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A drive-away awning is a great way to add extra living, storage or sleeping space to your campervan or motorhome without losing the freedom to drive off for the day.
Once pitched, the awning can stay on your pitch while you disconnect your vehicle and head out exploring. This makes them ideal for campervan holidays, touring trips, weekends away and longer campsite stays where you want more comfort and usable space.
Drive Away Awnings come in heights:
Low (180–210cm): Best suited to standard campervans such as VW Transporters, Ford Transit Customs and similar-sized vehicles.
Mid (215–255cm): Designed for taller campervans and van conversions, including VW Crafters, Mercedes Sprinters and Fiat Ducatos.
Tall (255–295cm): Ideal for motorhomes and larger vehicles, often connecting to a wind-out awning or higher awning rail.
At WM Camping, you’ll find a carefully selected range of drive away awnings from trusted brands including Vango, Outwell, Outdoor Revolution and Holawild, with low, mid and tall fitting heights available for campervans, panel vans and motorhomes.
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Shop Drive Away Awnings at WM Camping
Drive away awnings are one of the most useful upgrades for campervan and motorhome camping. They give you extra space beside your vehicle for relaxing, cooking, storage, changing, sleeping or keeping wet kit out of the van.
The main advantage of a drive away awning is that you can leave the awning standing on your pitch while you drive away for the day. When you return, you simply reconnect to the awning and carry on using the extra space.
Inflatable Drive Away Awnings
Inflatable drive away awnings use air beams instead of traditional poles, making them quick and simple to pitch. Many air awnings can be set up in around 10 to 15 minutes, which is ideal if you want less time pitching and more time enjoying your trip.
Air drive away awnings are especially popular with campers who tour regularly, arrive late at campsites or want a more straightforward setup. They are usually heavier and more expensive than poled awnings, but the speed and ease of pitching makes them a great choice for many campervan and motorhome owners.
Shop Inflatable Drive Away Awnings
Poled Drive Away Awnings
Poled drive away awnings use traditional fibreglass or alloy poles. They usually take a little longer to pitch than inflatable models, but they are often lighter, easier to pack and more budget-friendly.
A poled drive away awning can be a good option if you camp occasionally, want to keep costs down or prefer a smaller pack size. They still provide excellent extra space for weekends away, festivals and family trips.
Choosing the Right Attachment Height
Choosing the correct fitting height is one of the most important parts of buying a drive away awning. The fitting height is the measurement from the ground to the point where the awning connects to your vehicle.
Low drive away awnings usually fit standard campervans such as VW Transporters, with an attachment height of around 180cm to 210cm.
Mid drive away awnings are designed for taller vans and some motorhomes, usually with a connection height of around 210cm to 255cm.
Tall drive away awnings are made for high-top vans and larger motorhomes, with an attachment height of around 255cm to 295cm.
Polyester or Polycotton Awnings
Most drive away awnings are made from polyester, which is lightweight, quick drying and easy to pack away. This makes polyester a practical choice for typical UK camping, especially if you may need to pack away in damp conditions.
Polycotton drive away awnings are heavier and more expensive, but they offer excellent breathability and help regulate temperature in warmer and cooler weather. They are a strong option for longer stays, summer touring and campers who want a more premium feel.
Drive Away Awning Connection Methods
There are several ways to connect a drive away awning to your campervan or motorhome. The best method depends on your vehicle and whether it has an awning rail, wind-out canopy, gutter rail or roof bars.
Common connection options include:
- Kador beading into an awning rail
- A drive away kit with figure-of-eight strips
- Velcro tabs for for vans with roof bars
- Pole and clamp systems
- Throw-over straps that go across the roof of the vehicle
A drive away kit is often recommended if you plan to disconnect and reconnect your awning regularly, as it makes the process much easier when leaving and returning to your pitch.
Visit WM Camping for Expert Advice
Choosing the right drive away awning can feel confusing, especially when it comes to vehicle height, attachment method, tunnel size, layout and whether to choose a poled or inflatable model.
At WM Camping, our team can help you compare the options and find a drive away awning that suits your vehicle, your budget and the way you camp. Visit us in-store to view our display, check the size and layout, and get advice before you buy.
Drive Away Awnings By Brand
Drive Away Awnings FAQs
How do I leave the campsite if my awning is attached to the vehicle?
With a drive-away awning, you simply disconnect the tunnel from your vehicle before you leave. A drive-away kit makes this much easier, allowing you to separate the awning from the rail without moving the awning itself. Once disconnected, zip up the rear tunnel section so the awning is enclosed and weatherproof, then you can drive away for the day while the awning stays freestanding on your pitch.
What is a drive-away kit, and do I need one?
A drive-away kit is made up of figure-of-eight strips and a double-sided Kador strip. It creates the link between your vehicle’s awning rail and the awning tunnel. While some awnings can be attached in other ways, a drive-away kit is strongly recommended because it makes detaching and reconnecting your vehicle much quicker and easier, without needing to reposition the awning or re-peg it each time.
How do I know which height awning I need?
The most important measurement is from the ground up to your vehicle’s awning rail, gutter or fixing point. This tells you whether you need a low, mid or tall drive-away awning.
Low awnings are usually suitable for standard campervans, such as VW Transporters and Ford Transit Customs, with an attachment height of around 180cm to 210cm.
Mid awnings are designed for medium-height vans, raised campervans and some motorhomes, generally with an attachment height of around 210cm to 255cm.
Tall awnings are made for larger motorhomes and coach-built vehicles, usually with an attachment height of around 255cm to 295cm.
How do I line my vehicle back up with the awning when I return?
A simple trick is to mark where your tyres are before you drive away. Use plastic pegs, small markers or even a note of where the wheels sit on the pitch. When you return, line your tyres back up with those markers and your vehicle should be in the right position for the awning tunnel to reconnect neatly.