Awning Buying Guide
ABOUT THE AWNING
THE BIG QUESTION: WHICH TYPE OF AWNING IS COMPATIBLE WITH YOUR VEHICLE?
Awnings are either fitted to the roof or wall of a vehicle. Which method is suitable depends on the following three factors:
- The amount of room above the vehicle’s doors and windows.
- The shape of the vehicle’s side where it converges with the roof.
- The mounting brackets available for your vehicle.
Curved edges are suitable for roof fittings. Whereas a squared edge with sufficient room above the door will accommodate a wall mounting. In either case, suitable mounting brackets are also required. Your vehicle’s length will determine the size of the awning.
Electric OR MANUAL AWNING?
Ultimately, this comes down to individual preferences and the money you would like to spend and how hungry you are for comfort. We outline key details below:
Electric Awning
Benefit - It is quick and easy! At the click of a button, the awning will open or close within some seconds.
Disadvantage - Electric awnings always need a 12V power supply. In emergency cases we have a crank for manual retract.
Manual Awning
Benefit - You have freedom to travel to the remotest destinations! No reliance on power, so no limitations.
Disadvantage - It just take you some small efforts to open and close the awning manually
SUPPORTED OR SELF-SUPPORTED AWNING?
Consider the following when deciding to purchase a supported or self-supported awning:
Supported
- Available with electric and manual deployment
- A tie down kit keeps the awning in the right position even if it is windy
Self-supported
- Only available as electric version
- A consistent mounting bracket supports a better power transmission
- Can easily be handled by one person
DO YOU WANT A SPECIFIC ACCESSORY? ENSURE YOUR AWNING IS COMPATIBLE
Your dealer would like to inform you in more details about our awnings and accessories and which products can be combined:
Camp Room – Only compatible with Dometic awnings with support legs
My Room – Only compatible with self-supported electric wall awning PerfectWall PW 3500
More information
Travelling by yourself?
If you want the ability to set up your awning alone: you’re better off having a self-supported awning (without legs). Self-supported awnings are always operated electric – at the simple click of a button!
DO YOU WANT TO TRAVEL TO REMOTE DESTINATIONS?
Many of us like to use our motorhomes to escape the world and travel to remote spots, far from civilisation. If you are one of those people, then a manual awning is the ideal choice for you as it has no reliance on power. This means you’ll also be buying a supported awning, as self-supported models (without legs) are only available with 12 volt motor operation. But if you’re someone who wants to get lost in the middle of nowhere, away from shops and power sources: we’re guessing you won’t mind putting your awning out manually!
CLIMATE CONDITIONS: WIND, TEMPERATURE, RAIN AND STORM
We advise all types of awnings are put away in the wind and rain. Remember: “awnings are for shade not shelter”.
- Supported awnings (with legs) offer better resistance against wind and may further benefit from a Tie down kit to secure them.
- Electrical awnings without support legs have an integrated wind sensor which retracts to awnings automatically if the wind is too strong.
Temperature
- All awnings are tested to reliably function within a range of - 20˚C to 40˚C. So unless you’re staying in Death Valley or the Arctic Circle, you should have nothing to worry about!
Rain
- Produced are our awnings to give the end consumer a maximum of sun protection
- The multiple, independent brackets of a supported awning require a seal or rain guard to fully protect against rainwater running down the side of the vehicle.
Storm
- Make sure, that your awning is well fixed with our tie down kit
- If heavy storm clouds are on the horizon please retract the awning as soon as possible
