Rhino Rack Batwing Review: 118 Square Feet of Shade
Buy the Batwing if you camp in one place for days and want shade over the whole working side and rear of the vehicle. Skip it if your roof load is already committed to a rooftop tent, because an awning of this size and weight on top of a tent puts many vehicles over their dynamic roof rating.
270 degrees of cover that sets up in minutes, and the roof load it costs you.
Rhino Rack Batwing Awning
~$548
A 270 degree wraparound awning giving 118.5 square feet of cover, in UPF 50+ ripstop, with poles, ropes, pegs and a roof rack fitting kit included.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Coverage | 270 degrees, 118.5 sq ft |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Heavy-duty ripstop, 210D P/OX water resistant, PU 2000 mm |
| Sun protection | Tested and rated UPF 50+ |
| Included | Poles, ropes, pegs, roof rack fitting kit, 10 stakes, 2 brackets, 8 ropes |
| Legs | Adjustable lightweight legs with moulded feet |
| Mounting | Brackets compatible with Pioneer platforms and Rhino-Rack or Thule cross bars, fit kit may be required |
| Handedness | Available in left or right-hand models |
Specifications above come from Rhino Rack's published feature list. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- 118.5 square feet of cover wrapping the side and rear turns the area behind the vehicle into a room, which is where most of a camping day happens.
- Everything needed is in the bag, including the fitting kit, which is unusual and saves a second purchase.
- UPF 50+ is a tested rating rather than a claim, and it matters if you camp in high sun.
- Deployment is genuinely fast: fold out the arms and peg the ropes.
- The bag and hinges are replaceable, which is what determines whether an awning lasts five years or fifteen.
Where it falls short
- It is heavy and it lives on the roof, so it comes directly off your dynamic roof load allowance alongside a rack and any tent.
- 270 degree awnings catch wind. In gusty conditions they need guying properly or taking down, and that judgement is on you.
- It is handed. Buying the wrong side is an expensive mistake and the listing distinguishes them.
- Water resistant is not waterproof. In sustained heavy rain expect misting through the fabric and pooling where the geometry allows it.
- Side walls, extensions and a floor are separate purchases, so the fully enclosed setup people photograph costs considerably more.
What owners report
Owner reports on 270 degree awnings converge on two things: they change camp life more than almost any other purchase, and they are the item most often damaged by wind. Nobody regrets the shade; people regret leaving it out overnight in a forecast they did not check. Guy it properly and take it down when the wind gets up.
The second theme is mounting. An awning plus a rack plus a rooftop tent is a large amount of mass at the highest point on the vehicle, and the dynamic roof load rating while driving is the number that governs. Check what is left with the payload weight calculator, and read our bed rack versus roof crossbars comparison if you have not decided how it will attach.
Third, format. A 270 degree awning is a different tool from a rectangular one, and for people who move daily the smaller and lighter rectangular option is often the better buy. Our 270 awning versus rectangular awning comparison sets out the trade honestly, including the weight and price difference.
Who it suits
- People who camp in one spot for several days.
- Anyone cooking and working outside the vehicle in strong sun.
- Builds that already have a rated platform or cross bars to mount to.
Who should skip it
- Vehicles already at their dynamic roof load with a tent and a rack.
- Daily movers, who will find a rectangular awning faster and lighter.
- Anyone camping regularly in high wind, where a large awning is a liability.
Alternatives worth considering
Thule Tepui Explorer Kukenam 3
~$2,000
If the roof can only carry one thing, sleeping arrangements usually matter more than shade, and an awning can be added later if the numbers allow.
Check price on AmazonMAXXAIR Maxxfan Deluxe Vent, Fan and Vent Cover
~$420
In a van, moving air inside does more for heat comfort than shade outside, and it costs less roof load.
Check price on AmazonBaja Designs Squadron 2.0 Pro LED Light Pod Pair
~$500
If most of your camping is arriving after dark rather than sitting out in the sun, lighting changes more trips than shade does.
Check price on AmazonKeep reading
- 270 awning vs rectangular awning compared
- Bed rack vs roof crossbars compared
- Payload weight calculator
- Thule Tepui Kukenam 3 review
- Smittybilt Overland GEN2 tent review
- MaxxAir MaxxFan Deluxe review
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 270 degree awning worth it over a rectangular one?
If you stay put for days, yes, because wrapping the side and rear gives you a usable outdoor room rather than a strip of shade. If you move daily, a rectangular awning is lighter, cheaper and faster to pack, and the extra coverage goes unused.
Will it survive wind?
Guyed properly it handles normal conditions. In gusty weather any large awning is a sail, and the sensible response is to take it down rather than to add more rope. Wind damage is the most common way these are destroyed.
Do I need a specific roof rack?
The included brackets fit Pioneer platforms and Rhino-Rack or Thule cross bars, and a fit kit may be needed. More importantly, the bars and their mounting points must be rated for the awning's weight, and your vehicle's dynamic roof load rating governs everything.
Left hand or right hand: which do I need?
It depends which side of the vehicle you want the wrap on, which is usually the side away from traffic and towards your camp. Decide before ordering, because it is not convertible.
Is it waterproof?
It is water resistant with a PU 2000 mm rating, which handles normal rain. In sustained heavy rain expect some misting and set it with enough slope that water runs off rather than pooling.
How we choose: we compare published manufacturer specifications, standards documents including ABYC E-11, and verified owner reviews. We do not test gear in person. Vehicle payload, roof load and charging limits vary by model and year, so confirm yours against the door jamb sticker and the owner's manual rather than any number published here.
Totalling your own build weight against your payload? The Overland Build & Power Planner is the paid version of these pages: 8 printable worksheets you fill in with your own numbers, plus the full PDF, $29.