The Complete Buyers Guide To Annexes and Privacy Screens

If you’re planning an extended trip around Australia, your awning is probably one of the hardest working pieces of kit on your rig. But shade alone doesn’t cut it on a long trip. You need walls. Whether that means a full annex that turns your awning space into a liveable room, or a set of privacy screens that block wind and prying eyes, the right setup transforms how you use your campsite.

The problem is that “annex” means different things to different people. Walk into a caravan accessories store and you’ll find everything from $200 shade cloth screens to $3,000 full hard floor annexes. This guide explains what’s actually available, who each option suits, and what to buy for your specific setup.

What Is a Caravan Annex?

A caravan annex is an enclosed or partially enclosed room that attaches to your caravan, typically under your awning. It adds usable living space without needing a bigger van. At its most basic, it’s a set of walls and a floor. At the top end, it’s a fully weatherproof room with windows, doors, insulation, and enough space for a bunk bed or a permanent camp kitchen.

Annexes attach either to the awning rail on the side of your caravan, to the awning arms themselves, or to a freestanding awning structure. The attachment method matters because it determines compatibility, and not every annex fits every awning.

Annex vs Privacy Screen: What’s the Difference?

This is where a lot of buyers get confused, and the confusion is understandable because the terms overlap.

A privacy screen is typically a single panel, or a set of panels, designed to block line of sight from adjacent campsites. It attaches to one or two sides of your awning, usually clipped or pegged. Privacy screens are lightweight, quick to set up, and don’t create an enclosed space. Think of them as a fence, not a room.

An annex encloses the space. It has at least three walls and usually a floor. It’s designed to be weatherproof to varying degrees, and it functions as an additional room. Setup takes longer and the system weighs more, but you get a genuinely usable space for sleeping, storage, or living.

Some products blur this line. You’ll find “privacy screen annexes” that attach on two sides and create a semi enclosed outdoor room without a proper floor or roof connection. These sit somewhere in the middle and are worth considering if you want more than a screen but less weight than a full annex.

Types of Annexes

Soft Floor Annexes

The most common type for full time travellers. A soft floor annex typically includes walls made from PVC or canvas, a zippered door, windows with mesh and covers, and a groundsheet floor. They pack down reasonably well, weigh between 15 and 35 kilograms depending on size and material, and offer solid protection from wind, rain, and insects.

Brands like Camec, Dometic, and Coast dominate this category. A quality soft floor annex for a 2.5 metre awning starts around $800 and runs to $1,800 for a well specified setup with a heavier canvas wall and multiple windows. Aussie Traveller makes some of the most popular options in this category and their annexes are designed specifically for Australian conditions.

For a straightforward, no fuss option that suits most awning sizes, the Xtend Annexe is worth a look. It’s designed to suit awnings up to 8 feet, sets up without tools, and uses a simple sleeve attachment rather than a rail system, which makes it compatible with a wider range of vans than most traditional annexes.

Hard Floor Annexes

Hard floor annexes include an aluminium or composite floor section that slots under the van and creates a proper room. They’re significantly heavier (some systems exceed 60kg for the floor panels alone) and take longer to set up, but the result feels like an extension of the van rather than a tent. Popular with families who need extra sleeping space or retirees who plan to stay put for weeks at a time.

Hard floor systems are van specific in many cases, particularly the floor section. Expect to pay $2,000 to $4,500 for a complete hard floor annex setup.

Inflatable Annexes

A newer category that’s grown quickly. Inflatable annexes replace traditional pole frames with air beams that inflate using a pump in a few minutes. They’re faster to set up than a traditional annex and the lack of metal poles means fewer parts to lose or bend. The trade off is that they’re generally more expensive, and a puncture in a remote area can be a genuine problem if you don’t carry repair kits.

Dometic and Oztent both offer inflatable options. Entry level inflatable annexes start around $1,200 and quality models sit between $2,000 and $3,500.

Another option worth considering is the Fiamma Privacy Room, which is designed specifically for Fiamma F45 and F70 awnings. It’s a fully enclosed room with zippered panels and a sewn in floor, and at 300cm wide it suits most standard awning sizes. If you’re already running a Fiamma awning, this is the most compatible and cleanest looking setup you can get.

Canvas vs PVC

Canvas breathes better, feels better in hot weather, and handles condensation more gracefully than PVC. It’s the better choice for extended travel in varied conditions. PVC is cheaper, lighter, and easier to wipe clean, but it traps heat and can feel oppressive in summer. For a big lap, canvas or a canvas PVC blend is the better long term choice.

Types of Privacy Screens

Single Panel Side Screens

The simplest and most affordable option. A single panel typically 1.8 to 2.4 metres wide attaches to one awning arm or clips to the awning rail and pegs to the ground. Good for blocking a neighbour’s direct line of sight without adding bulk to your setup. Prices start around $80 for a basic mesh panel and reach $300 for a heavy duty canvas version.

The Aussie Traveller Black Sunblocker Long Side Wall is a solid choice here. It’s a heavy duty shade cloth panel that blocks sun and provides good privacy, attaches to the awning rail, and pegs out at the base. The black material absorbs rather than reflects heat, which makes it more effective as a privacy barrier without creating glare for your neighbours.

The Supex Caravan Long Wall Privacy Screen is another option at a lower price point, available in grey. It’s a 180gsm shade cloth screen that suits most standard awning setups and is widely stocked at Anaconda stores around the country, which is useful if you need a replacement on the road.

Multi Panel Screen Sets

A set of two or three panels that zip or clip together to cover multiple sides of your awning space. These give you more flexibility than a full annex because you can configure them for the specific campsite layout. They’re also quicker to remove a single panel if you want cross breeze on one side. Expect to pay $250 to $700 for a quality three panel set.

The Tiegear Shield Side Walls work well in this category. They’re designed to work with the Tiegear Shield system and can be used independently as side panels, with solid zip connections and a clean fit to the awning structure. The 600D polyester construction is durable enough for extended travel.

Shade Cloth Screens

Shade cloth screens are the lightest and cheapest option. They’re ideal for free camping where the priority is quick setup and minimal weight, and where privacy is secondary to shade. They don’t provide meaningful wind protection and won’t keep insects out. A shade cloth screen set costs $100 to $250.

Privacy Screen Annexes

As mentioned above, these occupy the middle ground. Two or three solid panels with a connecting roof section create a semi enclosed outdoor space. No hard floor, but enough enclosure to feel like a room on a good day. These suit travellers who want more protection than screens but aren’t ready to commit to the weight and cost of a full annex. Budget $500 to $1,200.

The Tiegear Shield system sits firmly in this category. The front wall panel combined with the side walls creates a proper three sided enclosure under your awning, with heavy duty zip connections and a well thought out attachment system. It’s not a replacement for a full annex if you need insect protection or a floor, but as a wind and privacy solution it’s one of the better designed systems available.

What to Look for When Buying

Awning Compatibility

This is the single most important factor. Check your awning brand and rail size before you look at anything else. Most annexes and screens specify compatibility, and mixing systems is a recipe for a frustrating afternoon at a caravan park. If you have a Dometic awning, a Dometic annex is the lowest risk option. If you have an older or less common awning brand, confirm the rail dimension and check that the annex manufacturer specifically supports it.

Size

Annexes are sized to match your awning length, typically in 2.0m, 2.5m, 3.0m, and 3.5m increments. Measure your awning from arm to arm, not the van wall to the awning edge. Getting this wrong is an expensive mistake.

Weight

Every kilogram you add to your campsite setup is a kilogram in your tow vehicle or van. Full time travellers with tight payload margins should weigh this carefully. A soft floor annex in the 20 to 25kg range is manageable. A hard floor system at 50 to 70kg requires serious payload headroom.

Ease of Setup

A complex annex that takes two people 90 minutes to pitch will stay in the bag if you’re moving every two or three days. Be honest about how often you move camp. If you’re a slow traveller who stays a week at a time, a full annex makes sense. If you’re covering ground and pulling into camp after dark, a quick screen setup is more practical.

Ventilation

In northern Australia from October to April, heat is the enemy. Look for annexes with large mesh windows that can be opened fully, screened vents near the roof, and ideally a mesh door option. An annex without adequate ventilation becomes a greenhouse.

Weather Rating

If you’re travelling through wet seasons in northern Australia or winter in the south, check the waterproofing rating. Look for a hydrostatic head rating of at least 2,000mm for a canvas annex. Some manufacturers rate their products to a specific wind speed, which is worth checking if you’re planning extended stays in exposed coastal or outback sites.

Annex vs Privacy Screen: Quick Comparison

Who Needs What

Retirees on a Long Lap

A soft floor annex in canvas is the best all round choice. You have the payload capacity on most vans in this category, the setup time is acceptable when you’re staying three nights or more, and the living space makes a genuine difference to daily comfort. Aussie Traveller’s range is worth looking at first, as their annexes are built for Australian conditions and have solid support networks around the country.

Families

If you have kids who need sleeping space, a hard floor annex is the most comfortable solution. The firm floor is better for stretchers and portacots, and the solid walls keep kids contained and insects out. If the weight and cost of a hard floor setup isn’t workable, a soft floor annex with a quality foam mat is a reasonable alternative.

Working Couples Moving Fast

A two or three panel privacy screen set is the right call. Setup takes under 15 minutes and you’re not carrying 25 kilograms of annex for the two nights a week you actually use it. A shade cloth screen on one side and a solid panel on the other covers most situations.

Solo Travellers

Depends on pace. If you’re slow travelling and spending extended time at each stop, a lightweight soft floor annex pays for itself in comfort. If you’re moving regularly, a single privacy screen is enough. Solo setup is the limiting factor: a full annex that requires two people to pitch properly is a frustration you don’t need.

Pet Owners

A full soft floor annex with a mesh door is the best option for travelling with dogs. It gives you a secure outdoor space where your dog can be off lead without escaping into someone else’s campsite. Look for mesh that’s fine enough to contain a small dog and durable enough to resist scratching.

Our Picks

Best for Full Time Travellers: Aussie Traveller Canvas Annex

Aussie Traveller has been making annexes specifically for Australian caravan travel for decades. Their canvas annexes are available in multiple sizes, attach to most standard awning rails, and include mesh windows, a zippered door, and a groundsheet. The 320gsm canvas holds up well to extended use and the company has dealers in most major regional towns if you need repairs or replacements on the road. Expect to pay around $1,200 to $1,600 depending on size.

Best Budget Privacy Screen: Camec Privacy Screen

Camec’s privacy screen range is available at most Jayco dealers and Repco stores around the country, which matters when you need a replacement or an extra panel on the road. Their three panel sets retail around $300 to $400 and clip to standard awning arms without tools. The material is a 180gsm shade cloth blend that provides reasonable wind break and privacy. Not the most heavy duty option, but the nationwide availability makes it a practical choice for a big lap.

Best Inflatable Annex: Dometic Residence AIR

If you want the fastest setup time in this category without sacrificing quality, the Dometic Residence AIR is the benchmark. The air beam structure inflates fully in under 10 minutes, the system packs into a single bag, and Dometic’s build quality is consistent. It’s expensive at around $2,800 to $3,200, but if you move camp frequently and want a proper enclosed space at each stop, the setup speed alone justifies the premium.

Best for Families: ARB Awning Room with Floor

The ARB Awning Room attaches to ARB awnings and creates a fully enclosed room with solid zip up walls, mesh windows, a groundsheet, and optional hard floor panels. It’s a well engineered system that’s designed to be set up by one person with practice. The wall panels are heavy duty 600D polyester and the system is rated for moderate rain and wind. Priced around $1,800 to $2,400 for the complete setup.