The Bush Company 270XT Max Awning Review - Fitted with Croc Hinges

An honest review of our Bush Company 270 XT Max awning fitted with croc hinges, is it worth the money???

[@mz_aire]

I love how your video set up facing the ocean. I really want to see how this awning work on windy time. Sturdy indeed. I like your point about not worrying hitting pole on the ground. Thank you. This awning is on my list now.. havent settle any yet. But this help alot..

[@tripinaprado1236]

Thanks, I have made a drop in bracket that Is inserted into the hinge now so there is no need for the rope. The weather is cooling down now and we have managed to get out on a small camping trip over the weekend. Video will be posted in a few days.

[@Adventures_With_The_Missus]

Side note, the new Croc Hinges have a bar that stops them from folding back over when put up.

[@tripinaprado1236]

Yes, great idea. I ended up fabricating a 5mm rod to achieve the same result. Game changer

[@cynthiadennis5541]

So good to see the pack up in the wind. My Eeziawn snapped in all places possible first wind gust so will be buying this one, worth the money!

[@lyndonkain4749]

The pack up definitely wasn't a fail. Invaluable, basically shows us that if it's windy, sructure is good, but don't try packing it up by yourself 😅 Can you please post a pack up video when it's a bit calmer? This unit sounds well made, but a bit concerned the pack up might be a bit harder than some others. Like quick pitch for example. If you could throw a tape on it and give measurements out from the side of the car that would also be really helpful as we are looking for something to put our stretcher beds under and hang a Mozzie net up. ( live in Darwin). Cheers Lyndon

[@lozkirk]

Great vid my friends ❤

[@mvumanyamazan]

Looking at moving to Aus in a year or so and a Prado is the weapon of choice so far - keen to see videos of what mods etc you get done

[@tripinaprado1236]

100% Cant wait to get out more in the cooler months and show everyone around on some of the camping adventures! Hopefully our video skill have sharpened up by then :)

[@rich9903]

I’ve just fitted exactly the same awning to my (2022) Prado and stuck with the standard brackets that came with it but purchased an additional (4th) bracket for added security to my (Front Runner) roofrack. I haven’t had the chance to use the awning in ‘anger’ as yet apart from setting it up in my driveway at home but the thing that concerns me most is that amount of weight and how that adversely affects the vehicle’s centre of gravity - especially over miles of serious corrugations. Apart from that, I’m loving the quality of the awning construction and the amount of shade it creates but time will tell as to how much it adversely impacts the general driveability of the car. What drawer system did you guys fit? Are you otherwise planning on keeping your Prado standard? Will you be towing anything? With a young family including two small kids, I will be towing a 15ft hybrid caravan behind my Prado.

[@tripinaprado1236]

Hey Rich, thanks for your comment! We've done a fair bit of travelling in the last year and a bit with the awning over some serious corrugations, particularly on the Ningaloo coastline area and North of Broome. We've had the croc hinges the whole time and haven't had a single problem, so unfortunately can't comment on the side mounted system as to noticing long term impacts or weight distribution. We installed Drifta draw systems that we also love! Hopefully we will be looking to upgrade the GVM soon and tie it in with a lift. As the months get cooler up here, we'll be getting out and about into a few more adventures and will do some further reviews of what we've installed. The aim is to live the great Australian dream and complete a lap in the next year hopefully with a small van.

[@regkershaw]

I know the max isn't the same size as the ostrich awning but the 270 with bush company vs ostrich the bush company is smaller. And the canasta on the ostrich is 380 where bush company I think is around 315. But I think the bush company channel for the mounting is better than the ostrich. I looking at both of these but I'm still not locked in on 1 . I think one is smaller but a bit stronger the other is better and to me the backing board channel is questionable concerning with both they say they need good brackets. You might have good brackets but the channels hold the awning bears all the load before the brackets. So with that being said what would your advice be?

[@tripinaprado1236]

Hey good queries, so the channel on the bush company I will measure up for you and provide some feedback however from memory it would be about a 125mm channel constructed with 5mm ally plate. You are correct most of the forces would be in the channel/ brackets, however since we have to put a rope down to stop it from folding up (croc hinge) it actually changes the area of force as its not applying force to the hinge in the same manner. (sorry hard to explain when I cant upload a photo) hope that made sense. If you where to mount with standard brackets I'd say the manufactures recommendations the bush company awning is 100% structurally sound for the wind recommendations. unfortunately I have not had a detailed look over a ostrich awning so cant comment on direct comparison. Hope this answers your question?

[@regkershaw]

@@tripinaprado1236 thxs so much for your reply

[@ratstriton]

Just watched your video great thanks.I have the same Croc hinge as you which I have had for awhile and hadn't installed I have just purchased the 270 XT and Im interested in the 5mm rod that you have made did you use the same holes that the safety cable use or did you drill new holes.Thank you

[@tripinaprado1236]

Hey, I had to drill new holes for the rod bracing. When I get some time I'll include a section in the next video or do a short

[@iSeaUnplugged]

Overland well under half the cost And for lost people plenty