Best Side Tents and Awnings for Teardrop Trailers — Tested and Reviewed

Side tents, awnings, and screen rooms are one of the best upgrades you can make to a teardrop trailer. They give you a protected outdoor living space for shade, rain, and bugs — without upsizing your camper. After camping in my NuCamp T@B 320 and T@G, I’ve tested and reviewed the options below so you know exactly what works and what doesn’t.

Quick Comparison: Side Tents and Awnings for Teardrop Trailers

Tent	Type	Best For	Price Range
Kelty Backroads Shelter	Awning with sides	Budget-friendly privacy	~$180
Pahaque 5×7 Side Tent	Attached side room	Nucamp/Little Guy owners	$500+
Pahaque T@B 320 Side Tent	Large attached room	Families & dogs	$600+
ARB Retractable Awning	Retractable awning + room	Permanent setup	~$400+
Hasika Car Awning	Simple awning	Galley cover	~$140
Clam Quickset Screen Room	Freestanding screen room	Bug protection	~$330

Best Side Tents and Awnings for Teardrop Trailers — Tested and Reviewed

Teardrop trailers are wonderfully compact and easy to tow, but that small footprint means living space is tight — especially when the weather turns. Side tents, awnings, and screen rooms solve that problem by giving you a comfortable outdoor room right next to your camper.

Here are our top 5 picks:

1. Kelty Backroads Shelter

The Kelty Backroads Shelter is a versatile awning with configurable sides that can attach alongside your teardrop trailer or over the galley. It’s not a fully enclosed room, but it provides excellent privacy and protection from the elements at a very reasonable price.

Quick Demonstration of the Kelty Backroads Shelter with a T@B 320 teardrop camper:

It has a zippered door with a window, and comes with a stuff bag for easy storage. You’ll need roof crossbars or strong suction cups to attach it to your camper. Read our full review here.

2. Pahaque 5×7 and 10×10 Side Tents — Best for Nucamp & Little Guy Owners

The Pahaque Company side tents are purpose-built for teardrop trailers, which makes them stand out from generic camping shelters. They attach directly to the channel around your camper door for a secure, weatherproof fit.

Pahaque 5×7 Side Tent — This is my personal go-to for the Nucamp T@G. It’s compact but gives you enough room to stand up and get dressed, set out a chair and small table, or squeeze in two camp chairs on a rainy day. It fits Nucamp and Little Guy trailers and may work on other teardrops with a door channel. See the Pahaque 5×7 side tent in our review.

If you have a NuCamp TAB 320 Trailer Specially designed to fit all TAB/TAB 320 trailers, including the Dutchman and Boondock/Outback versions, this tent transforms your camping experience, offering a remarkable blend of space, comfort, and protection. With a focus on quality and durability, this side tent is made from high-quality materials that ensure resilience against the elements, making it a must-have accessory for any TAB owner. Shown with optional awning poles. Floor space is 10′ Wide x 7′ Deep.

3. ARB Retractable Awning

If you want an awning you can leave attached to your teardrop trailer at all times, the ARB Retractable Awning is the gold standard. It mounts to your roof crossbars and deploys in seconds.

The real bonus is the optional ARB screen room attachment, which turns the awning into a full enclosed living space — great for buggy evenings or rainy days. Just make sure you match the screen room size to your awning (available in 2000x2500mm and 2500x2500mm).

4. Hasika Car Awning — Best for Galley Cover

The Hasika Awning is a popular, affordable option for teardrop campers who mainly want shade and rain protection over their kitchen galley. It’s straightforward to set up and works well with roof crossbars or suction cups. A solid no-fuss option if you don’t need a full enclosed room.

5. Clam Quickset Screen Room — Best for Bug Protection

The Clam Quickset is unique on this list because it doesn’t attach to your trailer — it’s a freestanding screen room you set up right next to your camper. That makes it more versatile and compatible with any teardrop trailer, regardless of make or model.

It’s primarily a screen room, but you can add wind panels for privacy and weather protection. Pro tip: if you’re buying wind panels separately, make sure your version of the Clam Quickset has a flap at the top to keep rain from getting in. Some versions come with wind panels already included. Read our full Clam Quickset Traveller review here.. You can find our review of the Clam Quickset Traveller here.

This is a larger version of the Clam Shelter and has the wind panels built in:

Which Tent is Right for Your Teardrop Trailer?

• On a budget? Go with the Kelty Backroads Shelter
• Have a Nucamp or Little Guy? The Pahaque side tents are made for you
• Want a permanent setup? The ARB Retractable Awning is worth the investment
• Just need a galley cover? The Car Awning is simple and affordable
• Camping in buggy conditions? The Clam Quickset screen room is your best bet