Rhino-Rack Batwing and Eezi-Awn Manta Awning Brackets for Front Runner Slimline II Platform Racks

Video Transcript for Front Runner Rhino Rack Batwing and Eezi-Awn Manta Awnings Mounting Brackets Review

Hi, everyone. Aiden here with etrailer. Today we're gonna be taking a look at these mounting brackets for your different awnings from Front Runner. Specifically, this is designed to work with Eezi-Awn Manta Awnings, or Rhino-Rack Batwing Awnings, which we have on today. Let's check it out. So this isn't the only awning bracket that Front Runner makes.

We worked with one earlier today that was actually a quick release bracket, so was very easy to take the awning on and off, leaving behind just a base bracket. But that one was also a little bit more universal. It had a lot more mounting locations, and was designed to work with other brands. But it did sit a little bit lower. And if you're looking for something more permanent for, let's say, your Batwing awning, then this is a nice option because it is a little bit more permanent.

The initial setup is a little bit easier, just because there's less hardware, and everything is designed to work with this specifically, and it puts it up a little higher. So if your vehicle sits a little bit lower to the ground, or you're a bit taller and you want better clearance to walk around underneath your awning, then this could be a great option. Now, with all that being said, even if you've got a Batwing awning, you've gotta make sure you've got the right platform, because this is the designed to work with Front Runner's Slimline II platforms, not their Slimsport. And the reason for that is the Slimline has a side rail here. It's slightly raised from the main platform and has its own top channel and mounting locations of the bottom for the slats.

This bracket utilizes that top channel and some of the mounting locations at the bottom to basically sandwich around the side rail, but also still have a support bracket at the back on the slats. The two will join together to create this reinforced L-shape, and that's what our bracket, or our awning, will mount to. So for me, if you're looking to get a little bit of extra height clearance and you've got the specific brand of awning that these brackets will work with, then I think it's a pretty solid option. The things that make me a little hesitant on it is just how much I liked the quick release option, because it's very easy to take on and off. And that kit even came with mounting brackets for a wall mount.

So when you take it off your vehicle, you can hang it up on a wall in your garage, which is going to protect all the fabric pieces of the awning, make it last a lot longer. So if you're not using it during, let's say, the winter season, it doesn't have to get all that wear and tear, making it last longer. Plus, if you decide to upgrade or change to a different brand of awning down the line, let's say your Batwing becomes damaged for whatever reason and you go to a different maker, then you can use that quick release bracket, just because it's a little bit more universal, whereas you have to stay within the same brand, or get the Eezi-Awn to make it work with this bracket. So it's a little less all encompassing, a little less universal, and it's going to give you a more narrow upgrade path for the future. So for me, I like the options that the quick release bracket will give me, and I think it just worked a little bit nicer. But that's just me. This is a good option if you're looking for something more permanent. Maybe you live in a climate where it is warm all the time and you go camping year round, then this is gonna do the trick just fine and give you a little bit of extra height clearance when you're doing it. Thanks for watching.