UTE Canopies: Three Key Factors to Consider

Utes are incredibly popular around the world, and it’s no different in Australia. There are few vehicles as practical as utes with a good setup in the back. If you’re a ute owner, and you want to make its back space suitable for transporting equipment, tools and everything else in between, you might want to consider a canopy. Ute canopies provide tons of flexibility, and there are many different ways to make use of the space they provide. However, in order to reap the benefits of a canopy, you have to get the most suitable one and set it up in a way that complements how you use your vehicle. Many people don’t get these things right, and end up having to make replacements at some point down the line, which can be frustrating, time and money consuming. Here’s what you need to consider to make the right choice.

Choose the Base

If you’re going to install a canopy, no matter whether it’s a permanent or a jack off ute canopy, you’re going to have to consider the base. Once you settle for a base, you’ll only be able to mount canopies that are compatible with that type of base. There are three basic types of bases canopies can be attached to – tub or well body, tray and chassis-mounted canopies.

Tub/Well Body Canopies

The majority of 4×4 utes feature tub/well body arrangements. You can install a wide range of canopies on top of these arrangements to store your tools or equipment. The tubs aren’t worth much by themselves, and you can get a second hand one in pretty good condition for a few hundred dollars. This is because a lot of people replace their stock tub/well body arrangement for aftermarket aluminium or steel trays. Most of them come with rear and tailgate lights.

Tray Canopies

Trays are another popular ute setup that is generally accompanied by fold down sides that are made of either steel or aluminium. A tray jack off ute canopy generally attaches to the tray once you remove the sides with the help of bolts. These arrangements are ideal for those who want to attach and remove the canopy quickly and seamlessly. Jack off canopies feature legs and they can be jacked up off the tray and left standing on their legs in the garage. Trays are available in a range of strengths and designs, and are generally advertised as light-duty or heavy-duty. Their construction should suit your application, or you may face issues that are a nuisance. Buying a light-duty tray and installing a heavy-duty canopy on it is a recipe for distaster.

Chassis-Mounted Canopies

Rather than bolted on the tray, these canopies are bolted onto the vehicle’s chassis instead. As a result, these canopies are built stronger on the underside to form the base, and they’re fixed onto the vehicle. Of course, you can remove them, but they’re considered permanent fixtures as removing them is extremely time-consuming.

Consider the Weight

It’s important to keep your ute underweight. There are many people who fail to do so, and end up getting themselves in accidents. The reason for that is because an improperly balanced or overweight ute can increase the risk levels significantly. As a result, your insurance can be voided. Utes, especially are susceptible to poor balancing, as most of their storage space is located behind the back axles. Going overweight can result in a bent chassis.

That being said, consider the weight when choosing a canopy setup. It’s probably the most important thing you’ll have to take into account, and it will literally make or break your experience using your vehicle. Make sure you consider whether you’ll be towing something as well, as your tow ball weight can also play a huge role in your payload. Most tub/well bodies are in the 50-90kg range, and when you attach a canopy weighing 40-100kg, it adds up quickly. Aluminium trays are lighter, ranging somewhere between 30-60kg, whereas steel ones can weigh up to 150kg. Adding a canopy on top of those setups can push the weight to over 250kg, without actually having anything inside the canopy.

Consider the Length and Overhang

A bent chassis is a result of going overweight with your setup, but improper balance, design and loading are also a part of the problem. The length of your tray and canopy setup and how you load it also play a role. Standard dual cab canopy setups are about 1.5m long, but there are some vehicles that have setups as long as 1.9m. The more overhang the setup has, the higher the chances of something breaking or bending. While you get a bit more storage, you’ll be surprised how much better for storage and safety a well-designed and well-utilised canopy is. Overhang can also be problematic if you ever tow something.