Written by Oakleigh Wood
Adding an awning to your motorhome, campervan or caravan can be a fantastic way to enjoy more outdoor space, have somewhere to sit in the shade and benefit from extra shelter when the British weather does what it does best.
But there’s one part of the process that can quickly become much more complicated than expected: fitting the awning.
Choosing the right brackets and working out exactly how – and where – your awning can be mounted is where a seemingly straightforward upgrade can turn into a headache.
“Surely I just need an awning that fits?”
Unfortunately, it isn’t always that simple.
Every motorhome, campervan and caravan is different. Your vehicle’s height, the presence of an awning rail and the available mounting space can all affect whether a particular awning is suitable. Many awnings are designed to fit within a specific height range, so getting the right measurements before you buy is important.
And once you start looking more closely, you can run into all sorts of questions:
Have I checked whether the side wall is actually flat enough?
Am I confident the awning can be mounted directly to the wall?
Have I considered whether a roof-mounted system would be better suited to my vehicle?
Do I know where the structural mounting points are?
Do I need spreader plates on the inside of the vehicle and if so, how big?
Have I allowed enough clearance around the awning?
Am I sure the proposed bracket position won’t interfere with a window, door or other fitting?
And perhaps most importantly: what’s actually behind the wall?
A cupboard, furniture or internal fitting can make an otherwise obvious mounting location inaccessible.
Suddenly, choosing an awning isn’t just about picking a length and colour you like. You also need to know which brackets you need, where they need to go and whether your particular vehicle can accommodate them.
The bracket problem nobody tells you about
This is one of the biggest frustrations we see customers face when trying to buy an awning themselves. You might find the awning you want, only to discover there are multiple bracket options.
Then you’re faced with questions such as:
Have I chosen brackets that are actually compatible with my vehicle?
Do I know whether I need wall-mounted or roof-mounted brackets?
Have I worked out how many brackets I really need?
Do I know exactly where the brackets should be positioned?
Am I confident the brackets will fit the shape of my vehicle?
Am I sure there’s enough access behind the mounting point?
Have I measured the awning length correctly?
What happens if I order the wrong brackets?
And that last question can be particularly frustrating…
Awning components and brackets aren’t the sort of items you want to order on a “hopefully this will fit” basis. Once you’ve bought the wrong components, you can be left trying to work out returns, replacements and alternative parts, all before you’ve even started the installation.
Your vehicle is the starting point, not the awning catalogue
The easiest way to approach an awning upgrade is to start with your vehicle, rather than simply choosing an awning online and trying to make it work afterwards.
At Bristol Caravans, we can assess your motorhome or campervan for you and look at the practicalities of fitting an awning before you commit to the wrong equipment.
We will consider the shape and construction of your vehicle, available mounting positions, potential obstructions and the type of brackets required.
Let us help you get it right first time
We know that part of the appeal of upgrading your campervan, motorhome or caravan is doing things yourself. But when it comes to fitting an awning, getting the right advice at the beginning can save you a lot of frustration later.
Rather than buying an awning, discovering you need different brackets, realising your preferred mounting position won’t work and then trying to figure out what to order next, come and see us first.
Book your FREE personal assessment
Bring your motorhome, campervan or caravan to Bristol Caravans and let us take a look.
We’ll assess your vehicle and recommend the right awning and mounting solution for it. Once we’ve established what’s suitable, we can supply the required awning and brackets and take care of the fitting for you.
That means you don’t have to spend hours trying to decipher compatibility charts, order parts that don’t fit or worry about whether you’ve got the mounting position right.
No guesswork. No confusing bracket decisions. No unnecessary stress.
Just the right solution for your vehicle, supplied and fitted by our friendly team of experts.
So, if an awning is on your upgrade list, don’t start by worrying about which brackets to buy.
Start by bringing your vehicle to us. Come in for a FREE assessment and let us help you get it right first time.
👉 Contact us today: contact us
📞 01454 612 893 | 📧 service@bristolcaravans.com
