An awning gives you a covered room beside your van: somewhere to sit out of the rain, eat, store kit and kick off muddy boots. Buy the wrong one and it either will not fit your vehicle or will not suit the way you camp.
This guide walks you through choosing one in four steps: measure your vehicle, find the right height band, decide whether you want a drive-away awning, then compare the options that are left. We stock four Vango awnings, the Sunlight, Sunlight Air, Cove III and Palma Air 330, and by the end you will know which one is right for your campervan, caravan or motorhome.
Step 1: Measure your attachment height
Every one of these awnings is sold by attachment height: the distance from the ground to the point where the awning joins your vehicle. Measure it before you order. The van model is a useful starting point, but roof heights vary by model, conversion and load, and pop-tops and suspension changes can move the attachment point too. Then match your measurement to the table below.
| Attachment height | Typical vehicles (Vango's height guide) | Which of our four fit |
|---|---|---|
| 180 - 210cm | Low-height campervans such as the VW Transporter, Ford Transit Custom and Vauxhall Vivaro | Sunlight, Sunlight Air, Cove III Low |
| 215 - 255cm | Taller vans such as the Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer and Mercedes Sprinter | Cove III Mid |
| 235 - 250cm | Caravan and motorhome awning rails | Palma Air 330 |
For the Palma Air 330 there is a second check. It needs at least 330cm of straight rail, measured from just before the front curve of your caravan to just before the rear curve.
Step 2: Find your vehicle
Your measurement is what counts, but Vango's vehicle height guide gives a good idea of where popular vans usually sit.
VW Transporter, Ford Transit Custom, Vauxhall Vivaro and other low vans (180 - 210cm)
Vango's height guide lists these vans for the 180 - 210cm band. All three campervan awnings come in this height: the Sunlight, Sunlight Air and Cove III Low. Step 3 will help you choose between them.
The way you attach the awning matters too. The Sunlight and Cove III come with every attachment method: kador for a rail, 8m over-vehicle straps, roof bar tabs, and a sleeve for a pole and clamp kit. The Sunlight's dual 4mm and 6mm kador also fits a canopy cassette or various wind-out canopy awnings. The Sunlight Air attaches by its dual 4mm and 6mm kador, to your vehicle rail or to various wind-out canopy awnings.
Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer, Mercedes Sprinter and other taller vans (215 - 255cm)
Vango's height guide places these vans in the Mid band, and the only awning here built for that height is the Cove III Mid. It has the same 320 x 310cm footprint, Smoke colour and specification as the Low, with a longer 300cm kador and a wider 280cm tunnel connection.
Caravans and motorhomes (235 - 250cm rails)
The Palma Air 330 fits caravan and motorhome awning rails between 235cm and 250cm, and needs at least 330cm of straight rail. Its dual 4mm and 6mm kador gives a sealed connection to the rail or to various wind-out canopy awnings.
Step 3: Decide whether you want to drive away
If you have a low campervan, you still have three awnings to choose from, and this is the question that narrows it down. Do you want to drive off for the day and leave your awning standing on the pitch?
A drive-away awning stays standing when you take the van off the pitch. Your chairs, table and kit stay inside under cover, and the pitch is still yours when you get back.
The Cove III is the only drive-away awning of the four. Add a Drive Away Kit (sold separately) and the roll-away tunnel detaches from your vehicle, rolls back and toggles out of the way. The awning stands on its own sewn-in groundsheet while you are gone. The tunnel has two doors, so you can reach the front or back of the van without leaving the awning. It also has a reinforced PVC section and, new for 2026, a TriSpan roof pole that gives it more structure, better tension against the van and more headroom.
The Sunlight and Sunlight Air are 2-in-1 canopy awnings that give you a covered space off the side of the van. They are lighter and quicker to put up than the Cove III, but they are not drive-away awnings. They suit trips where the van stays put: a weekend on one site, or a day at the beach where you pitch, sit and pack up again before you leave.
The Palma Air 330 fits caravan and motorhome awning rails. Your caravan stays on the pitch anyway, so drive-away does not come into it.
Step 4: Compare the four awnings
Here are all four side by side, so you can check the details that matter to you: weight, pack size, pitch time, fabric and what comes in the box.
| Sunlight | Sunlight Air | Cove III | Palma Air 330 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | 2-in-1 poled awning and sun canopy | 2-in-1 AirBeam awning and sun canopy | Poled drive-away awning, front facing | AirBeam caravan awning |
| Drive away and leave it pitched? | No | No | Yes, with a Drive Away Kit (sold separately) | No |
| Attachment height | 180 - 210cm | 180 - 210cm | Low 180 - 210cm Mid 215 - 255cm |
235 - 250cm |
| Footprint (W x D) | 300 x 205cm to the beam, plus 40cm beyond it | 300 x 205cm to the beam, plus 40cm beyond it | 320 x 310cm, plus a 110cm tunnel to the van | 330 x 240cm |
| Height | 205cm | 205cm | 205cm | 205cm |
| Connection width | 240cm | 240cm | Low 240cm Mid 280cm |
330cm |
| Kador length | 260cm | 260cm | Low 260cm Mid 300cm |
380cm |
| Frame | Fibreglass poles | Single pre-angled AirBeam | PowerFlex fibreglass poles, TBSII tension bands, TriSpan tunnel support | Single pre-angled AirBeam, PowerLite alloy bracer pole, TBSII, storm straps |
| Pitching time | 5 mins | 6 mins | 10 mins | 8 mins |
| Weight | 8.8kg | 10kg | Low 13.9kg Mid 14.3kg |
10.9kg |
| Pack size | 71 x 24 x 22cm | 75 x 28 x 28cm | Low 70 x 26 x 29cm Mid 70 x 27 x 30cm |
75 x 31 x 31cm |
| Fabric | Sentinel Active 75D, 81g/m² | Sentinel Active 150D, 110g/m², fully taped seams | Sentinel Active 75D, 81g/m² | Dynamic Weave 100, 80g/m² |
| Waterproof rating | 3000mm HH | 4000mm HH | 3000mm HH | 4000mm HH |
| Fire retardant | ISO 6941 | ISO 6941 | ISO 6941 | EN 5912; fabric to ISO 6941 |
| Groundsheet | Linked-in, removable | None listed | Fully sewn-in, with storm skirt | None listed. Draught skirt and wheel arch cover included |
| Connection | Dual 4mm / 6mm kador, 8m over-vehicle straps, roof bar tabs, pole and clamp sleeve | Dual 4mm / 6mm kador | Pre-attached 6mm kador, 8m over-vehicle straps, roof bar tabs, pole and clamp sleeve | Dual 4mm / 6mm kador |
| Bedroom inner | No | No | Yes, Vango BR001 two-person (sold separately) | No |
| Colour | Smoke | Cloud Grey | Smoke | Cloud Grey |
| MPN | AWWSUNLIG000001 | AWVSUNLIG000002 | AWWCOVEPO000002 (Low) AWWCOVEPO000003 (Mid) |
AWWPALAIR330 |
All four stand 205cm tall inside, so most adults can stand up in them. All four carry Vango's two year guarantee against manufacturing faults in the fabrics, component parts and workmanship. That goes up to three years if you register the awning with Vango within six months of buying it. Start any claim with us and we will handle the return to Vango for you.
Comparing prices elsewhere? Check that the MPN matches the one in the table above, so you know you are comparing the same model.
Poles or AirBeam?
Two of the four use poles (Sunlight, Cove III) and two use a single inflatable AirBeam (Sunlight Air, Palma Air 330). Here is what that changes:
- AirBeam is not automatically lighter. The Sunlight Air weighs 10kg and the poled Sunlight weighs 8.8kg. Part of that is the Sunlight Air's heavier fabric: 150D at 110g/m², against the Sunlight's 75D at 81g/m².
- Poles are not automatically slower. The poled Sunlight is the quickest pitch of the four at around five minutes, against six for the Sunlight Air.
- AirBeams mean no poles to thread. Both AirBeam awnings come with a manual pump with a built-in pressure dial. The Sunlight Air also has Vango's AirSpeed valve system, which puts the valves where they are easy to reach. An electric pump is available separately for the Sunlight Air.
- Know what the guarantee covers. Pole breakages and AirBeam punctures count as fair wear and tear, not warranty faults. Replacement poles and beams are available through Vango's spares service.
Weather and wind
The Sunlight Air and Palma Air 330 are rated to 4000mm hydrostatic head, and the Sunlight and Cove III to 3000mm. The Cove III is also rain tested to EN ISO 5912 for use in wet and windy conditions.
Fabric weight does not tell you how waterproof an awning is. The Palma's Dynamic Weave 100 weighs 80g/m², which is lighter than the Sunlight Air's 150D at 110g/m², yet both are rated to the same 4000mm. The Sunlight Air also has fully taped seams. The Sunlight Air and Palma Air 330 both have ColourLok Eco fabric, and the Cove III has ColourLok, to help the fabric hold its colour and resist UV.
Wind is the bigger test for any awning. The Cove III braces its poles with TBSII tension bands, which hold the frame at three points to stop it moving sideways in strong, shifting winds. The Palma Air 330 has TBSII as well, plus an adjustable PowerLite alloy bracer pole and webbing storm straps. On both AirBeam awnings, the pre-angled beam braces the awning against the wind.
Getting the pitch right helps too. The Sunlight and Cove III have their key pegging points highlighted orange, so you peg those first and the shape comes out right. The Palma Air 330 comes with six orange-topped rock pegs for its key corners, plus steel pegs. The Sunlight Air and Cove III also come with steel pegs. The Sunlight, Sunlight Air and Palma Air 330 have adjustable pegging points for uneven ground.
The Sunlight, Cove III and Palma Air 330 are touring awnings: built for holidays and weekends, not for staying pitched all season. Prolonged UV exposure from long-term pitching speeds up wear, and the guarantee does not cover water getting in through UV-degraded fabric.
Which trip suits which awning?
Beach days, lake days and sunny weekends: Sunlight or Sunlight Air
Both are 2-in-1 awnings. With the doors and walls zipped on you have an enclosed room. Take them off and you have an open sun canopy for shade by the beach or the lake. Of the two, the Sunlight is the lightest, smallest-packing and cheapest, with a linked-in groundsheet you can take out to clean. The Sunlight Air costs more and gives you the AirBeam pitch, heavier 150D fabric with fully taped seams, a 4000mm rating, and Sky Hooks supplied for its SkyTrack II hanging system.
A week on site using the van to explore: Cove III
Drive off for the day and come back to your chairs and kit still dry under cover. The Cove III attaches to the side of the van but faces forwards, the same way as the vehicle, so its windows and pre-attached front canopy look out at the view and give you more privacy from your neighbours. At 320 x 310cm it is the biggest of the four, so allow for the 110cm tunnel to the van as well when you size up a pitch.
Extra sleeping space for guests: Cove III
It is the only one of the four with a bedroom option. Vango's BR001 two-person Drive Away Awning Bedroom clips inside and is sold separately. Add a Kelty Lowdown Camp Cot or Highlander Lightweight Camping Bed to get your guests off the ground, and a Vango Stellar Double sleeping bag for two.
Spring and autumn caravan touring: Palma Air 330
The Palma Air 330 comes with a draught skirt and wheel arch cover, which stop cold air coming in under the caravan. For a tighter seal to the van you can add Vango's adjustable upright draught poles, sold separately. At 240cm deep it suits compact touring pitches where larger awnings won't fit.
Wheelchairs, prams and reduced mobility: Cove III or Palma Air 330
Both have easy access doors with a flat entry.
Kit out your awning
Once the awning is up, a few bits of kit turn it into a proper living space.
- Somewhere to sit: the Kelty Low-Loveseat Double Camping Chair seats two, or see all our camping chairs.
- Somewhere to eat: the Kelty Rad-Arondack Table, from our camping tables.
- Light for the evenings: all four awnings have a SkyTrack II hanging system for lights and storage. Pair it with a lantern such as the Ledlenser ML6, which doubles as a power bank, or the Skywoods L50270.
- Somewhere to sleep: a Kelty Lowdown Camp Cot or Highlander Lightweight Camping Bed, and a roomy square sleeping bag such as the Vango Stellar Double or Vango Stellar Grande.
Which Vango awning should you buy?
Choose the Vango Sunlight if you have a low campervan, such as a VW Transporter, Ford Transit Custom or Vauxhall Vivaro, and want the lightest, simplest and cheapest way to add a covered room or a sun canopy. It weighs 8.8kg, pitches in around five minutes, and comes with every Vango attachment option.
Choose the Vango Sunlight Air if you want the same 2-in-1 idea with a single inflatable AirBeam, heavier 150D fabric with fully taped seams, and a 4000mm waterproof rating.
Choose the Vango Cove III if you want to drive away and leave your awning standing, want room for a bedroom, or have a taller van in the 215 - 255cm range, such as a Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer or Mercedes Sprinter. It is the only drive-away awning here and the only one made in two heights.
Choose the Vango Palma Air 330 if you tour with a caravan or motorhome whose awning rail is 235 to 250cm high, with at least 330cm of straight rail. It pitches in around eight minutes, comes ready for wind and draughts, and suits compact pitches.
Common questions
Can I attach these awnings to a wind-out canopy?
The Sunlight, Sunlight Air and Palma Air 330 all have a dual 4mm and 6mm kador that connects to various wind-out canopy awnings, as well as to a rail. The Sunlight's kador also fits a canopy cassette. The Cove III has a pre-attached 6mm kador, plus over-vehicle straps, roof bar tabs and a pole and clamp sleeve.
Can I use a campervan awning on my caravan?
Not with these. The Sunlight and Sunlight Air fit 180 to 210cm, and the Cove III is a drive-away awning designed around a tunnel to a campervan. For a caravan or motorhome rail, choose the Palma Air 330.
I have a VW Transporter. Which awning do I need?
Vango's height guide lists the VW Transporter, along with the Ford Transit Custom and Vauxhall Vivaro, for the 180 - 210cm band. That means the Sunlight, Sunlight Air or Cove III Low. Measure your own van first, because pop-tops, suspension and load can change the attachment height.
What about a Ducato, Boxer or Sprinter?
Vango's height guide places the Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer and Mercedes Sprinter in the 215 - 255cm Mid band, which means the Cove III Mid. Roof heights vary by model, conversion and load, so measure before you order.
Which one is easiest to put up on my own?
The two AirBeam awnings have no poles to thread. The Sunlight Air pitches in around six minutes, and its AirSpeed valves are positioned for easy access. The poled Sunlight is quicker still at around five minutes, using a straightforward pole frame.
Do I get a groundsheet?
The Cove III has a fully sewn-in groundsheet with an external storm skirt, and the Sunlight has a linked-in groundsheet you can attach or remove. No groundsheet is listed for the Sunlight Air or the Palma Air 330. The Palma comes with a draught skirt and wheel arch cover instead.
Can I sleep in the Sunlight or Sunlight Air?
A bedroom inner is not listed for either. They are shelter and shade for the day and evening. If you need sleeping space outside the van, choose the Cove III with Vango's BR001 bedroom.
Can I leave an awning up for the whole season?
No. The Sunlight, Cove III and Palma Air 330 are touring awnings, built for holidays and weekends. Long-term pitching speeds up UV wear, and the guarantee does not cover water getting in through UV-degraded fabric.
The bottom line
Measure first, and that tells you which awnings fit. If you have a taller campervan or a caravan, you only have one option here. If you have a low campervan, ask yourself whether you want to drive off and leave the awning standing. If yes, buy the Cove III. If no, buy one of the Sunlights: the poled version to keep it light and cheap, or the Air for the inflatable frame and 4000mm rating.
See all four in our Campervan & Caravan Awnings collection, or browse the rest of the Vango range. Still not sure which fits your vehicle? Get in touch with your measurement and we will tell you straight.