Just fitted one of these to my 60 series. I did alot of searching for what was going to fit the bill and I always came back to the bush company Alpha. After owning it and going on a few short trips it's been amazing. The set up is easy, quick and completely changed the game for us. Leveling off the car is easily done with my maxtrax and you can sleep both ways so it doesn't matter if one end is a little downhill in this. The mounting system is awesome aswell. The only real con is the weight but that's a compromise I'm more then willing to accept and most of these higher end RTTs come in at about 90kgs. Really looking forward to things opening up abit more and getting into some big trips with this thing.
@@bradxvIII Hi, I have just gotten back from a trip over to Moreton Island and the wind picked up a bit and I was extremely supprised how well it stood up to it all 👍
Would be great to see some comparison vids as well as the promotions. Especially with all the great locally made gear -- Camp King, Supapeg, 30 second awning, Drifta, etc Just because it was nice to hear your specific experience like with the fold-up roof top tents.
For a promotional review I thought that this video was thorough. When written "can anything beat this or is there a tougher tent" I can say that it can easily be matched. Lets be honest, all RTT's have pro's and con's but the question is which one ticks all the boxes that meets my or your requirements? Bush Co. repeatedly claims that they are the only one who offer double wall construction, they are not, my Eezi-awn Blade is double wall construction. Like your's it offers the same benefits. I noticed you didn't go too much into the ladder, those telescopic ladders are miserable here in Sweden as they are nothing but rain water collectors but with that said I thought the ease of the locking pin for the ladder was simple and very effective. I did like all the extra pockets in the tent, the wife could fill them in a flash. LOL Thankfully for me my Blade has just 2 large pockets. The weight, was it 88kg that you said? That must have some roll into how you wheel with the RTT on the vehicle? The Blade that I have is 72kg including the ladder, like you I carry the slide ladder (7kg) in the truck so at the end of the day I have 65kg on my roof. Have you weighed your ladder to see what the actual weight is on your roof? .....I could continue going on comparing our RTT's but I don't see the point. What I think is important is that information is getting out there to the consumer. It's clearly stated at the beginning of the video that you are sponsored by Bush Co., so we have to expect that this video will be a glowing review of their product. The review that I did on my Blade that I paid for is an honest owner's opinion highlighting the pro's and con's. It would be nice that your sponsor offered you the same freedom because it would beg me to ask, would the comments that you said be the same? Anyways, I'm a subscriber to this channel because of it's content, weather it's sponsored or not it's been useful to me in my decision making of what I buy and use. This video does differ from the 270 awning comparison video but I do believe it was informative thanks.
Hey mate thanks for the comments can honestly say I have never heard of your tent I don’t believe it’s available on Aus but I could be wrong. This review was based of products I am aware of over here and it’s my honest thoughts sponsor or not there is a reason I choose the Bush company to be my sponsor and it’s not based around who will be me the most. It’s based on quality the individual company. Cons I’m definitely weight which I think I mentioned but that’s something I’m happy to put up with given the. Amount of pros 🤙🤙 cheers for subscribing!
I have been looking through the available RTT's in the USA and came across this channel (of course) in looking for just content to get a good idea of the features and to gather others comments. I also visited one of the distributors in the US to see the AX27 myself. In reading through the comments, I came across yours and watched your video on the Blade and decided to compare the two by watching some other videos as well as gather information from the manufacturers website and I can't really agree that the Blade is better than the AX27 for quite a number of reasons I will outline below- this is mostly my opinion, however some are facts. What I do like about both (and an important design feature) is that you can open the doors from the top which most if not all of the other tents on the market get wrong. This allows for ventilation in warm climates through normal convection up and out of the tent... The Blade does have three facets that stand out- the weight (however this may mean it isnt built as sturdily), the struts are protected when closed but are not "inside" in the interior of the tent when open, and the top apparently comes in white which should keep the tent cooler in hot climates. Other than those three items, I do not see an advantage in the Blade over the AX27. It would also be good to hear an update after using it for some time. EZ Blade $3950 - 280gm canvas (3rd party sites list 260gm) Insulation (actual) in top? ++ 72kg with ladder - Ladder 230cm, 4’ x 1.5’ when stowed? - 2 pockets - 1 static light location in the single power outlet (it seems) Bungies inside for ease of take-down Exterior Dimensions (mm) 1450 (W) x 2200 (L) x 320 (H) (57.08” x 86.6” x 12.6”) Open height 56” (3rd party site) but not defined as interior or exterior height My Observations: Barely any capacities listed on manufacturers website (some came from 3rd party vendors sites) Hardware material not specified (3rd party says stainless) -- Open to environment in your video at hinge corners Only two hinges (is there a hurricane hinge as well? If so, that’s plenty of support, if not that’s insufficient) -- No Side rainfly Sloped roof for water runoff when closed ++ Struts protected when closed ++ White as an option for top color- theoretical heat advantage (depends on insulation) Windows/Doors open from top You mentioned no space inside at front for additional bedding in your video - Single layer door, outside of the mesh Latches on bottom could snag during egress- should be on the top instead of bottom - The 2 Latches seem lightweight and are screwed directly into the tent body- pulling out a screw is permanent damage and may cause failure. People are cutting themselves on the latches. AX27 $4295 ++ 310gm canvas (may be 320gm) -- 99kg w/o ladder + Ladder 264cm + 4 side pockets, 6x top storage pockets + 2 power outlet boxes inside (1xcig, 2x USB in each) Powdercoat specified Exterior Dimensions 1400mm (W) x 2250mm (L) x 280mm (H) (4′ 7.1″ x 7′ 4.6″ x 10.7″) 1450mm including gas struts (W) 2320mm inc hinges & handles (L) (4′ 9″ x 7′ 7″ x 10.7”) ++ Interior Height 67” + 1 movable light Stainless hardware defined + Rainfly is removable ++ Side entrances covered by rainfly Windows/Doors open from top ++ Built in “EZ Slot” attachment rails in frame extrusions in top and bottom + Lockable latches + 4 hinges +++ Inner and outer door- midge mesh in the middle +++ Midge mesh in side doors can open from bottom as you want in your video vs having to manufacture a workaround ++ Top vent in rear + Telescopic ladder, smaller when stowed ++ 120mm of additional space in interior for bedding etc + Mounting bars on ceiling Latches on bottom could snag during egress- should be on the top instead of bottom + Latches use EZ Slot, can be moved or if mount fails, can be moved to another spot
That is a proper piece of kit!! They've just about thought of everything, defs my kinda company!! And they're local, which absolutely shocked me, but then again, trust a Saffer to get it right! We don't muck about. Disappointed to hear about the rust problem though, not cool, it's something they've hopefully addressed. In a small way, the design of this tent has restored my faith in what South Africans are really capable of when we set our minds to it. Bloody big bravo!!
My family has unfortunately outgrown our RTT. As a result, we now tow a little Patriot. Prior to that for 4 or 5 years, my wife and I used a James Baroud and have to say that the convenience and comfort was hard to beat! Great to see Aussie manufacturers building some top shelf products - be nice to see the weights come down a little though 👍🏼
I have one and absolutely love it the best mod I’ve done to my SR5 N80 Hilux hands down , I did a lot of research before I invested and kept coming back to the Alpha 🤟
Thanks for all the vids! Great stuff! I watched your vids and went out and brought the Rhino Cab, Alpha Tent and 270 XT awning fro the Bush company! After spending a lot of time looking for a tent and I kept coming back to the Alpha Tent! I have yet to get it (shipping issues) but I can't wait to spend time in in! My questions is: I want to run it backwards on my Hilux Dbl Cab so that I can use a roof rack as a little patio or Balcony for drinking coffee in the morning or a drink at night. Have you seen or heard of anyone with a setup like this?
Good video 👍 RTT’s are still that little bit too big & heavy for my liking. Hopefully within the next few years they’ll figure out a way to make them lighter & more slimline
You may of already heard about it but GFC has an 80 pound wedge roof top tent..the thing is super slim and super light. However it is also SUPER minimal!
What do you mean when you said you wore out your Alu Cab? I was under the impression those tents could last forever, similar to this by the Bush Company...
Really great video, one of the only videos for these great tents out there. Just purchased a 76 series and am wondering about weight load ratings on the roof of the vehicle. Do you worry about the weight with this tent being so heavy especially when you start to add accessories? Cheers.
hey mate glad you liked it. I don't opt to put any permanent accessories on the tent for that reason. Very careful of roof capacities with wagons and the tent with the awning + shovel mount + bedding was as much as I was keen to keep on permantently
Nice tent... I do like this style but these all have the same problem... when it's raining heavily or snowing heavily, your going to have difficulty keeping water out of the inside... especially when using the side entrance. I much prefer the fold out style with the extended roof that fully covers the entrance. This let's you remove your wet items while fully covered so you don't bring it into the tent. Even better, most of the extended roof ones have an annex that zips in and fully encloses the area below so you have a place for your stuff
Thanks, really glad I found this as I'm after a high quality tent and this one seems to tick all the right boxes. Just a couple of questions: do you know if the floor is insulated at all and how well does it seal when closed. I just don't want water and fine dust getting inside while driving. Thanks in advance.
Hey mate bottom of the tents are carpeted & If you're sensible with how much bedding you leave in the tent it will seal perfectly. Never had an issue with dust or water ingress personally.
Pretty much all rooftop tent brands use the same seals which are the cheap rubber seals. They need atleast 30-40% compression.. The best seal is neoprene which only needs 10% compression.. Anymore compression on neoprene will have a insane seal against anything.
Why I sold my roof top tent after 2 trips: 1. Makes vehicle top heavy - decreasing offroad and on road drivability dramatically. 2. Heavy increase in fuel usage 3. Need to level vehicle out everytime (PIA) 4. Tent moves and rocks from side to side and wakes you up with wind or when you roll over or when your partner moves. 5. Uncomfortable thin bed 6. Getting in and out is a PIA, especially when tired, dark, icy ladder or drunk ( I fell off twice in 2 trips) or all of the above. 7. Going for a pee at night becomes a nightmare. 8. If its raining it gets wet inside regardles of any covers when entering or exiting. 9. When you go to close it, if there is any dew or rain droplets on the tent then these droplets will then wet your bedding. 10. Condensation buildup inside. 11. Hot rainy night = no sleep or wet bed or both. 12. Cold in cold weather 13. Setup is not as quick as you think. I can setup my swag on a stretcher much faster. By the time you level the car out, lift tent, get ladder, close fly screens, take up pillows, take up piss bottle ( yes I got sick of climbing down everytime I wanted a wiz) etc etc. 14. You end up always looking for a flat ground spot to camp ( swag on stretcher you can pretty much camp anywhere ) Hope that helps someone looking for another point of view. BTW now I use a swag on a stretcher under a rhino 270 awning with walls and it's amazing.
I use both a swag on a stretcher and RTT on top of my trailer depending on where I am going and for how long. Both are great options in my opinion. But I much prefer my RTT to the swag. Never have I had as many issues as you seem to have had.
@@theexplorelife no need to be salty. You asked specifically for viewers to write in what they've used and their experiences, and I did just that. My views are mine only and completely unbiased as I paid full retail.
For a few months I have been looking at a new RTT. I am still trying to find a way to secure over 250 lbs to the rain gutters. Do you have a thought about the ideal mounting brackets...did you ever work out something with Richie (jailbreak overland) for eliminating the rods of a roof rack and just using mounts?
Canvas was getting wrecked gas struts had snapped. I had a huge dint on the tent and I just wanted a freshen up. The seals started to leak as they got older. Great product not bagging it at all. It was just getting tired and I wanted something fresh to live out of.
You ever had any dramas with water leaking in? Been seeing heaps of complaints/photos with bush company’s RTT range letting in water to the point bedding getting wet as. Was set on the AX27 but starting to have second thoughts.
Hey mate I’ve had 3 different bush co tents now and haven’t had any issues with water. Even if you were in torrential rain you’ve got a much better chance of keeping water out in a tent like this with double skin canvas than you would in a single layered tent. Hope that helps 👌
Hey, good review, been lookin at The Bush Company tents for a while now. As the Alpha Is so high, Is It possible to sleep with your head down the low end? I want to mount It on my trailer to enter from the end without having to use a ladder. Cheers.
Hi Matt, i have the same rtt and awning combo and have been running it for 6 months absolutely love it. We did stacks of research before we purchased and physically checked out alucab, bundutec, campking, motop and a couple others.... and always kept coming back to the bush co Alpha after assessing all the features and what suited us best. As for quality, and included features i can understand why they are on the higher price end of the market but after actually owning and using it in all types of weather i can absolutely justify the price, at the end of the day you get what you pay for. Ive just stumbled across your channel, videos are awesome and i love your enthusiasm for getting out and showcasing what our awesome country has to offer!!! Just a quick question, what are the shovel mounts you have on the top rail of your tent on the 76? Cheers mate, Chris
I loved your video about the Alpha Tent. Can you tell me if I can purchase one in the United States? If so, what website? and what is the price of the tent and how much is the weight? Thanks and be safe.
Every product has PROS and CONS and your review there is the PROS of the product the sponsors you and the CONS of everything else. Sorry mate you lost me by not being fair. There is no doubt about the quality of the product Could you answer some questions? - How safe is it to climb in and out in the dark while pissed? I've never fell out of my $600 swag! - Where do you carry your firewood? You need quite a bit of it if you wanna test your tent on the snow in VHC. - Do you need to bring your mate with his Hilux to do a firewood run the next day? - In South Africa RTT are a must to stay away from the big cats, but in Australia? Sure the Koalas the Roos and the Emus can't be that deadly!
Hey mate cons were the price and that it’s more weight up top. It’s safe if you have two arms and two legs never had an issue even after a couple of cold ones. Fire wood can go on top of a rack on the spare wheel if needed I also have no back seats. No big cats here but camping up north there’s a few snapping hand bags that I would rather sleep on top of the tent instead of looking like a sausage roll 😂
Honestly it opens up huge anyway but I have never been in this either tents since can’t give feedback I am happy with the triangle shape but each to there own
Ok pls tell us your cars roof weight limit. As your rack is about 20 kg awning about 20 kg let’s say 5 kg on the light bar and stuff the roof top tent 100kg without bending how is this possible ?
Why do all these companies insist on a black case for the hard shell tent? It's horrible on a day warmer than 20 degrees C. Up north it just bakes the insides. Make them in white.
88kg tent (not including ladder,) plus another 28kg for awnings + quickpitch shower tent (7kg) +lights & brackets + 4 load bars and accessories + sleeping gear ---- that must be almost 150kg gears up there if not more, all the way up on a highly lifted 70 series... not saying quality doesnt weight, but there must be better way of doing things...
@@aron2199 i agree, id rather tow then deal with that, must drive pretty shithouse on tougher tracks. To each there own, not for me. Ive got 60 on my roof and thats enough for me
@@aron2199 I'm running the Kings version (copy), I ended up changing the mattress and then welded feet right to the base of the tent. Saved 5KG from the tent (87kg down to 82KG), then saved another 12KG by removing the rack. All in all im sitting at 119KG with the tent, lights and awning (27kg). It's still a lot on the roof (i'm in a GQ) but with good shocks and a superflex rear sway bar from Superior, the handling is quite good now. I'm betting he is between 140-150 for that setup.
@@Sethjxl i think that's a better way to go - one possible way - ikamper (for 2 adults and 2 children ) is about 68 kg without ladder and clevershade 270 freestanding is about 18kg plus fitting brackets -approx 100kg plus bedding... still a lot but better
I'm not sure if all the tent of bush company is double walled.. I think they are using a method that some old school canvas makers use.. Which crazy dog canvas does..around any door or Windows they make 2 layers or 3 if you count the mesh. To stop condensation but also it creates much better strength around openings.. The panels without openings it be interesting if they use 2 or just 1 wall
🤣🤣🤣 love how many knobs post comments here flogging ya mate 🤙 didnt realise how much green is in your comment section. If these were not soo expensove i would run one
Mark McGrath I’m yet to see a better RTT so yeh can anything beat it. If I sold the company tomorrow I would have the same products and happily buy them full retail just like I did before I had Explore. I had all the same gear on my patrol. Rooftop tents sucked back then so I didn’t have one I used a swag. All my other products are the same and yes I paid full retail
The Explore Life you need a hug mate. Sounds like this is getting to you a little. Just a little banter mate. Don’t take it personally. I’m sure you can find a roof top tent the same quality as yours for half the price.
@@theexplorelife you never presented any cons with this product at all.... all you talked about was the good. Are you saying this tent is the worlds most perfect tent ever made and has no flaws..
@@krump7429 I own the Grand Tourer and love it even though it has some minor faults. This tent though seems pretty faultless to me. The only negatives from what I can see are those which are standard to most RTTs like condensation and comfort. Minor issues which can be rectified with some planning. Not really faults specific to this tent though.
Jaffa Adventures has a good video on 4wd UA-camr/Influencer and them doing review videos. He basically sums up that the reviewer ends up defending their creditibility and not the actual product they are trying to review. Its a good watch for reviews like this ua-cam.com/video/zYozNs4ih7g/v-deo.html&lc=z22dizeg1vm2e5f0wacdp4323gbao1nb2miweojwo1tw03c010c.1597913136536147
My custom one I'm doing which will be 99% Australian made will have more room then this, bigger awning and 19cm bed..the roof will have 2 of the best layers upto 4cm thick of insulation, and the floor will have about the same..also the canvas will be 14oz which in this case doesn't need to be double walled...that's the best part when you custom make things..once it's done I'll throw a video up
@@theexplorelife Me too . I think there's one down yonder way that mi mate told mi was better . 'N' he heard it off his cousin's next door neighbours postie . He hasn't owned it or used it nor can he remember the make . But he's damn sure it's better. P.S. I do like to make a point of NOT watchin' videos and postin' comments on them , purely based on rumour and entirely devoid of fact . 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣💩💩💩😂🤣😂🤣😂 Fattrucker P.P.S. That's a cool tip on the tablet holder BTW 👍😎 . Ours is STILL 6 bloody weeks away due to shipping delays 🤦♂️😒🙄😥😥 . Can you NOT post any more videos for another ^ weeks please till we bloody get ours ? PMSL It's bloody torture !!! (Not really Awesome stuff ! 👍😎😎😎
@@Fattrucker 4x4 social media influences are like prostitutes of Camping / 4wd Industry. Thats why off-road companies like them so much... They give them a little bit to sell and the company makes more. Perfect worker and Pimp situation.
@@theexplorelife You were straight up from the beginning and I really do not think there is much negative on this unit to share anyway. This is top of the range in quality and price.
The Explore Life so the Aussie made stuff is no good .or poor quality Ie camp king industries ? Just poor you’ll flog oversea business before Aussie made
@@cruzinoz8783 By your argument he therefore needs to be biased for purely Australian gear. He literally says at the start that he has tried several different models prior, it makes no sense if he just has to stick to local made if they aren't the best product in his eyes.
Adsjabo how can you say it’s the best out there if your not comparing it with all that’s out there ? By stating that “I pick my sponsors based of quality “ is piss poor I’m my opinion , I like my wages , and work hard for it, as every one does , but don’t say it’s better quality than others and promote overseas business when it’s bloody expensive here to produce a locally owned product of same quality . Might be me mate . I’m pretty one eyed when it comes to buy Aussie made first when possible , not big brand names
Ronald Reagan I don’t think people do it get 😂 I’m not a big business and I’m not a paid presenter like other shows I pick what products I want to run and yes because I have built a following I am lucky enough to be paid to run the gear I love. If I don’t like the product or the company i don’t promote it. I built a following by sharing product free content that cost me a fortune to mate and I release it for free on UA-cam to hopefully inspire a few more people to get out and see this epic county and to live there best lifestyle!
A normal fold out roof top tent is over 54kg then add a roof rack that's easy 30kg so running the alpha would be more slim line and less heavy then a roof rack and normal roof top tent
Just fitted one of these to my 60 series. I did alot of searching for what was going to fit the bill and I always came back to the bush company Alpha. After owning it and going on a few short trips it's been amazing. The set up is easy, quick and completely changed the game for us. Leveling off the car is easily done with my maxtrax and you can sleep both ways so it doesn't matter if one end is a little downhill in this. The mounting system is awesome aswell. The only real con is the weight but that's a compromise I'm more then willing to accept and most of these higher end RTTs come in at about 90kgs.
Really looking forward to things opening up abit more and getting into some big trips with this thing.
Yeah we just got the Black Series Max and the 270 degree XT Max fitted and absolutely love the setup, Really well built 👍
hello how is it under side wind ?
@@bradxvIII Hi, I have just gotten back from a trip over to Moreton Island and the wind picked up a bit and I was extremely supprised how well it stood up to it all 👍
If you pack up after rain does the canvas wet your bedding?
Would be great to see some comparison vids as well as the promotions. Especially with all the great locally made gear -- Camp King, Supapeg, 30 second awning, Drifta, etc
Just because it was nice to hear your specific experience like with the fold-up roof top tents.
For a promotional review I thought that this video was thorough. When written "can anything beat this or is there a tougher tent" I can say that it can easily be matched. Lets be honest, all RTT's have pro's and con's but the question is which one ticks all the boxes that meets my or your requirements? Bush Co. repeatedly claims that they are the only one who offer double wall construction, they are not, my Eezi-awn Blade is double wall construction. Like your's it offers the same benefits.
I noticed you didn't go too much into the ladder, those telescopic ladders are miserable here in Sweden as they are nothing but rain water collectors but with that said I thought the ease of the locking pin for the ladder was simple and very effective.
I did like all the extra pockets in the tent, the wife could fill them in a flash. LOL Thankfully for me my Blade has just 2 large pockets.
The weight, was it 88kg that you said? That must have some roll into how you wheel with the RTT on the vehicle? The Blade that I have is 72kg including the ladder, like you I carry the slide ladder (7kg) in the truck so at the end of the day I have 65kg on my roof. Have you weighed your ladder to see what the actual weight is on your roof?
.....I could continue going on comparing our RTT's but I don't see the point. What I think is important is that information is getting out there to the consumer. It's clearly stated at the beginning of the video that you are sponsored by Bush Co., so we have to expect that this video will be a glowing review of their product. The review that I did on my Blade that I paid for is an honest owner's opinion highlighting the pro's and con's. It would be nice that your sponsor offered you the same freedom because it would beg me to ask, would the comments that you said be the same?
Anyways, I'm a subscriber to this channel because of it's content, weather it's sponsored or not it's been useful to me in my decision making of what I buy and use. This video does differ from the 270 awning comparison video but I do believe it was informative thanks.
Hey mate thanks for the comments can honestly say I have never heard of your tent I don’t believe it’s available on Aus but I could be wrong. This review was based of products I am aware of over here and it’s my honest thoughts sponsor or not there is a reason I choose the Bush company to be my sponsor and it’s not based around who will be me the most. It’s based on quality the individual company. Cons I’m definitely weight which I think I mentioned but that’s something I’m happy to put up with given the. Amount of pros 🤙🤙 cheers for subscribing!
@@theexplorelife its available from offroadtents
I have been looking through the available RTT's in the USA and came across this channel (of course) in looking for just content to get a good idea of the features and to gather others comments. I also visited one of the distributors in the US to see the AX27 myself. In reading through the comments, I came across yours and watched your video on the Blade and decided to compare the two by watching some other videos as well as gather information from the manufacturers website and I can't really agree that the Blade is better than the AX27 for quite a number of reasons I will outline below- this is mostly my opinion, however some are facts. What I do like about both (and an important design feature) is that you can open the doors from the top which most if not all of the other tents on the market get wrong. This allows for ventilation in warm climates through normal convection up and out of the tent... The Blade does have three facets that stand out- the weight (however this may mean it isnt built as sturdily), the struts are protected when closed but are not "inside" in the interior of the tent when open, and the top apparently comes in white which should keep the tent cooler in hot climates. Other than those three items, I do not see an advantage in the Blade over the AX27. It would also be good to hear an update after using it for some time.
EZ Blade
$3950
- 280gm canvas (3rd party sites list 260gm)
Insulation (actual) in top?
++ 72kg with ladder
- Ladder 230cm, 4’ x 1.5’ when stowed?
- 2 pockets
- 1 static light location in the single power outlet (it seems)
Bungies inside for ease of take-down
Exterior Dimensions (mm) 1450 (W) x 2200 (L) x 320 (H) (57.08” x 86.6” x 12.6”)
Open height 56” (3rd party site) but not defined as interior or exterior height
My Observations:
Barely any capacities listed on manufacturers website (some came from 3rd party vendors sites)
Hardware material not specified (3rd party says stainless)
-- Open to environment in your video at hinge corners
Only two hinges (is there a hurricane hinge as well? If so, that’s plenty of support, if not that’s insufficient)
-- No Side rainfly
Sloped roof for water runoff when closed
++ Struts protected when closed
++ White as an option for top color- theoretical heat advantage (depends on insulation)
Windows/Doors open from top
You mentioned no space inside at front for additional bedding in your video
- Single layer door, outside of the mesh
Latches on bottom could snag during egress- should be on the top instead of bottom
- The 2 Latches seem lightweight and are screwed directly into the tent body- pulling out a screw is permanent damage and may cause failure. People are cutting themselves on the latches.
AX27
$4295
++ 310gm canvas (may be 320gm)
-- 99kg w/o ladder
+ Ladder 264cm
+ 4 side pockets, 6x top storage pockets
+ 2 power outlet boxes inside (1xcig, 2x USB in each)
Powdercoat specified
Exterior Dimensions 1400mm (W) x 2250mm (L) x 280mm (H) (4′ 7.1″ x 7′ 4.6″ x 10.7″)
1450mm including gas struts (W) 2320mm inc hinges & handles (L) (4′ 9″ x 7′ 7″ x 10.7”)
++ Interior Height 67”
+ 1 movable light
Stainless hardware defined
+ Rainfly is removable
++ Side entrances covered by rainfly
Windows/Doors open from top
++ Built in “EZ Slot” attachment rails in frame extrusions in top and bottom
+ Lockable latches
+ 4 hinges
+++ Inner and outer door- midge mesh in the middle
+++ Midge mesh in side doors can open from bottom as you want in your video vs having to manufacture a workaround
++ Top vent in rear
+ Telescopic ladder, smaller when stowed
++ 120mm of additional space in interior for bedding etc
+ Mounting bars on ceiling
Latches on bottom could snag during egress- should be on the top instead of bottom
+ Latches use EZ Slot, can be moved or if mount fails, can be moved to another spot
That ladder attachment is actually lethal.....the tent looks pretty good in many ways but would be vulnerable to high wind the places im looking in NZ
I can see why you picked this unit. This really is one of the best designed and well thought out tents.
That is a proper piece of kit!! They've just about thought of everything, defs my kinda company!! And they're local, which absolutely shocked me, but then again, trust a Saffer to get it right! We don't muck about. Disappointed to hear about the rust problem though, not cool, it's something they've hopefully addressed. In a small way, the design of this tent has restored my faith in what South Africans are really capable of when we set our minds to it. Bloody big bravo!!
That look amazing! If I could afford it I would get it! It looks worth the price!
My family has unfortunately outgrown our RTT. As a result, we now tow a little Patriot. Prior to that for 4 or 5 years, my wife and I used a James Baroud and have to say that the convenience and comfort was hard to beat! Great to see Aussie manufacturers building some top shelf products - be nice to see the weights come down a little though 👍🏼
I have one and absolutely love it the best mod I’ve done to my SR5 N80 Hilux hands down , I did a lot of research before I invested and kept coming back to the Alpha 🤟
Spot on mate 👌
Same been looking alot and just ordered a alpha hands down the best on the market
Those alu-cab roof conversions are epic!
Thanks for all the vids! Great stuff! I watched your vids and went out and brought the Rhino Cab, Alpha Tent and 270 XT awning fro the Bush company! After spending a lot of time looking for a tent and I kept coming back to the Alpha Tent! I have yet to get it (shipping issues) but I can't wait to spend time in in! My questions is: I want to run it backwards on my Hilux Dbl Cab so that I can use a roof rack as a little patio or Balcony for drinking coffee in the morning or a drink at night. Have you seen or heard of anyone with a setup like this?
Awesome review once again I can't wait for mine to get here
Good video 👍 RTT’s are still that little bit too big & heavy for my liking. Hopefully within the next few years they’ll figure out a way to make them lighter & more slimline
You may of already heard about it but GFC has an 80 pound wedge roof top tent..the thing is super slim and super light. However it is also SUPER minimal!
Great work Matty
Sold me Cheers
Wicked video again. Would think this would work well sort of sunken down over a ute tray, pretty heavy, but well built.
I agree 👌
What do you mean when you said you wore out your Alu Cab? I was under the impression those tents could last forever, similar to this by the Bush Company...
Really great video, one of the only videos for these great tents out there. Just purchased a 76 series and am wondering about weight load ratings on the roof of the vehicle. Do you worry about the weight with this tent being so heavy especially when you start to add accessories?
Cheers.
hey mate glad you liked it. I don't opt to put any permanent accessories on the tent for that reason. Very careful of roof capacities with wagons and the tent with the awning + shovel mount + bedding was as much as I was keen to keep on permantently
looks like this tent had a lot of thoughts ...good job Bush Compagny.
Hello great Rig & Video, is there a Dealer in Canada do you know
Hi mate best to get in touch with Bush Company USA. There’s a few dealers around the mid west that might have connections
Im running a james Baroud and its been great but im seriously considering swapping over to this one.
every tent has its place in the market but the alpha's definitely a standout 👌
Nice tent... I do like this style but these all have the same problem... when it's raining heavily or snowing heavily, your going to have difficulty keeping water out of the inside... especially when using the side entrance. I much prefer the fold out style with the extended roof that fully covers the entrance. This let's you remove your wet items while fully covered so you don't bring it into the tent. Even better, most of the extended roof ones have an annex that zips in and fully encloses the area below so you have a place for your stuff
Is there a roof top water tank and maybe one day an annex with a floor? Lots don't do a floor.
Thanks, really glad I found this as I'm after a high quality tent and this one seems to tick all the right boxes. Just a couple of questions: do you know if the floor is insulated at all and how well does it seal when closed. I just don't want water and fine dust getting inside while driving. Thanks in advance.
Hey mate bottom of the tents are carpeted & If you're sensible with how much bedding you leave in the tent it will seal perfectly. Never had an issue with dust or water ingress personally.
Pretty much all rooftop tent brands use the same seals which are the cheap rubber seals. They need atleast 30-40% compression.. The best seal is neoprene which only needs 10% compression.. Anymore compression on neoprene will have a insane seal against anything.
Why I sold my roof top tent after 2 trips:
1. Makes vehicle top heavy - decreasing offroad and on road drivability dramatically.
2. Heavy increase in fuel usage
3. Need to level vehicle out everytime (PIA)
4. Tent moves and rocks from side to side and wakes you up with wind or when you roll over or when your partner moves.
5. Uncomfortable thin bed
6. Getting in and out is a PIA, especially when tired, dark, icy ladder or drunk ( I fell off twice in 2 trips) or all of the above.
7. Going for a pee at night becomes a nightmare.
8. If its raining it gets wet inside regardles of any covers when entering or exiting.
9. When you go to close it, if there is any dew or rain droplets on the tent then these droplets will then wet your bedding.
10. Condensation buildup inside.
11. Hot rainy night = no sleep or wet bed or both.
12. Cold in cold weather
13. Setup is not as quick as you think. I can setup my swag on a stretcher much faster. By the time you level the car out, lift tent, get ladder, close fly screens, take up pillows, take up piss bottle ( yes I got sick of climbing down everytime I wanted a wiz) etc etc.
14. You end up always looking for a flat ground spot to camp ( swag on stretcher you can pretty much camp anywhere )
Hope that helps someone looking for another point of view. BTW now I use a swag on a stretcher under a rhino 270 awning with walls and it's amazing.
Enjoy your swag 👌
I use both a swag on a stretcher and RTT on top of my trailer depending on where I am going and for how long. Both are great options in my opinion. But I much prefer my RTT to the swag. Never have I had as many issues as you seem to have had.
@@theexplorelife no need to be salty. You asked specifically for viewers to write in what they've used and their experiences, and I did just that. My views are mine only and completely unbiased as I paid full retail.
Mack F Not salty mate! Honestly enjoy your swag. I love my swag when out on boat trips! Definitely hard to beat 👌
@@theexplorelife my apologies I misinterpreted your reply.
Quality product, Good review Matt
For a few months I have been looking at a new RTT. I am still trying to find a way to secure over 250 lbs to the rain gutters. Do you have a thought about the ideal mounting brackets...did you ever work out something with Richie (jailbreak overland) for eliminating the rods of a roof rack and just using mounts?
@The Explore Life What do you mean when you say you wore our your Alu-Cab tent? cheers
Canvas was getting wrecked gas struts had snapped. I had a huge dint on the tent and I just wanted a freshen up. The seals started to leak as they got older. Great product not bagging it at all. It was just getting tired and I wanted something fresh to live out of.
You ever had any dramas with water leaking in? Been seeing heaps of complaints/photos with bush company’s RTT range letting in water to the point bedding getting wet as. Was set on the AX27 but starting to have second thoughts.
Hey mate I’ve had 3 different bush co tents now and haven’t had any issues with water. Even if you were in torrential rain you’ve got a much better chance of keeping water out in a tent like this with double skin canvas than you would in a single layered tent. Hope that helps 👌
Hey, good review, been lookin at The Bush Company tents for a while now. As the Alpha Is so high, Is It possible to sleep with your head down the low end? I want to mount It on my trailer to enter from the end without having to use a ladder. Cheers.
Will this fit with the new full-size Ford Bronco?
It's good to see SA products going abroad. Good walkaround. Do you take it off for urban driving?
New vid...keen!
Hi Matt, i have the same rtt and awning combo and have been running it for 6 months absolutely love it. We did stacks of research before we purchased and physically checked out alucab, bundutec, campking, motop and a couple others.... and always kept coming back to the bush co Alpha after assessing all the features and what suited us best. As for quality, and included features i can understand why they are on the higher price end of the market but after actually owning and using it in all types of weather i can absolutely justify the price, at the end of the day you get what you pay for. Ive just stumbled across your channel, videos are awesome and i love your enthusiasm for getting out and showcasing what our awesome country has to offer!!!
Just a quick question, what are the shovel mounts you have on the top rail of your tent on the 76?
Cheers mate,
Chris
Are they extrusion rails or exclusion rails?
WOW - AWESOME...!!
I prefer the Alu-cab for a ute.Dont need a ladder to get in .Awesome.
I loved your video about the Alpha Tent. Can you tell me if I can purchase one in the United States? If so, what website? and what is the price of the tent and how much is the weight? Thanks and be safe.
hey mate www.thebushcompanyusa.com/ has all the info for US customers!
Noticed you changed from alucab, I just assumed yours leaked like both of mine did 😂
Hey we have an AluCab and it leaked so badly! Currently going through the process now which is ridiculous! Would love to hear about yours?
Beautiful tent, hard to justify the price when it’s so close to the ikamper
All personal preference hey, fibreglass shells dont last as long but weight a lot less
How do you lock yours shut???
I wanted one and the misses brought me a swag and cot :( now am 44 and never used a swah so lets see :)
Much lighter easier and safer
@@lastknownlocation8760 what the wife:)
Every product has PROS and CONS and your review there is the PROS of the product the sponsors you and the CONS of everything else. Sorry mate you lost me by not being fair.
There is no doubt about the quality of the product
Could you answer some questions?
- How safe is it to climb in and out in the dark while pissed? I've never fell out of my $600 swag!
- Where do you carry your firewood? You need quite a bit of it if you wanna test your tent on the snow in VHC.
- Do you need to bring your mate with his Hilux to do a firewood run the next day?
- In South Africa RTT are a must to stay away from the big cats, but in Australia? Sure the Koalas the Roos and the Emus can't be that deadly!
Hey mate cons were the price and that it’s more weight up top.
It’s safe if you have two arms and two legs never had an issue even after a couple of cold ones.
Fire wood can go on top of a rack on the spare wheel if needed I also have no back seats.
No big cats here but camping up north there’s a few snapping hand bags that I would rather sleep on top of the tent instead of looking like a sausage roll 😂
How do you find the triangular shape in comparison to something like the black series max or a bundutop?
Honestly it opens up huge anyway but I have never been in this either tents since can’t give feedback I am happy with the triangle shape but each to there own
🏅🏅🏅 SUPER INFO THANK'S
Ok pls tell us your cars roof weight limit. As your rack is about 20 kg awning about 20 kg let’s say 5 kg on the light bar and stuff the roof top tent 100kg without bending how is this possible ?
Mate great vid and detail..
Do they ship to the US?
Why do all these companies insist on a black case for the hard shell tent? It's horrible on a day warmer than 20 degrees C. Up north it just bakes the insides. Make them in white.
They have insulation so you dont feel it
How much does it cost?
looks great, but 5k is a bit steep for me.
Do you find your truck top heavey??
Do you mean 4wheel drive not truck
@@jamesdogg1744 Get over it FFS
Over 100 kg on the roof, dunno about that. Looks like a quality unit though
Wait till you sleep in it it’s worth the weight on the roof you can’t really tell
88kg tent (not including ladder,) plus another 28kg for awnings + quickpitch shower tent (7kg) +lights & brackets + 4 load bars and accessories + sleeping gear ---- that must be almost 150kg gears up there if not more, all the way up on a highly lifted 70 series... not saying quality doesnt weight, but there must be better way of doing things...
@@aron2199 i agree, id rather tow then deal with that, must drive pretty shithouse on tougher tracks. To each there own, not for me. Ive got 60 on my roof and thats enough for me
@@aron2199 I'm running the Kings version (copy), I ended up changing the mattress and then welded feet right to the base of the tent. Saved 5KG from the tent (87kg down to 82KG), then saved another 12KG by removing the rack. All in all im sitting at 119KG with the tent, lights and awning (27kg). It's still a lot on the roof (i'm in a GQ) but with good shocks and a superflex rear sway bar from Superior, the handling is quite good now.
I'm betting he is between 140-150 for that setup.
@@Sethjxl i think that's a better way to go - one possible way - ikamper (for 2 adults and 2 children ) is about 68 kg without ladder and clevershade 270 freestanding is about 18kg plus fitting brackets -approx 100kg plus bedding... still a lot but better
Correct me if I’m wrong but even the $800 kings roof top tent has double layers for less heat. Looks neat as fuck tho
I don’t think so legend but could be wrong massive difference in quality you always pay for what you get
and sometimes you even get what you pay for as well
I'm not sure if all the tent of bush company is double walled.. I think they are using a method that some old school canvas makers use.. Which crazy dog canvas does..around any door or Windows they make 2 layers or 3 if you count the mesh. To stop condensation but also it creates much better strength around openings.. The panels without openings it be interesting if they use 2 or just 1 wall
The ladder looks unstable af... it's moving all over the place with you climbing on it. Secured with one bolt at the top? 😬
iKamper ftw 👌🏼
🤣🤣🤣 love how many knobs post comments here flogging ya mate 🤙 didnt realise how much green is in your comment section. If these were not soo expensove i would run one
Does anyone know if this is available in USA
Yes, it is available in the US. I believe it’s a company called “midguard adventure “ out of Texas.
really want one until i saw the price
How can you do a review on some thing you got given.
Because I choose that company to give me the tent only difference is I didn’t pay for it.
The Explore Life so your sponsored by them and your title is can any thing beat this. When you did not pay for it.
Mark McGrath I’m yet to see a better RTT so yeh can anything beat it. If I sold the company tomorrow I would have the same products and happily buy them full retail just like I did before I had Explore. I had all the same gear on my patrol. Rooftop tents sucked back then so I didn’t have one I used a swag. All my other products are the same and yes I paid full retail
The Explore Life you need a hug mate. Sounds like this is getting to you a little. Just a little banter mate. Don’t take it personally. I’m sure you can find a roof top tent the same quality as yours for half the price.
Mark McGrath I’ll be ok mate my rooftop tent will keep me warm at night 😂 Let me know how your half price tents go 👌
Hehe which brand is real Aussie made
Dual layer where condensation will build up. Mmmmmm mold
I WANT YOUR HAT! Please tell me what hat that is :D
Hello did you ever find out what the hat is?
@@hansrajmahadeo8644 nope
Would be interested too know how far in kms u get on a full tank off diesel
I’d want extra clips to keep it shut
How much
Kind of hard to give an unbiased review when your sponsored by them..... #advertisment.
Not really mate I pick my sponsors so it’s just a review on a product I choose to run
@@theexplorelife you never presented any cons with this product at all.... all you talked about was the good. Are you saying this tent is the worlds most perfect tent ever made and has no flaws..
@@krump7429 I own the Grand Tourer and love it even though it has some minor faults. This tent though seems pretty faultless to me. The only negatives from what I can see are those which are standard to most RTTs like condensation and comfort. Minor issues which can be rectified with some planning. Not really faults specific to this tent though.
Jaffa Adventures has a good video on 4wd UA-camr/Influencer and them doing review videos.
He basically sums up that the reviewer ends up defending their creditibility and not the actual product they are trying to review. Its a good watch for reviews like this
ua-cam.com/video/zYozNs4ih7g/v-deo.html&lc=z22dizeg1vm2e5f0wacdp4323gbao1nb2miweojwo1tw03c010c.1597913136536147
@@miggity_mac I'm still new at all this myself so I will definitely have a look at this video. Cheers bud.
good tent ... very heavy . Must have 130 kg up there . Over weight for most
82kg for tent 23ish for awning
Better not do a review on your Mrs mate, everyone will be hounding you saying it's sponsored and biased! 😅😅
Bundutec Bundutop are clearly a better setup
My custom one I'm doing which will be 99% Australian made will have more room then this, bigger awning and 19cm bed..the roof will have 2 of the best layers upto 4cm thick of insulation, and the floor will have about the same..also the canvas will be 14oz which in this case doesn't need to be double walled...that's the best part when you custom make things..once it's done I'll throw a video up
@@alishabab3 that sounds great, I'd be interested in seeing the process when you post them.
Are these tent really cost around 500 usd lol
wore the alucab out? won`t be buying one of those
without watching this clip all the way through. Yes..... there is a better RTT then bush company.. And its made in QLD
Do spill please?
Well if you haven’t watched or own the tent then I’m interested 😂
@@theexplorelife Me too . I think there's one down yonder way that mi mate told mi was better . 'N' he heard it off his cousin's next door neighbours postie . He hasn't owned it or used it nor can he remember the make . But he's damn sure it's better.
P.S. I do like to make a point of NOT watchin' videos and postin' comments on them , purely based on rumour and entirely devoid of fact .
😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣💩💩💩😂🤣😂🤣😂
Fattrucker
P.P.S. That's a cool tip on the tablet holder BTW 👍😎 . Ours is STILL 6 bloody weeks away due to shipping delays 🤦♂️😒🙄😥😥 .
Can you NOT post any more videos for another ^ weeks please till we bloody get ours ? PMSL It's bloody torture !!! (Not really Awesome stuff ! 👍😎😎😎
@@theexplorelife will never own a South African product again. sure you have never owned a Conquer
@@Fattrucker 4x4 social media influences are like prostitutes of Camping / 4wd Industry. Thats why off-road companies like them so much... They give them a little bit to sell and the company makes more. Perfect worker and Pimp situation.
Ngono iku Rego Piro Leh kang
You lost me at sponsored by bush company ; can’t be un biased in your review ,
Hahah when I pick my sponsors based off quality it’s not biased 🤙
@@theexplorelife You were straight up from the beginning and I really do not think there is much negative on this unit to share anyway. This is top of the range in quality and price.
The Explore Life so the Aussie made stuff is no good .or poor quality Ie camp king industries ? Just poor you’ll flog oversea business before Aussie made
@@cruzinoz8783 By your argument he therefore needs to be biased for purely Australian gear. He literally says at the start that he has tried several different models prior, it makes no sense if he just has to stick to local made if they aren't the best product in his eyes.
Adsjabo how can you say it’s the best out there if your not comparing it with all that’s out there ? By stating that “I pick my sponsors based of quality “ is piss poor I’m my opinion , I like my wages , and work hard for it, as every one does , but don’t say it’s better quality than others and promote overseas business when it’s bloody expensive here to produce a locally owned product of same quality . Might be me mate . I’m pretty one eyed when it comes to buy Aussie made first when possible , not big brand names
Sold out until August 2021 😢
The main reason they sell out fir a long time is that it can take upto a month just to make 1
Looks well made, heavy, expensive, dangerous and a lot of hassle. Each to their own.
thats a kouta setup
weight weight and more weight when you throw everything else on is a concern for me,,its fustrating i think
$5.5k and 96kg.
Black Series Max is better.
House deposit
So much people on here jealous they can't afford a bushcompany tent haha
Lol.... you what nigga?
A Nice copy of the South African model, but where they differ they got it wrong, struts on the outside is a poor sign for the obvious reasons
No! This is made in South Africa
Paid promo ?!
fuckn oath
its too heavy
Yeah because putting 100kg on top of a 4WD is a good idea ...yes if your IQ is less than 10
Never had an issue pick better lines
@@theexplorelife it's alright mate I get it.. your sponsor pays you to flog their stuff so you just play along like a good little boy
Ronald Reagan I don’t think people do it get 😂 I’m not a big business and I’m not a paid presenter like other shows I pick what products I want to run and yes because I have built a following I am lucky enough to be paid to run the gear I love. If I don’t like the product or the company i don’t promote it. I built a following by sharing product free content that cost me a fortune to mate and I release it for free on UA-cam to hopefully inspire a few more people to get out and see this epic county and to live there best lifestyle!
A normal fold out roof top tent is over 54kg then add a roof rack that's easy 30kg so running the alpha would be more slim line and less heavy then a roof rack and normal roof top tent
Evident after reading your dribble you are a product of your own comment..... He said it was a paid partnership upfront, get off his back.
mate its still made in china
What is ? These products are made in South Africa