#vanlife

Van Life Q&A’s — With @the_backwards_van

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van life Q&A's

Who are you?

Liz (writer) and Bill (baker), aged 41 and 50. 

What kind of vanlifer are you? Full-time? Part-time? Weekend warrior?

Part-time since COVID.

What kind of van do you have?

1997 Fiat Ducato, medium wheel base conversion.

Does your van have a name?

Of course! She’s called Dixie The Backwards Van.

How long have you been on the road?

It’s been just over 3 years since we have moved home from abroad and into the van.

Where are you based?

In County Mayo, on the very west coast of Ireland.

What is the favorite thing about your van?

Everything 🙂 She’s well insulated and smartly designed!

If you could go back in time and redo your build or change anything about your build, what would it be?

A bigger kitchen with more worktop space.

What do you do for work?

We didn’t work while full-timing. Just saved enough to take an extended trip.

Favorite type of place to sleep overnight?

By the coast, lakeside or any water. Nothing beats the sound of the waves!

Worst thing that happened to you while living in a van?

The night the doors froze shut! 

How do you overcome that?

Breathing into the locks and making sure it didn’t happen again!

What's the best thing about vanlife?

Baking bread on the campfire at sunset, listening to the rolling waves.

Biggest lesson learned while living in a van?

Keep an open mind, travel can change your perspective and always be prepared!

Favorite thing about your van?

The gas cooker and the cassette toilet!

Most useful item/essential item in your van?

USB headlamp, coffee flask and pocket solar phone chargers.

Best advice you'd give to an aspiring vanlifer?

Slow down, explore in regions not following routes and take time to speak to everybody you meet.

Do you currently or have you thought about traveling as a couple?

Yes, it was a bumpy start but once you find your rhythm van life is great for a relationship!

With kids?

Nope.

With pets?

Nope.

Favorite (easy to make) vanlife meal?

We call it “The Van Sandwich” – nut butter, banana, flax and chia seeds on brown bread.

Any regrets about vanlife?

Our only regret is not starting out sooner.

Where can we follow your journey?

thebackwardsvan.com and on Facebook and Instagram

Facebook Instagram
the backwards van

Interested in filling out these Q&A’s for vanfocused? Click the button below and send us an email! 

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5 Best Van Awnings For Your Campervan (2022)

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Van awning for van life

So you’re thinking about getting a van awning?

We all understand that van life means occupying a small space that allows you to see the world in a new and exciting manner. 

For many, this means doubling down and trading possessions for experiences and new adventures. There’s excitement to the notion of traveling the world living out of a campervan and seeing new places.There’s also the reality that your home is now limited to the space inside your vehicle. 

But it doesn’t have to be. 

By having a van awning you can expand your living space while camping, at the beach, at a park, or anywhere it allows… even a Walmart parking lot! (Just kidding, don’t do that)

Heading off the grid for a long period? Are you a weekend warrior who likes to camp and hike in the desert?  Do you go to the beach often? 

Wherever your van takes you it’s nice to enjoy additional space, shade, and shelter. 

A van awning can allow you to utilize your camper van’s space to its fullest potential and maximize your enjoyment of van life.  Van awnings are perfect for both those who are setting up to camp for a week or for a night—they are quick and simple to set up and stow away on the outside of your vehicle maintaining a low profile. 

Many companies produce awnings for overland or 4×4 use and these translate well to van life whether you’re a serious off roader or a weekend camper.

These are all excellent reasons to buy a van awning, but some van lifers may find that it just isn’t for them.  If you’re planning on mostly stealth camping in urban areas or getting into van life on a strict budget you may want to hold off on buying a camper van awning.

If you’re ready to expand your van’s capabilities then dive in, we’re going to check out a few popular roof rack awning choices for all budgets and needs and help you decide which one is the best van awning.

Tuff Stuff Overland Rooftop Awning - 4.5’ x 6’ and 6.5' x 8'

Pros:

  • Inexpensive
  • Simple use and installation 
  • UV Protection
  • Shade wall and other upgrades

Cons:

  • The (4.5′ x 6′) size is small, good for only 1-2 people
  • Can pool water in the rain
tuff stuff van awning
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Tuff Stuff specializes in overland equipment from roof racks to winches and offers this simple roof rack awning at a budget price. 

Like most of the awnings we’re looking at, the Tuff Stuff Rooftop Awning mounts to your existing roof rack with the provided L-brackets.  This allows for a simple and quick installation and doesn’t require you to have anything but whatever roof rack you’re already rolling with. 

The 4.5′ x 6′ sized awning provides nice shade coverage for one or two people and a small table around the doorway that you’re mounting it over.  The advantage of having a smaller awning like this is that you can mount it either over the side door of your van or over the tailgate.  You could even combine this smaller tailgate sized awning with an addition awning mounted on the side of your vehicle. 

The small size also makes it ideal as a car awning.  

Note that Tuff Stuff also offers a slightly larger roof rack awning, measuring 6.5’ x 8’, that is constructed out of the same materials and functions in the same manner. This provides quite a bit more room.

Tuff Stuff uses four aluminum poles to support the awning which is made from waterproof 280 gram polyester/cotton.  This polycotton is treated with a waterproofing material that sheds rain water and provides a durable and UV protected covering from the elements.  The lightweight poles can be tethered with guide ropes to help the awning withstand light guests of wind. 

Like most of these van awnings, this one is easy to set up and you can go from turning off your engine to sipping on your favorite beverage in the shade in a matter of minutes.

What about upgrades?

If you want to upgrade your Tuff Stuff Awning you’ve got options.  

The company sells a shade wall that also measure 4.5’ x 6’ as well as LEDs for lighting up your campsite.  The awning with the shade wall can fit together inside the awning driving cover making for an easy set up and break down.  These standard upgrades allow you to make the most out of the Tuff Stuff’s small size.

If you expect to be in more extreme environments often beware that the Tuff Stuff Overland Rooftop Awning doesn’t hold up to winds over 20mph and needs to have rainwater manually pushed off to prevent it from welling in the center and breaking the support poles.  The roof rack awning cover itself is tough though and keeps the awning safe while driving. 

Despite its small size and lightweight design the Tuff Stuff Rooftop Awning packs a punch for the price.  This camper van awning works well for those who are looking for just a little bit of extra room outside their van, a weekend warrior who enjoys a shaded campsite, or those on a smaller budget. 

Smittybilt Awning – 6.5’ x 6.5’

Pros:

  • Inexpensive
  • Simple use and installation
  • UV Protection

Cons:

  • Small size, good for 1-2 people
  • Pools water in the rain
  • No shade wall
smittybilt van awning
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Smittybilt has been producing off-road products geared for Jeep drivers for over 50 years. It offers another choice when it comes to a simple roof rack awning for a lower price.

This awning is very similar to the Tuff Stuff Overland awning in that it’s made of the same 280g polycotton and uses four aluminum poles to extend and support itself.  It also mounts to most roof racks and is solid as a camper van awning.

After checking out the Tuff Stuff awning we found that this awning doesn’t differ much except for it’s size.  You can expect the same easy set up and breakdown as well as enough shade for a couple of people, though of course the larger size of the Smittybilt provides more a bit more room.   It’s got UV protection, and is durable enough for all but the most extreme off roaders. 

The awning is good in the same situations as the others, from the campsite to the beach.

However, it also suffers from the same issues when it comes to wind and rain as most roof rack awnings.  It sits horizontal to the ground and can pool up rainwater. The stakes and guide ropes that Smittybilt provides offer some stability but in the end this awning isn’t designed to hold up in extreme winds.  

If you’re looking for a little more shade, or perhaps want to combine an awning over your van’s rear doors with one that covers the side doors, then this Smittybilt awning is a solid choice for your van conversion.

Thule Hideaway Awning – 10.7’ x 8’

Pros:

  • Rain runs off awning
  • Telescoping legs and crank winder
  • Highly durable construction
  • Large coverage
  • Many options for upgrades

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Heavier than other options
thule hideaway van awning
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Now we’re getting into the world of big and expensive camper van awnings.  

These are the awnings you see on the $100,000 4×4 Sprinters, the awnings that make you envy not only the van they’re attached to but also the shade they provide. 

But why would you want to spend five times more for a Thule Hideaway? 

Thule has been making vehicle accessory and storage products since WWII and is regarded as one of the most rugged and reliable brands on the planet.  If you haven’t heard of them or seen their products then you haven’t been paying attention on any major road.  The popularity of Thule is due to the reliability and build quality of their products.

Like the other options we’ve explored, the Thule Hideaway Awning mounts to most standard roof racks but it differs in many respects. 

  • Thule has designed an awning that unfolds itself and can be opened by one person in a manner of seconds.  This, of course, is handy in nearly every situation. 
  • The awning stores away in a well-constructed metal box, not a zippered canvas or PVC cover like other options.  This provides the durability that will make your awning investment last much longer. 
  • The telescoping legs mean you can set up the awning at an angle so that rain runs off the front, no need to deal with pooling water.

Thule also offers many upgrades, from guy lines to help the roof rack awning withstand higher winds to full on tent attachments; you can completely customize your awning.  All of this of course comes at an additional cost.

However, if you’re serious about the time you spend on your “front porch” then considering a Thule Hideaway Awning is worth your time. 

It should be noted though, that more durable construction and higher quality materials do not make your awning more structurally sound in high winds.  At the end of the day, a wind over 20mph will treat any van or car awning like a horizontal sail.  It’s important with any awning to tie it down properly or to refrain from using it in high winds.

Rhino-Rack Batwing Awning – 118 sq ft of coverage

Pros:

  • The largest awning available
  • Durable construction
  • Comes with stakes and guys ropes for wind
  • High quality material
  • Options to mount on left or right side of vehicle

Cons:

  • More complex set up and break down
  • Only fits on Rhino-Rack roof racks
rhino-rack batwing van awning
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Do you want your camper van awning to provide the most shade and outdoor space possible?  Then invest in a Rhino-Rack system. 

Rhino-Rack’s Batwing Awning only comes with mounts that will attach it to an already installed Rhino-Rack roof rack so be aware that if you want the coverage the Batwing provides you’ll need to buy into Rhino-Rack’s proprietary system.  If you do though, you’ll be blessed by a massive amount of shelter outside of your vehicle. 

The awning unfolds not only along the side of your vehicle, but around the rear where it reattaches to the Rhino-Rack roof rack.  This set up is solid and well thought out. 

While it doesn’t have telescoping legs or a crank like the Thule awning, the design is such that it can be set up or broken down easily by one person in a matter of minutes. 

Like the other awnings, the Rhino-Rack Batwing is made from high quality waterproof and UV resistant materials.  The awning’s legs are sturdy, adjustable, and lightweight.  Provided with the kit are pegs that function like tent stakes, further securing your van awning for the winds. 

Rhino-Rack claims that the awning can withstand a 2 meter block of water (think a six foot wave falling from the sky) so you know the awning is tough enough for even heavy rainstorms.  This is important and makes the Rhino-Rack Batwing an excellent choice for those looking for a van roof rack awning for overlanding or extended time off the grid. 

Nothing beats the Rhino-Rack Batwing in terms of sheer ground coverage.

ARB Awning – 8.2’ x 8.2’ (other sizes offered as well)

Editor's Pick!

Pros:

  • Great value
  • Telescoping legs
  • High quality material
  • Large covering

Cons:  

  • Some complain of mounting issues
best van awning the ARB awning
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Van conversion arb awning
Van awning for van life

ARB is a powerhouse in the off-roading 4×4 world. They designed this awning for use in the Australian outback… 

which means it does that job of shade coverage very well. 

The awning functions wonderfully and provides a large shaded area for an affordable price range price. 

The advantage of using the ARB system is the telescoping legs that allow for height adjustments to prevent rain from pooling.  This feature sets it apart from the Tuff Stuff and Smittybuilt awnings, despite its similar appearance to these two awnings. 

This camper van awning comes with pegs and guy ropes to secure the legs and provides the same UV protection.  

ARB also provides optional LED lights with the awning and offers upgrades such as shade walls.  If you’re looking for a simple and affordable awning for your camper van life and live or travel in a rainy climate, this is the perfect awning for you. 

Want more details on the ARB awning, stay tuned because…

Full review of the ARB Awning coming soon!

Conclusion

If you are in the market for a camper van awning or are simply pondering the idea of van life, these are all solid van awning choices.  With the extra space and shade that an awning provides, everyone from the full time van lifer to the campground newbie can benefit from the addition of a van awning.

It is hard to pick the best van awning out of these five.

However, Colin is a firm believer in the ARB Awning and is working on a full review of it. He thinks that the ARB is the best van awning, what are your thoughts? 

Let us know what your favorite van awning is in the comment section so we can add it to the list. 

Want a cheaper option? Check out this DIY van awning!