Everything You Need to Know About Car Side Awnings
A Comprehensive Guide to Car Side Shower Tent Awnings: Features, History, and Trends
Here it comes—our Side Awning Series! After releasing content about the car-mounted shower awning, we received a lot of attention and feedback asking for more related updates. Stay tuned for more!
What is a Car Side Awning?
A car side awning is an accessory mounted on a vehicle’s roof rack, providing shade and rain protection. It can also be installed at the rear of trucks. These awnings are categorized into various designs such as 180°, 270°, 270° plus, and standard types, with each offering hard case and soft case versions. Designed for durability and convenience, they are ideal for outdoor adventures.
Advantages of Car Side Awnings
Easy Setup: Compared to camping tarps, car side awnings are much easier to set up and pack away.
Enhanced Durability: Car side awnings are sturdier and better equipped to withstand strong winds.
Expanded Usable Space: By adding annex rooms, they significantly expand the usable area.
Integrated Lighting: Most awnings come with built-in lights, which are typically not found in camping tarps.
Versatile System: They support various accessory combinations for multiple uses.
History of Car Side Awnings
Camping culture emerged in Europe and Australia during the mid-20th century. Early travelers used simple tarps or canvas attached to their vehicles for shade and rain protection. These designs gradually evolved, leading to the development of modern car side awnings.
In the early stages, brands like ARB, Rhino Rack, and Thule transitioned from producing fishing gear to car accessories. With the rise of off-road culture, ARB and others introduced these products to the North American market, accelerating the globalization of off-road culture and vehicle camping products.
Market Insights
According to Burgess Consulting, the global roof tent market is rapidly growing, indicating a rising demand for outdoor camping gear.
- Market Size: The global roof tent market is projected to reach $252 million in 2024, up 7.07% from 2023.
- Regional Distribution: Europe leads with 40.65% of revenue ($102.23 million), followed by North America (34.57%) and Asia-Pacific (19.60%).
- Applications: Personal use dominates, accounting for 81.95% of the market in 2024.
Although specific data on car side awnings is unavailable, the increasing popularity of rooftop camping products reflects the growing interest in such accessories.
Current Trends and Future Potential
Car side awnings are becoming increasingly diverse, catering to customer demands for lightweight, functional designs and larger shading areas. Leading brands like ARB, iKamper, OVS, and Dometic are continuously innovating and producing high-quality awnings.
Conclusion
Car side awnings have evolved from simple tarps into highly versatile and functional outdoor accessories. They meet the needs of modern outdoor enthusiasts with features like ease of use, durability, and adaptability. The growing popularity of rooftop camping and off-road culture is driving innovation in the car side awning market, promising even more possibilities and market growth in the future.
