79 series aluminum canopy.

Submitted: Monday, Nov 23, 2015 at 17:59

ThreadID: 130964 Views:6023 Replies:8 FollowUps:10

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blue one

Hello there,
Having a bit of trouble here with finding a canopy to bolt onto a 79 series dual cab chassis.

I am after a aluminum canopy with two doors, a floor and captive nuts to secure unistrut when required for roof racks.

The canopy would have the door seals recessed and not exposed.

Any help would be appreciated and it would be preferable if the manufacturer is on the Central Coast of NSW or Hornsby area.

Cheers

Steve

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Reply By: The Landy - Monday, Nov 23, 2015 at 18:25

Monday, Nov 23, 2015 at 18:25

The Landy

I will unashamedly “plug” Dave Vella at Dave’s Metal Products, Wetherill Park in Sydney.

Dave made the canopy on my current vehicle and one previously for an earlier vehicle we had. The current one has done 60,000klm and the earlier vehicle closer to 100,000k and I have never had any issues, no dust or water ingression.

Dave’s is a quality product that won’t be able to compete on price with cheaper imports, but you don’t want it to fall apart and rest assured the workmanship is first class.

Some more in my blog you can take a look at…

Modifications and Upgrades - Toyota 79 Series Dual Cab

Cheers, Baz – The Landy

AnswerID: 593039

Follow Up By: blue one - Monday, Nov 23, 2015 at 18:28

Monday, Nov 23, 2015 at 18:28

Thanks Baz

Looks pretty much of what I'm after

FollowupID: 861224

Reply By: Notso - Monday, Nov 23, 2015 at 18:27

Monday, Nov 23, 2015 at 18:27

It would probably be a one off build.

This mob is in Cairns but will ship it anywhere.

Norweld

AnswerID: 593040

Follow Up By: blue one - Monday, Nov 23, 2015 at 18:32

Monday, Nov 23, 2015 at 18:32

I was up there for 2 years and liked the canopies they did.

Missus worked across the road which gave me time to have a look.

I will take another look at them as I thought the transport would be a killer, but you never know.

Ta

FollowupID: 861225

Reply By: Frank P (NSW) - Monday, Nov 23, 2015 at 18:52

Monday, Nov 23, 2015 at 18:52

Hi Steve,

It would be very difficult to go past CSM in Brisbane for quality.

I have one on my BT50 dual cab. Absolutely dust and waterproof, central locking integrated with the vehicle system, door not locked alarm, internal lighting, full length trundle drawer underneath if you want it.... the list goes on.

Like Baz's, it won't compete on price with cheapies, but it will be difficult to find better. Advantage of this one is it has no lip to the doors, so you don't lose space by having to install a false floor to allow drawers and fridge slides to slide out.

Cannot recommend them highly enough.

Cheers

FrankP

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AnswerID: 593041

Reply By: rumpig - Monday, Nov 23, 2015 at 19:10

Monday, Nov 23, 2015 at 19:10

I had The Box Thing here in Brisbane build mine for me, though they also have a Sydney dealership aswell i believe. As previous posters have said, price won't compete with cheaper versions, but it was built to my specifications exactly how i wanted it. Canopy has insulation between the inner and outer skins, and price depends on what you want to add to it obviously. The racks on mine can be removed as you want, there's holes the whole lenght along where they are located on that allow the racks to be positioned where you want them.

AnswerID: 593042

Follow Up By: blue one - Sunday, Nov 29, 2015 at 15:21

Sunday, Nov 29, 2015 at 15:21

Looks like an excellent set up. What GVM upgrade did you get?

FollowupID: 861442

Follow Up By: rumpig - Sunday, Nov 29, 2015 at 16:41

Sunday, Nov 29, 2015 at 16:41

I had a Carrolls 3760kg upgrade done on it blue one

FollowupID: 861444

Follow Up By: Gramps - Sunday, Nov 29, 2015 at 17:30

Sunday, Nov 29, 2015 at 17:30

rumpig,

Just a couple of questions if I may

1. Is the canopy bolted directly on to the chassis without the need for a tray ?

2. Is the opened box in the last pic a lockable unit ?

Regards

FollowupID: 861446

Follow Up By: blue one - Sunday, Nov 29, 2015 at 17:58

Sunday, Nov 29, 2015 at 17:58

Thanks for that

FollowupID: 861447

Follow Up By: blue one - Sunday, Nov 29, 2015 at 18:09

Sunday, Nov 29, 2015 at 18:09

Rumpig,

If it is not too much trouble can you advise length from front bull bar to rear of canopy and the height not taking into account the roof racks.

I have garage trouble.

Cheers

Steve

FollowupID: 861448

Follow Up By: rumpig - Sunday, Nov 29, 2015 at 20:02

Sunday, Nov 29, 2015 at 20:02

Hi Gramps....yes the canopy is bolted to the chassis, i purchased the vehicle new without a tray. The open box inside the canopy isn't lockable, but there's no reason i couldn't of gotten it made that way if i wanted it so (all outer boxes have locks on them...ie:- behind the wheeels and under the tray also). Both outer doors on the main canopy have locks on them, so i didn't see the need for an internal box to have a lock on it also. Cheers

Hi blue one....length of vehicle from bullbar to back of canopy is about 5450mm, if you fit a towbar then add about 150mm to that length again if kept in position. Keep in mind the canopy i had made at 1700mm long to try and help reduce rear overhang length a touch, so it's not the same as an1800mm long tray would be. Height wise....without the carry racks fitted the top of canopy is about 2050mm high, with the carry racks fitted add another 100mm to that height. I have just fitted an alloy Rhino Rack tradies roofrack on the vehicles roof area, and that comes in at about 2250mm overall height of my vehicle now with the sides that it has (you can get those without the sides as a platform only set up. The Carrolls GVM upgrade probably gives closer to a 3" lift in suspension height of the vehicle to my knowledge, there are other GVM upgrades that give a lower suspension lift height i believe.

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Follow Up By: blue one - Sunday, Nov 29, 2015 at 20:42

Sunday, Nov 29, 2015 at 20:42

Legend thanks

FollowupID: 861450

Reply By: Supersi - Monday, Nov 23, 2015 at 20:26

Monday, Nov 23, 2015 at 20:26

Just had a canopy built by Concept Canopies in Brisbane. Very good build quality and happy to recommend them.

AnswerID: 593048

Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Monday, Nov 23, 2015 at 20:47

Monday, Nov 23, 2015 at 20:47

While Baz's recommendation might be the best financially for you, I would do as much research, from other fabricators and owners, to get the most practical end result.

We've had an aluminium slide-on from Top Form Campers for almost 3 years, and I still see "ideas/mods" that I'd like on ours. Even using alloy, weight will be an issue, so choose your add-ons wisely.

Top Form was bought out by a young bloke and he calls it Dynamic Engineering & Fabrication now. They are in Hervey Bay Qld.Check here

Metalink are another in Brisbane area. See here

See a lot of canopies made from chequer plate. Looks good, but I'd question just how easy they would be to clean, if covered in that sticky red mud that can be prevalent after rain in the outback?

There are a couple of photos of our canopy in My Profile page, on the day we took delivery. Happy to answer any questions you might have. :-)

Bob

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Can't remember most of it.

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AnswerID: 593051

Follow Up By: The Landy - Monday, Nov 23, 2015 at 22:23

Monday, Nov 23, 2015 at 22:23

Hey Bob,

Not sure it would be a good outcome financially, Dave Vella got a slice of my wallet. But my choice was around quality, not price, and after two units I have no hesitation recommending him.

But you are right, horses for courses, and understanding your own requirements is key to getting value for what you want.

Research is king. And you can almost guarantee that putting a canopy on the back made of alloy or alternatives, will almost certainly mean upgrading suspension and GVM.

Cheers, Baz

FollowupID: 861235