REVIEW: True Freestanding 270 Awning | Big Country 4X4 Ostrich Jr.

Will reviews Freestanding 270 Degree Awning; the Ostrich Jr. by Big Country 4X4. Will has used this awning in all 4 seasons tested whether or not it's a freestanding awning that holds up to wind and rain, and includes Kevin from @rhinooffroad to share his thoughts on the awning as well.
LINK TO AWNING: revere-overlan...
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[@brianfitzpatrick4437]

Kevin, thank you for your service to our country!! Also thank you both for the very honest review overall and showing the struggles you had adapting it to your racks, that's something most people probably wouldn't think about when buying.

[@Venture2Roam]

Great comment. Kevin's channel is awesome, hope you check it out.

[@RhinoOffroad]

Appreciate it 🤘

[@1111Overland]

I definitely have “awning envy” every time I see you deploy it in one of your videos. I’ve even seriously considered switching the type of rooftop tent. I use so that it could accommodate an awning like this. Great review Will, clearly well thought out and a lot of work went into making it! (Now I just have to find out if I need to modify my frontrunner rack with a custom bracket like yours…)

[@Venture2Roam]

Thanks Jeremy - the install was hard..hard because there's no "ready boxed" way to do it. If I had to do it again, I might lean more towards Kevin's approach. Now that I have it on...it's really great. Theo and I had long talks about racks..I'm waiting for Rugged Bound/BC4X4 to release a Jeep Rack...but not sure they will.

[@flyfisher530]

Nice video Will and Kevin!!! I love my 270 awning and it makes staying out in all kinds of weather a lot more comfortable! Great collab vid!

[@Venture2Roam]

Awning collab. Let's do it

[@OutOfOfficeCamping]

Great product review with the collaboration and pros + cons. Nice to see another quilty 270 awning offering in the US market! Also love that compared to so many others you don't have to set out poles (for the most part). Plus the weight at 37 lbs is awesome! Better then 60-80 lbs We had consider many options without pricing being a concern. Weight was the main focus in mind. We went with the FPG Force Protector Gear Awning - Sweet Spot 2.0 kit. Coming in at 14 lbs and the versatile is endless. No need to commit to dedicated placement on the rig or to any rig. We can move from vehicle to vehicle, side to side to back to a tree in the woods...... When you have a beautiful spot with a tree in the way we can shorten the awning foot print. We can add panels connecr to friends with panels. Heck we don't even need any attachments points. We can just put a strap inside our rear doors if needed. Not to mention nothing hangs on the truck for our east coast trails and trees. Or if we did need an attachment spot we could simply use a Sea Sucker suction cups. Might take a hair longer then the 270 set up (not much) and has poles. We are ok with all of that. 🙂 For our Purpose Built Ford Ranger - Adventure Rig with GFC V2 (Go Fast Camper) this is the perfect match up for our needs. Thank you again for making amazing honest content! Which we know you put a great deal of time to create. We appreciate it! Mark (& Teresa) Maryland

[@Venture2Roam]

Really great comment, thank you! I'll have to check that awning out!

[@OutOfOfficeCamping]

@@Venture2Roam ❤️

[@TACTICALNOMAD]

@Venture2Roam, really good review, but here is my problem with most of the products in the Overlanding space: 1. FAR too expensive. 2. Adding all of the gear that most overlanders mount on and in their vehicle makes it a target for theft (I personally saw it happen, a few years back, to several rigs in my town.) 3. I can buy MANY sil/ny tarps for the price of one awning. I prefer to keep my truck more stock looking and far less conspicuous. I have and use 1 - 10'x10' & 1 - 10' x 15' sil/ny tarps, which both tarps pack into a travel-sized pillow bag, so they're very compact and lightweight, that I can easily clip to the roof rack of the cap for an awning and I can orient them in any way I choose, as opposed to having an awning solidly mounted, which limits where it can be used. I can also use my tarps free-standing, away from the vehicle, if I choose. And I don't mind having support legs for my tarps, which I use collapsible, aluminum paint poles as support legs. They're economical and easily adjustable for different types and grades of terrain.

[@Venture2Roam]

Really good points. I don't have the storage space in the JK for tarps or other free standing awnings...but that approach is really sound I think.

[@Live2dayWanderland]

It's that "overlander" tax, lol hopefully the market balances out at some point. Great video Will

[@RhinoOffroad]

Dude you crushed it; great working with you on this! One of my favorite pieces of gear I own.

[@Venture2Roam]

Thanks man. Great working with you too!

[@jonnytacooutdoors]

In depth review 💪🏼

[@KUEHLKUEST]

That's a really nice awning!! We ended up going with the OVS for our overland camper. Cheers y'all!! J & C

[@Venture2Roam]

OVS makes some good products, and in my experience has stood by them. Great to see a comment from you two!!!

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

Great review guys! I love these awnings. Thanks for the info!

[@Venture2Roam]

Awning collab...let's go!

[@offroadmark]

I was about to purchase the Roam awning but hearing this awning is good for strong winds has me considering it now. Thanks for the video, will be researching the installation portion to see if it works with what I got (Adventure Rack Systems).

[@Venture2Roam]

So glad it was helpful! Good luck on the instal!!

[@DocWrangler]

Good stuff! I love having an awning, nice review 👍🏼👍🏼

[@Venture2Roam]

hmmmmm awning collab? Comparing our different brands????

[@ThePinoyAggie]

So rooftop tent + this awning on a rhino rack backbone with pioneer platform. The load limit on the rhino rack is very limited.

[@4varnells]

Hey Will & Kate we are located in Boise and just found your channel. I have been looking for an Awning and really like the wing style. This looks fantastic for our needs. Our question is how do you think this would work with a SunRider top? We also picked up a white 392 this summer. Just getting to know it.

[@Venture2Roam]

CONGRATS on the 392!!!!! Hope you are loving it as much as I'm loving mine. The awning itself wouldn't interfere with the sunrider, but the roofrack or tent you mount it on might. If you just want an awning and no tent, you might look at mounting it to crossbars, which should play nicer with a sunrider.

[@TheAngryCamper]

I want a batwing, but I want the poles/legs because I want the walls ;)

[@Venture2Roam]

They come with poles I think. I know there’s a wall kit you can get too.

[@henrikm4657]

Looks like a really nice awning. I've had to custom make brackets and attachments for most of my overlanding gear, so I feel your pain. I used to have a Rhino Rack Pioneer platform on my 4Runner, and I ended up taking it off and replacing it with a Prinsu rack. Zero regrets. The Rhino rack is very strong and sturdy, but has some mind boggling design flaws that drove me nuts. First of all, all accessories are RIDICULOUSLY expensive. I ended up making my own channel nuts because the ones they sell are so pricey. Secondly, the boards run front to back instead of crossbar style. Completely useless. Thirdly, the distance between the slots on the boards are all the same. EXCEPT from the outermost board to the one next to it. It absolutely blows my mind that someone could design it that way! It means that you can't just move stuff over all the way to the end without readjustment. For example, if you have a holder for your MaxTrax, you simply can't mount it to the edge board because it's fixed size. MEGA FACE PALM! The fact that the rear and front frame has no slot for mounting anything is also something that completely puzzles me. All I can say is that I'm super happy that I replaced the Rhino rack.

[@Venture2Roam]

These are very very good points...ones that I've experienced myself, and have wondered about. Thanks for posting.

[@lukeagex]

People had issues with overloading their Rhino Rack recently too, causing it to break, due to Rhino Rack not making it clear that the "offroad" load rating of the rack is much less than the advertised load rating. See Ronny Dahl's video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGSVqZdvr5mGkJY

[@yungpancho84]

Sick vid! Nice to see someone from the same state as me on youtube. I'm from Idaho too. I live around the Burley, Twin Falls area. Is there any trail or hike around me you recommend?

[@Venture2Roam]

Thank you! I don't know about Hikes...but there's a ton of great 4WD trails between Twin and Jarbidge NV. I loved exploring the Bruneau river area.

[@regkershaw]

Great video I was looking at the ostrich wing 270 awning in Australia and had concerns about the strength of it with the hinged end only supported with M6 bolts that connect to the channel. These bolts are the ones holding the slide plate. But I am interested if possible with the brackets for the Rhino-Rack platform corner bracket from RLD. Could you please provide more information on this bracket as I can't find anything on their website. If you could also give an update on the awning or provide a new video with the ostrich wing 270 awning not the junior.

[@Venture2Roam]

Thank you. You should message Rhino Off-road about the brackets since he used them. This video is only a few weeks old, so I don’t really have an update. I don’t have the full-size, but you might check out Overland Pioneers as I know they have one and may have made a video about it.

[@IcyReaper]

How has it held up in winds. The west has some high winds. Especially in Utah's San Rafael Swell.

[@Venture2Roam]

It's held up great in the wind. I haven't had it severe wind without putting it away..but it's held up with no guy lines or even putting the leg down in medium wind.

[@tomassanesson902]

Awesome cool video

[@Venture2Roam]

Thank you!

[@Guru_Swami]

Have a buddy that’s good with AutoCAD and has a plasma cutter… aaannnnddd I’m out! LOL as a native South African I’d love to support a company from back home. Think this would mount on an OEM Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro rack?

[@Venture2Roam]

If will mount to any rack that allows for corner mounting. Kevin and I both have Rhino Racks, that don’t have that option, which is why it was a PITA. Honestly though, I like it better than my Roofnest Litewing…it’s lighter than the litewing too.

[@pala4833]

Do you find the sleeve fairly weatherproof? The thing I don't like about my Rhino Rack Bat Wing is that the sleeve isn't very water tight at all. So no matter how much you dry it off, one good Puget Sound rain and it's soaked inside. Cheers.

[@Venture2Roam]

I haven't had a problem with that. The ripstop canvas bag has been very waterproof for me...but we don't get Puget Sound rain out here in Idaho.

[@iammikemunn]

You didn't leave a link.

[@Venture2Roam]

Whoops I always forget something lol. I just updated the vid description with that. Here it is: www.ruggedbound.com/collections/frontpage/products/ostrich-wing-jr-awning

[@patrickdicaire4371]

Nice colab Will. Tried to subscribe to Kevin's channel but the subscribe button is not available for some reason. Might want to let him know.

[@Venture2Roam]

Uhhhh Weird. I'll let him know. He makes great content, so if you CAN subscribe I know you'll like his vids.

[@westyso.cal.8842]

Hi Will, I always have my eyes out for interesting Jeep products and while watching your narration, I noticed some nifty gear bags in the cargo area of your Jeep that look strapped to the roll bar maybe?

[@Venture2Roam]

XCargo bags. They are really great. I loved them on my JKU...haven't put them on the 392 yet because I'm still figuring out if I need them or not. But it's a good product.

[@westyso.cal.8842]

@@Venture2Roam Thank you. Love the channel. 📺

[@IcyReaper]

An off topic question, but need your help its part of my planning for Owyhee trip in summer. I have heard you say a couple times when Armadillo bags come up that they have good and bad points. But you never explained that? I'm trying to figure a way to carry gas on my 4Runner. I have rotopax but also a factory roof rack. Was thinking about using LFD cross bars and using my Thule cargo bin on top to carry gear or some type of gas can carrier but am a little leary of gas on top and venting. Then thought about a armadillo bag stored in the thule. Revere overland on your xmas gift vid recommended them and said venting wasnt an issue with them like Rotopax. Whats you opinion and thoughts.

[@Venture2Roam]

I haven't tried the armadillo bags, but they are 5 gallons...so 40lbs...you'd want them secured/strapped down inside your cargo box. To me the biggest disadvantage is mounting. Rotopax cost more and carry less...but have really solid mounting options to keep them tight to your vehicle. Armadillo bags cost less, carry more, and can be stored in a lot of different ways that don't require a specific mounting point..but can't be packed in the same way soft sided vs hard shell. Hope that helps. Both are good options I think.

[@IcyReaper]

@@Venture2Roam Thanks so much. Trying to figure out with family in Mt Home if we will try and do both Black lake and Owyhee and have a longer stay or break it up in 2 separate trips out to Idaho.

[@bullseye4wink]

Can you still remove your freedom panels with this awning?

[@Venture2Roam]

Yes 100%

[@bullseye4wink]

Thank you!

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

Looks like a great awning and you hit a great point that the storage bag is sized to be easy to stow, so often overlooked. I am hoping to get a freestanding rack when my new truck shows up and am glad I have metal workers in my family so I can mount it! Loved the two perspectives creating another great video.

[@Venture2Roam]

Metal workers are Very handy to have around!!

[@miketroutsdad2102]

Doubt you can fix it, but you spelled "country" wrong in "Big Country"

[@Venture2Roam]

Dang it...that's what I get for rushing...there's always something like that in my vids lol.

[@miketroutsdad2102]

@@Venture2Roam Heck I dont even know how to begin to edit a video lol. So you are waaaaay ahead of me. Another great video by the way.

[@Dan007UT]

Soooo you need to have a friend with a plasma cutter to be able to install this correctly?

[@Dan007UT]

Nevermind. Commented too soon. Lol

[@Venture2Roam]

LOL.. I mean...having a friend with a plasma cutter is like...when you have a hammer...everything becomes a nail...it's really cool.

[@at20rule]

I think his idea of an awning not being an essential piece of gear tells the rest of us he doesn't live in the desert lol.

[@Venture2Roam]

I live in the high desert. But while I really like having one, I can usually create shade by deploying my RTT, and since it's 51 inches off my roof there's usually enough shade to cool me off. Not nearly as nice as having an awning, but it's still not something I'd say is essential. I'd list medical gear, recovery gear, a place to sleep, and a way to make food as essential.

[@skiddysm]

Personally i would never use this.... if you can't use a mytop automatic converitable top then its bad

[@Venture2Roam]

To each their own! Are there any awnings you can use with those? Can you put roof bars or a rack on? Not sure how you can have one and mount anything to the roof.

[@ThePinoyAggie]

So rooftop tent + this awning on a rhino rack backbone with pioneer platform. The load limit on the rhino rack is very limited.

[@Venture2Roam]

Great point. I think it's just enough to handle these two items...but if you go with a heavier tent, you have to be careful. This awning only weight like 34 lbs I think?