There is a single fiber glass pole included with the awning which is used to create a rain/sun canopy at the front of the awning. This means you get some protection when entering or exiting the inner sanctum. Better quality components that make up the fibre glass rod structures and stitching of the rod channels is generally more robust to prevent tearing. The Galli has four airbeams to pump up, and this is a fairly simple process, which gets the blood pumping. It’s around two minute’s work per airbeam and so you can have a self supported structure up in around 8 minutes, and then it just needs connecting to your campervan and pegging out. The Galli comes with multiple ways of attaching to your campervan including straps, roofbar tabs and a kador strip – we used the latter on our Marco Polo. The age old controversy as to whether a caravan, campervan or motorhome is the ‘best option on wheels’ for camping trips rages on. To be honest, we’re still none the wiser as to which would win in a head to head scrap – they all have particular strengths and weaknesses. However, campervans and motorhomes have an ace up their sleeve – they can easily be expanded in size using a drive away awning.

Our personal preference for UK camping is to use a campervan over a tent or caravan, but it’s clear that it is a very personal choice. For us, our Mercedes Marco Polo camper works really well due to it: The awning piping is suitable for a 4mm or 6mm drive away kit to create a strong water tight seal between the Transporter and awning. Awning Height – most models of drive away awning come in multiple heights, so be sure to choose the right height for your van, otherwise the tunnel section may not attach correctly to it. The smaller campervans such as the VW California/Transporter or Mercedes Marco Polo will use a “low” awning (perfect for vans in the 180 – 210cm range). Large motorhomes will require a “Tall” size which typically ranges in the 245 – 295cm range. Mid-height vans will use a “Standard” or “Midline” height in the 205 – 245cm range. Time to put up can be fast – we put up an inflatable drive away awning in under 8 minutes, and we weren’t really trying. The Telstar 8 is a traditional tunnel tent with a large front porch area that can accommodate up to eight campers and comes with four breathable Nightfall bedrooms designed to keep the early morning sunshine at bay.

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Awning Size – are you after maximum floor space or just a porch extension to your campervan? Equally, do you typically just go away for a weekend or camp for weeks at a time? The answer to these questions will determine what size of awning you should buy. A massive awning will take longer to put up and use up more storage space when travelling. Our camping is typically for a weekend with the occasional week thrown in during school holidays, and so we don’t need the biggest awning on the market. If you’re interested, we currently primarily use the Kampa Cross Air with additional sleeping pod and are very pleased with it. The awning can be used as a changing room and a place to put on muddy boots when it’s raining outside. It’s essentially a porch for your camper.

The Berghaus Drive-Airway 300 Campervan Awning has a fully waterproof flysheet tested to a hydro static head of 6000 mm. The PVC plus air tubes are really strong and an air pump and repair kit are included. In a similar way to the modern world of inflatable airbeam tents, we would highly recommend taking the plunge with an airbeam drive away awning. They are simply much easier to put up, have less separate parts to break or lose and typically have a lifetime guarantee against problems with the air valves. If you have used this product please leave a review, or your comments for other visitors, many thanks!

There is plenty of space inside the Galli Air, with usable internal floorspace dimensions of 320 x 385 cm with a generous head-height allowance of 210cm. On top of this, there’s a great front porch area which is covered and enables you to sit out with your cup of tea, even if it’s raining. The internal floorspace has a sewn in groundsheet, and it’s worth using an additional footprint or segment of tarpaulin to protect it on gravel pitches. Our friends Al and Geb use the Vango Kela Air with their Eriba caravan, and I’ve had many evenings sampling Al’s whisky collection in his Kela whilst looking at the stars overhead. They soften the interior by using the fitted carpet which really helps make the awning a nicer area to spend time in, and it feels lovely underfoot. So what exactly is a drive away awning? Well it is simply a tent-like structure which differs from a tent in just one crucial area: it can be temporarily attached to your campervan or motorhome to create an entrance tunnel into or out of your vehicle. Can be ready to go off on a camping trip at the drop of a hat – gear can be stored inside at all times.