AX27 Clamshell Rooftop Tent

AX27: a hard shell clamshell rooftop tent built for long-range touring

The AX27 is The Bush Company's all-round rooftop tent: a fast, comfortable aluminium clamshell with power built in and a roof strong enough to carry the rest of your kit. It weighs 99kg without the ladder or fitment set and stands 280mm high when closed.

Up in 30 seconds, bedding stays inside

The shell closes on custom-made, heavy-duty stainless steel over-centre latches, with holes for a padlock so you can lock the tent.

Release the latches, let the gas struts lift the shell, then slot the 8mm spring steel rods into the stainless steel corner receivers to hold the rainfly out over the entrances. The AX27 is fully set up in about 30 seconds, with no frame to assemble, which suits a late arrival at camp.

It opens to 1.7m of headroom at the entry end, enough to sit up and get changed. Closed, there's more than 120mm of space inside, so standard bedding, sheets and sleeping bags can stay in the tent, along with pillows, doonas and even an electric blanket. That frees up room in the vehicle and keeps your bedding clean and dust free.

Room for two

The 80mm mattress (2.13m long × 1.28m wide) is 40mm of medium-density foam on top for comfort, over a 40mm high-density foam base for a firm foundation that resists bottoming out. It has a removable, zippered canvas cover and sits on a thermal marine carpet underlay designed to help reduce condensation under the mattress.

• Entrances: large front and side entrances make getting in and out easy. Each has an outer canvas door, an inner canvas door and midge mesh, and every canvas door and mesh panel has YKK spiral zips.
• Ventilation: the inner canvas doors let you adjust airflow from inside without opening the midge mesh screens, and a mesh-covered vent above the rear door keeps air moving when everything else is zipped shut.
• Storage: six roof pouches, four large canvas side pouches and two canvas water bottle pockets.
• Carpeted roof liner: Velcro pouches stick straight on.

Built-in power

• Outlets: a 12V socket and twin 2.4A USB-A ports on each side of the mattress.
• Power input: fed from your vehicle through a 50A Anderson plug under the tent, with no extra wiring kit needed.
• Lighting: a movable tri-colour LED light (white, amber and red), battery powered and rechargeable by USB.
• Cable channels: zippered canvas channels run up the inside of the roof and hold the wiring for fans and lights, so nothing snags when you close the tent.

Made for Australian conditions

The frame is B-Tech^® Alloy extruded aluminium with reinforced, welded corners and stainless steel hinges, latches and handles.

The body is dual-layer 315gsm ±5% acrylic-treated polyester ripstop canvas, treated against mould, mildew and UV. The air gap between the two layers works a bit like double glazing: it insulates better against heat and cold and cuts condensation build-up on the inside walls. It also makes the fabric blackout, which adds weather resistance and keeps the tent darker at sunrise.

Automotive-grade rubber seals keep the closed tent dust free and watertight.

In wet weather, a large removable one-piece rainfly with 8mm spring steel poles and adjustable storm straps covers the entrances.

Why the rainfly matters

• Dry entry and exit: it covers the ladder and entryway, so you can get in and out without getting soaked or bringing dripping water inside.
• Extra weather protection: it adds another layer against heavy rain and stops water pooling against the main canvas or doorways.
• Airflow in wet weather: it shields the openings, so windows and vents can stay cracked open without rain splashing in.

A roof that carries the rest of your kit

The internally reinforced roof is rated to 200kg dynamic when closed and 50kg when open, subject to the rating of whatever the tent is mounted to. That's enough for solar panels, boards or a tinny on Rooftop Tent Load Bars.

Ezi-Slot channels take more than 15 accessories without drilling, including:

• recovery track side mounts
• a shovel mount
• the Outhouse Shower Tent
• awning to tent brackets for a freestanding awning

As with any roof-mounted gear, add up the tent, your rack or canopy and everything carried on top, and check the total sits within your vehicle's and rack's dynamic roof load ratings.

Getting in and out

The tent comes with the 2.6m Deluxe Telescopic Ladder with wide angled steps and two ladder brackets: one pre-mounted at the open end and one you can fit to either side. Climb in through the open end or from the side, whichever suits your vehicle setup.

Fitting your tent

The AX27 comes with:

• the Rooftop Tent Universal Fitment Set: six complete fitment brackets, three per side
• two heavy-duty 20mm foot rails with M8 slots

Fit it the usual way, open end at the rear of the vehicle, or in reverse, open end facing forward with the ladder secured to a roof rack on the cab. If you fit it in reverse, the Rooftop Tent Dead Bolt Bracket is required, as extra protection against the tent opening while you're driving.

There are also mounting options for canopies, low-profile mounts and cab clearance. Get in touch if you're not sure what suits your vehicle.

Is the AX27 the right tent?

Pick the AX27 for the most roof capacity in the range and room for full bedding.

• If weight and height profile matter more, the LX27 Gen 2 is 18kg lighter and 105mm lower.
• If you'd rather have near-full headroom from end to end than a clamshell's sloping roof, look at the double-action TX27 and TX27 MAX.

For a full tour of the tent, watch the AX27 product walkthrough video.

Made in South Africa for The Bush Company, with a 2-year conditional warranty.

Shipped direct from The Bush Company.