Today we are talking about one of the best things I have ever added to the Jeep. I purchased the Rhino-Rack Batwing awning very shortly after a month-long trip through the Spanish Pyrenees and the Italian Alps, an adventure that I desperately wish I could have taken with this awning loaded. Before I get to talking specs and why I think you should load one, I will say before even starting that this awning checks all the boxes and is getting a recommendation from me to all my friends and fellow travelers.
THE SPECS
Rhino-Rack's Batwing is their entry into the 270° awning range. It has the option to be mounted left or right side open, comes in a compact (78 inches long), and full-size options (98 inches long). I am running the full-size option, and it fits the entire length of my Jeep very well with nothing protruding from either side. Once fully opened up, the coverage is impressive, wrapping across the rear of the Jeep putting everything under its protective shelter. For the number folks, its 118 sq ft of coverage and only adds about 40ibs to your roof rack. Everything is packed away in a durable PVC material cover bag that can be replaced if damaged (it puts up with trail rash, I have already run mine through some scratchy trails without any issue). Inside the cover, you will find an integrated bag that you can pack your included guide ropes and pegs. This awning does not store the poles separate, they all store with the canvas inside the storage bag on the side of your truck, eliminating the frustration of finding a home in the truck for the poles and dealing with them when setting up.
Worth considering some small lights like these from Black Diamond to hang from the guide loops!
The Good
I love how quick the awning is to setup. Park your vehicle, unzip the storage bag, let loose three velcro straps holding the canvas tight and let it unroll. Next, tug on the top pole and let the awning expand out to the back of your truck and secure the tension strap to the opposite side of your rig. At this point, the awning will be in a sort of limp mode, all that is left to do is let the three support legs down and set their height with the friction locks. Takedown of the system is just as simple due to the small magnets helping secure the poles in the storage bag and the legs only needing to be folded back up without requiring adjustments for storage. This awning has the setup time of the pole-free competitors that come in at nearly double its cost of roughly $750, making it the perfect middle of the road option for anyone.
Final Thoughts
All the details make this awning more than worth the asking price. The included extra hinges in case you have to do a field repair are lovely. I initially hated that the pivot was plastic until learning it was by design so that if wind breaks your awning, it will fail at a point where it can be easily replaced at minimal cost instead of snapping a support pole! The magnetic ends on the poles to facilitate easier packing away are an excellent idea and work correctly without issue. Including cross peg feet on the poles right from the start instead of offering them as an additional cost is great. They have included everything in the initial package minus a rubber mallet to punch in the pegs. This alone says a lot about the company in comparison to its now competitor Oz-Tent and their Foxwing system. Speaking of if you previously had a Foxwing, I have confirmed the sidewalls and tents will still zip to this awning just the same! Having a 270° awning on the truck is a game-changer. It allows you to expand your shade on a beautiful summer day or hide away from that constant rain I have seen so much while in England. It will enable you to be out and social at camp when mother nature is not being her friendliest. Instead of everyone hunkering down and hoping it all stops at the end of the day in their little caves, you can bring everyone under one shelter and crack a few cold ones.
The optional side walls are not a must but are on my list, and the walls come packaged with additional poles to allow you the option to extend your coverage instead of choosing privacy. I will say the only issue I have had with the system is the friction lock on the poles. However, I suspect this was likely a case of user error and not a design fault, and to Rhino-Racks credit, they replaced the poles without issue anyway, no fuss. Customer Service? Check. I also don't love the design choice of having to flap the inner peg/rope storage bag out of the way. When opening up, it is no real issue. When closing, however, I always manage to forget about it when having had to use the pegs. I end up closing the poles on top of it and having to backtrack to free it later. Not sure how it can be done better, so no real complaint there. Overall this is one of the best awnings out there strictly off its quality and features alone. On top of that, it quickly takes the top spot on the value-for-money chart when comparing it to the other options out today.