Bush Company 270 XT Awning - Info, Install and Review

[easton85]

Did you just order direct or purchase through a vender? I have ordered direct from Kaon but nothing over 36" in length. After exchange rate cost with shipping? Fire To Fork uses a Front Runner roof rack so I know it'll fit mine. Thanks in advance!

Have you purchased it and mounted it on the front runner rack? Which mounting bracket did you have to use? Thanks!

 

[Washingtontaco]

Have you purchased it and mounted it on the front runner rack? Which mounting bracket did you have to use? Thanks!

Nope. I decided not to install a 270 awning at this time. I keep my small 1.2 meter ARB awning off the back with the wind break and installed a Quick Pitch En Esuite on the drivers side. I found last spring in the desert that trying to find a private place to play bear in the woods was a long walk from camp.

 

[dcs111]

Those look like good heavy duty brackets. Once my LC200 arrives, I'm considering doing the Prinsu-style crossbars on the OEM rails, using @tbisaacs modifications. The OEM rails do not go as far forward as your roof rack. Given your limited use so far, does more unsupported awning forward seem reason for concern? I could still use four brackets. They'd just be less spread out. Thanks!

For reference, I'm used to my ARB 8' awning having about 25-30" unsupported on my 4Runner and previously on my Outback. Not the same thing of course...

Curious…. Did you decide to move forward with this approach?

 

[Slow Paddler]

Curious…. Did you decide to move forward with this approach?

Nope. Still mostly stock. I moved my ARB 8' awning to my Hiker trailer, and just added a 6' on the rear. So plenty of shade there, but none so far on the Cruiser.

 

[Idaho Savage]

Hey @TheGrrrrr , I’m in the middle of installing this boss on my Prinsu. Curious why you mounted it at its highest option in the L brackets as opposed to that mid option.

I assembled the L brackets and it would appear the mid option is viable, but I want to hear if you know something I don’t before I continue with the actual mounting. Thanks in advance!

 

[TheGrrrrr]

I actually ended up lowering it on the mount and cutting the tops off.

 

[Idaho Savage]

Ahhh...got it. Thanks.

 

[concretejungle]

View attachment 2685115
Picked up both the awning and the bush alpha tent this last weekend. Spent two nights with both so far and the quality is top notch. I’ve owned a few rtt’s and another brands awning and I have to say the build quality of bush’s products are second to none.

are you having any issues with closing the RTT? I am having a little issue getting all the tent fabric tucked in to close the tent especially the side where the awning is mounted. Love the combo but that's been my only frustration. In hind-sight I might consider the DX over the AX since it's one layer of fabric. I'm not 100% sure that the two layers for extra insulation is really worth it.

 

[Wafflroo]

are you having any issues with closing the RTT? I am having a little issue getting all the tent fabric tucked in to close the tent especially the side where the awning is mounted. Love the combo but that's been my only frustration. In hind-sight I might consider the DX over the AX since it's one layer of fabric. I'm not 100% sure that the two layers for extra insulation is really worth it.

I don’t really have any issues getting the tent fabric back in while closing. It took a few times to get used to working around the awning right there on the side but I’ve got a pretty good routine that works every time now. The best way I can explain it is pull the elastic strap up about half way up the fabric while it’s open, pull down to close and as you do it just take your arm on either side and push the fabric on the side into the tent. I usually have to stand on both rear tires and tuck a couple little parts in before latching it closed. In total the closing process is 1-2 min. I pack the ladder, tent polls, 2 person 30 degree sleeping bag, a wool blanket, and 2 pillows inside when closing (they live inside the tent).

One thing I’ll add if you plan to cold weather, snow camp at all I’d stick with the double walled tent. You can always buy a small diesel electric heater to heat the tent if you want to cold weather camp and do the single. My experience having never used a diesel electric heater is my tent thats double walled is far better at insulating than previous single walled tents I’ve owned.

 

[concretejungle]

I tinkered with my tent over the weekend; I think my issue was the memory foam topper I put in it. I had too much bedding.

I think the stock mattress is too firm, my wife agrees. So I took it out and put a piece of 3 inch memory foam topper in place. I also added a bungee that hooks the pockets in front of the door and a bungee the hooks the two pockets behind the door. This time when I closed it, everything worked out perfectly.

 

[GerLC100]

Thanks for the write up! I was looking around and finally between Ostrich and BC.
Looks like BC is easier to get in US and then got to decide on shape.

 

[rlynch356]

Ahhh...got it. Thanks.

how did the Prinsu install do?
I'm about ready to order my BC 270XT and it will go on a Prinsu rack... Did you use 3 or 4 of the BC HD brackets ?

 

[Idaho Savage]

how did the Prinsu install do?
I'm about ready to order my BC 270XT and it will go on a Prinsu rack... Did you use 3 or 4 of the BC HD brackets ?

Ended up installing it on my trailer instead. Had to grab some stuff up but it works great. That thing is an absolute beast...I just didn't want it on there, day to day.

 

[kcjaz]

I installed the Bush Co 270 XT Max earlier this year and have got some good use of it at Cruise Moab and COTR plus general overlanding to each of those events.

I really like this awning. It deploys in 30 seconds and stowing it back in <2 minutes. I never found myself saying it’s not worth the effort to deploy. The free standing part is awesome. We only used guy ropes in the rain to make sure rain wouldn’t pool on the panels. The thing is huge when deployed and provides a lot of shelter in sun and rain and like others have mentioned, I don’t really like how it looks stowed away and mounted on the roof but having it quickly available while overlanding is fantastic.

 

[alia176]

I'm now using a high tech method of preventing the pooling of water during rain events and also to eliminate flapping during wind events. I simply cut up some pool noodles and wedge them on top of the arm and below the awning. This tightens things up nicely, and no more flapping or pooling of water. Going from memory, I think I have a five inch long, and a three inch noodle to act as "spacers".

I was trying to copy Alucab's shadow awning flip up leg that tightens up the awning material but I didn't want to hurt my brain all that much. I have various pool noodles and foam pieces stashed in the cargo area for rattle mitigation!

 

[concretejungle]

do you carry these noodles around with you?

 

[alia176]

do you carry these noodles around with you?

i carry a stash of various lengths of noodles and some smaller sections of 1" thick foam pieces in the cargo area for those sudden rattling sounds that may pop up on trips. I'll head to the San Juans again tomorrow and it'll rain as usual so i'll take some pics of the noodles in action!

 

[alia176]

Last weekend was the first test of rain water not pooling with the noodles. It rained all night off and on, even hailed at one point. In the middle of the night I was able to open one of the doors of the RTT, and looked on top of the awning with phone light to confirm water not pooling. Looks like about six inch long noodles act as a decent wedge to stop the flapping and rain water repellent. If it's too windy, the noodles just fall off so that's the next mod I need to deal with .

first pic is before the rain, second pic is the following morning after it rained on/off all night.