Built for the bush: Alu-Cab 270 Shadow awning reviewed

With so many products and variants of those products on the market, it can get pretty overwhelming selecting what’s right for you in terms of durability, price point and ease of use.

Take the simple 4×4 awning. They’re all the same, right? Bolt them on, unzip the cover and extend them out. Well, in that respect they are, but when it comes to quality, it’s the finer details that separate the good from the bad.

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What makes a good 4×4 awning?

South African-based Alu-Cab (↗) offers a high-end freestanding 270-degree awning.

Called the Shadow (↗), it’s packed with features. It provides a huge 10m² of shade made from a polyester-based cloth impregnated with an acrylic-based resin. A lot of awnings out there today are full polyester to keep the weight down, but after a few years the UV material wears thin, making the awning and its protection useless.

If you think 315gsm swag-type canvas material, you’re on the right track, with a high waterhead rating of 600mm. The top of the awning has a silver coating that repels water, dries quickly and has a built-in mould-resistant covering, while also reflecting the sun’s harmful rays.

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Design and features

There are plenty of other sneaky and well-thought-out features.

These include tough 316 stainless mounting brackets, a pop-up support piece to create a high point in the awning for water run-off and added headroom, one drop-down leg just in case the wind picks up, and individual straps for each arm – not thin tie-down ropes – cleverly stored for easy access and use. On each arm, mounting points are already pre-drilled if you want to add extra adjustable legs.

Coming in at 24kg and 2600mm when closed up, the whole awning fits neatly into a lightweight aluminium frame, making it super easy and reliable to set up. Alu-Cab has put thought into the three swing-out arms, as when set up, the Shadow Awning provides proper square coverage at the side and rear of your 4×4, not funny angles like on other awnings.

Alu-Cab also offers a 2m Shadow Awning for smaller 4x4s and a 180-degree awning, both with the same high-quality features and designed for one-person set-up. The awnings pack away neatly and easily with three tie-up straps into a heavy-duty PVC bag with quality and dependable YKK zips. Alu-Cab has made these awnings easy to use, so you will actually feel comfortable using one every time you pull up for camp or a day trip to protect yourself from the elements.

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Pricing and options

The Shadow Awning retails for $2029 at selected Alu-Cab dealers.

More specs and product information can be found online. Awning brackets (↗) can be bought separately for $249, while a Shadow Awning rain gutter (↗) is available for $209. The Shadow is available for both left- and right-hand sides.

Alu-Cab Australia is based in Keysborough, Victoria, and can be contacted directly at:

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 1800 801 695

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FAQs

How much does the Alu-Cab Shadow Awning cost?

The Shadow Awning retails for $2029 at selected Alu-Cab dealers. Awning brackets are available separately for $249, while a Shadow Awning rain gutter costs $209.

How much does the Shadow Awning weigh and how big is it?

It weighs 24kg and measures 2600mm when closed. It provides 10m² of shade when set up.

Is the Shadow Awning suitable for one-person setup?

Yes. The awning is designed for easy one-person setup and packs away with three tie-up straps into a heavy-duty PVC bag with YKK zips.

What sizes and fitting options are available?

Alu-Cab also offers a 2m Shadow Awning for smaller 4x4s and a 180-degree awning. The Shadow is available for both left- and right-hand sides.