How do I measure my motorhome / panel van for an awning?
An inflatable awning is the perfect accessory for your motorhome. Whether it’s a place to lose your wet coat and muddy shoes, an extra sleeping area for guests, or a luxurious extension of your motorhome’s living space, a Dometic awning is key to many happy vacations and breaks away.
The team here at Dometic have put our heads together and come up with some top tips to ensure you find the perfect awning for your motorhome.
Static Awnings
Attach by simply sliding the keder into your motorhome’s cassette awning or fixed awning rail. You must take the awning down before you go exploring in your motorhome.
A: The height to the awning rail from the ground is crucial to determine which height of awning will best suit your motorhome, ensure you measure from level ground without chocks. Dometic awnings are available in five different heights;
- S: 235-250 cm
- L: 250-265 cm
- XL: 265-280 cm
- XXL: 280-295 cm
- XXXL: 295-310 cm
B: The length of the awning rail determines which size of awning you can purchase. You must have enough awning rail to accommodate the size of Kampa Dometic awning that you wish to buy.
C: The distance between the top of your door and the awning rail. Kampa Dometic awnings require 15cm between the door and awning rail. This allows enough space for an AirPole to fit against the motorhome without interfering with the door.
D: The distance between the end of the awning rail and the edge of the door. Ensure you have enough space to allow for the rear sealing pad of the of your awning to fit between the edge of the door and the end of the awning rail. We recommend at least 25cm for Dometic static awnings.
Drive-Away Awnings
Attaching a drive-away awning using the Guy Line Method (throw the pre-attached guy lines over the vehicle and secure to tension the connecting tunnel), follow A & B.
Attaching to a cassette awning or fixed awning rail using a Drive-Away Kit, follow C & D.
All drive-away awnings can be left up to reserve your pitch whilst you explore the local area.
A: The height to the motorhome roof from the ground is crucial to determine which height of awning will best suit your motorhome. Dometic Drive-Away awnings are available in a range of heights, designed to fit vehicles from 180 cm up to 310 cm from the ground.
B: The length of the vehicle roof determines which size of awning you can purchase. Ensure the awning tunnel clears any obstructions such as the vehicle door, wheel arches and cassette awning (if present). It’s perfectly fine for Dometic awnings to cross windows.
*For panel vans, the measurement of the sliding door may be useful for finding best tunnel fit.
C: The height to the awning rail from the ground is crucial to determine which height of awning will best suit your motorhome. Dometic Drive-Away awnings are available in a range of heights, designed to fit vehicles from 180 cm up to 310 cm from the ground.
D: The length of the awning rail determines which size of awning you can purchase. You must have enough awning rail to accommodate the size of Dometic awning that you wish to buy.
Drive-away kits offer a secure way to attach your awning to your vehicle whilst still allowing you to easily drive away.
Simply connect the figure-of-8 strip to the keder along one edge before attaching the awning beading along the other. To drive away, simply slide the figure-of-8 out of position.
What size Drive-Away Kit do I need?
- Dometic: 6 - 6mm