Sealing ute from dust

There are some canopies that seal well, the Australian work and Leasure and the triple M fibreglass canopies seal pretty damn well...these both go on flat trays.

But almost any canopy you can name that fits on a style side tray will leak like a sieve and that is from new.

There are just so many places they can leak.

Possibly the biggest is the bottom corners of the tailgate.

cheers

Gotta agree with the others. It isn't the canopy, it is the tailgate.
I am going to Clark rubber to get some seals for the tailgate of the Dmax.
I like the idea of the vent. Tell us more pmacks. Where did you get it?

Ya best choice of vents comes at ya local marine suppier like bias boating or whitworths.

cheers

Sealing the back of the ute to 97% is rather easy, I have sicaflexed a sheet of 12mm ply to the floor of the tub and put carpet on it, I got a piece of 30 mm ally angle and pop riveted it to the floor and up the side, then used a piece of left over door seal and placed it on the angle to seal against the tail gate ( measurements were required).

The only place the dust gets in is in the corner between the canopy and the top of the tail gate, nothing that can't be stopped with a piece of rag.

I will post photo's tomorrow if I can get some time.

Phil.

There is always gaffa tape.

cheers

Photos would be great Phil, thank you

Hi Guys

Here are a few photo's please note I havn't cleaned the back of the ute for a few months so there is a bit of dust there, however you can see that what I have done does work to about 90 odd %with a bit more time and perhaps a different set of eyes it could be improved.

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The last one is where the dut gets in, hope this helps.

Yes, I concur, the ARB canopy with vent is great.
This is placed up the rear of the canopy and the pressure pushes air through any gaps keeping dust out.
Can be open or closed.

In convoy, you just need to stay well back if following others, but of course that's wise for air intake as well.
The vent location at the back helps with that too, any minor dust ingress from the intaken air is straight through the tailgate gaps.

I've often thought a home made vent could be made with a 75mm or 90mm PVC pipe elbow, have it so it can be turned forward or back (in heavy rain I shut the ARB vent, as it does allow some water ingress when it's heavily raining).

You can buy the ARB vent, think they were an optional $55 or so when I got mine, not sure if more bought seperatley.
Didn't see it, but suspect it is an oval or rectangular cut in the canopy to fit.

If trying a roof vent, don't seal up tailgate.
The airflow is needed to allow the air movement from pressurisation.