Written by Lisa Walton on 23rd Mar 2026
That sounds dramatic, but anyone who's spent a rainy afternoon crammed into a VW Transporter with two kids and a wet dog knows what we mean. An awning gives you a room, somewhere to cook without steaming up the van, somewhere to sit that isn't the driver's seat, somewhere to stash the muddy boots and camping chairs that otherwise take up half the living space.
Campervan awnings are the largest product category we make at OLPRO. It's what we're best known for, and it's where we've spent most of our development time over the past thirteen years. If you're new to awnings entirely, our complete guide to awnings covers the basics across all types. This guide goes deep on campervan-specific models — from which type suits your van to how to stop the thing sagging in the rain.
Why a Campervan Awning Changes Everything
When we surveyed our customers, 72% said they use their awning for extra storage alongside another purpose. 70% use it as a dining area. 40% use it for sleeping. Most end up using it for all three.
The maths is simple. A typical campervan has around 5-6 square metres of interior space. Even our smallest awning, the Uno Breeze, adds another 7 square metres. Our flagship Cocoon Breeze adds nearly 16 square metres. You're doubling or tripling your living space for the weekend.
And because campervan awnings are driveaway, they stay standing when you detach and drive off, you get the best of both worlds. Set up camp, leave your chairs and table in the awning, and go explore. Come back, reconnect, and everything's where you left it.
Full Driveaway Awnings
The main event. A fully enclosed structure with walls, doors, groundsheet, and often a bedroom inner. Connects to your van via a tunnel and stands independently when you disconnect, our guide to driveaway awnings explains the driveaway system in detail. This is what most people mean when they say "campervan awning."
Sizes range from compact (our Cubo Breeze at 310 x 310cm) to large (the Cocoon Breeze at 455 x 350cm with a 5-berth bedroom).
Tailgate Awnings
Attach to the rear of your van instead of the side. These work brilliantly with vans that have barn doors or a wide tailgate, the awning creates a sheltered space behind the vehicle. Great for surf trips, cooking, or as a changing room. Tailgate awnings are smaller and lighter than a full side awning.
Sun Canopies and Shades
Open-sided, just a roof, no walls. Quick to pitch, lightweight, cheap. Perfect for shade on a sunny day or keeping the worst of the drizzle off while you sit outside. Not an alternative to a full awning, but a useful companion on fair-weather trips.
We make these in a few styles: the Modern Shade (clean block colours), the Retro Shade (classic stripe), and the Barn Door Canopy (attaches specifically to VW T5/T6 rear tailgates for £89).
Which Awning Fits Your Van?
Campervan awnings are designed for vehicles with a height of 190cm to 250cm. This covers essentially every standard campervan on UK roads:
- VW Transporter (T5, T6, T6.1), VW Caddy
- Ford Transit Custom, Ford Tourneo
- Mercedes Vito, Mercedes Viano, Mercedes Citan
- Renault Trafic, Renault Master
- Vauxhall Vivaro, Vauxhall Arena
- Mazda Bongo
- Fiat Talento, Fiat Scudo, Fiat Doblo
- Toyota HiAce, Toyota Proace
- Nissan Primastar, Nissan NV200, NV300
- Citroen Berlingo, Citroen Dispatch
- Peugeot Boxer
Every OLPRO campervan awning fits all of these vans. We use a dual beading system on our tunnels, both 4mm and 6mm, so the same awning connects to virtually any awning rail.
If your vehicle is taller than 250cm (most coachbuilt motorhomes, larger panel van conversions like the Fiat Ducato high-roof), you need a Tall Tunnel version. We make the Cocoon Breeze and Loopo Breeze in Tall Tunnel variants for vehicles up to 290cm.
Quick height check
Measure from the ground to the point where your awning rail sits (or would sit). Under 250cm = standard campervan awning. Over 250cm = tall tunnel / motorhome version. Our dual beading (4mm and 6mm) means the tunnel fits virtually any awning rail.
Inflatable vs Poled: Which Should You Choose?
We make every main awning in both inflatable (Breeze) and fibreglass pole versions. Same design, same fabric, same accessories, different frame.
The typical price difference: Cocoon Breeze £749 vs Cocoon Poled £599. Hive Breeze £549 vs Hive Poled £489. Cubo Breeze £399 vs Cubo Poled £299.
“Most people who try inflatable don’t go back to poles. The pitch time difference matters — especially on a Friday evening when you’ve driven three hours and just want to get set up. But if budget’s tight, our poled versions are the same awning with a different frame. There’s no shame in poles.
How to Fit an Awning to Your Campervan
Three ways to connect, from most to least secure:
1.Awning Rail (Recommended)
A C-channel or J-channel rail bolted along the side of your van, usually at roof gutter height. The awning tunnel's beading slides into the rail for a tight, weatherproof seal.
Most campervans don't come with an awning rail, you fit one yourself or have it done. On a VW T5 or T6, this means a C-channel rail along the roof gutter. It's a drill-and-sealant job that takes an afternoon. The rail itself costs around £40-80.
Top tip: rail protector
Fit an awning rail protector — a rubber strip that sits in the channel when the awning isn’t connected. It stops dirt, leaves, and road grime clogging the rail, and makes sliding the beading in much easier next time.
2. Throw-Over Storm Straps
Straps that go over the roof of your van and cinch down on the far side. No drilling, no permanent modification. Every OLPRO awning includes storm straps as standard.
The connection isn't as weatherproof as a rail, wind can get under the join between tunnel and van, but it works well enough for fair weather and occasional use. Good for trying an awning before committing to a permanent rail.
3. Magnetic Driveaway Kit
Strong magnets clamp to your van's metal roof, with the awning tunnel connecting to the magnetic bar. Quick to attach and remove, zero modification to your van. Less secure than a rail in strong wind, and doesn't work on pop-top roofs (the magnets need a flat metal surface).
Our recommendation
If you’re buying a proper awning and plan to use it regularly, fit an awning rail. It’s a one-time job (an afternoon’s work, £40–80 for the rail) and the difference in seal quality and stability is significant. Start with storm straps if you want to test the waters first.
Choosing the Right Size
This is where it gets personal. Too small and you won't use it. Too large and it dominates your pitch and takes too long to set up.
Think about what goes inside
Just shelter and seating (table, chairs, maybe a cooking area): a compact awning like the Cubo Breeze (310 x 310cm) or Uno Breeze (220 x 330cm) is plenty.
Living space plus sleeping: you need room for an inner tent AND space to move around it. The Loopo Breeze (390 x 310cm) or Hanley Breeze (365cm long) give you this without being enormous.
Full second room: dining, sleeping, everything: the Cocoon Breeze (455 x 350cm) with its 5-berth inner tent, or the Hive Breeze (330 x 330cm) with its clever side-mounted sleeping pod that doesn't eat into living space.
Consider your typical campsite
UK pitches vary. Some are generous; some barely fit a van and a small awning side by side. If you move between sites regularly, a mid-size awning (Loopo or Hanley) gives you flexibility. If you mainly use one site with a big pitch, go larger.
Weight and pack size
An awning lives in your van when not in use. The Uno Breeze at 17kg and the Cubo at a similarly compact size fit easily in a van storage area. The Cocoon Breeze at 30kg needs more dedicated space, usually on the floor behind the front seats or in an underseat compartment.
Our Campervan Awning Range
Every awning below fits all standard campervans (190-250cm vehicle height), comes with a lifetime warranty, and includes storm straps, carry bag, and pegs.
Inflatable (Breeze) Range
Poled Range
Tailgate and Canopies
The Loopo Breeze V2 at £599. Big enough for a proper living space, compact enough to pitch quickly and fit on most pitches, with the option to add a bedroom inner later if you need it. The goldilocks of the range.
Wind, Sagging and Other Real-World Concerns
Wind
Campervan awnings are used in exposed places, coastal car parks, hillside pitches, open fields. Wind is a genuine concern, not a theoretical one.
Inflatable beams handle wind well. They flex and absorb gusts rather than resisting them, think of a tree bending versus breaking. Properly pegged and guyed, our awnings handle typical British weather without issue.
Practical steps: use every peg point (not just the corners). Tension every guy line. On soft ground, use longer pegs at 45 degrees. Position the awning so its narrowest profile faces the prevailing wind. In genuinely severe conditions (storm warnings), pack it away. No awning is designed to survive a named storm.
Sagging
The single most common complaint about campervan awnings and it's almost always caused by the same thing: insufficient tension.
Why awnings sag:
1. The tunnel isn't tight enough against the van. If there's slack where the tunnel meets the vehicle, water pools and the fabric droops. Make sure your beading is fully seated in the rail and the tunnel connection is snug.
2. Guy lines aren't tensioned. The fabric needs to be taut. If you skip the guy lines or leave them loose, the roof will pool water and sag.
3. Air pressure has dropped. On inflatable awnings, a dip in temperature overnight softens the beams. A few pumps in the morning fixes this.
4. The awning is pitched on a slope. Water runs to the lowest point and pools. If you can't avoid a slope, angle the awning so water runs off rather than collecting.
Prevent sagging — quick checklist:
- ✓ Beading fully seated in the rail — any gaps let water pool at the tunnel join
- ✓ All guy lines tensioned — fabric needs to be taut to shed water
- ✓ Check beam pressure after the first night — temperature drops soften beams overnight
- ✓ Angle the awning on slopes — water should run off, not collect
Condensation
Any enclosed fabric structure gets condensation in the UK. An awning is no different. Open vents and doors when possible, don't cook inside with everything zipped up, and wipe down surfaces in the morning if water has collected overnight. It's manageable, not avoidable; we cover this in depth in our condensation guide.
Campsite rules
Most UK campsites allow awnings, though some charge a small supplement (typically £2-5 per night). The key regulation is the 6-metre fire safety rule, your awning must be at least 6 metres from any neighbouring unit. On tight pitches, this can limit your awning size. Our campsite awning rules guide covers the full picture. Check with your campsite before booking if you're unsure.
FAQs
Every OLPRO campervan awning comes with a lifetime warranty, free UK delivery, and a no-quibble returns policy.
Browse the full campervan awning range →