Car Awning
Road Luster: Your Professional Car Awning Supplier
WUHAN ROAD LUSTER IMPORT & EXPORT CO.,LTD. was founded in 2021, mainly engaged in offering a huge range of equipment from outdoor tents and awnings to camping chair, camping table and camping bed. Road Luster located in Zhongnan Road Street, WuHan City, Hubei Province and covering an area of more than 1500 square meters. So our large production scale allows us to efficiently produce our high-quality products and deliver them in time to our customers. Additionally, we are a team with total 30 workers and have 2 full production lines with sewing machine, package machine and bending machine. We are proud to be your most trusted supplier and we will continue to offer the youngest equipment and the latest products.
Why Choose Us？
Variety of Products
We mainly research and manufacture more than 10 different kinds of outdoor products, including roof top tent, camping tent, car awning, shower tent awning, camping chair, camping table, camping bed and so on. As a result, you can easily find the outdoor equipment you need.
Rich Experience and Professional Team
Our team has more than 20 years of experience in outdoor equipment manufacturing and has rich experience on design the distinctive products. Now, we have more than 30 employees, including excellent designers and senior technical personnel and have far more than a hundred cooperating partners.
Superior Service and Logistics
Our customer service team is available and dependable to provide support and solutions to customers at all times and we promise a full refund for any heavy quality problem. We have professional sewing team, hardware team, package team, QC team and warehouse team to guarantee every order could make it smooth.
High Quality
Quality assurance is reliable, we have 4 QC to guarantee the quality. Besides, we also have other quality certificates for your reference, such as SGS test report, ISO, BSCI. Our production equipment is also imported from the AU, EU, US and South Africa.
What is a Car Awning?
A car awning is a shader mounted on the roof rack of your vehicle that allows you to cover a larger or smaller area near your car or van in order to keep it dry during the rain and cool during sunny days.
The Main Types of Car Awning
Pop-up Awnings
Pop-up awnings are the most popular type of car awning. They are easy to set up and take down, and they can be stored in your trunk when not in use.
Retractable Awnings
Retractable awnings are a great option if you want an awning that is easy to store. They can be mounted on the side of your car and pulled out when needed.
Fixed Awnings
Fixed awnings are a good choice if you want an awning that will stay in place. They are usually mounted on the roof of your car and can be left up even when you’re not using them.
Explore the Benefits of Different types of Car Awnings
Traditional car awnings, also known as side awnings or roll-out awnings, are a popular choice among outdoor enthusiasts. They are typically mounted on the side of a vehicle and extend outward to create a shaded area. Here are the benefits of traditional vehicle awnings:
a) Easy Set-up: Traditional car awnings are designed for quick and effortless setup. With a simple pull-out mechanism, they can be ready for use in minutes, providing instant shade and protection.
b) Shade and Weather Protection: Traditional car awnings offer excellent shade from the sun, protecting you and your gear from harmful UV rays. Additionally, they provide a shield against light rain showers, allowing you to enjoy outdoor activities even in unpredictable weather conditions.
c) Versatility: These car awnings are versatile and can be easily adjusted to suit your needs. You can set them up at different angles to control the amount of shade and privacy you desire. They also offer space for attaching accessories like sidewalls, mosquito nets, or additional storage pockets.
Retractable car awnings are a popular choice for those seeking a more compact and convenient solution. Here are the benefits of retractable car awnings:
a) Ease of Use: Retractable car awnings are designed for effortless operation. They can be easily extended and retracted with the help of a telescopic or roll-out mechanism, allowing for quick setup and takedown.
b) Space Efficiency: These awnings are compact when retracted, taking up minimal space on your vehicle. This makes them ideal for smaller vehicles or those with limited roof space.
c) Protection on the Go: Retractable awnings are lightweight and easy to transport, making them perfect for travelers who frequently move between different locations. They provide instant shade and protection wherever you go, allowing you to set up camp in various environments.
Roof top awnings offer a unique and elevated solution for outdoor enthusiasts. They are typically mounted on the roof of a vehicle and provide overhead shade and shelter. Here are the benefits of rooftop vehicle awnings:
a) Elevated Perspective: Roof top awnings provide a higher vantage point, allowing you to enjoy panoramic views of your surroundings. Whether you're camping in the wilderness or at a scenic spot, roof top awnings offer an elevated perspective.
b) Quick Setup: Roof top awnings are designed for fast and straightforward setup. With a few simple movements, they can be easily deployed, providing shade and shelter in no time.
c) Additional Living Space: Roof top awnings create an additional outdoor living area, expanding the usable space of your vehicle. They can be paired with accessories like zip-on walls or annexes to create a fully enclosed room, giving you extra comfort and privacy.
Portable car awnings are new to the market and they are a perfect solution for those looking for versatility on a reasonable budget. They attach to the vehicle and provide shade. The benefits are:
a) Versatility: Portable car awnings can be used on cars, trucks, SUVs and Vans. They attach the awning to the vehicle with suction cups and have different size poles depending upon the vehicle it is attached to.
b) Quick Set-Up: Portable car awnings attach with three suctions cups to the vehicle and then a weighted object is placed in the 2 outer legs. Camping accessories, or a gallon of water will do the trick, then you'll prop up with poles.
c) Dual use: The portable awning can also be used as a stand alone canopy tent with it's 4 legs and poles. This is great for when you want to set up camp but need to take your vehicle on excursions. There is not need to attach and reattach.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Car Awning
Before you buy your awning you need to answer three basic questions:
What vehicle will you be traveling in? Whether it's a car, off-road vehicle, van or RV, the size of the vehicle is important in choosing the right awning.
What will be your pace of travel? Will you choose a different place each day during your trip, or will you only stay in one place for a longer period of time? If you will be leaving every day you will need an awning with simple opening and closing, while if you will be stationary for longer you can also think of a more fixed structure.
What do you want to use it for? The ideal size will obviously change depending on its use.
Key Features to Consider When Buying a Car Awning
Dimensions of the Awning
The width and length of your awning is the first key feature. To figure out what the right size is, you need to consider its use. Who will be under it? The whole family? Only you? Are you going to use it to put chairs or maybe a table and lawn chairs? Take some time and carefully consider what it will be used for.
Direction of the Shadow
Once you've determined the dimensions you need to consider where you want your awning to shade. Side, rear, or both sides? The side-opening awning is the most common and provides shelter along the side of your vehicle. The tents that cover both sides (side and back) are instead suitable for those who are looking for a very abundant coverage, ideal for example for families.
Type of Awning
Choosing the type of car awning is also not trivial. In fact, there are two types of awnings: self-supporting awnings and awnings that need to be mounted on the ground to support the structure. Both have their merits and demerits, and choosing the right type of awning for you, again, depends on the type of trip you'll be taking and your vehicle. Self-supporting awnings are very practical and quick to open and close, so they are very suitable for itinerant tourism that changes location very often. They come with parking legs to be mounted in case it's windy. On the other hand, awnings with supports, although they require a little extra time to open and close, are lighter and less bulky when closed, so they fit even smaller vehicles. In case of wind, we recommend that you always anchor your awning to pegs, whatever model it is.
Type of Material
It is very important that these camping accessories are made from high quality materials, which is why most tents are made from a cotton-polyester blend fabric. Our advice is to choose one that is UV resistant, this will help protect you from the sun. Another key feature is that it be waterproof. The material from which the parking legs and frame are made is also very important and should never be underestimated. We recommend that you choose awnings that have aluminum legs and frame, to minimize the weight of the structure.
Assembly
Not all awnings are the same which means that the assembly and its configuration will also vary depending on the model you prefer. In general, the car or van awning is mounted on the top or side of the vehicle, in some cases directly on the roof rack or rail system of the van.
How to Setup and Install a Car Side Awning
Unbox Your Awning
To start the awning installation, carefully unbox your awning from the protective cardboard box. If using a knife to cut the box open, be careful not to cut the actual awning cover itself when opening.
What comes with your awning?
Once you have the awning out of its box, un-zip the awning cover and unroll the awning. Within the front aluminium front plate, you will find the following contents:
● Spanner
● Awning brackets
● Awning clamping plates
● Stainless steel 30mm bolts
● Stainless steel T-bolts
● Stainless steel dome bolts
● Stainless steel nylon nuts
● 2 Pegs
● Guy ropes
Install Awning Brackets to Backplate
Take the stainless steel “L” awning brackets and the bolts with nuts. Slide the bolts into the channels on the backplate on the awning. Position the bolts and they are horizontally aligned. Place the awning bracket over the two bolts and partially secure it into place with nylon nuts. Repeat this process with the other awning bracket.
NOTE: Make sure to add grease to the threads to help tighten and undo.
Position Awning on Vehicle
Make sure you have your roof bars or roof rack attached to your vehicle and ready to attach the side awning. Carefully lift the side awning into place. Position the awning on your roof bars or roof rack, how you would like it to be mounted on your vehicle. Slide the awning brackets so they align with the roof bars or mounting point on a roof rack. Once you have both brackets positioned as desired, tighten the M8 nylon nuts with the provided spanner but make sure not to overtighten.
Mounting Points on Roof Bars or Rack
If your roof bars have a channel in the top then you will simply slide in the provided 4 x “T” bolts ready for the awning brackets to be secured. However, if you have a roof rack or non-channelled bars, you will need to mark the desired mounting holes and drill holes in your roof bar or rack system.
Bolt Awning Brackets to Roof Bar
Once you have decided your position, lift the side awning into place. Now in position, use the provided M8 nylon nuts to securely bolt the awning bracket to the roof bar or rack system.
Attach Guy Ropes
Now the side awning is secure, un-zip the cover, release the internal straps and unroll the awning. Drop the front legs down to support the front bar of the awning and adjust to the desired height. Then take the side poles and insert locating pins into holes on the front bar. Pull the awning material taught and lock the side pole positions. With the awning erected you can attach the 2 x guy ropes and tensioners. Thread the guy rope over the top of the awning leg and secure the guy rope in place.
Enjoy
The side awning installation is complete. With your awning now secure to your car, you are ready to start your adventures! After your first use, check the nuts and bolts for tightness. A general good maintenance tip is checking nuts and bolts periodically while the awning is mounted on your car.
Mastering Your Car Awning: Tips for Safe and Comfortable Adventures
Check the Weather Forecast
Before setting out on your adventure, leverage technology to your advantage. Checking the weather forecast allows you to anticipate adverse conditions, giving you the knowledge needed to make informed decisions about deploying your car awning.
Secure Your Investment
Proper installation matters. Your side awning is only as good as its installation. Ensure it is securely attached to your vehicle, whether through a roof rack or another mounting system. Tighten all straps, and if applicable, use additional anchors to guarantee a snug and stable fit.
Seek Sheltered Spots
When choosing your camping spot, opt for locations that provide natural shelter from the elements. Parking against a natural windbreak like a bush, hedgerow, trees or in a sheltered area can significantly reduce the impact of strong winds on your car awning.
Angle Adjustment
Adjusting the angle of your car awning is more than just an aesthetic concern. It’s a functional necessity, especially in rainy conditions. Make sure rainwater can run off easily, preventing pooling and potential damage to the fabric or other components. If camping in snowy conditions, periodically remove accumulated snow from the awning to prevent excessive weight and potential damage.
Strengthen Stability with Guy Ropes
Guy ropes are your friends in windy conditions. Use them to anchor your car awning and provide additional stability. Tighten them securely and position them at an angle away from the vehicle for optimal effectiveness. Even when it seems there is no wind, always peg down your side awning. You never know when a sudden gust could take hold of your awning.
Practice Setting up
Before encountering bad weather, practice setting up and retracting your awning in ideal conditions. Familiarity with the process will make it easier to manage in challenging situations.
Regular Inspections
Stay ahead of potential issues by conducting regular inspections of your car awning during bad weather. Look for signs of stress, wear, or damage, and make adjustments or repairs as needed.
Swift Retraction in Strong Winds
When winds pick up to uncomfortable levels, it’s better to retract your side awning promptly. Avoid potential damage and prioritise safety over convenience.
Choose Water-resistant Materials
Opt for car awnings made from high-quality, water-resistant materials. This ensures not only durability in the face of rain but also protection against leaks, keeping you dry and comfortable.
Awning Accessories
Awning accessories are great optional extras that improve the comfort level of your side awning. Awnings walls or an awning room can add privacy and protection while using your awning.
Ultimate Guide
Q: Should I pressure wash the awning of the car awning?
Q: How should I maintain the car awning?
Q: How can I protect my car awning fabric from deteriorating?
Q: Can I Leave my awning out in the rain and wind?
Q: Can I repair damaged car awning fabric?
Q: How can I keep the mobile components lubricated and free from rust?
Q: Can I find awning replacement parts, or do I need to replace the entire thing?
Q: When should I replace my car awning?
The fabric is deteriorating and/or covered with mold, rot, and mildew.
The awning hardware parts are bent, loose, or broken.
The awning won’t retract as it should, and/or the arms aren’t sliding into their proper places.
You’re having trouble adjusting the pitch.
There is any visible damage.
Keep in mind that if it’s only your awning fabric that’s damaged, you can replace the canopy without having to replace the awning. However, if there are multiple problems occurring simultaneously, it’s likely time to retire your current awning and install a fresh one. Also, please note that any hint of structural weakness or malfunction could signify serious damage. Using a faulty awning could result in injury, so always take proper safety precautions when necessary.
Q: What is the lifespan of a retractable awning?
Q: What can be used to clean my awning fabric?
Q: What is the easiest car awning to set up?
Q: Are retractable awnings easy to install?
Q: How does an awning attach to a car?
Q: Can you use an car awning as a carport?
Q: What is a side awning?