selling our Outdoor Revolution air beam awning. It’s in excellent condition and complete with pump etc. any questions then please let me know. I’ve attached a link below which gives more details and dimensions. Thanks...

vwcaliforniaclub.com