How Do Caravan Privacy Screens Work?
Caravan privacy screens act as lightweight walls for your rollout or box awning, giving you an instant semi-enclosed annex. They typically slide into the awning’s sail track (on the awning barrel or lead rail) and drop down to the ground. Once slid into place, you secure the bottom corners with guy ropes or shock cords and pegs, similar to tent guy lines. Many screens have stainless-steel D-rings or eyelets along the edges for easy pegging and tensioning.
Privacy screens provide shade and comfort without the closed-in feeling of solid annex walls. The mesh design blocks up to ~90-95% of sunlight and UV rays while allowing airflow, so your outdoor area stays cooler and well-ventilated. They also cut down wind gusts and even deflect light rain, making your awning space more usable in various weather. From the inside, you can often see out, but neighbours see only a shaded screen, perfect for privacy at busy campsites. In crowded caravan parks, a privacy screen helps create your own secluded oasis to relax without feeling watched.
Most setups include side screens (the long wall that hangs down the side length of your awning) and end drops (smaller walls for the front or rear end of the awning). Using a side screen plus an end screen can essentially turn your awning into a private room. For example, you might install a 15-foot side privacy screen along the awning’s length and a matching end screen at one or both ends for a cozy, shaded nook. The beauty is you get an expanded living area outdoors, often doubling your usable space without permanent structures. And when it’s time to hit the road, you simply unpeg and slide the screens out (or unstrap them), fold them up, and stow them away. No heavy poles or bulky panels like traditional annex walls.
9 Key Features to Look For in a Caravan Privacy Screen
When choosing a caravan awning privacy screen, keep an eye on important features that affect performance and ease of use:
1. Privacy Screen Shade & UV Protection
Check the screen’s shade cloth rating. Quality privacy screens block around 85-95% of sunlight and UV rays. For example, many premium screens offer ~90% shade and UV protection a must under the intense Australian sun. This keeps your outdoor area cooler and protects your skin and furnishings from UV damage.
2. Ventilation & Breathability
Unlike solid walls, privacy screens are made of woven mesh that allows airflow. This means you still get a breeze and don’t feel stifled inside. Look for screens described as “well-ventilated” or breathable. The mesh design cuts wind to a gentle breeze and can even filter light rain, all while preventing that stuffy heat build-up.
3. Size & Fit
Match the screen size to your awning. Screens come in various widths (often labeled by awning length in feet) and a standard drop height (~1.8m for full-height caravans, or angled ~2.1m/1.9m for pop-tops). Common lengths range from about 8-18 feet (2.5m to 5.5m) to suit different awnings. Ensure the drop height suits your caravan type - e.g. taller screens or angled end drops for pop-top vans. Many product titles will list both the screen’s dimensions and the awning size it suits. For instance, a “14' x 1.8m Privacy Screen” might fit a 14-foot awning with 1.8m drop. If in doubt, measure your awning’s roller length and choose a screen slightly shorter (manufacturers often suggest subtracting ~30cm from awning length to get the right screen size).
4. Material Quality
High-quality shade cloth material is vital for longevity. Look for screens made from heavy-duty polyethylene mesh or similar, typically around 180-200 GSM (grams per square meter) fabric weight. A higher GSM indicates a thicker, tougher weave that will resist tearing and fraying. For example, Supex’s privacy screens use a ~195-199 GSM shadecloth built to withstand strong winds without fraying. Quality mesh is also UV-stabilised so it won’t degrade or fade under Australian sun exposure.
5. Privacy Screen Attachment System (Ease of Setup)
The best caravan privacy screens are easy to set up on your awning. Most side screens have a sewn-in rope spline (edge cord) that slides directly into the awning’s track or roller groove. Some screens even include dual spline edges - e.g. 5mm and 7mm bead - to fit different awning brands (roll-out vs. box awnings). This dual-spline feature is great for versatility, ensuring the screen will fit a Dometic/Carefree awning as well as a Fiamma awning. For end drop screens, many come with velcro straps or clips to attach to the awning rafter or anti-flap kits if a track isn’t available. In all cases, setup should require no special tools - just slide the screen in place and tie it down.
6. Secure Tie-Down Points
Make sure the screen has robust tie-down points along its edges. Common designs include stainless steel D-rings or reinforced eyelets at the bottom corners and sometimes halfway along the sides. Stainless steel is preferred so they won’t rust in wet weather. These rings/eyelets let you hook your guy ropes or elastic straps through and peg the screen to the ground with a screw peg. Quality screens will have these attachment points double-stitched into reinforced tabs to withstand tension. Adequate tie-down kits keep the screen taut and prevent flapping in the wind, so look for screens that include ropes and pegs in the kit for convenience.
7. Durability & Finish
Examine the screen’s finishing touches. Hemmed or bound edges are important to prevent fraying. The entire perimeter should be reinforced (often with a thicker band or webbing) so the material won’t unravel even after years of use. Heavy-duty stitching, especially around high-stress areas like D-ring tabs, is a sign of a well-made screen. Some brands boast extra UV treatment or warranties - for example, Supex offers a 4-year warranty on their privacy screens, reflecting confidence in their durability. Overall, a quality screen should handle Aussie outdoor conditions without tearing, stretching or fading quickly.
8. Caravan Compatibility
Ensure the screen suits your awning model. If you have a bag awning or box awning (like Fiamma), you might need a specific screen or adapter. For instance, Camec’s privacy screens come with a dual spline to fit both rollout and box awnings, covering popular brands like Fiamma, Carefree, and Dometic. Some screens are even marketed specifically as “suit Fiamma” with the correct spline size or attachment method. Always check the product info for notes on awning compatibility to avoid surprises.
9. Screen Colour & Visibility
Privacy screens typically come in neutral shades like grey or black. Grey is a popular choice in Australia as it blends with most van awnings and doesn’t absorb heat as much as darker colors. Black screens, on the other hand, often provide a bit more privacy and allow clearer view from the inside out (according to some travellers’ experience). Functionally, both colors usually offer similar UV block (the fabric weave and coating matter more), so color is mostly about personal preference and aesthetics. The key is a UV-stabilized color that won’t fade quickly in the sun.
Types Caravan Privacy Screens at CARAC
CARAC offers a range of caravan awning privacy screens and accessories to suit different needs. You’ll find side screens, end drops, and even complete kits to enclose your awning. Here’s an overview of the types and some popular brands available:
1. Side Privacy Screens (Front Walls)
These are the long screens that attach along the length of your awning, essentially forming a side wall. At CARAC you can shop various lengths in this category. For example, Supex offers black wall privacy screens in multiple sizes (e.g. 14' = 4.0m, 15' = 4.26m, etc.) to match common awning lengths. Supex screens are known for being built tough for Aussie conditions - they feature high shade cloth ratings (~90-95% block) and reinforced materials, plus they include ropes, pegs and even a robust warranty (Supex backs their screens with a 4-year warranty).
Camec is another top brand for side screens; Camec’s privacy screens come in sizes from 2.8 x 1.8m to 4.9 x 1.8m, and importantly, they have a dual spline design to fit both box and roll-out awnings. This means a Camec screen can slide into a traditional rollout awning track or a Fiamma/Carefree/Dometic awning lead bar without issues, making it a versatile choice. Camec screens are typically a subtle grey colour and provide ~90% shade and UV blocking. They come with stainless D-ring points and tie-downs for secure setup.
2. End Drop Screens (Side Walls for Awning Ends)
End privacy screens (also called end drops or end walls) attach to the short side of your awning (the side that faces the front or rear of the caravan). These are great for blocking low sun in the mornings/evenings and providing privacy from the front or back. CARAC carries end drops from brands like Supex and Camec as well. For instance, Supex end wall screens come in configurations for full-height caravans and for pop-tops. A Supex end screen for a pop-top is cut at an angle (around 2.35m high at one end sloping to 1.90m) to match the drop of a pop-top awning. Supex also makes a Fiamma-specific end screen in silver/grey designed to attach to Fiamma box awnings.
These end walls often attach via velcro straps to the awning frame or slide into an anti-flap kit track if you use one. They include ropes and pegs to secure at an angle out from the van. Camec and others offer end screens roughly 2.1m x 1.8m for standard caravan awnings (full height, straight drop). When mixing side and end screens, it’s a good idea to match the brand/colour so they zip or velcro together nicely and have a uniform look. CARAC’s End Drops collection features these products, emphasising how they create a tidy, shaded area without restricting breeze.
3. Complete Awning Kits / Full Privacy Sets
If you’re looking to enclose your awning on all sides, you can either combine side screens and end screens or consider a full privacy room kit. CARAC offers some full awning kits that essentially turn your awning into an annex using privacy mesh walls. For example, CGear (known for their quality annexe mating) produces privacy screens that can be used in sets - you might get a matching front and side wall that work together. While not a solid-walled annex, a full set of mesh screens can keep your outdoor area private and shaded at a fraction of the weight and cost of a traditional annex.
There are also Fiamma suitable products (often called sun blocker or view blocker walls), which can be bought as front/side sets for those awning brands. These are listed in CARAC’s Fiamma or awning accessories collections. The benefit of a kit is that everything is designed to fit together, for instance, a front panel that slides into your awning roller and zips to a side panel that attaches via the anti-flap kit, forming an L-shaped enclosure. If you want more than just a single privacy wall, ask the CARAC team about compatible side + end wall packages or zipper join kits.