Camping isn't always as easy as going to the woods. If you plan on having most of the commodities you have at home you'll need a certain type of vehicle. 4WD vehicles are a great solution in this case as they offer plenty of space to pack your gear and they are a lot safer than a caravan. They may not be as roomy or as accommodating as a caravan but 4WD vehicles are safer to tow with and can go over more challenging terrain.
Camping is an adventure that is best done with a proper shade over the area you plan to reside in the most. This is why a 4WD awning is an important accessory for every camper. Especially, if you plan on observing nature and its interesting ways of keeping our ecosystem going.
What to Look for in a Car Awning
Setup
A 4WD accessory with as easy of a task as an awning should be easy to set up. If you need a lot of time and/ or effort to set an awning then you might consider getting a different one. A proper car awning should make setting it up the least of your worries. There are some that can even stand up on their two support poles without the need for guy ropes.
Material & Construction
The quality of the material providing the actual shade is as important as the way the awning was made. The canvas used for the making of the awning shouldn't be lighter than 300 gsm. Anything below this number makes for a light but not as durable of a rooftop. Anything heavier makes for an awning that is more difficult to set up. Twist lock poles and cast metal hinges should also be part of your new awning if you want it to last you a long time.
Weight
This next factor ties in with the material and construction of an awning. The more rugged it looks and the thicker the canvas is, the heavier the awning will be. While this will make it more difficult for the wind to take it away, it will also make it less portable. You will have a hard time getting the awning in and out of your 4WD. But that doesn't mean you should go for the lightest awning either.
Attachments
A 4WD awning is extremely versatile as you can also accessorise it. For example, you can add LED strips to your awning or add walls to provide extra protection from the elements or high winds. You also have the option to add a mozzie net.
Wind Resistance
The construction of an awning also has an effect on wind resistance. The heavier the poles are and the more flex there is in the joints, the better the awning is going to be at withstanding high winds. Remember though, this makes the awning heavier so make sure it's worth the hassle.
Types of Awnings
Side
One of the most practical vehicle awnings you could get is a side car awning. Side awnings work by having a long rail mounted on one roof rack. They are also the easiest to install and set up. They are typically placed on the longest dimension of your vehicle. There's a second rail that has the legs attached to it which are pulled out with the help of struts.
Rear
A rear awning isn't that practical but it can be a nice addition when coupled with a side awning. Rear awnings may be restricted to the width of your 4WD's roof but they provide enough space for you to set up camp. Usually, rear awnings are up to 2 metres long.
Batwing
No, you're not going to get the bat signal with this type of awning. Jokes aside, this is a large awning that mounts on the roof of your vehicle and covers two sides. The 270° shade is able to cover up to 11 m2. Its design is what makes it look like the wing of a bat.
Retractable
If you want an awning that is going to be a breeze to set up and store you should go for retractable vehicle awnings. These are able to smoothly roll up and unroll. Once set up, the awning is kept in place thanks to the roller putting slight tension on it. There will be no sag in the roof and no water will pool on top of a retractable awning.
Setting Up an Awning
1. The most important factor to keep in mind when setting up an awning is its foundation. If you peg down the awning properly everything else will go as it should. You also risk damaging your awning and vehicle if you haven't pegged down the awning correctly.
2. When it starts to rain, you should position your 4WD awning so it sits at an angle. This is best done by lifting one leg higher up than the other. This will allow the rain to run down better and prevent it from pooling too.
3. When the rain stops and you want to head home, you should wait for the awning to dry off. Packing the awning when it's damp can invite mould and create mould stains after the awning has been sitting aside for a long time.
4. When mounting your awning you should have it flush with your roof rack. This prevents the awning from sagging or protruding. Also, no rain will come seeping between the vehicle and the awning.
