Peter Bailey replied:

Bart & Marian, I have no info on the automatic pull out awning, but may I suggest the Campout Awning. It is made by Shailer Distributors in Logan City, Queensland. They make 2 sizes, the standard size is 2.3m long and stands out 3m, the king size is 4.7m long and stands out 2.3m and are fixed to the roof rack bars. For more info I suggest you email them on campout@powerup.com.au or phone them on 07 3219 9246, ask for Tricia and say I recommended them, they will send you all the info you need. They are a lot cheaper than an automatic awning and a lot more rugged, nothing to go wrong or fall apart. Regards Peter.

George replied:

Something to consider rather than a tent attached to the vehcile is a free standing collapsable market style tent. They are available at K-MART and fold up or down in under 1 minute. The beauty is if you need to move the car, the cover can stay behind, rather than pack up everytime you need to move the car. If you visit our website www.4wdtraining.com.au and look under resources in the next few weeks you will see a photo of our much used and appreciated canopy.

Cheers George

ExplorOz Team replied:

Prior to our 2yr trip in our Troopy we also considered this style of awning but ahhh the price! And it wouldve interfered with the pop-top. We ended up making do with a sheet of tarp and used ocky traps through the eyelets of the end closest to the vehicle through the rear sliding windows and just erected 2 tent poles for the far ends. But if you have the budget to get the awning go for it - I would have liked one. The only problem is that you are committed to side awning and not always is a campsite/sun direction configured ideally. Youll end up taking a spare tarp anyway Im sure. Take only things that have at least 2 uses!