Terrafirma 2.5m 270 Degree Terradactyl Awning with LED Lighting

A good 4x4 awning should do more than give you a bit of shade at lunchtime. For touring, camping, green laning, work vehicles and weekend trips, it needs to create useful shelter quickly, pack away neatly, and cope with real British weather when conditions change.

The TF1704LED Terrafirma 2.5m 270 Degree Terradactyl Awning with LED Lighting is designed for exactly that. It opens around the side and rear of the vehicle, giving a large covered area without needing a separate freestanding shelter.

For anyone building a practical overland, expedition or camping setup, this is the sort of upgrade that makes the vehicle much easier to live with once you stop driving.

Why choose a 270 degree vehicle awning?

A standard side awning gives shelter down one side of the vehicle. That is useful, but it can feel limiting once you start cooking, loading kit, working from the tailgate, changing boots, sorting dogs, or setting up camp in poor weather.

A 270 degree awning wraps around the side and rear of the vehicle. That means you get usable cover where you normally need it most: beside the doors, around the boot or tailgate, and over the main working area of the vehicle.

Choose a 270 degree awning if you want:

• Fast shade and rain cover at camp
• More protected space around the rear of the vehicle
• A better setup for cooking, loading and unloading
• A practical shelter for touring, events, work or weekends away
• Less faff than putting up a separate gazebo or tent each time

You can also browse the wider Awnings & Tents collection if you are comparing awnings, awning rooms, brackets and related camping accessories.

What is the TF1704LED Terradactyl Awning?

The TF1704LED is a 2.5m 270 degree Terrafirma Terradactyl awning with integrated LED lighting. It mounts to the left side of the vehicle and, once opened, provides shelter around the side and rear.

The 2.5m measurement refers to the closed length of the awning when mounted to the vehicle, as well as the arm length when opened. In simple terms, this is a larger 270 degree awning aimed at vehicles with enough rack or body length to support it properly.

The awning uses sturdy triangulated 2.5m black powder coated aluminium arms. Each arm includes LED strip lighting, an integrated drop-down twist-and-lock leg, and a guy rope to help secure the awning to the ground when required.

The canvas is grey 400D ripstop fabric, with tie-down loops to help water run off rather than puddle on the canopy. When packed away, the awning and poles stow into the built-in heavy-duty PVC coated nylon cover.

Key features at a glance

Why the built-in LED lighting matters

Lighting is one of those things you often think about after the awning has already been fitted. At that point, you are usually trying to clip on lanterns, run separate light strips, or find a decent place to hang a work light.

The advantage of the TF1704LED Terradactyl Awning is that lighting is already built into the awning arms. That makes it a cleaner setup for evening cooking, setting up camp after dark, working around the rear of the vehicle, or simply making the space feel more usable once the sun has dropped.

For touring and camping, this is a genuine quality-of-life upgrade. You are not just buying shelter; you are creating a usable outdoor room around the vehicle.

If you are building out the rest of your lighting setup, the wider 4x4 lighting collection is worth browsing alongside the awning.

Who is the 2.5m Terradactyl Awning best for?

Choose the 2.5m TF1704LED if you have a longer vehicle, a suitable roof rack, or enough side length to make full use of a larger 270 degree awning.

It makes most sense for:

• Land Rover Defender 110 and similar long-wheelbase builds
• Discovery, Range Rover and other larger 4x4 touring vehicles
• Overland and expedition vehicles carrying roof racks
• Camping setups where the rear of the vehicle is used as the main working area
• Event, work or support vehicles needing quick shade and shelter

It may be more awning than you need if you are fitting to a shorter vehicle with limited side length. In that case, the TF1714 Terrafirma 2.0m 5 Section 270 Degree Terradactyl 2/5 LED Awning may be the better fit.

2.5m TF1704LED vs 2.0m TF1714: which should you choose?

Self-supporting, but still secure it properly

The Terradactyl awning is designed to be self-supporting in moderate weather conditions. That is useful because it makes quick stops much easier. Open it, use it, and pack it away without turning every brew stop into a full campsite setup.

That said, common sense still matters. If the wind gets up, use the integrated legs and guy ropes. A 270 degree awning creates a large surface area, so it should always be treated with respect in gusty conditions.

For proper touring, recovery days and remote use, it is also worth checking your wider vehicle kit. The Recovery Gear collection is a sensible place to look if you are building a more complete off-road setup rather than simply adding camping accessories.

Fabric, water run-off and real-world use

The grey 400D ripstop fabric is a practical choice for an awning that is likely to see regular outdoor use. Ripstop fabric is designed to resist small tears spreading, which is important on camping and expedition kit that gets packed, unpacked and exposed to rougher conditions.

Each wing includes a tie-down loop to help water run off. That matters in UK conditions because rain pooling on an awning can add weight, stretch fabric and put unnecessary stress through the frame. Correct setup is still important, but the tie-down points give you more control over how the awning sheds water.

Mounting and fitment considerations

The TF1704LED mounts using an integral T-slot extruded aluminium back plate. As with any larger vehicle awning, the rack, bars or mounting system need to be suitable for the weight and leverage of the awning when open.

Before ordering, check:

• That your vehicle has enough side length for a 2.5m awning
• That your roof rack or bars are suitable for awning mounting
• That the awning will not foul doors, roof tents, ladders or rear accessories
• That you are happy with a left-side mounted awning
• That any brackets needed for your setup are ordered at the same time

If you need fitting hardware, compare the TF8009 Terrafirma Awning Mounting Brackets and the TF1718 Terrafirma Quick Release Awning Mounting Brackets before completing your setup.

Optional awning room: turning shelter into enclosed space

One of the biggest advantages of the Terradactyl system is the option to add the matching room. The TF1704ROOM Terrafirma 2.5m 270 Degree Terradactyl Awning Sides attach to the TF1704 awning with a full-length Velcro strip to create all-round shelter.

The room sections include large roll-up external canvas windows and mosquito nets, with one section doubling as a full-size entrance door. Internal zip-open panels also allow access to the side and rear of the vehicle.

Choose the awning room if you want more privacy, better weather protection, or a more complete camp setup for longer stays.

Recommended setup combinations

Is the TF1704LED worth choosing over the non-LED version?

For many users, yes. The standard TF1704 2.5m Terradactyl Awning is still a strong option if you simply want the shelter and do not need built-in lighting.

However, if you regularly arrive late, cook outside, work from the back of the vehicle, camp through autumn and winter, or use your 4x4 at events, the integrated LED lighting makes the awning much more practical.

The main difference is simple: the TF1704 gives you the 2.5m 270 degree shelter; the TF1704LED gives you that shelter with lighting already built in.

Best for

• Best for overland touring: the 2.5m TF1704LED gives broad shelter around the vehicle and built-in lighting for evening use.
• Best for larger 4x4s: the 2.5m format suits long-wheelbase vehicles and proper expedition builds.
• Best for camp comfort: add the TF1704ROOM sides if you want a more enclosed living area.
• Best for quick stops: use the awning on its own when you want fast shade or rain cover without a full camp setup.
• Best alternative for shorter vehicles: consider the TF1714 2.0m Terradactyl LED awning instead.

Final thoughts

The TF1704LED Terrafirma 2.5m 270 Degree Terradactyl Awning with LED Lighting is a strong choice for anyone who wants proper side and rear shelter from their 4x4. It is especially useful for touring, camping, events and expedition-style builds where the vehicle becomes the centre of the setup.

The built-in LED lighting is the detail that makes this version particularly appealing. It turns the awning from a daytime shelter into a far more usable space after dark.

Before ordering, check your vehicle length, rack setup and mounting requirements. If you are comparing options, start with the Awnings & Tents collection, or use the contact page if you need help choosing the right fitment.

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