Vehicle Awnings: 270 vs Side Awnings, Mounting Brackets and Fit

A vehicle awning is shade and rain cover that lives on your rack and opens in a minute or two, so you use it at every stop instead of only at base camp. The main choice is shape: a straight awning that pulls out along one side, a 180 that wraps the side and one corner, or a 270 that sweeps around the side and the back. After that, it comes down to whether it stands on its own in wind, which side it mounts on, and the brackets that hold it to your roof rack or bed rack.

270 vs 180 vs straight awnings

A straight (or 90 degree) awning rolls out from a bag along one side of the vehicle and is held up by two legs. A 180 or 270 awning is hinged at the corner of the rack and swings out like a fan, with aluminum rafters (arms) holding the canopy. The bigger the sweep, the more shade, and the more weight on the rack.

Straight awnings

If you mostly want shade beside the truck for lunch stops and a camp kitchen, a straight awning does the job for less weight. The OVS HD Nomadic 90 comes in 4.5, 6.5 and 8 ft lengths, mounts on either side, and OVS says the 4.5 ft version can mount on the rear. Its two telescoping poles stow under the awning arms. Pick the length that fits the side of your rack.

180 degree awnings

A 180 wraps the corner, so you get shade on the side and part of the back. OVS says the HD Nomadic 180 covers 88 sq ft, weighs about 55 lb, and ships with three mounting brackets and hardware. Inspired Overland's Carbon Fiber 180° Awning uses a carbon fiber frame and is listed at 30 lb, which helps on a rack that is already carrying a tent. Eezi-Awn says its Dragonfly 180 sets up in less than a minute, with legs that adjust up to 92 in. A 180 is also the fix for one common SUV problem, covered below.

270 degree awnings

A 270 gives the most shelter from one piece of gear: it starts at the front of the side and wraps around behind the vehicle. Options we carry:

• ROAM ARC 270: ROAM lists it as driver-side mount only. Add the ARC 270 Wall Kit for walls; kits come as two walls, so a full enclosure takes two kits.
• OVS HD Nomadic 270 (driver side) and passenger side: OVS lists the full-size 270 at 129 sq ft; the driver-side version ships at about 79 lb.
• OVS HD Nomadic 270 LT: the lighter version, 80 sq ft and 83 in. long closed, which OVS says suits mid-size vehicles and racks that cannot carry the full-size 270. Driver-side version available too.
• Dirtbox Overland Freestanding 270: Dirtbox lists 90 sq ft, 44 lb, and under 30 seconds to open, with built-in dimmable LED lighting. Choose driver or passenger side and T-track or crossbar mounting.
• Eezi-Awn Bat 270 (more than 80 sq ft) and Manta 270 (more than 100 sq ft): aluminum frames and 260-gram ripstop canvas; Eezi-Awn says one person can deploy the Bat in under a minute.

Building out a van? OVS sells the HD Nomadic 270 in a driver-side version for mid and high roof vans with a bracket kit and 3 meter poles long enough to reach the ground from a tall roof.

Shop vehicle awnings →

Freestanding vs pole-supported: how do awnings handle wind?

"Freestanding" means the awning holds itself out with its hinges and rafters, no legs needed, which is why 180 and 270 awnings can open in under a minute. It does not mean wind-proof. Every awning we carry ships with legs or poles, and the makers expect you to use them, plus stakes and guy lines, when the wind comes up.

OVS is specific: it rates the HD Nomadic 180 and 270 LT for 20 to 25 mph winds freestanding, and up to 40 mph with the supplied poles, stakes and guy lines set. Dirtbox says its 270 stands without legs in most conditions and its integrated legs deploy for extra stability in wind. Practical habits that keep awnings in one piece:

• Drop the legs and stake out before you need them, not after the first gust.
• Lower one corner slightly so rain runs off instead of pooling in the canopy.
• Close the awning if you leave camp or go to bed in uncertain weather.
• Park with the open side downwind when you can.

Driver side or passenger side?

In the U.S., the passenger side faces the curb or road shoulder when you park on a street, which is why many people choose a passenger-side awning for roadside stops. Others pick the driver side so the awning covers the side they get in and out of, or because of where the rack, fuel door or rooftop tent ladder sits. Some 270s only come one way: ROAM lists the ARC 270 as driver-side only, and the Eezi-Awn Manta 270 we list mounts on the driver side.

For 270s on an SUV, check the rear hatch. RCI notes that with its roof rack brackets, an SUV cannot run a 270 because the deployed awning keeps the rear hatch from opening fully; a 180 avoids that. On a pickup, think about tailgate and bed access the same way. If your rooftop tent opens to one side (OVS's Bushveld tents open toward the passenger side, for example), many people put the awning on the same side to cover the ladder.

Awning mounting brackets: Prinsu, RCI and others

Awnings bolt to the side of a rack through L-brackets. The bracket has to match two things: the rack's mounting interface (T-slot, crossbar, factory rail) and the awning's bolt pattern. Buying brackets made for your rack is the easy way to get that right.

The Prinsu quick release mount is worth a look if the awning only goes on for trips: Prinsu says the awning and mount come off in under a minute with no tools, so the rack can stay clean for the daily drive. Prinsu says fit on other racks built from 2 x 1 extrusion is untested.

Mounting without an aftermarket rack

Rago Fabrication makes steel mounts for factory roof rails on the 1996-2024 Toyota 4Runner and the Lexus GX 470. Rago notes the 4Runner mounts do not fit the factory tubing rack, and lists fitment problems with the Rhino Rack Batwing awning on both. For the INEOS Grenadier, DVA Mechanics makes an Awning Mount V2 for DualTrack roof rails (requires its DualTrack rails). Dirtbox Overland sells awning brackets for its canopy campers (not compatible with Dirtbox toppers).

Whatever you mount it on, check the rack's weight rating against the awning's weight plus anything else on the rack, and run the awning mounting bolts through solid points. Our 4Runner roof rack guide and Tacoma roof rack guide cover rack options.

Shop Prinsu racks and brackets →

Awning walls, rooms and add-ons

Walls turn an awning into a shelter. ROAM sells the ARC 270 Wall Kit and a Standard Awning Room, and ARB offers the Deluxe Awning Room with Floor 2.5M; check the product page for which ARB awning it fits. OVS sells the Nomadic 270 with walls already included in a passenger-side kit with walls 1, 2 and 3 and brackets. Match walls to the exact awning model.

What NVMOS carries

We carry awnings from ROAM Adventure Co., Overland Vehicle Systems, Eezi-Awn, Inspired Overland and Dirtbox Overland, plus mounting brackets from Prinsu, RCI, Cali Raised LED, Rago Fabrication and others.

• ROAM ARC 270 Awning
• OVS HD Nomadic 180
• Dirtbox Freestanding 270
• Prinsu Quick Release Awning Mount Brackets 2.0
• RCI Roof Rack Awning Mounting Brackets

Browse by category: Vehicle awnings and accessories, Rack mounts and brackets, Complete roof racks, Bed racks, Prinsu Design Studio, Overland Vehicle Systems, ROAM Adventure Co., Shop by vehicle and vendor warranty policies.

Frequently asked questions

Is a 270 awning worth it over a straight awning?

If you want shade on the side and the back of the vehicle from one piece of gear, yes. A 270 covers much more ground and many stand on their own in calm conditions. The trade is weight, cost and rack space. If you only need shade beside the vehicle, a straight pull-out awning is lighter and simpler.

Do freestanding awnings need legs?

In calm conditions, no. That is what freestanding means. In wind, use the supplied legs, stakes and guy lines. OVS, for example, rates its HD Nomadic 180 and 270 LT at 20 to 25 mph freestanding and up to 40 mph with poles and stakes set.

Should my awning go on the driver side or passenger side?

In the U.S., the passenger side faces the curb or shoulder when parked on a road, so many people choose it. Others choose the driver side for the side they use most. Check what the awning is offered in, since some 270s are driver side only, and make sure a 270 will not block your rear hatch or tailgate.

Can I run a 270 awning on an SUV?

Often, but check the rear hatch. RCI notes that with its roof rack brackets, a deployed 270 keeps an SUV's rear hatch from opening fully, and recommends a 180 instead. Call us with your vehicle and rack and we will check options.

What brackets do I need to mount an awning?

Brackets made for your rack and compatible with your awning's bolt pattern. Prinsu, RCI, Cali Raised LED and others make brackets for their own racks, and Rago Fabrication makes mounts for factory roof rails on the 4Runner and GX 470. Some awnings, like the OVS Nomadic 180, include brackets.

Can I run an awning and a rooftop tent together?

Usually, yes. Many brackets are designed so the tent clears them. RCI says rooftop tents clear its roof rack and bed rack awning brackets, and Cali Raised LED's bed rack bracket mounts to the rack legs to keep the top rails free. Check the combined weight against your rack's rating.

Not sure what fits? Call a real person at (920) 249-7744 or send us a message, and we'll check fitment before you order.