You have pulled into the caravan park, found your site, and got the van level. The awning is out. And then you look at that open space underneath it and think. Now what?
Getting your caravan annexe setup right is what separates a basic camp from an outdoor living space you actually want to spend time in. The annexe itself is just the shell. What you put in and around it is what makes it feel like a proper room rather than a patch of shade. This guide covers how to set up your caravan annex properly, what accessories make the space liveable, and how to keep everything secure when the wind picks up.
Caravan Annex Setup: Start with the Right Location
Before you start rolling out fabric or clipping on annexe walls, take a few minutes to choose a suitable location and position for your van. The flattest part of the site is always best, not just for levelling the caravan, but for how the annexe sits and how well the ground works with your matting and pegs.
Think about where the sun will be across the day, which direction the wind is coming from, and whether you want the annexe opening facing your neighbours or away from them. Getting this right before you set up saves you from pulling everything down and starting again an hour later.
Once the van is positioned and stabilised on its stabiliser legs, extend the caravan awning out fully. Make sure the awning arms are set at the right height for the annexe walls you are attaching. Too high and the walls will not reach the ground, too low and you lose headroom inside.
Getting the Floor Sorted: Caravan Annex Matting
The floor is the first thing to sort once the awning is out and before the walls go up. Trying to roll out and position caravan annex matting after the annexe walls are attached is a frustrating job. Do it first and everything else sits better.
Annex matting defines the space, keeps dirt and grass from tracking into the van, gives you a clean surface for dining and relaxing, and makes the whole setup feel more like a room. On soft ground it also helps prevent chair legs and table feet sinking in.
OZtrail Pick: The Caravan Annex Matting comes in three sizes so you can match the coverage to your awning length. Roll it out flat, position it squarely under the awning, and let it settle before you attach the walls around it.
If you are still deciding on the right matting for your setup, our caravan mat guide covers the full range of options across different ground types and budgets.
Caravan Annexe Walls and Privacy Screens
Once the floor is down, the walls go up. This is where the annexe goes from being an open awning to an actual enclosed outdoor living space. How much you enclose is up to you. Full walls on all sides for complete shelter from rain and wind, or a privacy screen on one or two sides to block the neighbours while keeping the breeze flowing.
For caravans with a conventional roof line, the Caravan Conventional Privacy End closes off one side of the space. For pop top vans, the Caravan Pop Top Privacy End does the same job with a profile shaped to fit.
OZtrail Pick: The Caravan Privacy Screen range has a size to suit most awning setups. They attach along the sail track or awning arms and roll back up for easy packing when you move on.
If you are not sure which size or style suits your awning, this guide to choosing the right caravan privacy screen walks through the options.
Anti Flap Kit: How to Stop Your Caravan Awning Flapping
Windy conditions are the enemy of a relaxed annexe setup. An awning that is flapping and pulling at its attachment points is noisy, damages the fabric over time, and makes the whole structure feel unstable. An anti flap kit takes the flex out of the vinyl so the roof sits firm and flat and the walls hang straight.
OZtrail Pick: The Caravan Awning Deflapper Tensioner is available in a Small 2 Pack and Large size to suit different awning lengths.
Securing the Annexe: Tie Downs, Pegs and Guy Ropes
An annexe that is not properly secured is a problem waiting to happen. In windy conditions, an unsecured awning can lift, pull free from the van, or collapse onto whatever is underneath it. Pegging out the base of the walls and running guy ropes from the awning arms to ground anchors at a 45-degree angle is not optional, it is part of a proper caravan annex setup.
Getting the tie-down right is its own topic and worth doing properly. If you want the full detail on pegs, ground types, and exactly how to run your guy ropes for maximum hold, we have covered it all in How to Secure a Caravan Awning.
Making the Space Work
Once the floor is down, the walls are up, and everything is pegged out and secured, the annexe becomes a functional outdoor room. How you use that extra space is up to you, but a few practical additions make a significant difference to comfort.
The Aerobreeze Traveller Fan 12/24V is worth running in the annexe on warm evenings. It is quiet enough to run while you are sitting around and moves enough air to make a real difference in an enclosed annexe space, particularly in Queensland and Northern Territory conditions where humidity makes evenings uncomfortable even in the shade.
Storage pockets on the van walls help keep the annexe clear of clutter. The Caravan Storage Pocket Small and Large mount inside the van door area and give you somewhere to put phones, sunscreen, keys, and the small items that otherwise end up on every flat surface.
Keeping Up With Laundry on the Road
A longer stay means washing clothes, and stringing a line between trees is not always an option or welcome at managed caravan parks. A dedicated clothesline that mounts directly to your awning arm keeps everything tidy and contained within your annexe space.
OZtrail Pick: The Companion Caravan Awning Clothesline attaches to your awning arm with an adjustable locking clamp and suits both square and round tubes. The 20m rope gives you two to three lines depending on your awning size, which is plenty for a family's daily washing. Folds down into its carry bag when you move on.
Complete Your Caravan Annex Setup
A well-set-up annexe is one of the best parts of caravan camping. Get the floor down first, attach the walls and privacy screens to suit the site, tension everything with an anti flap kit, peg and guy rope it properly, and then make the space your own. Done right, it takes less than an hour and gives you a comfortable outdoor living space for the entire stay.
Explore our full range of Caravan Gear and complete your setup with everything you need for the road ahead.
- Camping Furniture
- Camp Cooking Gear
- Camp Lighting
- Fridges & Coolers
- Gazebos
- Gas Appliances
- Rooftop Tents & Awnings
- Power, Solar & Electrical
-
Tents & Shelters
Order online and we'll deliver the gear right to your doorstep.
