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sharkey964

Member Since: 05 Oct 2014
Location: On a muddy track
Posts: 570

2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black

Batwing/Foxwing

So,I thought I'd share my recent experience & views on the Batwing & Foxwing awnings.
First a little bit of the background to this.
I have had a 300Tdi 90 for the last 15 years,started out as a standard truck,built it into a full spec double winch equiped challenge truck.Then on to it's latest incarnation as an overland camper,with roof tent.& Foxwing awning.
I have been fancying doing a 110 poptop conversion for a couple of years,so after finding a suitable 110 & fitting an Alucab icarus,the time came to fit an awning.
Try as I might,I could not find any stockists with a RH Foxwing in the whole of Europe.So,looked for an alternative.The rhino rack Batwing came up....Looked very good in the reviews I read,plus it has a couple of features that the Foxwing doen't,namely the legs are integral & the storage for pegs & ropes is a little sac incorperated in the main bag.
So I ordered one form a company here in France.After a 6 week delivery it arrived,fitted it in a couple of hours....Happy days.
I hten drove out into the garden to put it up,see how it looked/worked.All good at this point.
Turned round to get the pegs to peg the legs down,what I can only describe as a slight breeze picked the whole thing up & folded it over the roof of the 110.To say I wasn't happy is a slight under statement.

I have been using my Foxwing for the last 5 or 6 years sometimes in quite strong winds without the slightest problems.
The Rhino rack Batwing is very cheaply made,the main hinge is plastic,as are all the other jopints,hence it snapping so easily,the tubes are very thin steel so bend very easily......Totaly diferent to the Foxwing,all the joints & main hinge arer ally,as are the poles.Even the straps have nice strong plastic clips to secure them,unlike the Batwings Cheap velcro.
So....to sum up,if your looking for an awning,I would look else where than the Rhinorack Batwing.
Marc.

14th Dec 2020 3:04pm

JOW240725

Member Since: 04 May 2015
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 7873

2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Orkney Grey

I've been looking at self-supporting awnings so thanks for the feedback on one to avoid. I hope you get sorted with a decent replacement soon. James
MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html
MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641
MY1984 90 V8 Slate Grey - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post744557.html#744557
Instagram @suffolk_rovers

14th Dec 2020 3:34pm

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 16858

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey

That's interesting to read. Only the other day someone was singing the praise of the Batwing to me (I have a Foxwing) so a contrasting view interesting. I've certainly been very pleased with my Foxwing, although the support and parts supply on the UK is in turmoil at the moment, but hopefully a new importer will soon step up and the situation will improve.

You may or may not be aware that the Series 2 Foxwing cover now also has storage for the poles and pegs, which is a big help. The S2 cover is a direct replacement for the original, and I have just bought one for mine.

14th Dec 2020 3:41pm

sharkey964

Member Since: 05 Oct 2014
Location: On a muddy track
Posts: 570

I'm currenyly on my 3rd cover for my Foxwing,as they tend to get ripped when forging through thick bushes.I sourced the last one through Brendan,(Adventure Overland)around 2 years ago,no internal storage in that one.....Maybee,when I replace it I'll be able to get a series 2.
The integral fold down poles would be aa good addition for the Foxwing.....
Marc

14th Dec 2020 4:11pm

NormanD

Member Since: 12 Aug 2011
Location: Bristol
Posts: 282

2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Santorini Black

Found this via 'Fire to Fork' YouTube channel: - https://www.thebushcompany.com.au/awnings/ looks to be well made NormanD WE191

2015 110 XS Utility
2014 VW Caravelle 180 Executive

14th Dec 2020 6:09pm

jst

Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 7682

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey

i have had a foxwing for quite a few years and its used alot. faultless, but arent the hinges plastic on the later ones? Cheers

James
110 XS Utility
130 Puma Station wagon/camper (in the making)
90 Puma Hardtop

14th Dec 2020 7:45pm

90 Dreamer

Member Since: 13 Jul 2019
Location: Oop North
Posts: 2050

2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Corris Grey

blackwolf wrote:
That's interesting to read. Only the other day someone was singing the praise of the Batwing to me (I have a Foxwing) so a contrasting view interesting. I've certainly been very pleased with my Foxwing, although the support and parts supply on the UK is in turmoil at the moment, but hopefully a new importer will soon step up and the situation will improve.

You may or may not be aware that the Series 2 Foxwing cover now also has storage for the poles and pegs, which is a big help. The S2 cover is a direct replacement for the original, and I have just bought one for mine.

There still seems plenty advertised so whats the deal with the importer??

14th Dec 2020 10:16pm

sharkey964

Member Since: 05 Oct 2014
Location: On a muddy track
Posts: 570

jst wrote:
i have had a foxwing for quite a few years and its used alot. faultless, but arent the hinges plastic on the later ones?

I don't know about the later ones,mine is all ally,I have had it for 6 years & I bought it second hand.

14th Dec 2020 11:03pm

sharkey964

Member Since: 05 Oct 2014
Location: On a muddy track
Posts: 570

90 Dreamer wrote:
blackwolf wrote:
That's interesting to read. Only the other day someone was singing the praise of the Batwing to me (I have a Foxwing) so a contrasting view interesting. I've certainly been very pleased with my Foxwing, although the support and parts supply on the UK is in turmoil at the moment, but hopefully a new importer will soon step up and the situation will improve.

You may or may not be aware that the Series 2 Foxwing cover now also has storage for the poles and pegs, which is a big help. The S2 cover is a direct replacement for the original, and I have just bought one for mine.

There still seems plenty advertised so whats the deal with the importer??

All the suppliers I contacted,including Brendan,(Adventure overland) had no stock,they all seem to be having dificulty getting them from Oz due to Covid.
Marc.

14th Dec 2020 11:05pm

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 16858

The current UK importer has stopped trading "temporarily", ostensibly due to Covid and relocation, however the word on the street is that he has retired. Most UK retailers are out of stock since the importer is not currently importing, and it turns out that a retailer called Norwich Camping and Leisure has bought much if not all of the stock from the erstwhile importer. NC&L is where I eventually tracked down the Series 2 Foxwing cover I needed.

Oztent in Australia is clearly well aware of the issues that UK customers are currently having and reading between the lines of the correspondence I have recently had with them I suspect that the UK importer situation is under review. Hopefully there will be good news soon.

14th Dec 2020 11:48pm

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