The benefit of a drive away awning is that it’s an extension to your van and living space and is more or less essential when campervanning with kids.

Select a few to visit so that you can compare the workmanship. Most of the converters will be using standard conversion kits for the kitchen area and campervan storage, so it’s all about the finish (and the bed and the roof – see below). And if a romantic weekend under the stars results in your family growing some nine months later - or you want to vacation with a group of friends - and you need additional sleeping quarters, VW has the answer without having to upgrade to the bigger - and far pricier - models in the California range.

MultiRails, Adapters & Brackets

Are you winter driving ready? Our 10 top tips to prepare your car for freezing temperatures and snow and ice on the roads BUSINESS LIVE: Rightmove lifts growth forecast; Aviva buys Optiom; Revolution Beauty nears settlement Uses a two pole design making it fairly straight forward to put up. Can be a little awkward to feed the poles through but once installed the pegs/guide ropes just need installing which essentially holds the structure up.

Bank of England needs 'vital' reforms to stop another surge in inflation, says House of Lords report Both should have more than enough oomph to get you where you’re going in a relatively relaxed fashion. The Caddy is front-wheel drive as standard, but there is talk that the California will also be available with 4Motion four-wheel drive, which is now an option for the van in the UK for the first time. Caddy California standard equipment You do not have the inconvenience of sorting and setting up poles, getting frustrated and may even losing a pole. In a statement released by VW UK today, the manufacturer said: 'The compact camper, based on the award-winning fifth-generation Caddy, is a unique offering within the camping segment enabling variable living, sleeping and storage space for everyday life and travelling.' It only sleeps two - but has the option of a tent extension...Decide on your budget, but be prepared to be flexible in case you see something you love. When you visit, trust your gut. You should be able to tell whether converting campervans is a passion more than just a business.

From space to book festivals - SARAH HARTLEY looks at 20 hidden gems buried in the Autumn Statement Unzip the tent out of the cool matching Campervan Wheel bag and the tent "Pops up" in seconds. A few poles to install and the tent is ready to use in minutes. A very lightweight but study design coming in at just over 6.5kg using 120HDE high density all-weather lightweight fabric and a simple pole set up of fibre glass construction. Better quality components that make up the fibre glass rod structures and stitching of the rod channels is generally more robust to prevent tearing.

Caddy California standard equipment

Cooking inside your tent: many people have pull out drawers with stoves in the tailgate area. When you use your tent at the same time, make sure that you do not have a open flame There are a few different ways to fit a drive away awning depending on what type of vehicle you have. We decided to buy a Vango Noosa Low awning because we wanted a front porch area where we could shelter and cook in case of rain and it was a good price. You will get much better value for your money if you find the right campervan conversion company. With so many companies out there offering van conversions, how do you choose the right one? like to stay for a few days in the one camp ground- the tent can still be set up, while you re away for a day trip.

Comes with straps that can be used around the Transporter if you do not have a piping fitting kit to the side of your Transporter however this is best used when the wind is low as it does not give the best seal and wind can get under the join.. When we first started out, we assumed that having a long wheel-base meant more space inside the van which, with a family of 4, would be a positive. Government allows houses to be split into flats without planning permission: Who wins and who loses in controversial plan?Motorhome awnings are one of the most popular accessories to add to your vehicle, and it's easy to see why. Depending on how you want to use these, you can add an extra room to your pitch, stop anywhere and have a picnic, or add a whole new dimension to your campervan life. SMARTBed– SMARTbed evolution R is the newly launched bed on rails. With the bed set on rails, you’ll be able to push the passenger seats forward closer to the front seats. We love the fact that it has an icebox and it runs comfortably for 3 days on our leisure battery (topped up with energy from the solar panels). Additional campervan accessories to consider Campervan awnings The awning piping is suitable for a 4mm or 6mm drive away kit to create a strong water tight seal between the Transporter and awning.