Gear, Tips, Van life

Best car awnings: tents that attach to cars – UK Edition

May 25, 2022

On a recent car camping trip to the Peak District, we had exceptionally good weather. The sun was shining and it was hot. Sitting in the direct sunlight at our campsite made us miserable. This is when we realised the importance of a good car awning. We ended up with a DIY solution of using a picnic mat and hiking poles, as an awning for our estate car. It did the job, but it made me think we needed to buy a proper tailgate tent for a hatchback.

These items are tents that attach to cars and often multi-function as an awning gazebo as well. The canopy acts as a shelter from the sun or rain and the tents can be useful for storage. You can keep your camping fridge, bikes, bike trailers, inflatable kayak, portable power station, cooking equipment, chairs and table in there. Alternatively, it is a good place to sleep as well. Most tailgate tents function as driveaway tents, so you can head off on an adventure during the day and then attach it to the car when you are at camp.

My guide will help you find the best car awning in the UK market for your needs. It compares sizes, weight and prices, so you can make an informed decision about which tailgate tent to buy.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Comparison chart: tailgate tents for SUVs, minivans and hatchback cars

Hasika Tailgate Awning Tent
BMDHA Car Rear Tent
Napier Back-roadz Tailgate Tent
Rightline Gear Tailgate Tent
Napier Sportz Dome To Go Tent
Dometic Hub Infla-table Modular Shelter
Napier Sportz Tailgate Tent

	Hasika Tailgate Awning Tent	BMDHA Car Rear Tent	Napier Back-roadz Tailgate Tent	Rightline Gear Tailgate Tent	Napier Sportz Dome To Go Tent	Dometic Hub Infla-table Modular Shelter	Napier Sportz Tailgate Tent
	£	£	££	£££	£££	£££	£££
Capacity	2 people inside car	2 -4 people	5 people	4 people	4 people	4-5 people	4-5 people
Weight	1 kg	2.6 kg	11 kg	9 kg	13 kg	13.8 kg	16 kg
Size	Boot size	2 x 2 m	3 x 3 m	2.4 x 2.4	2.6 x 2.6 m	2.3 x 2.3 m	2.7 x 2.7 m
Height	Boot size	2 m	2.1 m	2.2 m	2 m	2.3 m	2.1 m
Extra Awning	Yes	No	No	No	Yes 1.8x1.8 m	Works as an awning with all doors open	Yes 1.8x1.8 m
Doors	1	1	1	1	2	4	2
Windows	1	0	2	2	3	4	3
Vehicle	Most cars	Most cars	CUV’s, SUV’s, and Minivans	Most cars	Hatchback cars and small CUV’s	Estate car, camper or SUV	CUV, SUV, or Minivan
	See Price	See Price	See Price	See Price	See Price	See Price	See Price

Best tents that attach to cars

Hasika Tailgate Awning Tent

This universal car awning and tent will fit most cars with a lift boot. We used this setup on our trip to Scotland and it worked great. It adds extra space and converts the back of your boot into a convenient sleeping area. The tailgate skirt provides privacy, gives extra airflow and keeps out the bugs. Perfect for summer camping. The material is 3000 mm waterproof. The extra awning can also come in handy to give shelter from the sun or rain. It provides enough space for 2-3 people to sit under.

BMDHA Car Rear Tent

A great budget option for a car tailgate awning tent. With the doors closed it can provide a good tent for sleeping for about 2 people. Alternatively, you can use it for storing bikes. A great shelter from the rain. You can set up a dining area with chairs and tables. Quick to set up and take apart.

Napier Backroadz SUV Tent

Napier is the world’s largest developer and distributor of vehicle camping tents. They have several models and all of them are well thought out and of good quality. Although it is advertised as a tailgate tent for SUV, it has a universal sleeve, which ﬁts all CUV’s, SUV’s, and Minivans. It is one of the largest tents on our list, so great if you have a big family or a lot of gear.

Rightline Gear SUV Tent

The company specializes in outdoor equipment and has a good reputation in the USA. This SUV tailgate tent has lots of clever features. Gear pockets and hooks, water-resistant floor, no-see-through windows, storm cover and glow in the dark zippers are just a few things to make your camping experience more enjoyable. The sleeve seals around any size SUV, minivan, wagon, or pick-up truck with a cap, but it also works great as a driveaway tent. It takes a bit of practice to learn how to set it up quickly, but the instructions are sewn-in, so they are always on hand if you get stuck.

Napier Sportz Dome-To-Go Tent

A very popular and well-liked car boot awning tent, as it was designed to fit hatchback cars and small CUVs. It not only acts as a tent for sleeping or storage but has a spacious awning as well. Setting it up and taking it down is quite easy. It can also act as a traditional tent if you want to drive off for a day’s adventure with your vehicle.

Dometic HUB Kampa tailgate tent

You might have heard about the Dometic brand from my camping fridge guide. Dometic products are used by millions of outdoor lovers people. This is the only inflatable activity shelter on our list. So if you don’t like faffing about with poles, then this might be the best option for you. The connection tunnel fits several types of cars, but you can also use it on its own as a traditional tent or awning with all four sides wide open.

Napier Sportz SUV Tent

A similar model to the Sportz Dome-To-Go Tent, but this one is suited for CUVs, SUVs or minivans. It connects easily to the cargo area of your vehicle, and has an extendable awning for extra space.

Comparison chart: car awnings

Zootop Car Awning
Buycitky Car Awning
HUKOER Car Awning
Latourreg Car Gazebo
Hasika Drive Away Awning

	Zootop Car Awning	Buycitky Car Awning	HUKOER Car Awning	Latourreg Car Gazebo	Hasika Drive Away Awning
	£	£	£	£	£
Capacity	3 - 4 people	4 - 6 people	5-7 people	5-7 people	4-6 people
Weight	1.7 kg	2.9 kg	4.6 kg	4.5 kg	4.3 kg
Size	2 x 3 m	1.9 x 2.4 m	3.5 x 2.4 m	3.2 x 4 m	3.5 x 1 m
Height	n.a	2 m	3 m	2.2 m	2.4 m
Vehicle	Most vehicles	Most vehicles	Most vehicles	Most vehicles	Most vehicles
	See Price	See Price	See Price	See Price	See Price

Best car awnings

Zootop Car Awning

A cheap car awning, which does the job. It doesn’t come with any instructions about how to put it up, but some common sense and looking at photos online should help you figure it out. You can also use it on its own as a tarp. You just need to add two more poles to it. Perhaps your hiking poles or sticks you find in the woods. It could possibly even be a good addition to your wild camping equipment, as it is relatively lightweight and packs up small.

Buycitky Car Awning

This is also a very affordable option and relatively lightweight. It has a cool skylight design on the top, which increases air circulation. A great feature for those hot, summer days. But we tend to get more rain in the UK than sunshine, so of course, the material is waterproof. The awning is multifunctional and can be set up in several different ways, depending on your needs.

HUKOER tailgate canopy

This is an ideal shelter for larger groups, as has quite a big size. It also has a generous head height of over 3 m in the middle, which is great when you have giant brothers and dad, like me. The instructions are easy to follow and you can probably set it up in about 10 minutes. You can instal it in many different ways, eg at the back or side of the car.

Latourreg Tailgate Canopy

Latourreg is a brand offering many different types of tents to customers. Their products are of good quality. The unique feature of this tailgate tent canopy is that the side wings can extend making the width to 4 m. A great solution to add extra shade and protection from the elements. The installation is easy but ideally requires two people.

Hasika Awning Gazebo

This model is a popular choice for campers but also works well for a day at the beach. The skylight is a good additional feature and it can also be covered with a flap in rainy weather. The whole structure feels quite sturdy, so should hold up on those rainy and windy days as well. The gazebo has multiple forms of installations, making it convenient for different needs.

By Enikő 1 Comments

Enikő

Hey, I'm Enikő! I'm currently an au pair and I want to share my experiences with you. I've travelled a lot in the past years. I'm gonna teach you how to settle in to a new country and get free accommodation anywhere in the world. Circle Enikő on Google+!

1 Comments

Car camping in the UK – How to sleep in your car? |
May 25, 2022 at 1:02 pm
[…] Awnings are a great way to get some shelter from the sun or rain on your outdoor adventures. I have a full blog post about the best car awnings and tailgate tents. […]

TRAVEL HACKER GIRL

Best car awnings: tents that attach to cars – UK Edition

Table of Contents

Comparison chart: tailgate tents for SUVs, minivans and hatchback cars