Driveaway awnings are freestanding tent extensions that attach to your motorhome or campervan and stay pitched when you drive away for the day. They connect through a tunnel section fitted to your vehicle's awning rail, and when it's time to head out, you roll back the tunnel, secure it with toggles, and leave. Your furniture, bedding, and gear stay put inside the awning until you return. This collection includes inflatable air awnings, traditional poled awnings, and tailgate awnings from Vango, Outwell, Easy Camp, Dometic Kampa, and Maypole. Models cover attachment heights from 180cm up to 295cm, fitting everything from VW Transporters and Ford Transit Customs through to large coachbuilt motorhomes.What types of driveaway awning are available for motorhomes and campervans?
Driveaway awnings split into three height categories: Low (180-210cm) for VW T5, T6, and similar campervans, Mid (210-255cm) for high-top panel vans like the Mercedes Sprinter and Peugeot Boxer, and Tall (255-295cm) for coachbuilt motorhomes. Within each height you'll find inflatable air awnings that pitch in under 10 minutes and poled awnings that cost less but take longer to erect.
Vango dominates the inflatable end of this collection with their patented AirBeam technology. The Kela Pro Air is one of the UK's top-selling family driveaway awnings, offering a 310 x 370cm footprint with room for clip-in bedrooms and a dedicated storage tunnel. The Cove III Air is a compact front-facing model for couples and small families, with a 310 x 320cm footprint that positions you looking outwards from your van for privacy from neighbouring pitches. The Faros III is the lightest in the range at under 10kg packed, making it ideal for spontaneous weekend trips. The Versos Air stands apart with 18 different pitching configurations, allowing front-facing, side-facing, and even right-hand-side rail setups. The HexAway Pro creates a distinctive hexagonal living space for larger groups. Outwell's Touring and Cruising collections use Outtex 3000 and Outtex 4000 fabrics, with the Blossburg 380 Air designed to pitch parallel to your van for a smaller pitch footprint. Dometic Kampa's Cross Air delivers a 300 x 300cm living area on a sturdy multi-point AirFrame. Easy Camp and Maypole provide affordable poled alternatives, with the Maypole Broadway serving as a popular tailgate option for barn-door campervans.
VW Transporter owners (T4, T5, T6, and T6.1) along with VW California, Ford Transit Custom, Vauxhall Vivaro, and Renault Trafic drivers all sit within the Low height bracket of 180-210cm. Mid-height awnings suit high-top conversions on Peugeot Boxer, Fiat Ducato, and Mercedes Sprinter chassis. Tall models fit A-class and coachbuilt motorhomes from manufacturers like Bailey, Swift, Auto-Trail, and Elddis. Front-facing awnings like the Vango Cove III position you looking outward from the side of your van, giving a view of the campsite. Side-facing models like the Vango Kela extend perpendicular to your vehicle, creating a larger sheltered corridor between van and living space. Tailgate awnings from Maypole and Easy Camp attach to the rear of your vehicle and work with barn-door or top-hinged tailgate configurations. All driveaway awnings pair well with inner tent bedrooms, awning carpets, and groundsheet protectors from the same brands.
The biggest decision is air versus poled. Inflatable driveaway awnings from Vango, Outwell, and Dometic Kampa use air beams instead of poles, meaning one person can pitch them in 8-15 minutes with the supplied hand pump. They flex with the wind rather than snapping, and pack without loose pole bags. Poled awnings from Easy Camp, Maypole, and Vango's Faros range use fibreglass or aluminium frames, pack into two smaller bags (fabric and poles separately), and cost roughly half the price of equivalent air models. If you're after fast solo pitching and plan to tour regularly, an air awning will save time at every stop. If you camp infrequently and want to keep costs down, a poled model with a sewn-in groundsheet will do the job. Pay attention to hydrostatic head ratings: 3,000mm handles standard UK rain, whilst 4,000mm and above (found on Vango's Sentinel Active and Outwell's Outtex 4000 fabrics) offers better protection during prolonged downpours.
The most common mistake first-time buyers make is ordering the wrong height. Park on level ground, measure from the floor to your awning rail or channel, and match that figure to the Low, Mid, or Tall category before choosing a model. The second most common error is forgetting the driveaway kit. Most awnings don't include one in the box. You'll need a 6mm to 6mm kit if connecting to a standard C-channel or Reimo-style awning rail, or a 4mm to 6mm kit if connecting through a Fiamma F45, F65, or Thule windout awning cassette. Using the wrong size kador beading leaves gaps where rain blows through. When you drive away, mark your wheel position with chalk or a ground peg so you line up the tunnel accurately on return. Always dry your awning thoroughly before long-term storage. Polyester fabric packed away damp will develop mould within days, and UV degradation from extended seasonal pitching isn't covered under most manufacturer warranties, including Vango's 2-year guarantee.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What size driveaway awning do I need for my motorhome or campervan?Driveaway awnings are sold in three height categories based on your vehicle's attachment height, measured from the ground to the awning rail or channel. Low (180-210cm) fits VW T4, T5, T6, T6.1, VW California, Ford Transit Custom, Vauxhall Vivaro, Renault Trafic, and Mazda Bongo campervans. Mid or Standard (210-255cm) fits high-top panel van conversions on Peugeot Boxer, Fiat Ducato, Citroen Relay, and Mercedes Sprinter chassis. Tall (255-295cm) fits coachbuilt motorhomes from manufacturers like Bailey, Swift, Auto-Trail, and Elddis. Park on level ground and measure from the floor straight up to your awning rail at both ends of the vehicle, as most motorhomes sit slightly higher at the rear. Use the longer of the two measurements.What is the difference between an inflatable air driveaway awning and a poled driveaway awning?Inflatable air driveaway awnings use air beams instead of poles to create their structure. You inflate them with a hand pump (supplied) through a single valve point, and they pitch in around 8-15 minutes with one person. Air beams flex with the wind rather than snapping, making them more resilient in exposed conditions. Poled driveaway awnings use fibreglass or aluminium poles threaded through fabric sleeves. They pack into two separate bags (poles and fabric), which makes individual bags lighter and easier to store, and they cost roughly half the price of comparable air models. Poled awnings take longer to pitch and usually need a second pair of hands, but they're a strong choice for infrequent campers watching their budget. Brands like Vango, Outwell, and Dometic Kampa focus on air models, whilst Easy Camp and Maypole offer popular poled options.How do I attach a driveaway awning to my campervan or motorhome?The most secure method is using a driveaway kit with your vehicle's awning rail. The kit consists of a kador strip (a fabric tape with plastic beading on both edges) and figure-of-eight connectors. One side of the kador strip slides into your vehicle's awning rail, and the other connects to the awning's tunnel beading via the figure-of-eight pieces. When you want to drive away, you slide the kador strip out of the figure-of-eight, roll back the tunnel section, and leave. If your vehicle has no awning rail, you have other options: throw-over straps that go across the roof and peg down on the opposite side, magnetic driveaway strips for steel-bodied vehicles, Velcro tabs that wrap around roof bars, or pole-and-clamp systems that grip to a rain gutter. An awning rail with a driveaway kit gives the tightest seal and most weather-resistant connection.Do I need a 6mm or 4mm driveaway kit for my awning?This depends on your vehicle's attachment point. A 6mm to 6mm driveaway kit is the standard choice for connecting to a C-channel awning rail, a Reimo multi-rail, or a bonded aluminium rail fitted to your campervan. A 4mm to 6mm kit is what you need if you're connecting through the channel on a Fiamma F45, F65, or Thule Omnistor windout cassette awning, because those channels use a narrower 4mm slot. If you have a VW California with the factory-fitted windout canopy, the channel on that canopy takes a 6mm bead, so a standard 6mm to 6mm kit works for connecting via the windout. The separate VW California-specific rail (not the windout) has a non-standard profile that needs a dual-bead kador strip or a VW adaptor. Most driveaway awnings in this collection come with 6mm beading sewn onto the tunnel, but the driveaway kit itself is usually sold separately.Can one person put up a driveaway awning on their own?With an inflatable air driveaway awning, one person can handle the full setup comfortably. The typical process involves laying out the awning, pegging the corners, inflating through the single valve point with the supplied pump, then attaching to the vehicle and tensioning the guylines. Models like the Vango Kela Pro Air pitch in around 8 minutes solo once you've practised a couple of times. Poled driveaway awnings are harder to manage alone because threading and raising poles while holding fabric in position is awkward, particularly in any wind. If you're regularly camping solo, an air awning is worth the extra outlay. It's always a good idea to do a trial pitch at home before your first trip, regardless of the awning type.Can I attach a driveaway awning to my Fiamma or Thule windout awning?Yes. Most Fiamma F45, F65, and Thule Omnistor cassette awnings have a small channel along the front rail specifically designed for attaching a driveaway awning. You'll need a 4mm to 6mm driveaway kit because the channel on windout cassettes is 4mm rather than the standard 6mm found on fixed awning rails. Slide one side of the kador strip into the windout awning's channel and connect the other side to your driveaway awning's beading using figure-of-eight connectors. When you want to drive away, you disconnect the figure-of-eight and roll the windout awning back in as normal. One thing to watch: the figure-of-eight pieces can creep along the channel in windy conditions. Kador lock blocks or small bulldog clips at each end of the strip will stop this movement.What is the difference between a front-facing and side-facing driveaway awning?A front-facing driveaway awning like the Vango Cove III Air positions the main living area looking outward from the side of your van, in the same direction your vehicle faces. This gives you a view of the campsite and more privacy from neighbouring pitches. A side-facing awning like the Vango Kela extends perpendicular to your vehicle, creating a longer corridor between the van and the awning's living space. Side-facing models typically offer more internal floor area and a larger sheltered tunnel for storage. Some modular awnings like the Vango Versos Air give you the flexibility to pitch in either orientation, and can also be configured for right-hand-side rail setups, giving up to 18 different pitching layouts depending on your pitch size and preference.Can I add bedrooms to a driveaway awning?Many driveaway awnings accept optional clip-in inner tent bedrooms that hang from the internal roof. These are typically available as two-berth or four-berth inners, turning your awning into additional sleeping space for guests, children, or pets. Vango, Outwell, and Dometic Kampa all produce brand-specific inner tents matched to their awning models, so always check compatibility before purchasing. The inner tents use toggle or clip systems to attach, meaning you can add or remove bedrooms in minutes. Some larger awnings like the Vango Kela Pro Air and the Vango Versos Air have dedicated annexe attachment points that allow you to position the bedroom in different locations within the awning footprint.Do driveaway awnings come with a sewn-in groundsheet?Most mid-range and premium driveaway awnings from Vango, Outwell, and Dometic Kampa include a sewn-in groundsheet as standard. A sewn-in groundsheet connects to the flysheet walls, creating a sealed environment that keeps out draughts, rain ingress, and insects. Some budget poled models from Easy Camp and Maypole use a clip-in or detachable groundsheet instead, which is easier to remove for cleaning but doesn't provide the same draught-free seal. If you plan to use the awning for sleeping with inner tent bedrooms, a sewn-in groundsheet makes a significant difference to warmth and comfort. Detachable groundsheets suit owners who want the option of an open-sided shelter during warmer weather. Check individual product specifications, as groundsheet type varies between models even within the same brand.How do I stop my driveaway awning getting mouldy in storage?The single most important rule is to make sure your awning is bone dry before packing it away for long-term storage. Polyester and polycotton fabrics will develop mould within days if stored damp, and mould damage is not covered under any manufacturer warranty. If you have to pack up in wet conditions at the campsite, unpack and drape the awning over a washing line, fence, or garage rafters at home as soon as possible, and leave it until completely dry. Store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. For awnings with inflatable air beams, deflate fully and leave the valves open during storage to prevent trapped moisture. Avoid storing in sealed plastic containers where condensation can build up. A breathable storage bag or a cotton sack works better than a tightly sealed stuff sack for long-term off-season storage.What does hydrostatic head mean on a driveaway awning?Hydrostatic head (HH) measures how waterproof a fabric is. The figure represents the height of a column of water in millimetres that the fabric can support before water seeps through. A rating of 3,000mm is the baseline for comfortable UK camping and will handle normal rain showers. A 4,000mm rating, found on fabrics like Vango's Sentinel Active and Outwell's Outtex 4000, provides stronger protection during heavy and prolonged downpours. Higher-end awnings from Vango using Sentinel ECO Pro fabric reach 6,000mm. For touring in the UK where sustained rain is common, a minimum of 3,000mm is recommended. All seams on quality driveaway awnings are taped or heat-welded to prevent water tracking through the stitching.
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