Do I Need A Campervan Awning? Benefits & Disadvantages Of Van Awnings

Having an awning on your sprinter van offers several benefits! In my opinion, the primary benefit is having more shade on your van in the summer, which significantly cuts down on the heat.

During my first year living full-time in my van I didn’t have an awning – I figured I didn’t need one. It wasn’t until my second year that I added an awning and realized what a game changer it is!

In this article I’ll outline the benefits and the disadvantages of a campervan awning.

Benefits of A campervan Awning

The list of benefits definitely outweigh the disadvantages of installing a campervan awning.

1. Protection from the Elements

One of the primary benefits of having an awning for your campervan is protection from the sun and rain.

Awnings provide a shaded area for you to relax and enjoy the outdoors, they’ll even keep you dry in a light rainstorm. Having your awning out can also drastically limit the sun on your van which will keep the interior temperature cooler.

Personally, the difference in my van temperature during the heat of the summer when my awning is up is significant. I find myself putting up the awning on hot days just for the relief inside the van from the hot sun.

Since I travel with my dog, maintaining a comfortable temperature inside my van is really important to me. Pst – I’ve also found this RV pet temperature monitor is great for van life with pets.

2. Additional Living Space

Awnings add an extra living space to your van, providing you with more room to cook, eat, and relax outside. Literally, an awning can double your space! Some awnings even come with wall panel attachments so you can enclose the space for more privacy or protection from the sun and wind.

I have found this to be most beneficial for working remotely – a shaded spot to work means I’m not stuck inside of the van and I don’t have to worry about sun glare preventing me from seeing my laptop screen.

3. Privacy

If you’re camping or parked in a public area, an awning can provide privacy and seclusion from busybodies.

I like to drop the telescoping legs on my MoonShade awning so the angle of the awning is lower and provides less visibility into my van.

4. Versatility

Awnings are versatile and can be used for various activities, such as working remotely, cooking, playing board games, exercising, etc.

The layout of my van doesn’t really allow me enough space to workout, set up a few chairs or have many people over for game night or a meal. That’s why I like throwing up my awning and extending my “livable space”.

5. Increased Resale Value

When it comes time to sell your van, having an awning installed can increase its resale value or make it sell more quickly, as it adds an extra feature and enhances the van’s overall functionality and versatility.

I’ve found this to be especially true if you’re selling in a warmer climate. Additional features that help your van sell fast include AC and an indoor shower in your van.

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Disadvantages of A campervan Awning

While there are many benefits to a campervan awning, there’s also a few disadvantages to consider.

Cost

Campervan awnings can be quite expensive. Some of the best awnings for vans can cost as much as $2,000. One of the reasons I love the MoonShade awning is that it’s one of the most affordable and high-quality awnings on the market – costing just $400 (pst – you can get $30 off your MoonShade awning with my code “everywherewithclaire”)

Complicated Installation

Not only are awnings expensive, but they can be complicated to install. First, you must know how you plan to attach the awning (roof mount, wall mount, roof rack mount) and then purchase the appropriate adaptor for the specific awning and your specific van.

If you’re mounting to the roof or the wall, chances are good you’ll need to drill holes in your van. While not necessarily a bad thing, this is one additional place for potential leaks down the road, and something you’ll need to keep an eye on and maintain.

Compare the Fiamma 45s vs F80s awnings for your van

Limited Use In Wind

While some awnings will hold up better than others (awnings with poles can withstand stronger winds than motorized awnings without legs) none of them can be out in strong wind gusts without sustaining damage.

While this is something you can mostly work around by putting your awning away when winds are expected, it’s not 100% possible to predict wind gusts and you run the risk of damage to your awning every time it’s set up. The worst thing about damage is it may make putting your awning away so you can drive difficult to impossible without a mobile mechanics help.

Less Stealthy

Having an awning permanently installed on your van makes it more obviously a campervan, which limits your ability to stealth camp.

If stealth camping isn’t your thing, this isn’t a huge disadvantage. However, if you’re like me and spend some time in cities then having an awning, like the MoonShade, which isn’t permanently installed can be helpful because when it’s not in use it’s not visible.

So, Is A Campervan Awning Worth It?

If you have wiggle room in your budget, absolutely. However, if your build budget is tight then I personally think there are more important things to invest in, like a high quality 12v refrigerator.