Full Caravan Awnings

Seasonal and touring awnings to extend your living space. From Camptech and Dorema.

A full awning attaches to the entire length of your caravan's awning rail and extends outward to create a large, fully enclosed living space. When erected, a full awning can effectively double the usable area of your caravan - giving you room for a dining table, extra seating, or even additional sleeping space with an inner tent or annexe.

Full awnings fall into two main categories: seasonal awnings, designed to stay up for weeks or months on a fixed pitch, and touring awnings, built to be lighter and quicker to erect for regular moves between sites.

Every full awning is sized by the A-measurement of your caravan. This is the distance in centimetres measured from ground level on one side of the caravan, up and along the full length of the awning rail channel, and back down to ground level on the other side.

You'll need a tent peg, a ball of string or twine, and a tape measure.

1. Push the tent peg into the ground directly below the rear end of the awning rail.
2. Tie your string to the peg and feed it through the awning rail channel, all the way along the caravan.
3. Once the string exits the other end of the rail, pull it down to ground level and cut it.
4. Lay the string out flat and measure it in centimetres.

Your caravan's owner's manual should also list the A-measurement in the dimensions section.

Each awning model covers a size range - for example, if your A-measurement is 960 cm, you'd choose the size covering 950-975 cm. Getting this right is important: too small and the awning won't reach the ground properly, too large and it will sag and pool water.

Seasonal awnings are built to stay erected for extended periods on a fixed pitch. They use heavier, more durable fabrics and sturdier frames, and typically offer more features - fitted carpets, curtains, and optional annexes. They're larger when packed and heavier to transport, but they're designed to withstand weeks of weather rather than a long weekend.

Touring awnings prioritise portability. They pack down smaller, weigh less, and can be erected and taken down more quickly. If you move between sites regularly, a touring awning like the Camptech Cayman (from £519) makes more practical sense than wrestling with a seasonal awning every few days.

At Black Country Caravans, we stock both types. Our seasonal range includes awnings from Camptech (Savanna DL, Atlantis DL, Buckingham DL, Hampton DL, Kensington) and Dorema (Diamond 240, Diamond XL270, Diamond XL300, Horizon Air De Luxe). Our touring options include the Camptech Cayman and Dorema Daytona Air.

Air awnings use inflatable tubes instead of traditional poles. You pump them up (either manually or with an electric pump) and the awning takes shape in minutes. There are no poles to thread, no joints to align, and setup is genuinely quicker - most air awnings can be erected by one person.

Pole awnings use steel, aluminium, or fibre frame construction. They're generally cheaper to buy, and if a pole bends or breaks it's a straightforward replacement. A damaged air tube can be more expensive to repair, though punctures are rare with modern materials.

Both types are well-proven. Air awnings have become increasingly popular over the past decade, but many experienced caravanners still prefer the rigidity and wind resistance of a well-tensioned pole frame. If you're unsure, come and see both types erected in our showroom - it's the best way to judge which suits you.

Most modern awnings use either polyester or acrylic fabric. Polyester is lighter, dries faster, and is generally cheaper. Acrylic is more breathable and resists UV degradation better over years of use, making it the preferred choice for seasonal awnings that stay up for long periods.

Camptech uses their proprietary Climatech coated polyester across their range, which offers good water resistance at a competitive price point. Dorema sources a variety of high-performance materials and each awning receives a Dorema Quality Certificate before it leaves their Doetinchem factory in the Netherlands. All Dorema awnings come with a 2 year warranty as standard.

The key specification to look for is the hydrostatic head rating - this measures waterproofness. A higher number means better rain resistance. Weight is also worth comparing if you're touring, as it affects how easy the awning is to transport and erect.

Looking for something quicker to set up? A porch awning covers part of the caravan side and takes minutes to erect - ideal for weekends and short breaks. For motorhome owners, our driveaway awnings detach so you can drive away and leave the awning standing. If you just need shade, a sun canopy is the lightest and most affordable option.