Ute Canopies and the National Debt
Submitted: Tuesday, Sep 06, 2005 at 12:51
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John L G
Hi All,
Have a 75 series stretched crew cab with a steel tray/canvas canopy on the back - tray measuring 1550long X 1800 wide. Its great for convenience but quite simply I'm sick and tired of buying new canopies everytime we go bush which generally trashes the canopy not to mention the dust problems.
So now it's time to fit a tin/alloy job to replace this and fix the above problems plus provide some security from enquiring fingers.
Have done the usual round of the
well known canopy constructors but seems $7K is the number and I have to mortgage the house to have one built. Strangely it would appear that all their prices are very similar so methinks they might drink at the same watering hole.
Anyone with any ideas please would be greatly appreciated. Weight of course is also a consideration here.
John G
Reply By: John L G - Tuesday, Sep 06, 2005 at 13:19
Tuesday, Sep 06, 2005 at 13:19
Oops. Should have mentioned i'm in
Perth
John G
AnswerID:
128592
Reply By: Member - Scooby (WA) - Tuesday, Sep 06, 2005 at 13:59
Tuesday, Sep 06, 2005 at 13:59
Hi John,
My canopy is made of 40 x 40 RHS, metal roof, heavy duty vinyl sides and lockable security mesh under the vinyl that hinges up on struts. Have been on some very tight tracks and the vinyl is scratched but no rips. Cost me about $1000. I have vents on the front, dust ingress is minimal.
Regards
Scooby (WA)
AnswerID:
128598
Follow Up By: John L G - Tuesday, Sep 06, 2005 at 14:03
Tuesday, Sep 06, 2005 at 14:03
Thanks for that Scooby.
Did you have that made or are you a dab hand with the welder.
Regards
JohnG
FollowupID:
383226
Follow Up By: Member - Scooby (WA) - Tuesday, Sep 06, 2005 at 14:37
Tuesday, Sep 06, 2005 at 14:37
My son did the welding, I cut the RHS. The roof (galv sheet), the front panel and wind deflector (aluminium sheet), I cut and pop riveted in place. The vinyl was supplied and fitted by a canvas worker. The security mesh was fabricated in Balcatta by a company that makes security doors.
Regards
Scooby
FollowupID:
383236
Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Tuesday, Sep 06, 2005 at 14:15
Tuesday, Sep 06, 2005 at 14:15
How do you manage to kill a canvas cover so often?
Maybe you should look at that reason first? Tin will only dent and mash as
well.
AnswerID:
128603
Follow Up By: John L G - Tuesday, Sep 06, 2005 at 14:38
Tuesday, Sep 06, 2005 at 14:38
Truckster
I suppose because I have the 75 series and the other guys I go bush with have the "Fancy" terrace tractors, muggins here gets to go first everywhere and clear a way - bit like Beadel's bulldozer.
A lot of
places we go are trackless and the overhanging trees, often of the burnt variety just to sharpen & toughen the branch ends, seem to do a nice job by opening up the sides like a can opener as
well as dislodging the flap clips sewn into the fabric.
I've become a bit of a dab hand with needle and thread but no pictures please and would prefer to polish a scratch than look at my handiwork.
I will probably retain the front bash bar on the tray to protect the new canopy anyway.
As to where we go - mailnly
the desert and
places where there are no tracks and definitely no people - tho did
Twilight Cove - Baxter Cliffs Toolina, Israelite etc into
Esperance last x-mas and that was pretty pleasant with lots of fish and few people until close to Le Grande
Ciao
John G
FollowupID:
383238
Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Tuesday, Sep 06, 2005 at 14:41
Tuesday, Sep 06, 2005 at 14:41
I'd say bad luck to the fools with the tractors, let them bleep their own trucks unless your a millionare.
Are you running a wire trace from the bullbar to the top of the bar on the tray to allow the bushes to run up and over.. Then you could just run a couple of bits of pipe along the top corner of the canvas on the outside for the bushes to run along.
saves you adding much weight to your truck to sooth other peoples feelings..
FollowupID:
383239
Reply By: Alan S (WA) - Tuesday, Sep 06, 2005 at 14:54
Tuesday, Sep 06, 2005 at 14:54
John
Have you looked at Roscos range of canopies? I have been toying with using one on a trailer as any thing similar from a camper trailer manufacturer is in my opinion overpriced for what you get.
Although i havent yet got any pricing i hope the 7grand you mentioned wasnt based on one of their prices, if it is i dont think my idea will be cost effective and i would then agree that prices for this sort of thing is overly dear.
The other option is to find some one to make it for you. I went this way several years ago with a roofrack, i had it made by a workshop and even paying going rate wages for labour i paid about half what the main shops were charging.
I would be interested in knowing how you make out with this as i could be interested in going the same way for my camper.
Alan
AnswerID:
128612
Follow Up By: John L G - Tuesday, Sep 06, 2005 at 16:16
Tuesday, Sep 06, 2005 at 16:16
Truckster
No, I haven't tried the trick with the wire and pipe but sounds effective using the KIS principle and common sense so will give that ago when I find myself in that situation again.
Alan S
Yes - Rossco's is one of the culprits along with Boston and Bull. All very good products and all in excess of $7k which seems a tad pricey to me.
Maybe i've led a sheltered life. Those dollars are probably ok for tradesmen where the dollars can be written off but for a simple
camping box???
I will keep this
forum posted if I find an alternative.
Ciao for now
John G
FollowupID:
383254
Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Thursday, Sep 08, 2005 at 15:07
Thursday, Sep 08, 2005 at 15:07
I went thru all that earlier this year. Yeah, it costs money, which is why I just had a shell built. I can easily weld steel, and was considering making my own, but I couldn't make anything thats a patch on what I had built.
My canopy cost $5700 for the basic shell, but it is made out of 3mm aluminium, including chequerplate floor, was custom made to my dimensions. It has turned edges, and was finished in 2-pack matched to the vehicle's colour. If I were to sell it, it's still worth a few dollars, unlike a home made job.
I trimmed 50mm off each side of the tray, so canopy width is 1750 - much more in keeping with the cab width - didn't want the tray sticking out each side, and catching trees etc. And the canopy tapers in for the same reason. The lift up sides on struts work great, and give shelter from wind, rain and sun.
I've fitted out the inside myself. with various drawers, mesh, shelves etc - all depends on what gear I want to put in there. Even got a spot for 10 extra jerries. So far its working great - certainly the best
camping setup I've had to date.
The photos in my gallery are a little dated, but give you an idea.
Cheers
phil
AnswerID:
129081
Follow Up By: John L G - Friday, Sep 09, 2005 at 10:30
Friday, Sep 09, 2005 at 10:30
Phil
May move to SA where the economy seems a bit friendlier.
Have taken on board what you say and had a gander at your rig & looks good. I'm much of the same opinion now in as much I probably need to get involved in the design stage and have it manufactured privately.
I know enough blokes in the boat game over here and sure they can bend something up that will fill the bill. I think the idea of narrowing the width in keeping with the body line is pretty sensible as that is probably most of my problem with the standard steel tray I have at the moment - simply a battering ram on narrow tracks. The vehicle having the extended wheel base doesn't help much either as turning circles suffer and often can't keep the vehicle on the track especially in the tight and twisty stuff with either the frobnt running wide or cutting corners.
The fit out i have under control as I built one a few years ago which will simply slot onto the new tray so now think it time to sharpen the pencil.
Thanks for the input
JohnG
FollowupID:
383720