Thule Omnistor 5102 Awning Manual
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The Owner's Insights on the Thule Omnistor 5102 Awning Manual
This one is made for a VW T5 and nothing else. Thule developed it with Volkswagen, so the end caps and the mounting follow the roofline of your van instead of being bolted on and hoping for the best.
It's 2.6m along your van and rolls out 2.0m. That's shade over your side door and a couple of chairs, which is what most people actually want out of a van awning.
The ultra-rapid gear with the brake system is the part you'll notice. Wind it out with the handle and the brake stops it unrolling on its own, so it stays where you put it.
Why You'll Love the Thule Omnistor 5102 Awning Manual
- Made for the VW T5. Developed with VW and approved for your van.
- 2.6m long, 2.0m out. Shade over the side door and two chairs.
- Ultra-rapid gear with brake. Winds out fast, stays shut when it should.
- Anthracite cassette, Mystic Grey fabric. It looks like it came with the van.
- Manual winder handle. Nothing electrical to fail out bush.
- Compact cassette. Less wind noise and drag on the highway.
- Light for its size. It won't eat your payload.
- Thule build quality. The awning European vans get fitted with.
Why You Should Consider a Thule Manual Awning
Thule have been building awnings for European vans and motorhomes for decades, and the Omnistor 5102 is the model they developed with Volkswagen for the T5. See the rest of the caravan awning range.
Thule Omnistor 5102 Awning Manual Specifications
| Model | Thule Omnistor 5102, manual |
| Fits | Volkswagen T5 |
| Operation | Manual, winder handle |
| Cassette length | 2.6m |
| Projection | 2.0m |
| Gear system | Ultra-rapid gear with brake system |
| Cassette colour | Anthracite |
| Fabric | Mystic Grey |
| Approval | Developed with Volkswagen, approved for the T5 |
A van-specific awning fits differently to a universal one
Most awnings are sold by length and bolted to whatever brackets suit your vehicle. This one was drawn around the T5, so the end caps follow the shape of your van and the cassette sits close to your roofline instead of standing proud of it. That matters in two places you'll notice: how your van looks with the awning shut, and how much noise and drag you get at highway speed. A universal cassette hanging off a bracket does neither of those as well.
Two metres of projection is a van number, not a motorhome one
Two metres out gives you shade over your side door, your table and a couple of camp chairs. That's the honest limit. It is not an outdoor room and it won't cover a full setup with a kitchen and four people. On your T5 that's the right trade, because a bigger awning means more weight up high and more wind load on a van that isn't built to carry it. If you want a bigger undercover area on a bigger vehicle, look at the Omnistor 6300.
What the brake in the gear system actually does
Wind an awning out and the roller wants to keep turning. The brake holds it, so the fabric only moves when you turn the handle. Two things come from that: it won't creep open on you while you're driving or parked, and you can stop it at any point and it stays there. On an awning you're rolling out and back a few times a weekend, that's the difference between it being easy and it being a job.
Manual is the right call on a van this size
There's no motor, no wiring and nothing to leave you stuck a long way from a mechanic. On a 2.6m awning the handle takes a few seconds, so you're not saving much time with a motor anyway. Where electric earns its money is on a 4m or 5m awning where the winding is real work. Here, manual keeps the price down and keeps the failure points at zero.
Look after the fabric and it will last
Two habits do most of the work. Roll yours up dry whenever you can, because fabric put away wet grows mould and the marks don't come out. And drop the outer edge a little when rain is about, so water runs off instead of pooling in the middle. A pool of water on your awning is surprisingly heavy, and it's how fabric and arms get damaged. Not sure which Thule suits your van? Ring the store on 03 7056 6732.
What's Included
- Thule Omnistor 5102 manual awning, 2.6m x 2.0m
- Anthracite cassette with Mystic Grey fabric
- Ultra-rapid gear with brake system
- Winder handle
What's Not Included
- Fitting
- Tension rafters and hold-down straps
- Sun blocker or rain blocker panels
- Thule LED lighting
It's a VW T5 fitment, so check your van before you order and ring the store on 03 7056 6732 if you're unsure. Worth adding: a tension rafter if you camp anywhere windy, and a hold-down strap kit if you leave it out overnight.
Not Sure Which Manual Awning Suits You?
The 5102 suits you if you have a VW T5 and you want an awning that looks like it came with the van, with nothing electrical to fail. It's the wrong pick if you have any other vehicle, where the Thule 4200 comes in five lengths for compact vans and motorhomes, or if you want a bigger undercover area, where the Omnistor 6300 steps up. Call the store on 03 7056 6732, or send an SMS to 0476 330 590.