Create the ultimate caravan awning setup with Supex

Awnings are an integral part of the caravanning and outdoor living experience, so to help protect your caravan awning and enhance your setup, we spoke with the experts at Supex.

Once a luxury, now a caravanning staple, awnings can transform your caravanning experience, providing much needed shade and extending your living areas. And in a country as beautiful as this, there are few things better than sitting under your awning with a cool drink in hand, dinner on the barbie and appreciating a good view.

Supex is a family-owned and operated business based in Goulburn, NSW, with a passion for designing high quality gear to enhance outdoor adventures. Founded in 1973 by Ron Kennard, the company is now three generations in and is as adventure-focused as ever. The team walks the talk, and they bring their first-hand experience and public feedback into every design, considering if any item they bring to the market will make the outdoor lifestyle easier and more enjoyable.

And one of the areas that Supex specialises in is awning accessories that are designed to prolong the life of the awning and enhance your overall camping experience.

“We respect that awnings are an investment, so we provide add-on solutions to expand the lifetime of your awning and in the meantime improve the quality and experience of your adventure,” the Supex team said.

“‘The ultimate awning and annexe setup’ — this is what we strive for when we roll into camp. Setting it up so everything is secured, comfortable and well lit. Putting in a little bit of extra effort into setting up your space makes for a much more pleasant camping experience.”

And with more caravanners interested in extended stays off-grid, or heading to remote areas where the weather can get wild, having a well-equipped awning setup can make all the difference, ensuring comfort and protection no matter what the elements throw your way

The ultimate awning setup

To make things easy, we’ve created the following diagram showing how you can create the ideal awning setup around your van, with gear designed to protect and extend the longevity of your awning and to enhance your comfort.

	1. Curved awning roof rafters Designed to support your awning and stop water pooling and flapping, two of the common ways awnings get damaged. Supex has four variations: white or black with an acute or slight curve. The number of rafters you need depends on the length of your awning.
	2. Secura Bars (anti-flap kit) The Supex Secura Bar is a great addition to your setup and attaches to the sides of the awning fabric and provides stability and prevents flapping in bad weather. It is available in black or white and in three sizes (small, medium and large).
Vibe Light Rechargeable Camping Light	3. Lighting Lighting can really transform your outdoor space. Supex’s newly released exterior Dual Colour Awning Lights are available in black or white and 225mm or 550mm and have cool white and amber white to keep the bugs away. These lights add ambiance and makes evenings and winter camping much more enjoyable – and being installed on your awning means you won’t be tripping over them! Vibe Light: If you love hosting parties or just want a fun light option, then the Vibe Light is a must. This small light can transform your outdoor area, and kids love them. The Versa Light: These portable/magnetic lights are ideal for lighting up under your chassis or in your gear tunnel boot. Rechargeable Camping Light: This is a four-winged multipurpose bit of gear that you can position wherever suits you — including hanging from your curved awning rafters to add a cool atmosphere to your home away from home.
	4. Privacy screen Long wall: Available in grey or black and also available in a bonus drop, which has a longer drop for more privacy for offroad vans. End wall: Available in the same options as above. Porch extension kit: This is the Supex team’s favourite because it creates a really nice extension to your outdoor area and adds privacy without feeling cramped in, and the Velcro and Kedar splines along the top make it easy to attach to your awning arms.
	5. Stainless steel clothesline This space-saving clothesline is designed to hang between the supporting arms of your awning. There is a range of sizes available to fit 8ft to 25ft awnings.
	6. Awning tie down This is an essential bit of gear when it comes to awning protection. The kit includes two guy ropes, two awning rope clips and two tent pegs. The kit is designed to tie and hold your awning stable, protecting it against movement in windy conditions. A simple tool for a lot of safety.
	7. Best furniture for under the awning Supex’s iconic soft and comfortable Reclining Hard Armchair is a must — there’s a new and updated version is coming in May 2025. Features: Reclining, with a high back so you’ve got a head rest — a necessity when relaxing at camp Hard arms for upright comfort Completely collapsible Fits into carry bag with shoulder strap Expandable cup holder and phone holder pocket — always have a safe and easily accessed spot to put your things Weight rating: 120kg Product weight: 6.5kg Pair the chair with Supex’s classic Hoop Leg camping stool, which can serve as a footrest. Supex’s Lightweight Table rounds out the outdoor living area and makes for the perfect relaxation station. It’s easy to store and carry and offers plenty of table space for eating or working on the road.
	8. Caravan step Supex supplies a range of single, double, foldable (for fixed installation), adjustable, plastic and metal caravan steps. Here are some favourites: Single: At 22cm high, this step is ideal if the rise between the ground and the van isn’t high. Available in silver and black. Double: Great for higher vans, this double step is 38cm high and is available in black or silver. (Both the single and double steps are available in metal and some in aluminium) Plastic: A lightweight, portable option. Adjustable: This is a single step but has adjustable height legs (four different stages).
	9. Matting PVC foam carpet: Highly popular because it’s soft underfoot and premium quality. Available in green, blue or grey. Water, dirt and sand draining. Mesh ground matting: The mesh style allows grass to grow underneath and sand and dirt to filter through. It is also UV stabilised and can double as a shade cloth and has reinforced eyelets so you can screw it down (Supex also sells screw-in mat pegs). Both mats include carry bags.

Further information on the products and handy installation guides can be found on the Supex website.

The Supex range — which also includes RV accessories and products such as bedding (such as self-inflating mattresses, stretchers), cast-iron cookware, trailer hardware, gazebos — is available direct to customers on the website or through trusted retailers across Australia and New Zealand.

Supex sells a wide range of camping accessories and gear

Taking care of your gear

All Supex products are designed to withstand Australia’s harsh conditions and last a lifetime of adventures, but care and maintenance are still essential.

If possible, keep your gear dry. But if you can’t, then make sure you wipe them down before putting them away.

If you’re leaving camp, or packing up after a season of travel, then always store your gear in a lockable container.

Storing your gear in a bag is also a great way to keep things neat and protected. Bags are also very handy for keeping your curved awning roof rafters and Secura Bars organised — Supex sells a storage bag designed specifically for this purpose and can fit one Secura Bar Kit and two curved roof rafters.

Supex sells a storage bag specifically for the Secura Bars

Supex’s latest releases

Supex is always looking for ways to improve the caravanning and outdoor living experience with new and practical gear. Some of its newest additions to the range — only being released this month — include the Reclining Hard Armchair (featured in the table to the right) and the Steel Directors Chair, which are both designed for comfort and stability. The Directors Chair is a new design for Supex, and is comfy, lightweight, easy to store and features a cup and phone holder on the side table.

Supex has also expanded its caravan lighting range with modern, hard-wired interior and exterior options, which are quickly becoming a fan-favourite in the Supex range. These lights are modern and stylish and can transform your indoor and outdoor setup and feature dimmable switches, flexible arms and multiple light modes.

For those hot summer nights, Supex has introduced interior 12V/24V caravan fans. Available in black or white, these fans come with a mounting kit for easy installation and can be operated manually or with a remote control. With three speed settings — low, medium and high — they provide quiet, energy-efficient airflow to keep your space comfortable.

Gear that goes the distance

As a family-run business, Supex prides itself on being able to genuinely connect with its customers and offer help when it is needed. Whether you’re looking for the nearest stockist, need advice on the best gear for your setup or want to discuss whether or not a product can be customised to your needs, the team is always happy to help.

Every Supex product comes with a standard warranty, but for extra peace of mind, select items — such as tarps and privacy screens — come with an extended four-year warranty. It’s all part of Supex’s commitment to quality and making sure customers get the most out of their gear.

Supex is an Aussie brand dedicated to providing high-quality gear that will withstand harsh Aussie conditions

Whether you’re setting up for a weekend escape or a long-haul caravanning adventure, having the right equipment for your awning setup can make all the difference. The Supex team is made up of outdoor adventurers who know the lifestyle and are dedicated to designing gear with real-world usability, ease and comfort in mind. And with more than 50 years of experience in the gear game, they know what works and how to ensure that their gear can handle the demands of Aussie adventures. Find out more about Supex here.

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