Car awnings are a hot issue in the motor-obsessed outdoor scene because of the wide variety of options available and the rising popularity of slow driving and overlanding. What exactly is a car awning tent, and why would anybody want to purchase one? Well, strap up because we’re going to take a deep dive into the world of vehicle awnings and fill you in on all you need to know before purchasing one.
What Exactly Is a Vehicle Awning?
Awnings may be used on cars as sunshades, awnings, or both. Specifically designed to fit in your automobile. or a vehicle. Or an Airstream. That could be any car, for that matter. Simple enough, you could say. Not quite. A roof rack (a rooftop tent, or cross bars, or something similar) is required to mount the awnings at the back of car onto for a secure installation. Most awnings for cars and trailers have a special bracket that slides into a hole in the vehicle’s body. (Phew!)
Features of a Car Awning Tent
Awnings for automobiles come in a wide range of sizes, but the most common is a rectangular one that extends from the roof to the ground from the front driver’s or passenger’s door to the back of the car. Shade shelters may also be created by erecting a rear awning or an awning with side walls. It’s all a matter of taste.
The obvious benefit of a vehicle awning is protection from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, but there are other, less visible benefits, such as shelter from the rain (particularly when it’s time to cook) and some additional privacy. Car awning tent may vary in price—going from a couple of hundred dollars up to a couple of thousand dollars—as well as in weight. To minimize the weight of your expedition set-up, consider how heavy the components you want to bring along are.
Different Types of Awnings
The question of how you want to utilize the awning can help narrow down your options for a suitable model. A few simple descriptions are provided below:
Poled Awning Vs. Inflatable:
Awnings made of inflatable material are the wave of the future in the camping business since they can stand on their own, are portable, and simple to set up and take down. They are inflated using an electric pump and a two-layer air hose system, somewhat unlike a bicycle. They provide the same level of stability as poled awnings since they may be secured to the ground using tension ropes. Time is saved, space is saved, and weight is saved due to the lack of poles required for assembly.
Despite the fact that pole-style awnings are cumbersome to move around, difficult to set up, and heavy, they remain a popular choice amongst consumers due of their reliability and sturdy build. There are several styles of poles to choose from, with aluminium being the most common material. Fiberglass poles are more affordable, although extra-sturdy carbon poles and galvanized steel poles also exist.
Freestanding Awning Vs. Non-Freestanding Awning:
Awnings that don’t attach to a vehicle are called “freestanding awnings” or “vehicle-independent awnings.” They provide the most mobility since they may be driven away in the car and left set up at the campground for day visits. After that, they use the vehicle’s zip system to re-attach to it. It is necessary to use brackets in order to set up an awning that does not stand on its own. They have to be hardwired into the car forever. Typically, they are less expensive because they need fewer resources to produce (they lack, for instance, a back wall) and because of the sacrifice in comfort that results. The terms “partial tent” and “full tent” are often used instead of “freestanding awning” and “non-freestanding awning” to describe the different types of awnings.
