Rhino Rack Batwing Awning - Long-Term Overland Awning Review 

If the wind comes somethings gotta give. The hinges are the fuse and easily replaceable. If they were stainless steel then you're looking at bent arms. They probably designed it that way on purpose (plus it's cheaper). If I boaght one I guess I'd order a set of hinges with it to keep in the jeep. Good video. I am in the market and seeing yours break was helpful to know.

Good to see a long term review out there. I have had mine for 3 years now and it has done very well. My only issue has been the hinges. My first trip I had one break, but I had an extra with me and was able to fix on the spot. I have had 2 break since, but I always keep a "repair kit" to fix it when they break. An aluminum replacement would be great! But my next one will be a free standing aluminum one that only requires the poles in higher winds.

Love the top you were wearing in the initial part of the review.

I'm in the market for one, so doing a lot of research. After seeing how easily it broke, and others saying they have had the same problem definitely made me decide that this isn't the one for me. Thanks for your honest review.

Your review was very helpful. I was between this and the EEZI awning, going the other way on the breakage.

Quality review and good production. I subscribed and look forward to more. Cheers.

Thanks for the review. I am really considering it

Probably worth mentioning that they give you two free hinges with the awning and they're designed to break before something more expensive does (e.g. the mounting bracket or the poles).

Seeing the zipper problems, those chincy plastic hinges, and how easy they broke with a little wind, is all I need to see to steer clear of this awning. Thanks for the full disclosure in your video. I have a Eazi-Awn on my current rig, and it is pretty sturdy. All metal parts and a big, strong zipper. I'm looking around to see if I want a different one on the camper that I currently have on order. I definitely won't be putting the Rhino on it.

Great video! Thanks for posting … I’m enjoying your content. Keep it up!

Thanks for the great review. I've been looking into getting an awning for my Suzuki Jimny and I keep going back to the Rhino Batwing. The 'breakage' issue has definitely come up and like people have already pointed out they 'designed it' that way #shrug. You could go with one of the much more solid ones that are even free standing, however in my case weight does matter. It's always going to be some sort of trade off. Cheers!

I had the previous original version - I think they merged or bought it from Oztent. Mine had Rhino Rack Batwing Oztent labels. I had it on a Lexus LX470 with Rhino Rack Pioneer Platform rack and man it was perfect. It was easy to deploy by myself, although the poles were separate so as it deploys, it's temporarily stressing those plastic hinges. After about 3 yrs. I finally had a couple hinges break, but it's designed that way to prevent additional damage. I was at the top of hill overlooking a lake. I didn't even think about the wind coming up off the lake and hitting the awning like a sail. It happened so fast. All of a sudden, two of the poles were snapped and on top of my rig. I ordered some replacement hinges and it was fine. I did not stake it down as that would have prevented it. There was no wind and then WOOOOSH a huge gust came out of nowhere. I like this new design where you can stake down the poles and not have to have guy lines everywhere. As others have said, I'm also considering the free standing type. I've changed rigs - 2015 Tundra with an ARE camper shell - gotta buy the roof rack first.

So glad you left the breakage scenes in - that alone is really informative for some one who is thinking to buy one of these. I am curious to know how long you’ve had the awning and how much use it had before that happened? Thanks for a great review

Great videos; timeline; editing… keep going

thank you. this changed my mind.

Good Video. Pro-tip. Use candle wax on the zippers and then wipe off. What little is left will keep that dirt/mud out of there.

1 - Zipper - use some of that zipper lube that comes with the Yeti soft coolers / or some silicone spray 2 - Hinges - it's designed to be a break away point to save the rest of the system. Consider it a "sacrificial" point to help save further damage. The aluminum would just bend and then you would not be able to get it back into the bag without full dismantling. The hinges are cheap to purchase replacements. Look at all the Indy cars/Nas Car, heck all of our own cars that have plastic crumple zones. 3 - full deployment anchor point - Mine did not have this - all I did was wrap the strap around the back right 90 corner to the #4 support pole and pull it tight. That additional anvil looking thing is just an extra "improvement"

Great vid and review!!

Nice video, thanks for sharing

Good review. Try some bicycle dry lube on the zipper after cleaning it. Will last a long time and move freely.

User Error; As you open it pull the legs down in a supporting manner, don’t t leave it dangling in the wind, find your set up height and leave legs at that height when opening and closing, User Error #2 Peg It Down asap, most damages are from failure to peg it down. 8/10 for review.

That’s what keeps me from buying a batwing awning I have the backbone rack system on my JK and would like to have the batwing awning but it breaks too easy

Any other thoughts on the Rhino Rack Pioneer with a roof top tent? Doesn't seem super common but your Smittybilt video didn't mention it so I assume its ok? Also like the neighborhood, pretty sure I'm right down the street.

Yeti gives a zipper lube that comes in a chapstick looking container. I imagine that would help with your problem. Certainly worth a try

Supposedly they’re meant to break so the frame doesn’t bend and become unusable.

I have an ARB 2.5m on the driver side and an Tuff Stuff on the back. That way I can deploy one or both. And the 2 of them were cheaper than any of the 270 awnings.

Does water come in from the back and sides where it attaches to the rack and hits the back of the rack?

@4:00 I'd say if you know you're going to get it dirty, just run some masking tape or Gaffer's tape on the zipper to keep it clean. Cheap and effective solution.

Have you purchased and used the matching mesh floor saver?

Thanks for the view, been considering these for my LX, same kind of setup with a pioneer platform + awning as you have. Good to know about the hinges breaking as the beaches here in West Aus can get a bit windy so proper setup will be important for me to not break anything.

A quick question what style of roof rack are you using. TIA

Helpful! THX

His first point he likes the height? the height is dependent on where he mounts it to and the height of the vehicle. I'm 6' 8" and its too low when mounted on my mini moke? the fact it broke in the first minute of the video? I'm sure you can find something of equal or better quality for a lower price.

Is it waterproof in the rain?

Just bought one of these. It broke on its first use. The hinges are made of brittle plastic and snapped off in a mild breeze and the struts bent extremely easily. Very unimpressed.

BIGMAN; I was wondering why you decided to install the awning on the driver's side for me I think I would rather place the awning on the passenger side; my reason is; if ever I park On the side of the road for a bit I can set up not being in the way of traffic but to each his own. Play safe from Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada

It’s a $700 awning sometimes you pay for what you get

THE ZIPPER IS THE LEAST OF YOUR WORRIES. I HAVE THE EXACT SAME RHINO RACK BATWING AWNING AS IN THE VIDEO. IF THERE IS EVEN A SLIGHT GUST OF WIND, IT WILL BREAK AT THE HINGES. IT WAS A PAIN TO WORK WITH. I HAD IT ATTACHED TO THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY JEEP AND WENT TO THE BEACH ON A NOT SO WINDY DAY AND GUESS WHAT? THREE HINGES IMMEDIATELY BROKE. LUCKLY I HAD SPARE ONES. BUT TO NO AVAIL, I COULDN'T GET IT SET UP BECAUSE IF IT BLEW A FEW INCHES UP OR DOWN, THE HINGES WOULD BREAK. IT WAS A PAIN IN THE ASS. IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, LOOK AT THE RHINO RACK DEMONSTRATION...YOU KNOW WHERE THEY DEMO THIS AWNING? INSIDE THEIR SHOP GARAGE WHERE THERE ISN'T ANY WIND. LOOK AT THIS VIDEO...HIS BROKE WHEN THERE WAS A SLIGHT GUST...AND WHEN HE SET IT UP THERE WAS NO WIND AT ALL! NO WIND AT ALL! TRUST ME. IT'S A NICE AWNING, BUT THEY NEED TO RE-ENGINEER THE HINGES/BRACKETS. MAYBE CREATE A LONG FLEXIBLE/DURABLE TUBE LIKE RUBBERIZED BRACKET. RHINO MAKES GREAT PRODUCTS, BUT THIS NEEDS TO BE REWORKED.

how convenient that they have replacement parts because they know the cheap plastic is going to break after you made the initial investment now they can charge you extra for parts that they should have just made right the first time. No thanks, i'll pass and go with the all aluminum model from OVS

Their awning case is not keep it dry I owned one it rains it gets wet in the case

I hate this awning. The first time I set it up it broke one of the rods. I fixed it and have very cautious ever since. Recently at a beach while I was seeing it up with no wind, I pulled it out and leant into my cab to get the sand stakes and the slightest breeze blew the awning over my canopy and broke three plastic rods and scratched my car. I would not buy this again. Go for somthing a bit stronger.

Plastic gets brittle in colder weather

bundatec is the best awning buy a mile

how all products work in the rain. no video to prove it.

If it breaks this easily sorry,, It's a hard pass for me

Never would I buy that awning again because how easy it breaks at pivoting joint. And you can't and shouldn't put it out on a light windy day by yourself, it worthless in my book if you can't put it out when your alone.

No thebushcompany

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Rubbish product faded within first month paid top dollar for second rate product . Stitching also started coming undone . Got a refund purchased oztent awning.

fuck, it broke!!!!!!

it's price point is low and the quality is cheap I'm very disappointed in rhino rack

DEDICATION. Fixed it and kept on with the video goddamn

It didn’t brake,you broke it. Strong wind, try to open it without dropping the legs..C’mon seriously.. It’s not a free standing.

You might wanna check overlandpros 4K 270 awning