Canopy ideas

Hi Ian,
For what it's worth I had a canopy made last year for my 2012 BT50 Freestyle trayback.
The chap who did mine fitted it out as follows:
: a rear door with a window
: two side doors with no windows.
: a separate latch on each end of each door as opposed to one centre mounted latch with rods - if you get my drift.
: amplimesh (shark cage) to the inside of the doors so that if any load moves it doesn't damage the panel work
: two by roof bars ie roofrack
: a pressure relief vent in the roof

None of it was my idea :) but I use it for both work and private and I'm more than happy with the door/window arrangement and have since seen what happens to an unprotected door when a load moved inside (not in my ute) and am pleased that I have the mesh inside.

Cheers

Crusader

g day ian and kathleen wouldn't hurt to weld a chain link in each corner hang wet clothes or any thing really got all your lighting organised and maybe some external hooks so you can lift it off or tie tinny down you just never know lastly i am not sure on this one but maybe a vent at the front they say this reduces dust from being sucked in good luck hope this helps sue and shaun travel safe

When I designed the layout of my canopy I chalk marked the floorplan on the garage floor & then laid out all the items I wanted to carry in the canopy within the chalked area. Friges here, chairs & tables there,tucker boxes etc.
It gave a very good idea of where everything should go & what racking etc was required.

2nd attempt - just lost all the photos and the response prior to submitting.

Drawers with slideout tables are great. I'd also consider the storage options that you want/need and in particular the type of containers you will be using. Make sure you design accordingly to ensure they will fit in!

Be mindful of adding excess weight, particularly with a dual cab
The Oates plastic drawer from bunnings are excellent to do the kitchen withA headboard poly water tank are good if you are wanting on, keep the heavy items forward like fridg, battery and water tanks
Consider the way the doors are hinged if you are considering a RTT or side awning as with some door designs you need to mount them up higher to stop the door fowling on tent
Run a few rows (3) of Unistrut on the roof for universal fixing of anything later
You can get electric locks if you wanted central locking
Amplimesh panels are great dividers as you can occur strap to them easily

Gull wing canopies are fantastic to use but watch your weight

Door alarms so you don't drive off with the door open and wipe them out. Have them on mine linked to the ignition and have saved me a couple of times.

Hi Ian & Kathleen
My first canopy ended up getting dented from things flying around on the inside.
My latest canopy which is Aluminum to save weight I have lined inside the roof and gull wing doors with Polystyrene sheets 20mm thick.Sheets are available in 2400 x1200 mm @ $8 each and glued with Poly glue available from bunnings etc. Keeps inside of canopy a little cooler and stops the dents so far !! easily replaced and light.
Good luck with it all.

Barry - Southern Cross Dreaming.

Hi IIJ

I had asteel canopy on a4.2 cab chassis.
had a real issue with the heat buildup and fridge not working.
On hot days the heat inside the canopy was not allowing the fridge to operate very well.
For the fridge to work it needs to get rid of the heat from inside, andd the hotter external was making it impossible.
I added a wirly exhaust fan at the rear and had two inlets at the front.
Added some drainage slotted tube between the inlets and this was attached behind the roofbar. this stopped bugs and rain and dust from entering the canopy.
I added two socks over the outlets of the front vents to trap anything that may have managed to get past the slotted tube.

works a dream.

Geoff

Ian & Kathleen

I am in Melb and purchased the sheets from NPS in St Albans - Ph (03) 83268080.
No mess, just a few dents in the polystyrene where items have slid. Sure saves the doors from dents.

Cheers

Barry