TX27 MAX Hardshell Rooftop Tent

TX27 MAX: the biggest hard shell rooftop tent from The Bush Company

The TX27 MAX is the TX27 made 200mm wider. At 1.6m wide, with a 1.45m mattress that's wider than a double bed, it sleeps two adults and a child, or two adults with spare room for gear.

A double-action, pop-up style roof

Both ends of the aluminium roof lift on gas struts, so rather than a clamshell's sloping ceiling you get 1.44m of headroom at the front and 1.28m at the rear. Everyone can sit up at the same time, and getting changed is easy.

Lift the roof, slot the 8mm spring steel poles in to set the front and rear rainflies, and the tent is fully set up in about 60 seconds. With 190mm of space above the mattress when it's closed, standard bedding, sheets, sleeping bags, pillows and doonas can stay inside the closed tent. That frees up room in the vehicle and keeps your bedding clean and dust free.

Some owners with young kids have added their own crossways bunk above the main mattress. The Bush Company doesn't make or supply one, but it shows how much room there is inside.

Sleeping comfort

The 80mm mattress (2.13m long × 1.45m 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 sits in a removable, zippered canvas cover on a thermal marine carpet underlay designed to help reduce condensation under the mattress.

• Storage: six roof pouches, four large canvas side pouches and two canvas water bottle pockets. The carpeted roof liner also takes Velcro pouches.
• Power: a 12V socket and twin USB-A ports on each side of the bed, fed from your vehicle through a 50A Anderson plug.
• 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.

Views and airflow

Large front and side doors make getting in and out easy. All six doors and windows have an external canvas storm door, midge mesh and an internal canvas door, and every canvas door and mesh panel has YKK spiral zips. Together they give about 5m² of ventilation, and you can adjust the internal canvas doors from inside the tent to control airflow without opening the midge mesh screens. A mesh-covered vent above the rear door keeps air moving when everything else is zipped shut. A main rainfly covers the front entrance and both sides, and a smaller one covers the rear window, both held out on 8mm spring steel poles.

Why the rainflies matter

• Dry entry and exit: they cover the ladder and entryways, so you can get in and out without getting soaked or bringing dripping water inside.
• Extra weather protection: they add another layer against heavy rain and stop water pooling against the main canvas or doorways.
• Airflow in wet weather: they shield the openings, so windows and vents can stay cracked open without rain splashing in, which also helps keep condensation down.

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 around both the upper and lower lids keep the closed tent dust free and watertight. It shuts on custom-made, heavy-duty stainless steel over-centre latches, with holes for a padlock so you can lock the tent.

Roof load

The roof is rated to 75kg dynamic when closed and 35kg when open, subject to the rating of whatever the tent is mounted to. Ezi-Slot channels take accessories without drilling:

• 1590mm Rooftop Tent Load Bars made for the MAX
• a solar panel bracket
• recovery track side mounts
• the Outhouse Shower Tent
• awning to tent brackets

The TX27 MAX weighs 133kg without the ladder or fitment set and stands 348mm high when closed. 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 TX27 MAX 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.

At 1.6m wide (1.69m across the gas struts), check it suits your rack or canopy width. There are rooftop tent mounting options if you need them, and you're welcome to get in touch if you're not sure.

TX27 MAX or TX27?

It's the same tent in two widths.

• Go for the MAX if you're travelling with a child or want more room to spread out.
• Go for the TX27 (1.4m wide, 10kg lighter) if it's just the two of you.

For a full walkthrough of the range, watch the TX27 and TX27 MAX product video.

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

Shipped direct from The Bush Company.