Hey Buckland - These mounts for our Rhino Batwing are bomber. We've not had any problems with them. The design and construction was done by a company called Mule. They are located in Issaquah Washington. They only part my wife and I played was to OK the design and pay them for the brackets. They have a CNC machine so I was glad to leave the work for them to do. I'm sorry but I do not know where they sourced the metal from.
New batwing awning
- Thread starter slimboy51
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Was wondering if someone wouldn't mind sketching the stainless brackets with measurements. I called FWC and was quite impolitely told they aren't for sale. I'd like to attempt to do the same mount as Hodakaguy did for the Alu-Cab. All that is needed is to have the rear most mount bracket welded to a vertical piece that bolts to the jack stand bracket holes on the corner. This makes the hinged end of the awning rock solid (I've been told). Maybe AT campers would be more open to help?
Rob, there’s one way to find out, give them a call. Marty is easy and good to work with.buckland said:
park
Senior Member
My two cents worth but here goes. Those batwing or really any type of awning is eventually going to become a windsail. If you're there and the wind substantially picks up I guess you can take it down but I was in Baja this past winter and a guy was out paddleboarding and the wind came up, fast, and it destroyed that bat wing thing along with damaging the siding on the camper. Gear heads love this type of stuff but I just don't see the need for it, especially at what they're being sold for.
Park - You're right about that. We went into this purchase knowing that but still went ahead a bought the thing. The good part about our connection is that it's not connected to the camper where it could do damage if the wind picked up all of a sudden. So far it's been worth the purchase.
I did contact ATC and had a nice talk...sent the plans to them but did not hear back. They don't do the batwing ...so they don't have that type of mount that steps it out from the camper. They use the awning that attaches directly to the camper.
So back to square one. As I live on the east coast there are very few FWC so can't get near one to measure the brackets. If anyone has one that can measure L/W/D and screw hole pattern I'd appreciate it. Seems a small thing for FWC to answer and makes me think I won't go back to them again.
So back to square one. As I live on the east coast there are very few FWC so can't get near one to measure the brackets. If anyone has one that can measure L/W/D and screw hole pattern I'd appreciate it. Seems a small thing for FWC to answer and makes me think I won't go back to them again.
larryqp
Senior Member
I have been a full-time RVer for over 20 years, and have never lost an awning, because our rule is, if one of us is not sitting under it or very nearby, we put it up. I have seen big RV awnings on big 40ft motorhomes, with tie downs, completely ripped off the RV when a quick squall comes up.
That being said I just had a batwing installed by the FWC dealer in TX and I plan to follow the same rule. I'll measure the brackets and post the dimensions with some photos.
That being said I just had a batwing installed by the FWC dealer in TX and I plan to follow the same rule. I'll measure the brackets and post the dimensions with some photos.
Much obliged. I'm of the same sort who falls on the overly cautious side.
larryqp
Senior Member
there are 3 brackets thru bolted into the camper side wall which the awning is attached to and one bracket on the rear of the camper which holds the rear awning arm after you swing it open. There is a backing plate inside the camper where the thru bolts go thru the aluminum top plate.
Sorry the photos are not orientated correctly
Attachments
Thanks a ton.. really appreciate you taking the time for both the drawings and photos... how thick are the three brackets? 3/16”? And width is 3”?
This will help a lot.
This will help a lot.
larryqp
Senior Member
1/4 inch thick, 3" wide
Thank You!
Rob
Rob
Oilbrnr
Senior Member
Alu-Cab replacement for factory installed Eezi-Awn. I think the incorporation of the corner jack bracket is significant and I plan to do something similar for my Shadow Awn.
https://expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/alu-cab-shadow-awning-install-on-a-fwc-swift-replacing-the-batwing.196140/
https://expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/alu-cab-shadow-awning-install-on-a-fwc-swift-replacing-the-batwing.196140/
jimjxsn
Senior Member
I originally mounted the awning with jack bracket mounts I fabricated. They were 1x2 aluminum uprights with 1 1/4" (1/4" thick) angle for the top. The rear upright was solid bar and the front 1/4 " hollow tube. They did require mounting high enough to clear the door when deployed and out enough to clear the lowered roof.kgree3 said:
They worked great but I decided to change them because I didn't like having to remove them to reinstall the jacks over the winter. I ended up replacing them with bolt on wall mounts, made from the same 1 1/4" aluminum angle (1/4" thick) with the wall mount being 2x3" 1/4" angle aluminum. I bought materials for three mounts but only ended up using two mounts.
rover67
Advanced Member
Rob,buckland said:
Did you end up getting it installed? how'd it go? Did you simply bolt through the camper or find the aluminum frame?
Life lately is happening while I make other plans... this last year all is like watching a 5 year old have a tantrum.
I have made no headway on the awning but find it hopeful that FWC now installs the Alu-cab awning... I'd follow their guidelines.
Maybe next year for me.
I have made no headway on the awning but find it hopeful that FWC now installs the Alu-cab awning... I'd follow their guidelines.
Maybe next year for me.
rover67
Advanced Member
no problem, thanks for the reply!
goinoregon
Senior Member
mule outfitters makes custom brkts to mount the alu cab awning. i purchased thru local fwc dealer here in pdx, and had them do the install on my atc.the brkts work, and the awning is excellent.rover67 said:
when i was specing my atc i initially asked for jack brkts that went all the to top of camper on passenger side. i changed that to std before build, but in retrospect i think having jack brkt go all the way to the top, would give more awning mounting options.
Scott81621
Advanced Member
I orginally bought the Mule brackets which were very nicely made but did not hold up the extra weight of my Batwing. So I welded up some steel jack bracket holders. They are bombproof although a little heavy (16lbs each). I probably will just end up bolting right to the camper at some point. I LOVE the Batwing and this system does work great though!
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