Measure for a driveaway

Choosing the right drive away awning for your needs is essential for various reasons, and it can initially seem impossible to navigate through the endless choices.  One crucial first step in this process is to accurately measure your vehicle to ensure a perfect fit.

Connection preference:

Option 1: Throw the tunnel/cowl over the top of the vehicle roofline – An option often used when no fixings are available. In this instance a measurement from ground to roof is required, along with length of roofline from front cabin door to rear.

Option 2: Wind out canopy – is this horizontal to the ground? If so measure from ground to insertion groove, often found on the underside of the canopy. If the canopy is raised at the rear then undertake three measurements, ground to front, middle and rear and record the average. Also the length of this groove which will often fall short of the overall canopy length, as often closed off at one end.

Option 3: Gutter – This requires a measurement from ground to gutter and also length of gutter.

Option 4: Awning rail – Measure from ground to rail and length of rail.

Option 5: Roof bars – To tie to roof bars measure from ground to top of roof bar, along with length of roof bars.

It is important to note that the awning connection width is not mistaken for the width of the awning. The connection width is pertinent to the tunnel/cowl.

What is your awnings intended usage?

Once you have the appropriate measurements then consider the awnings intended usage. This will help to remove any awnings not suited to your needs. Will it be used for storage, additional living space or sleeping?

When choosing an awning that is suitable for sleeping in, you need to create what is known as a ‘double skin’. This is an awning where an inner can be added or an annexe connected.

Driveaway kits:

Finally we must mention driveaway kits. These will need to be utilised if connecting to wind out canopies or awning rail. They comprise of figure of eight fixing strips and Keder beading, which enables you to easily detach and drive away, leaving the awning freestanding.

Connection groove on wind-out canopy: normally 4 mm. Therefore a 4 mm/6 mm kit is needed.

Connection groove on standard awning rail: 6 mm. Therefore a 6 mm/6 mm kit is needed.

Most of todays driveaway kits have dual keder applied to suit both options.