Step By Step Guide to Setting up a Caravan Awning

A caravan is a brilliant, spacious vehicle that allows you to enjoy your comforts whilst on the road. With the addition of a caravan awning, you can enjoy extra space and privacy when camping out on family holidays or solo journeys. 

In this blog, we’ll give you step-by-step instructions on caravan awning setup so you can enjoy the additional benefits of an awning when you’re out exploring. 

Want to get on the road with your own caravan? We offer affordable caravan finance options here at Auto Finance so anyone can enjoy the open road at the best price for you!

Step 1 – Choose Your Awning 

There is a wide range of awnings available on the market, but you can’t just pick any old option. The first step to learning how to put up a caravan awning is to select your model. You need to choose an awning that matches the right fit for your caravan as well as your desired usage.

You can purchase full awnings that unfold from the side of your caravan and form an additional room. If you’re just looking for a bit of extra shade and protection from the elements, you can choose a porch awning. These unfold to give you a space that’s great for enjoying the fresh air and storing outdoor equipment like shoes and camping gear whilst protecting them from the weather. A porch awning is also smaller and easier to manage if you want a simple shelter option. 

If you’re looking for a quick and easy setup, you can purchase inflatable caravan awnings. These remove the need for support like poles but are usually more expensive than traditional awnings. 

Find the Right Awning Size

Once you’ve decided what style of awning you want for your caravan, you need to ensure you choose a model that fits your vehicle. Measuring your caravan can be tricky and time-consuming, but luckily there are tools you can use to make finding the right awning size easy. 

You can use a handy awning finder, which calculates the correct awning size for your caravan. Simply input your vehicle’s make, year, range and model, and you’ll receive measurements to ensure the perfect fit.  

Step 2 – Choose the Best Place to Pitch

If you’ve bought your awning and you’re keen to get out and try it, you’ll need to ensure you find a location that’s suitable for pitching. 

Similar to how you’d pitch a tent, there are a few factors you need to consider before choosing your campsite. Firstly, you need to ensure that where you’re staying has stable, even ground. This will ensure your caravan awning setup is secure and comfortable. 

You should also try to select a location that has some natural protection from the elements. Think of campsites with trees to help add an extra layer of privacy and wind resistance. It’s important, however, to ensure you don’t stay somewhere too secluded, as this can cause safety concerns. Try to camp with other caravan travellers or consider joining a caravan club to enjoy a private but shared space.

Always ensure you’re stationed away from the bottom of slopes or hills as rainfall can cause issues with flooding and damage your awnings. 

If you’re looking for more information on how to stay safe when caravanning, check out our blog on security tips and anti-theft devices. 

Step 3 – Unpack Your Caravan Awning 

Once you’ve found the perfect spot for your adventures, it’s time to set up. Start by unfolding or unpacking your awning outdoors and ensuring you have all the tools and equipment needed for set up. Your kit should include:

• Your awning
• Guy ropes, pegs and rubber hammer
• Poles, beams or support (depending on the type of awning you’ve selected)
• A groundsheet if you’re sitting inside this space
• Manual or automatic pump (if you have an inflatable awning)

Inspect the condition of your awning to check there’s no damage to the fabric before you begin assembly. If you’re heading off on an adventure, ensure you have all the equipment you need with our campervan trip checklist.

Step 4: Attach the Awning to your Caravan

Many modern or luxury caravans have built-in awnings, so if your awning is already attached, then you can skip this step.

The majority of caravans have a dedicated rail on the side of the vehicle for awnings. Begin attaching the fabric to the rail, similar to how you’d feed a rod or beam through the top of your tent. This will give you the main structure your awning will hang from. Once you’ve centred your awning and it’s in the right place, you can begin to secure it in place.

Step 5: Install the Frames

If you’ve chosen a classic style awning with poles, you’ll need to construct the framework to assemble the overall structure. Each awning is a different shape and style, so it’s important to follow the instructions provided with each product to ensure proper assembly. 

Your awning fabric should have designated pole holes/ slots as well as ties or clips to secure the poles firmly in place.

For inflatable designs, your caravan awning setup will be much easier. Simply inflate your awning with a manual or electric pump until it is fully unfolded and firm. 

Step 6: Secure Your Awning

Just like a tent, once your awning is set up, you need to secure it to stop it from moving or blowing away. Find the main corners and hooks of the fabric and begin securing these into place with pegs. Using guy ropes, secure the rest of the perimeter, creating light tension on the fabric to ensure the awning stays fully inflated and keeps its shape. 

To make sure your structure has enough stability in wind and bad weather, secure your guy ropes at a 45-degree angle away from your awning. 

Step 7 – Conduct a Final Inspection

Before you begin to enjoy your awning space, it’s important to check your structure is safe and secure. Inspect all poles and beams to ensure they are firmly in place. Make sure the fabric has the correct tension. If the fabric is too loose, this will affect the structure and the weather-resistant properties of the shelter. 

The final step is to double-check your ground pegs to ensure they’re firmly placed in the soil. Keep an eye on local weather conditions too, as wet or soft soil can lead to issues securing pegs in the ground.

If all your checks are successful, you’re ready to enjoy your caravan awning!

Enjoy Open Space with Caravan Finance from Auto Finance

Now you know how to put up a caravan awning, you can begin to enjoy the privacy and fresh air that this additional space offers. The best way to invest in a caravan is with a loan from us here at Auto Finance. We work with vehicle providers across the UK to find you the best deal on your finances so you can enjoy the freedom of a mobile home without breaking the bank. 

If you’re interested in knowing your potential repayment rates, we’ve got a vehicle finance calculator that estimates your monthly costs based on your loan terms and credit score. 

Whether you’re searching for caravan finance or a larger vehicle, our experts are on hand to contact to help you find the best vehicle for exploring the stunning sites in the UK.