Useful Resources & Links
The Camping Industry can be a minefield of information and options and if you have recently bought a van it can all seem a bit overwhelming with choice.
We at Camper Essentials have many years experience talking to customers about their needs and therefore have a great depth of knowledge of what works and what doesn’t.
We therefore choose to not sell some of the ‘chocolate teapot’ kind of products found elsewhere – things like the magnetic awning connectors which are fine on a wind calm day but useless as soon as the wind picks up.
We will therefore more than happily impart our knowledge and experience and give honest, no bull advice tailored to your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Awning Rail?
An awning rail is a channel used to connect a driveaway awning or sun canopy to a vehicle such as a campervan or motorhome. They are usually made of aluminium although plastic ones do exist. These will usually take a 6mm or 7mm kador beading (sometimes also called keder beading or rope). People also use the smaller channel on the windout awnings such as the Fiamma F45 and F65 which take a 4mm beading or hidden behind the front faceplate on the Thule Onmistore and Dometic windouts is a channel that is optimised to our unique 5mm beading.
Many people confuse an awning rail with Figure of 8 or refer to it as a 6/6 rail or a Figure of 8 rail. What they are getting muddled with is the Figure of 8 and Kador Bead needed for Driveaway Capability. This is explained in another FAQ here.
Not all awning rails are the same though. What we offer in our unique bespoke hand finished awning rail is exceptional quality, smooth entry, discreet looks, beautifully crafted to look like it belongs on the vehicle and options for it to be hidden out of site. I will explain more of the difference in the FAQ ‘What makes a Camper Essentials Awning Rail worth buying?’.