A rear tailgate awning attaches to the back of your campervan or SUV and gives you an enclosed living space without needing a side awning rail. From a simple £119 canopy-style shelter to a full inflatable drive-away awning at £574.99, there's a rear attachment option for every budget and use case. We stock the full range at Newquay Camping Shop, 4 Bamber House, Victoria, PL26 8LQ — Cornwall's dedicated camping specialists.
If you're looking for a side-attachment canopy rather than a rear tailgate awning, see our Easy Camp Sun Canopy Guide covering the Voss, Flex, Stryn, and Lom Tri.
Which Tailgate Awning is Right for You?
Quick decision guide:
- Budget under £150, want something to keep in the van permanently? — Easy Camp Krossbu £119
- Want a proper enclosed awning with a groundsheet, mid-budget? — Vango Arden £229
- Camping from an SUV or lower-roofed vehicle? — Kampa Tailnest £245
- Want a full drive-away awning, prefer poles? — Vango Tailgate Hub II £409
- Want a full drive-away awning, want the fastest pitch and best fabric? — Vango Tailgate AirHub II £574.99
Simple Tailgate Canopies — Quick Shelter, Minimal Setup
Easy Camp Crowford Rear Tailgate Awning — £119.00
Designed specifically for the VW California T5/T6. Pitches on the tailgate via twin guylines and attachment hooks with protective flaps. Toggle-up front door with ample walk-in height — raise it as an open canopy for shade, or close it for full enclosure. Side windows with toggle-up curtains on both sides, covered front ventilation, 16mm steel poles for the front door canopy included. 185T PU-coated polyester flysheet, 3000mm rated, fire retardant. 7mm kador bead. 3.9kg in a 71 × 14cm pack.
Fits: VW California T5/T6
Best for: VW California owners who want a simple, affordable rear shelter at the lowest price in the range.
Easy Camp Krossbu Tailgate Awning — £119.00
The updated model — same price, same pack size, but lighter (3.4kg vs 3.9kg), confirmed taped seams, and a much wider van compatibility list. Same toggle-up door, side windows, covered ventilation, and 16mm steel poles. WeatherGuard 3000 flysheet, 3000mm rated, taped seams, fire retardant. Attachment height 185–200cm.
Fits: VW T5/T6/T6.1 (Multivan, Caravelle, Transporter, California), Mercedes V-Class/Vito/Marco Polo, Ford Transit and similar
Best for: Most campervan owners — lighter, wider compatibility, and the current production model at the same price as the Crowford. The one to buy if you're choosing between the two.
Proper Tailgate Awnings — Full Enclosed Space
Vango Arden Tailgate Awning — £229.00
A significant step up from the Easy Camp canopy-style shelters. The Arden is a proper enclosed tailgate awning with a linked-in groundsheet, mesh front door with internal fly screen, diamond clear windows, toggled privacy curtains, and SkyTrack II compatibility. Multiple attachment methods: pre-attached 6mm kador, 8m over-vehicle straps, roof bar attachment tabs, or a sleeve for a pole and clamp kit system — making it one of the most versatile rear awnings for vans without a kador rail.
Sentinel Active 75D fabric, 3000mm hydrostatic head, Vango PowerFlex fibreglass poles, clear visibility guylines, steel pegs included. Fully wind and rain tested to EN5912. Pitches in 5 minutes. 7.9kg in a 55 × 22 × 24cm bag. Kador height 180–210cm (Low).
Fits: Campervans and SUVs with a rear kador height of 180–210cm, or any van using the over-vehicle strap or roof bar attachment method
Best for: Campervan owners who want a proper enclosed rear awning with a groundsheet and fly screen — the mid-range sweet spot between the Easy Camp canopies and the full drive-away awnings.
Kampa Tailnest SUV Awning — £245.00
A different approach to rear camping — the Tailnest is designed for SUVs and estate cars as well as campervans, with a 290 × 270cm footprint and 210cm height. Fibreglass frame, 75D polyester outer, connection height 160–190cm and connection width 210cm. Pitches in 13 minutes. 13.13kg in a 67 × 23 × 21cm bag.
The wider connection height range (160–190cm) makes it suitable for lower-roofed SUVs and estate cars that the Vango tailgate awnings won't fit. At £245 it sits just above the Arden in price but serves a different vehicle type.
Fits: SUVs, estate cars, and campervans with a rear connection height of 160–190cm and connection width up to 210cm
Best for: SUV and estate car campers who want a proper rear awning — the widest vehicle compatibility of any awning in this guide.
Full Drive-Away Tailgate Awnings — Maximum Space
Vango Tailgate Hub II Low Drive Away Awning — £409.00
A full poled drive-away awning that attaches to the rear of your van. 250 × 250cm footprint, 215cm height, 8-minute pitch time. Sentinel Active 75D fabric, 3000mm rated, EN5912 tested. Linked-in groundsheet, mesh front door with fly screen, diamond clear windows, toggled privacy curtains, two tunnel doors, SkyTrack II, lantern hanging points, roll-away connecting tunnel, tunnel adjustment strap, and a drive-away kit for freestanding use. Vango PowerFlex fibreglass poles. 11.4kg, packs to 70 × 28 × 30cm. Kador height 180–210cm (Low).
Fits: VW Transporter H1, Ford Transit Custom low roof, Mercedes Vito low roof, and other campervans with a rear connection height of 180–210cm
Best for: Campervan owners who want a full drive-away awning at the rear — maximum enclosed space, drive-away capability, and a proper groundsheet. The poled option for those who prefer traditional pitching.
Vango Tailgate AirHub II Drive Away Awning — £574.99
The premium option — same rear-attachment drive-away concept as the Hub II but with an inflatable AirBeam structure instead of poles. All-in-one inflation via a single valve, 8-minute pitch time, 250 × 250cm footprint, 215cm height. Sentinel Active 150D fabric (heavier duty than the Hub II's 75D), 4000mm hydrostatic head, ColourLok Eco technology. Linked-in groundsheet, mesh front door with fly screen, diamond clear windows, toggled privacy curtains, two tunnel doors, pre-angled beams, roll-away connecting tunnel, tunnel adjustment strap, lantern hanging points, pump included. 12.7kg rail weight, packs to 75 × 36 × 36cm. Kador height 180–210cm (Low). Rated 4.7/5 by customers.
Fits: Campervans and SUVs with a rear connection height of 180–210cm and connection width 120–190cm
Best for: Campervan owners who want the fastest, most convenient full drive-away awning — no poles to assemble, heavier-duty 150D fabric, and a 4000mm waterproof rating. The one to choose if convenience and build quality are the priority.
Full Comparison
| Crowford | Krossbu | Arden | Tailnest | Hub II | AirHub II | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £119 | £119 | £229 | £245 | £409 | £574.99 |
| Brand | Easy Camp | Easy Camp | Vango | Kampa | Vango | Vango |
| Structure | Poled canopy | Poled canopy | Poled awning | Fibreglass frame | Poled drive-away | Inflatable drive-away |
| Groundsheet | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | Not specified | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drive-away kit | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Waterproof | 3000mm | 3000mm | 3000mm | Not specified | 3000mm | 4000mm |
| Taped seams | Not specified | ✓ | ✓ | Not specified | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pitch time | Not specified | Not specified | 5 mins | 13 mins | 8 mins | 8 mins |
| Weight | 3.9kg | 3.4kg | 7.9kg | 13.13kg | 11.4kg | 12.7kg |
| Connection height | Not specified | 185–200cm | 180–210cm | 160–190cm | 180–210cm | 180–210cm |
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a tailgate canopy and a tailgate awning?
A tailgate canopy (Easy Camp Crowford and Krossbu) is a simple shelter that clips to the rear of your van — lightweight, quick to pitch, and compact to store, but without a groundsheet or full enclosure. A tailgate awning (Vango Arden) adds a groundsheet, fly screen, and proper enclosed living space. A tailgate drive-away awning (Vango Hub II and AirHub II) goes further still — a full-size awning you can drive away from and leave pitched on site.
Which tailgate awning fits a VW T6.1?
The Easy Camp Krossbu, Vango Arden, Vango Hub II, and Vango AirHub II all fit the VW T6.1. The Easy Camp Crowford is listed for T5/T6 only. Call us on 01637 877619 if you're unsure which fits your specific van configuration.
Which tailgate awning is best for Cornwall beach camping?
For a quick beach stop near Newquay or on the North Cornwall coast, the Easy Camp Krossbu is the most practical — 3.4kg, pitches in minutes, and packs small enough to keep in the van permanently. For a longer stay on a Cornwall campsite, the Vango Arden or Tailgate Hub II give you a proper enclosed space with a groundsheet — essential if you're pitching on grass or gravel.
Can I use a tailgate awning on a Cornwall campsite without EHU?
Yes — all awnings in this guide are self-supporting and don't require mains power. The Vango AirHub II includes a pump for inflation. For lighting inside your awning, see our camping lights guide — the Vango LightBeam and Flexi strips are SkyTrack II compatible and work directly with the Vango Arden and Hub II awnings.
Can I use a tailgate awning without a kador awning rail?
Yes — the Easy Camp Crowford and Krossbu attach via hooks and guylines directly to the tailgate. The Vango Arden offers multiple attachment methods including 8m over-vehicle straps and roof bar tabs, making it suitable for vans without a kador rail. The Vango Hub II and AirHub II attach via the rear kador rail.
Which tailgate awning fits an SUV or estate car?
The Kampa Tailnest has the widest vehicle compatibility with a connection height range of 160–190cm, making it suitable for SUVs and estate cars that the taller Vango awnings won't fit.
Is the Vango AirHub II worth the extra over the Hub II?
If you use your awning regularly, yes. The AirHub II pitches in the same 8 minutes but without assembling poles — just inflate via a single valve. The 150D fabric (vs 75D on the Hub II) and 4000mm waterproof rating (vs 3000mm) make it more durable and better suited to Cornwall's Atlantic weather. The £165 premium is worth it for frequent users.
Where can I buy rear tailgate awnings in Cornwall?
The full range is available online and in store at Newquay Camping Shop — Cornwall's dedicated camping specialists at 4 Bamber House, Victoria, PL26 8LQ, serving campervan and SUV owners across Cornwall, Devon, and the South West. Call us on 01637 877619 for advice on which awning suits your vehicle.
