alucab 3.1 vs bush company ax27?

[drpete12]

Anyone running either of these two tents? Obviously this would be mounted on a grenadier. Just wondering thoughts or advice on either of these? Preference of one over the other? Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

[TheDocAUS]

This recent Guide may give you ideas on how to compare each brand.

https://www.club4x4.com.au/blog/roof-top-tent-buyers-guide/

 

[Loc Nar]

@drpete12, if you are considering the Alu-Cab Gen 3R, I can give you some insights on why I chose it over the AX27. Just let me know.

 

[Tenac]

@drpete12, if you are considering the Alu-Cab Gen 3R, I can give you some insights on why I chose it over the AX27. Just let me know.

I'd like to hear your thoughts?

 

[drpete12]

@drpete12, if you are considering the Alu-Cab Gen 3R, I can give you some insights on why I chose it over the AX27. Just let me know.

would love to hear and pick your brain. Thanks so much

 

[drpete12]

Forgot to ask if you have any pics of it on the truck..thx

 

[Loc Nar]

Will write up my thoughts tonight on the 3R vs. AX27 and will post pics.

 

[Loc Nar]

After doing lots of research, I narrowed my choice for a roof top tent to the Alu-Cab Gen 3-R and Bush Company AX27 tents. They are both excellent products by well established companies. There are several reasons why I went with Alu-Cab:

Alu-Cab is more innovative

I was interested in as many wife-friendly features as I could get and the 3-R had the following benefits over the AX27: (1) heater/ac vent on both sides, (2) fold down table option (which I added), and (3) adjustable mattress back rest option (which I also added). The 3-R also has a solar panel input on top of the tent (and I knew I would be adding a solar panel). The new design of the frame of the tent is also more aerodynamic and, in my opinion, just looks cooler than the AX27. I am confident the AX27 is overall a stronger tent and that is a benefit of its boxy design.

Alu-Cab also is very much interested in supporting the Grenadier and has developed custom products for it - see here. One of those key products that helped tip my decision towards Alu-Cab was their custom Grenadier load bar feet for the 3-R. This took all the guess work out for me regarding which and how many bars to pair with the tent (I very much wanted to go with load bars over a roof rack to save weight up top). With their system, I only needed two cross bars.

The 3-R is significantly lighter than the AX27

The 3-R is 76kg while the AX27 is 99kg. 23kg is significant when you take into consideration the static and dynamic roof load ratings of the Grenadier. Read all about that in this thread. I also knew I was going to be adding an awning, and the Alu-Cab 270 degree Shadow Awning is 24kg compared to the Bush Company 27.8kg 270 XT MK2 and 33.5kg 270 XT Max MK2 (I freaking *love* this awning by the way!).

Alu-Cab has been very responsive to my inquiries

Jon Van Wagoner (jonvw@ok4wd.com) is the lead guy for Alu-Cab United States Sales and Customer Support, and he is very prompt at returning e-mail inquires, at least in my experience.

I found a quality installer that offers sales and a good online seller

I went with Asheville Vehicle Outfitters. Really nice folks - customer oriented, and they stand behind their work. They want you to be 100% satisfied. I was able to take advantage of a sale they were having and bought the 3-R for $3,899 instead of the list price of $4,399. They also have a location in Jacksonville, FL. It is also easy to order Alu-Cab products through OK4WD.com (which I believe is the official Alu-Cab U.S. dealer). AVO orders the products they install through them.

That about sums it up. Now for some pics:

Obligatory front, sides, and rear pics (note that I had to add spacers to allow the Safari windows to fully open - more on that below - also note - this first pic was taken 10 days after I had the Racing Optics windshield protection film installed - happy with it so far!):

Note - the work lights are a work in progress and I will post more about them in a light bar thread when finished. I just installed the rear light this evening, and it just begged to be placed there, since Alu-Cab helpfully pre-drilled some holes in the support bars:

On the spacers - I found the perfect ones here at Levelok. I ordered two sets of the 3/8" thick ones so that I could use two side by side on each spot where the cross bars met the Alu-Cab load bar feet. The spacers are aluminum and pre-drilled with 8mm holes, which is perfect since the Alu-Cab load bars use 8mm bolts. I primed and painted them black with Rust-Oleum spray paint. Here's a couple pics to show them.

Here's a pic showing how the spacers added just enough height to fully pop open the Safari Windows:

And, no, I will not be driving with the Safari windows open. Any bumps or corrugations can cause some tent flex with the front overhang, and it would be a very bad day if I hit a big enough bump that caused the front of the tent to bounce down and smash the windows. I will only be opening them when parked up for heat dissipation.

And here are pics of the solar panel (taken mid-install), my cobbled together MaxTrax mounting solution, and a closer pic of the load bar feet:

Finally, a few notes about things I thought the AX27 did better than the 3-R. I mentioned it is likely the more robust, durable tent and I am pretty confident it is. I also like the large rain fly that is a defining feature of its design, and I must say, I do prefer the olive drab motif of the AX27 and awnings versus the grey and orange accents of the 3-R. The AX27 also has better/stronger side rails (Ezi-Slots) alongside to support things like an awning and hi-lift jack.

I'm sure someone will come along with more observations about why they went with the AX27 versus the 3-R.

 

[trobex]

I'm sad - can't afford that set up!!!

 

[drpete12]

After doing lots of research, I narrowed my choice for a roof top tent to the Alu-Cab Gen 3-R and Bush Company AX27 tents. They are both excellent products by well established companies. There are several reasons why I went with Alu-Cab:

Alu-Cab is more innovative

I was interested in as many wife-friendly features as I could get and the 3-R had the following benefits over the AX27: (1) heater/ac vent on both sides, (2) fold down table option (which I added), and (3) adjustable mattress back rest option (which I also added). The 3-R also has a solar panel input on top of the tent (and I knew I would be adding a solar panel). The new design of the frame of the tent is also more aerodynamic and, in my opinion, just looks cooler than the AX27. I am confident the AX27 is overall a stronger tent and that is a benefit of its boxy design.

Alu-Cab also is very much interested in supporting the Grenadier and has developed custom products for it - see here. One of those key products that helped tip my decision towards Alu-Cab was their custom Grenadier load bar feet for the 3-R. This took all the guess work out for me regarding which and how many bars to pair with the tent (I very much wanted to go with load bars over a roof rack to save weight up top). With their system, I only needed two cross bars.

The 3-R is significantly lighter than the AX27

The 3-R is 76kg while the AX27 is 99kg. 23kg is significant when you take into consideration the static and dynamic roof load ratings of the Grenadier. Read all about that in this thread. I also knew I was going to be adding an awning, and the Alu-Cab 270 degree Shadow Awning is 24kg compared to the Bush Company 27.8kg 270 XT MK2 and 33.5kg 270 XT Max MK2 (I freaking *love* this awning by the way!).

Alu-Cab has been very responsive to my inquiries

Jon Van Wagoner (jonvw@ok4wd.com) is the lead guy for Alu-Cab United States Sales and Customer Support, and he is very prompt at returning e-mail inquires, at least in my experience.

I found a quality installer that offers sales and a good online seller

I went with Asheville Vehicle Outfitters. Really nice folks - customer oriented, and they stand behind their work. They want you to be 100% satisfied. I was able to take advantage of a sale they were having and bought the 3-R for $3,899 instead of the list price of $4,399. They also have a location in Jacksonville, FL. It is also easy to order Alu-Cab products through OK4WD.com (which I believe is the official Alu-Cab U.S. dealer). AVO orders the products they install through them.

That about sums it up. Now for some pics:

Obligatory front, sides, and rear pics (note that I had to add spacers to allow the Safari windows to fully open - more on that below):

View attachment 7875494View attachment 7875496View attachment 7875497View attachment 7875498

Note - the work lights are a work in progress and I will post more about them in a light bar thread when finished. I just installed the rear light this evening, and it just begged to be placed there, since Alu-Cab helpfully pre-drilled some holes in the support bars:

View attachment 7875501

On the spacers - I found the perfect ones here at Levelok. I ordered two sets of the 3/8" thick ones so that I could use two side by side on each spot where the cross bars met the Alu-Cab load bar feet. The spacers are aluminum and pre-drilled with 8mm holes, which is perfect since the Alu-Cab load bars use 8mm bolts. I primed and painted them black with Rust-Oleum spray paint. Here's a couple pics to show them.

View attachment 7875499
View attachment 7875638

Here's a pic showing how the spacers added just enough height to fully pop open the Safari Windows:

View attachment 7875525

And, no, I will not be driving with the Safari windows open. Any bumps or corrugations can cause some tent flex with the front overhang, and it would be a very bad day if I hit a big enough bump that caused the front of the tent to bounce down and smash the windows. I will only be opening them when parked up for heat dissipation.

And here are pics of the solar panel (taken mid-install), my cobbled together MaxTrax mounting solution, and a closer pic of the load bar feet:

View attachment 7875502
View attachment 7875503
View attachment 7875504


Finally, a few notes about things I thought the AX27 did better than the 3-R. I mentioned it is likely the more robust, durable tent and I am pretty confident it is. I also like the large rain fly that is a defining feature of its design, and I must say, I do prefer the olive drab motif of the AX27 and awnings versus the grey and orange accents of the 3-R. The AX27 also has better/stronger side rails (Ezi-Slots) alongside to support things like an awning and hi-lift jack.

I'm sure someone will come along with more observations about why they went with the AX27 versus the 3-R.

Thanks so much for the info...You went with the alucab awning but you realley liked the bush company? could you not mount that awning to the alucab? or better to stay withing the same ecosystem.

 

[Beowulf]

Why can't you mount the stainless L brackets directly to the AluCab to the Handle Clamp support?

 

[Tenac]

That looks like it adds some serious height to the vehicle.... do you happen to know the overall height off of the roof?

 

[Loc Nar]

Why can't you mount the stainless L brackets directly to the AluCab to the Handle Clamp support?
View attachment 7875659

Fair question that I don't know the answer to. That would not be part of the Alu-Cab installation procedure, and I imagine it is due to needing/wanting the strength/rigidity of the load bars to mount the tent upon. Mounting that plate to the actual load bar feet would likely cause the L bracket or load bar foot to bend under stress of corrugations, etc.

 

[Loc Nar]

That looks like it adds some serious height to the vehicle.... do you happen to know the overall height off of the roof?

The spacers are 3/8" thick. I have not measured ground to top of tent, but will do so soon. A side benefit of the added height, is that there is room to slide in a table bracket in the space between the feet: table slide.

 

[Loc Nar]

Thanks so much for the info...You went with the alucab awning but you realley liked the bush company? could you not mount that awning to the alucab? or better to stay withing the same ecosystem.

It's just a bad ass strong as hell awning, but it is very heavy and I just thought it would be best to stay within the Alu-Cab ecosystem, which has custom mounting brackets designed to pair their awning well with the tent, etc.

 

[Loc Nar]

That looks like it adds some serious height to the vehicle.... do you happen to know the overall height off of the roof?

Height from raised center of roof (right above the red tail light) to top of tent is about 13.75 inches (this includes the height of the 3/8" spacers).

 

[Tenac]

Height from raised center of roof (right above the red tail light) to top of tent is about 13.75 inches (this includes the height of the 3/8" spacers).

Thanks but dang that is just a bit too high for me about 2" lower I'd be sold.

 

[Loc Nar]

Thanks but dang that is just a bit too high for me about 2" lower I'd be sold.

Yeah, this setup is not garage or parking deck friendly.

 

[Darby]

I have the AX27, love it.
It's pretty heavy, but probably the most solid tent.
I winch it on and off for trips, easy to unplug and plug in the DTP roof plugs for power when removing and installing.
I like the look of the alucab ones aswell, almost bought one, probably both good choices.
Buying the Bush Company 270 XT awning next week.

 

[DenisM]

I have the AX27, love it.
It's pretty heavy, but probably the most solid tent.
I winch it on and off for trips, easy to unplug and plug in the DTP roof plugs for power when removing and installing.
I like the look of the alucab ones aswell, almost bought one, probably both good choices.
Buying the Bush Company 270 XT awning next week.
View attachment 7875712View attachment 7875713View attachment 7875714

Bugger! the photo in the shed revives my auto-immune reaction known as "shed envy".. Will have to lie down to recover!