What is a drive away awning kit?
A drive away awning kit, often called a driveaway kit, is what lets you leave the awning pitched. A driveaway kit is a connector that sits between your van's awning rail and your awning's tunnel. One side slides into the rail, the other takes the awning's beading, usually through a figure-of-8 strip. When you want to go out, you pull the connector out and drive away, leaving the awning pitched. Match the beading size to your rail, usually 4mm or 6mm.
Key takeaways
- It makes leaving easy. You slide a strip out rather than threading the whole tunnel out of the rail.
- Two beading sizes matter. Most rails and awnings use 4mm or 6mm beading.
- Wind-out channels often take 4mm. A kit with both sizes covers you either way.
- It is often sold separately. Check whether your awning includes one before you set off.
- You need a channel to use one. No rail? Use straps, roof bars or a magnetic strip instead.
How a drive away awning kit works
Without a kit, you would slide your awning's beading straight into the rail on your van. That works, but every time you want to drive off you have to thread the whole tunnel back out. A driveaway kit adds a quick-release layer. A fabric strip with beading on both edges goes into the van's rail. A plastic figure-of-8 profile then joins that strip to the beading on the awning's tunnel. To leave, you pull the strip and the tunnel drops free.
The figure-of-8 profiles usually come in short lengths, so a wider tunnel needs three or four of them in a row.
Which beading size do I need: 4mm or 6mm?
Beading is the thick piped edge that slides into a channel. Most rails, wind-out awnings and drive away tunnels use either 4mm or 6mm beading. Wind-out awning channels commonly take 4mm. Many drive away tunnels carry both sizes, so they fit either type of rail.
| Your van has | What to look for |
|---|---|
| A standard awning rail | A kit that matches the rail, often 6mm, or a twin 4mm and 6mm kit |
| A wind-out awning | A kit with 4mm beading on the van side |
| Not sure | A twin 4mm and 6mm kit covers both |
Bottom line
If in doubt, a twin-size kit is the safe choice.
Do I need a driveaway kit at all?
Not always. If you stay on one site for a week and rarely move, sliding the tunnel straight into the rail is fine. A kit earns its place when you drive off most days. It also helps with an awning bought for one van and fitted to another. If your van has no rail at all, see our guide on how to attach a drive away awning, which covers straps, roof bars, gutters and magnetic strips.
How to fit and use a driveaway kit
- Pitch and peg the awning first, close to the van.
- Slide the double-beaded strip into your van's rail.
- Clip the figure-of-8 profiles onto the strip and feed the tunnel's beading into the other side.
- Peg the tunnel down and tension it so there are no dips for water to collect in.
- To leave, pull the strip out of the rail, roll the tunnel up neatly and drive off.
Before you go, leave your levelling blocks on the pitch to mark your wheels. Driving back onto them puts the van in the same place, which makes reconnecting much easier.
Types of drive away awning kit
Not every drive away awning kit works the same way, so it helps to know the main types before you buy.
- Figure-of-8 strip kits. The most common type. One channel slides into the van rail, the other takes the awning beading. You pull the strip out to drive away.
- Wind-out awning adaptors. These slide into the channel on the front of a wind-out awning case, so you can connect a drive away awning without a separate rail.
- Fixing kits for vans without a rail. Throw-over straps, magnetic strips or a pole and clamp. These are sometimes sold as a drive away awning fixing kit, and suit vans with no rail at all.
- Rail kits. A length of aluminium awning rail you fix to the van, which then takes a figure-of-8 strip.
If you already have a rail, the strip kit is usually all you need. If not, compare a fixing kit with fitting a rail permanently: a rail gives the neatest seal against rain, while straps and magnets are quicker to start with. Use the awning fit finder to check what suits your van.
Kits and awnings to look at
Browse our awning accessories for connection parts, and our campervan awnings for drive away awnings to go with them.
Awnings that work with a driveaway kit
- OLPRO Cubo Breeze V2: a compact inflatable drive away awning for campervans.
- Outdoor Revolution Cayman Air T3: an air drive away awning at an accessible price.
- Vango Kela Pro Air Low: a larger low-height air awning.
Frequently asked questions
Does a drive away awning come with a driveaway kit?
Not always. Many awnings are sold without one, so check the product description. Budget for a kit if you plan to drive off regularly.
Is Kador the same as beading?
Kador is a widely used name for awning beading and the strips that carry it. People often say Kador strip when they mean the double-beaded strip in a driveaway kit.
Can I use a driveaway kit on a wind-out awning?
Yes. Many wind-out awnings have a channel along the front that takes beading, often 4mm. A kit with 4mm beading on the van side lets you connect a drive away awning there.
Will one kit fit any van?
It will fit any van with a compatible channel. The figure-of-8 part is universal; the beading size on the van side is what you need to match.
Do I need a drive away awning kit for a wind-out awning?
Usually yes. Most wind-out awnings need an adaptor or figure-of-8 strip that slides into the front channel of the case, so the drive away awning tunnel can connect to it.
The bottom line on driveaway kits
A driveaway kit is a cheap, simple part that turns a fiddly unthread into a quick pull. Match the van-side beading to your rail, usually 4mm or 6mm, or choose a twin kit. For help choosing, use the awning fit finder or call our team on 0330 122 7773. Delivery is free to the UK mainland.
