Canopies

[Rokon]

Really like the looks of this freestanding batwing style canopy.
https://www.kinsmenhardware.com/awning
Anyone have experience with it or have similar canopy recommendations?

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[attworth]

Those look pretty awesome. There’s a few others on the market with various different features. Alu-cab is another freestanding version made from aluminum. Darche eclipse is another, but seems hard to find recently. There’s also several non freestanding versions. Overland Pros come in at a very low cost. The Rhino Rack Batwing is another at a medium price point. I’m sure there are a few others I’m missing.

Kind of depends what you’re looking for. I’m looking at the Alu-cab to save some weight up high. That Kinsmen is appealing for its strength though. One review I saw they mentioned doing pull ups on the extended arms.

The Alu-cab shows about 59 lbs and the Kinsmen about 70 lbs. The benefit to the Kinsmen is it comes with mounts as long as the rack you have is a listed option.

I saw an article a while back that showed aerial shots depicting the various coverage areas. Views like that kind of help show whether what you want covered will be or not. I can’t find it now of course.

Edit: found it! https://expeditionportal.com/made-in-the-shade/

 

[Rokon]

Really like the looks of this freestanding batwing style canopy.
https://www.kinsmenhardware.com/awning
Anyone have experience with it or have similar canopy recommendations?

Then there are the Rhinorack version for a lot less money. Quite a bit lighter. Is going legless worth $1000?? ....

https://www.rhinoadventuregear.com/products/rhino-rack-batwing-awning-right-side-mount

 

[Rokon]

Those look pretty awesome. There’s a few others on the market with various different features. Alu-cab is another freestanding version made from aluminum. Darche eclipse is another, but seems hard to find recently. There’s also several non freestanding versions. Overland Pros come in at a very low cost. The Rhino Rack Batwing is another at a medium price point. I’m sure there are a few others I’m missing.

Kind of depends what you’re looking for. I’m looking at the Alu-cab to save some weight up high. That Kinsmen is appealing for its strength though. One review I saw they mentioned doing pull ups on the extended arms.

The Alu-cab shows about 59 lbs and the Kinsmen about 70 lbs. The benefit to the Kinsmen is it comes with mounts as long as the rack you have is a listed option.

I saw an article a while back that showed aerial shots depicting the various coverage areas. Views like that kind of help show whether what you want covered will be or not. I can’t find it now of course.

Edit: found it! https://expeditionportal.com/made-in-the-shade/

Thanks for the great article. Good info. Really thinking hard on the Go Fast Camper or a homemade version of it equipped with a canopy. Not so sure this style of batwing would not have a bad drip onto the open tailgate.

 

[attworth]

Thanks for the great article. Good info. Really thinking hard on the Go Fast Camper or a homemade version of it equipped with a canopy. Not so sure this style of batwing would not have a bad drip onto the open tailgate.

With GoFast you’ll have a door opening upwards to cover your tailgate, at least mostly.

Positioning might be key, in making sure the back wing swings out over the back of whatever it’s on top of.

I think the Alu-cab have some sort of gutter system at the edge of the back “wing” to help with this as well. I saw it on a Khaya camper video. I’m not sure if that’s an inherent part of the canopy, an add on, or something on the Khaya itself?

 

[attworth]

Then there are the Rhinorack version for a lot less money. Quite a bit lighter. Is going legless worth $1000?? ....

https://www.rhinoadventuregear.com/products/rhino-rack-batwing-awning-right-side-mount

I haven’t run any awnings, so my opinion isn’t worth a lot really, but....

We’ve camped forever. It’s what we do. We’ve always had regular tents. And I can tell you that setting up a tent always sucks. The idea of setting up an awning or shade or whatever makes me really unhappy.

That all changed when we got a Gazelle tent. Obviously completely different than what you’re talking about, but similar in some aspects. It takes me 2 minutes to set up our 8 person tent. Literally changed the game. Especially now that we’ve got 3 little kids running around while I set up.

I think of an awning the same way now. I’ve never considered a standard one because the thought of putting up poles and guy wires makes me angry. That’s why I’ll go with a free standing model if we ever do. If it takes me longer than a couple minutes to deploy and/or take down - I’m out.

Just my couple of cents from a decade or so of camping as an adult.

 

[smlobx]

Attworth I understand your desire for simplicity but for me I would never deploy an awning without some guy ropes. It doesn’t take much of a breeze to completely demolish these awnings, regardless of how their made...

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