Rhino-Rack Batwing Awning - Roof Rack Mount - Bolt On - Passenger's Side - 118 Sq Ft

by: Mike10/10/2022

Love this awning! I installed a Batwing awning on a RAM Promaster High Roof van. Had to purchase extended legs for it so they will reach the ground. It is great to be able to be protected from the elements at both the side and the back of the van and while moving between side and back.
Some things to be aware of:
1) At least one ladder is needed for opening and closing the awning in this high-roof situation. And it is best to do it with 2 people.
2. With the crossbars mounted on the vehicle's standard middle and rear mounting posts, the awning does not completely cover the sliding door. The front 24 to 30" or so of the door is exposed. If the crossbars are mounted to the front and middle mounting points, most of the sliding door will be covered, but the awning will not extend as far out on the rear.
3. Rain will come through between the side of the van and the awning. The crossbars need to be shifted as far to the driver's side as possible in order to minimize the gap between the side of the van and the awning.
4. The height of these vans makes the awning even more susceptible to being pulled up by wind gusts. Make sure the awning is secured to the ground. This is another reason why it is best to open the awning with 2 people.1446061

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by: David V.12/02/2019

This is the one piece of camping gear that once it's set up people just come by and say "whoah".
First off, it's huge and the amount of coverage it gives is amazing and makes single panel awnings just look silly in comparison. I love how easy it is to set-up which makes it a no-brainer whether or not to deploy it, always yes.
Here's a few tips after using it for a year...
If it's windy at all stake it down and if you have a buddy to help with setup all the better. These things are like giant sails and I've snapped a few of the hinge pieces due to big gusts and not staking it down. The GOOD news is that the hinges are designed to snap under load (instead of the more expensive arms) and are easily replaceable and you can do it with basic hand tools by yourself so keep the spares they give you in the stake pouch.
You can extend the coverage with the zip-on panels ...or just get some spring clamps and attach a sheet/tarp/towel/whatever for the extra shade.
I had someone come up and chat me up about the awning and he asked this simple question, "if you had to do it over would you buy this one again?". 100% yes.728847

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I was looking for an awning that covered the tailgate of my truck bed and I already had an awning that hung of the side of my truck so instead of buying a second small one I sold off my existing side awning and purchased the Batwing. I had read great reviews about the previous model and was confident that the new one would be even better.

When the awning arrived I was very disappointed just by looking at the packaging. It looked like it had been thrown around whenever it was handled and had several punctures in the cardboard box. It also had a ton of extra tape on the ends as if it had been opened before or fell out during shipment. After opening up the box I was relieved that there was not any significant damage to the awning itself.

Ok on to the awning itself...
During initial setup in my driveway I was wowed at how easy everything was to setup by myself. I love how the poles are held in place to the mounting plate with magnets and to deploy it all you have to do is grab the top one, pull it away and the rest of them release on their own. Another thing I love about the Batwing is that the vertical support legs are built into the awning itself. They deploy and pack away very easily. I did not stake it down or guy it out during this test setup. The awning comes with hardware and brackets to mount onto your roof rack though you may need different hardware depending on what rack you have. The coverage this awning provides is just what I wanted and it's features make it well worth the investment.

One thing I would change is I wish the cover was fully zippered instead of 90% zippered with a Velcro closure at the back end. The hinge is exposed and water runs inside and gets the awning wet. I live in the Pacific northwest and a little bit of rain has found it's way to the front of the awning.494460

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by: Bryan Baker09/13/2019

I've had the Rhino Rack Batwing for 1 year now and it has held up to many weather scenarios. From blistering sun to pounding rain and wind, it hasn't failed me yet. Every trip we go on, people are amazed at it's size and simplicity. And they're even more impressed by how affordable it is versus a conventional awning. I have been very impressed with the quality of this product and would promote it to anyone looking for an 8 foot awning.703293

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We received the Batwing Awning last week and immediately went to set it up. The packaging leaves a bit to be desired as it is mostly just the awning inside a box with no real protection. But ours arrived just fine. The installation supplies came in a separate box which for some reason wasn't delivered the same day. Not a huge deal but a bit of a bummer. We ordered the optional Yakima round bar install kit as well.

Installation is pretty simple and quick. The installation manual is a bit convoluted and not super clear in my opinion but really looking at the parts it is pretty easy to figure out how it installs. We installed the "L" brackets to the rack first using the Yakima mounting kit. We left the u-bolt a bit loose so the brackets could move a bit. From there, there are 4 t-bolts that slide in channels so we slide those in. Now for lifting the actual Batwing, it will depend both on your size and vehicle. We used two people and it was easy. We left one end on the ground and lifted the other till we could installed on of the t-bolts. From there one of us lifted the other end up and the second person slide the bolts to where they needed to be and installed the nuts. Then it was just a matter of tightening everything down. We did snug the t-bolts down and then loosened them a half turn which left the batwing slide in the tracks for positioning.

One thing to note with the mounting. There is only one spot for the U-bolt to go through the "L" bracket. Depending on how your bars are setup you might not have all that much adjustment possibly as to how far out the batwing will be. On our bars there is only about 2.5 inches of bar and then the Yakima "feet" that mount the bar to the trailer. The L bracket and u-bolt are such a design that we had to mount it to those 2.5" which has the batwing approx. 1" over the edge of the trailer. We would have liked to have it recessed over the trailer but the Yakima feet prevent this. This isn't a problem with the batwing but just something to consider.

After we had the batwing mounted we decided to open it up. If you have watched a video....it really is that easy. Undo the end Velcro flap, unzip, and flip the cover over. Then just grab the front and pull the bar out. Then just start walking it out and it opens right up. It does sag quite a bit and I wouldn't leave it unsupported for long. Or if its windy I would consider doing one section at a time and staking it down before opening it up more. Once its open pull down the support leg and set it to the height desired. The legs are just tall enough to clear the rear hatch on our teardrop. Our teardrop is a "off-road" model and does sit a bit higher so regular height teardrops would have no issue. To put it away its pretty much the opposite. Though we started at the far end, folded the leg up, then moved to the next pole. Putting the Batwing away was overall simple and easy. The magnets hold the poles in well enough. We got it to zip the first try though it was a bit tight. When rolling the material to put it away try to spread it out instead of letting it bunch up in one spot. Overall for our first time setup/deployment took around 5 minutes and putting it away took about the same. Future times should be quicker.

Of note is to make sure you stake it down and use the guy-wires if its at all windy. We didn't for the driveway setup and a slight gust (around 10mph) was enough to lift one section up for a moment. it does act like a big sail so just make sure to have it properly secured if its going to be windy.

As for use, it provides a lot of cover. Especially for shade! For rain protection it will work well. Though you might end up with less "space" if the rain isn't straight down.

On our teardrop the edge by the door barely goes past the door so any sort of wind could most likely blow rain on the door. Same at the last section it barely covers the rear drivers corner so again it might not fully protect against rain. But it still does provide a lot of coverage. We do plan to get one of the available wall sections to attach for if we do need rain protection.

We are very pleased with both the quality and the ease of use of the Batwing. We recommend it!543881

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Overall, a great build. Installed easily. Pairs really nicely with the Pioneer Platform. I've read some other concerns about how the back end doesn't seal up tight from water when storing. This is true, but unless you are parked with a forward slant, the water should stay out of the unit or dry out fairly quickly. The ease of setup and overall coverage of the batwing design is superb.1284911

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by: Joe06/27/2019

We just got back from our second long trip out west and I didn't want to give a review of the awning until we returned.

To be honest I'm not happy with the Rhino awning.

For starters the cover leaks badly. After every rain I need to open, drain and let dry to prevent mold.

The front of the support has already cracked. This doesn't effect operation but is disappointing.

The legs of the awning supports have also have broken and no longer adjust, not sure if I caused this or they have just seized in one of the pole sections.

The awning can not be set up in the lightest of wind unless it's fully staked out with guy lines. Doesn't sound like a big deal but negates the advantage of setting it up quickly, a $50 big box store awning can be set up as quick.

For the price it's not worth the cool factor and I wouldn't recommend to a friend for purchase.

Hope this helps663562

Fast shipping and great communication. I bought my crossbars from etrailer.com and came back for the awning. They were cheaper than [another company], too.

Item arrived early and well packaged. Got to install it today and everything worked and the awning deployed well. Would recommend and would buy from etrailer again.1137540

Tracey

8/29/2022

Still recommend etrailer but would NEVER recommend the Batwing awning or Rhino Rack again. The awning was cheaply made and did not withstand even a mild breeze without ripping their supplied guy lines and stakes out of the ground and flipping the awning over my car - breaking two arms and scratching my paint. Its a giant, cheap sail attached to your car and The entire design is flawed for exactly that outcome and Rhino Rack knows it. Their customer support was a big finger. They did, however point me to replacement parts that would quickly add up to the cost of the awning. I will NEVER buy Rhino Rack products again and advise anyone reading this to look for alternatives. You are now buying their name and not any kind of quality or support. I sold my awning 2 months after buying it for a loss, but I was very happy to see that POS go. These 270 awnings are a great idea, but shop for a better one. Dont be me. Spend a bit more and get a better product.

Everything about this transaction was amazing. Great price, super fast shipping and the product was perfect.1671232

by: WayneS09/10/2019

Much improved over the previous Foxwing. It’s stable in strong winds if guyed out properly, love the integrated poles and guy and stake stowage
Recommend the tapered extensions with this, creates great wind/ rain barrier and additional privacy and covered living space.
Disappointed in the bag design. It leaks while stowed allowing the awning fabric to stay wet and mildew. 700064

by: Clyde & Sandra06/18/2020

LOVE LOVE LOVE this awning!! It's absolutely perfect for what we wanted on the trailer! We use it for dog shows and wanted to ensure the dogs had shade all day and this means we don't have to take crates out of the trailer and move them around. It wraps down the side and fully across the back of the trailer giving them shade all day long!! We purchased a couple of extra side panels so that in the rain we could extend over our side door or down the back door of the trailer.

This is by far tied for the BEST INVESTMENT we have made into the trailer (solar panels)! Easy open for just my wife to use when she travels alone. And we get a ton of compliments on it too! The cost was super affordable considering the price of a regular roll out awning was the same so this was a much better deal! Shipping and contacting the company was a breeze!!821071

Upgraded the camper van 1355263

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by: Dennis03/02/2021

The Rhino-Rack Batwing Awning is amazing. It is easy to set up and will provide lots of shade at those hot camping sites. We were going to take it back east when our country got shut down. Hope to take it out this summer.972604

This review is directed more toward doing business with etrailer rather than reviewing the product itself. Although I'm sure the awning will not disappoint after reading too many positive reviews. I'm an active duty Coast Guard member serving in Southeast Alaska in a remote island where shipping is a nightmare more often than not. I contacted RhinoRack directly for this awning and asked about shipping. RhinoRack responded with saying shipping to Southeast Alaska would be $600!!! It was a pleasure doing business with etrailer. They were able to save me lots of money, and kept me informed on my purchase and shipping information. The item arrived on time and in great condition. Thank you for your help and support etrailer!642049

I live in a semi arid region of Southern California, so shade is pretty crucial for me. Since I intend to do solo trips in my Honda Element, I shopped around for an awning that looked easy to deploy solo, and the Batwing was it. It’s not installed yet, since etrailer’s shipping was so fast, it actually got here before all the parts for my roof rack were delivered!560651

by: Adam S07/20/2020

Absolutely the best addition to my NuCamp Tag Boondock travel trailer. I got the idea from Josh St John. I highly recommend this addition....it is a requirement for your Tag. The cost of the awning is far outweighed by the benefit.845985

by: Sharon07/30/2022

Staff are very helpful and informative. I will definitely order from them again when I need any other equipment. Thanks etrailer1344869

Fast delivery! Great product and very easy to use website! I will be an etrailer return customer!606936

Awesome product! My wife and I love it! 1402625

by: Lisa08/17/2021

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Definitely the awning to get for the smaller SUVs. Deploys easily for one person. Was also easy to install.1775064

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