When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I'm looking for some guidance on how to properly mount a Bush Company 270 Awning to a new Defender. I have a 130 on order which should be here in early December. My primary off roading use will be beach days where I'll set up the awning for the day, so relatively pedestrian at the moment. I don't have any serious overlanding plans in the near future and will reasses what I have when that time comes.
I've been going back and forth on the type of rack and, at least at this point, I think I can get by with a Front Runner Load Bar to attach the awning to the vehicle. The Bush Company awning weighs 61.2 lbs (27.8Kg) and other than shell to store some luggage or beach stuff, I won't be putting much up there other than that. I don't have much experience mounting something to a roof so I'm looking to your guidance on whether this works or I'm missing something.
Is that too much weight one side for a load bar? Are there better options I am missing?
It won't necessarily be too much weight for a rack or load bar per se, but you will need some beefy brackets to support that amount of weight hanging off the side. I'm working through this right now with an Alu-cab shadow 270 awning. You'll really want to look for a bracket that you can mount to either the factory rack or an aftermarket rack if you go that route. Lucky8 is working on what looks to be a very strong awning mount for the factory rack. Personally, I'm switching the factory rack for a Front Runner as the Alu-cab bracket will easily support the awning. I'm not sure if Bush Company or someone else makes a bracket for either rack. If not, you could always have something custom fabricated.
It won't necessarily be too much weight for a rack or load bar per se, but you will need some beefy brackets to support that amount of weight hanging off the side. I'm working through this right now with an Alu-cab shadow 270 awning. You'll really want to look for a bracket that you can mount to either the factory rack or an aftermarket rack if you go that route. Lucky8 is working on what looks to be a very strong awning mount for the factory rack. Personally, I'm switching the factory rack for a Front Runner as the Alu-cab bracket will easily support the awning. I'm not sure if Bush Company or someone else makes a bracket for either rack. If not, you could always have something custom fabricated.
Thanks for the feedback. It comes with 2 "heavy duty L brackets" (pictured) and I haven't seen anyone complain about them so I expect them to be strong enough. You don't see an issue with the cross bars supporting that weight to one side and nothing else on the cross bars?
As I already have the factory Explorer roof rack, I was unsure as to the tenacity of the t-slots so I fitted the Powerful UK rack mounts. They’re solid and I’ve fitted my quick release ARB awning brackets to those and have no issues or movement at all, even with the green laning I do.
Roof Rack Guidance on Mounting an Awning
