Adapting a driveaway awning to attach to a tent.

[Sharonkh76]

Hi, next summer we have booked a UK campsite (Polmanter, Cornwall). The trouble is, husband is awkward and insists on sleeping in T5 van. It only fits him in to sleep. (It isn't converted). I don't really want to spend hundreds on a driveaway awning for myself and teen daughter to sleep in. Booked a pup tent for teen son.

UK sites don't seem to allow a van for sleeping and a tent on same pitch. But a driveaway awning is no extra cost.

We have this cheap awning that I don't mind destroying. Surely I could cut the bit that attaches to the van off, and attach it to the side door of a tent similar to the one below? Seal doesn't need to be weatherproof, as tent has zipped door.

Any thoughts please?

Tent isn't that one necessarily. Just one with a side door.

Why does your husband insist on sleeping in the unconverted van?

If you attach it to a tent, isn't that an extra tent? So not really solving the problem.
A driveway awning is only a free extra if it's attached to a van, maybe I'm not understanding though!

I also don’t understand how this solves your issue - it’s not a driveway awning if it’s attached.

Can you look at Facebook for a cheaper awning instead? Or book 2 pitches.

It would be attached to the van. I'd cut the front off the driveway awning and attach this to the tent. I would maybe sew on strips to tie awning around tent door.

Because he generally likes to be difficult. Has poor balance and various aches to blame it on.
Would leave him at home, but want him to drive.

Driveaway awnings are attached to a rail on the van. This one is a driveaway awning. I feel like I already have the composite bits.

Pitches are rather pricey! Obviously, a second hand one is a possibility, but I feel like I have the bits!

It's a tent with a tunnel at the side that attaches to van.

Have tunnel, have tent, have needle and thread.
Other options will cost hundreds.

So you'd be using the adapted awning as a link between the van and a tunnel tent, and hoping the site operators would consider it a drive away awning? I suppose that might work.

Your main problem, I think, is the joint between the cut off awning and the tent. Obviously actual drive away awnings are sewn together as one structure. Side extensions are shaped to the tent and have sewn-on adjustable straps that go over the roof of the main tunnel tent and are anchored to the ground on the other side of it with heavy duty pegs. You'd have to try to replicate that arrangement in a way that stops the wind getting underneath the awning, causing damage.

You don't mind destroying the small awning but do think about think possibly damaging the larger tent by attaching something to it. Not just by the process of sewing it on but because tunnels that connect awnings/tents to vans put different stresses onto the tent structure, especially in wind and rain.

How long are you camping for? As if it's longer than a night or two you also want to be sure you're not compromising access to the tent with your modifications. Think about how you plan on getting in and out of the tent so it's usable, including in the daytime especially if the weather isn't great.

Anyway, all that said, you've got plenty of time to do it and test it between now and then.

Also, as it might look a bit unusual and people on campsites can be nosey/chatty 😁 maybe be prepared for questions.

I’d turn the problem over to him and ask him what he proposes - he is the cause of the problem after all.

A different perspective. I have a Fiat Ducato camper and absolutely loathe having the awning attached. I bought all the driveway kit and awning skirt, but actually I don't like the faff of it, so on the rare occasion I fake my awning, I just pitched it freestanding. My question is why do you want the van joined on? It sounds like your OH is just suiting himself, he's still going to have the van door closed and will just suit himself, so you don't need to be connected by an awning. Assuming you'll be going out in the van during the day, why stress about the faff of connecting and disconnecting. Do you have a wind out Fiamma sunshade or similar? If not, just get a tarp and some magnets from Temu to bridge between the van and tent. Sling the tarp over the tent porch with bungjies or spare guy ropes. Very easy to hook up and take down, and it will give you a little shelter if ita sunny or rains

Needing it to be attached is purely to satisfy rules of campsite. Most in UK allow a van with an awning, with no size limit, but won't allow a van with even a small tent.