Outdoor Revolution California Coast Drive Away Awning, Grey, One Size

Product Information

Which is best depends on your camping style, if you need separate sleeping compartments, and what you’ll use the awning for. Expandability

The groundsheet is not attached to the awning, so there are gaps around the sides. This means it’s not as effective in keeping out the weather, draughts, or insects. The front of the awning can be elevated horizontally to create a sun canopy, however, the poles needed to do this are not included (they are an optional extra). There’s a PVC window on either side of the awning and a number of meshed ventilation vents which are handy for keeping cool without letting in flies. One more neat little feature is a mains cable access point. Price – as you’d expect the price of a product can be an instantly recognisable factor on what sort of quality you can expect. Whoever came up with the phrase “you get what you pay for” pretty much hit the nail on the head. Whilst it’s not always the case and there are many bargains to be had, you can as a general rule, expect the higher priced products to offer better quality than a the cheapest option. We’ll dive into the price of Outdoor Revolution California Coast Drive Away Awning in more detail in a moment. They’re made from the same materials as a tent and set up exactly the same way – usually with poles and pegs. However, like tents, inflatable options that don’t need poles are becoming more popular. The downside is that the put up and take down is not an easy task for one person (I often travel alone), it’s takes up A LOT of space, and the drive away kador strip attachment on this style of awning can be a bit of a pain. ( I have been looking at magnetic attachments recently to see if this might be a better option going forward). Also bear in mind that the seal against the van is not in fact a seal and the rain will pour in against the van side.

If you want lots of space, we think the OLPRO Wrap campervan awning is unbeatable! For something less mansion-like, the OLPRO Cocoon Breeze is the best of the bunch. The inner bedroom tent is a great addition, providing space for up to 5 people to sleep comfortably. The Shandika Aarhus awning is made from PU coated polyester with sealed seams and fibreglass poles. A two-person breathable and removable sleeping pod with sewn-in groundsheet and mosquito mesh is included, as is a groundsheet which covers the main living area. It would be easy for me to only recommend well-known brands of drive away awnings, but these can come at a price and not everyone can afford or justify the outlay. So, let’s consider another scenario: say you just need a spacious awning for occasional use, one that has a built in two berth sleeping tent, and is under two hundred quid. What are your choices then? With the right equipment, you can sleep comfortably in your drive away awning. First, you’ll need a few basics: an inflatable mattress, sleeping bag, and pillow.

The vehicle is temporarily attached to the awning via the non-rigid, tunnel part of the awning which joins the two together. The tunnel can be attached and detached from the vehicle in various ways depending on the make and model of the awning. I also have a cheapish 2m square tent from decathlon which I use a lot. It serves as a dumping ground for anything that doesn’t need to be in the van and I often set it up as a changing and organising station to help reduce day to day van clutter. If the weathers good, I erect it so that it meets the leisure room so that we have two spaces. It makes driving away simple and keeps the extra space available for our return. As a single-point inflatable awning, it’s really easy to assemble, so you can inflate it in no time. The 4mm side of the beading slides onto your wind-out awning. Then, the figure-of-eight strips on the 6mm side attach to the drive away awning.

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On the other hand, inflatable awnings have fewer parts. There’s no fiddling about extending poles and all the palaver they involve. Inflatable awnings are fully integrated, include an air pump, and most include a lifetime guarantee on the air valves. The best drive away awnings are the inflatable type, but they also tend to be the most expensive. However, it’s worth paying a little extra for an inflatable drive away awning if possible, as they’re a lot easier to set up. Finally, if you have roof bars, some awnings (including the Vango and Kampa options above) have Velcro straps that loop around the roof bar. As fantastic as a drive away awning is when it’s set up, the largest models can be pretty hefty. Make sure it’s a size you can lift in and out of your camper. Some of the largest models can weigh well over 30kg, so keep an eye on the specification.

Fully waterproof, so you can keep your living space dry. It also makes it suitable for sleeping in. The most crucial measurement is height. If you buy one that’s too short or too tall, it won’t fit on your vehicle. The California Coast is similar to Outdoor Revolution’s Key West awning, although it is marginally bigger.

Ratings & Reviews

If you’re looking for a good quality, medium-sized awning that’s pretty straightforward to erect, then the inflatable Lichfield California may be for you. Families grow, and our needs change. That’s just life. Because these drive away awnings are a bit of an investment, it’s worth considering if you might need even more space in the future. The awning features a pre-attached front extension that offers a versatile amount of space. It’s also pretty handy for keeping you dry, just in case the weather decided to let you down.