Best Awning Tents in Australia – What’s #1?

There are many ways to camp out in the bush and one of the more popular ways is to combine your vehicle and tent into one structure for a quick, easy and comfortable campsite. If you are on the move often, this is the approach you need.

Awning tents are designed exactly for this and are a robust tent that attaches to the side of your vehicle, allowing you access inside, but still forming a fully waterproof and bug proof tent, combining them together for the best of both worlds.

We have reviewed some of the best awning tents in Australia for you so next time you are setting up for an off-road adventure you will have the information you need.

Best Awning Tents Australia

Drivetech 4X4 Awning Tent 2.5 x 2.5m

After a long day, four-wheel driving through the bush, having the ability to pull up to your campsite and pull an awning out from the side of your truck quickly and easily is great. The Drivetech 4x4 Awning tent does just that.

It's spacious enough for adults to stand up inside and sleep three people or two adults and a couple of kids.

The awning itself can be set up in seconds and doesn't take much work before you’ve got yourself a shady spot to rest and have a drink before setting up the rest of your camp.

Overall this is a high-quality awning and tent that is easy to use and stays water and bug proof. Actually setting up the tent and taking it down does take up to five minutes and is its only real downside. It's also not cheap, but it’s lightweight and durable and won’t let you down.

Darche Xtender 2.5 Awning Tent

The Darche entry on our list is made from quality materials and a lot of thought has gone into its design as you would expect. This awning tent is both an awning and a tent at the same time; it does this by extending the awning out between the vehicle and then the tent starts from the end of this awning.

Due to the separation of the tent itself from your vehicle, this can be used both as a car awning tent or a 4wd awning tent as the awning end can be at different heights without affecting the tent, making this the most flexible of the designs here.

The awning is high enough for adults to stand and provides a space to hang out, cook or clean in the shade. The tent itself isn't very big and can sleep two adults, however, it does have plenty of mesh windows providing good ventilation while you sleep.

One negative that people have noticed is that although the free-standing nature is a plus, if you drive away and come back to it later, it can be a little difficult to line up your vehicle with the tent again. Overall the Darche Xtender provides an instant campsite thanks to it being both an awning and a tent.

It is a solid buy.

XTM Awning Tent 2.0 x 2.5m

For a quick and easy awning set-up, look no further than the XTM Awning Tent. Like the Drivetech, this tent first comes out from your vehicle as an awning, with the tent section added afterwards. Unlike the Drivetech this awning costs closer to $300 rather than $500 and is a little quicker to set and pack down the tent section.

The price difference is reflected in the materials used, and the XTM Awning tent isn't quite as durable. That being said, it is nice and easy to use and has huge mesh windows for ventilation as you sleep.

There can be some dew drops after heavy rain outside, but this isn’t a dealbreaker. Overall this is a great awning at a great price and probably the best buy for those who like to only camp in good weather.

Kings Tent for 2.5 x 2.5m Awning

At first glance, this tent looks much cheaper than its competitors at under $200, however, this is just the tent, and you need to purchase the $115 awning first to have the complete setup. This aside, the awning and tent are quick and easy to set up together with compatible Velcro straps.

The tent itself is similar in appearance to both the XTM awning tent and the Drivetech with a square design, mesh windows and access to your vehicle. The King's tent differs with its floor design, having a 'bucket floor' or one with high sides that stops any water coming inside the tent when it rains outside.

Both the awning and the tent together, still come in cheaper than the rest of the awning tents on this list, however, some people are put off by having to make two purchases.

Given its improved waterproofing abilities, if you often camp in places or times of the year when the weather is bad, then this may suit you better than the other models.

What To Look For When Buying Awning Tents

So you have bought a nice new SUV or off-road vehicle and you are looking to accessorise it. One of the first things many people buy is an extendable awning so they can create some shade or rain protection outside wherever they go.

Awning tents have become more and more popular in recent times, following a wave of designs that turn your vehicle into your campsite, whether it’s a rooftop tent on top of a car or an awning that extends back over the rear of a ute, there are many ways to use your vehicle to your advantage.

Awning tents are great for use as touring tents, thanks to their easy setup.

When purchasing an awning tent, some important considerations need to be made such as:

Awning Tents FAQ

Should I mount my awning on the driver or passenger side?

This is a question with no real answer and the style of your vehicle or personal preference being the consensus. There are no real benefits to either side as it depends on how you pack your vehicle and what you want to access inside it.

As you have to fit the awning onto your roof, you will need to make a decision and stick with it. It is best to have the awning open on the rear doors of your car or SUV regardless of side.

Depending on your vehicle, it may be easier to bring the passenger side front seat further forward than the driver’s seat, to provide more space in the back seat area so access from that side, in this case, would likely be a better option.

Final Thoughts

Awnings themselves are a wonderful and easy addition to your off-road vehicle as they can be pulled out to give you shade on a hot day almost anywhere with ease.

The addition of an awning tent enables you to easily camp out with minimal fuss. The classic style like the XTM or Drivetech is reasonably affordable, especially if you like to move around a lot.

If you prefer to stay in one spot then the Darche Xtender that can free stand and has both an awning and a tent does provide more flexibility to leave your campsite for resupplies. Any way you look at it, an awning tent is a great addition to your vehicle.