Ute Canopies, what's good???

Fitted an ARB canopy to my twin cab Navara. Had a few issues with it vibrating loose over 12 months of serious travel. Having a plastic tub liner makes it very hard to get to the hold down bolts if you ever do tighten it up. Other advise, get lift up windows on both sides as it makes access to a well loaded rear much easier, especially if your towing and having that little more difficulty getting to the rear hatch. Only downside, you need additional expensive bar work if you want to mount a roof rack on top of the canopy. Cheaper option was to opt for the rhino roof tracks over the roof (ala photos on my rig page). Oh and I'd go for a high roof profile next time as it gives a heap more options for storing and accessing large items like fridges, especially if you've got a set of drawers in the bottom of the tray.

Cheers. Mick.

Jim

I've got an ARB hi roof on mine. No problems at all. $2300 with up opening side windows instead of sliding ones. Better access to gear in the back. Only real bitch is the 6 locks to secure it.

Ian

have had experience with a flexiglass on a 97 mazdo bravo

we encounted a steep rough incline......engaged low ratio and took our time.....afetr another 1/2hour arrived at our destiny and went to unpack and noted a couple of gun's and cases missing together with sleeping bags etc ....followed our footsteps and found the stuff on the steep incline....how the f*&^ did it come out?......when they install the canopy they have to cut the slide pins/latch to match.......if cut a little short problems occur.....when the car flex' (twists) the upper tailgate comes unlatched when the car is going over rough stuff....all it takes is one latch then the other is easier.......
always ran a rope from the racks to towbar after that.

Thank god the park was closed at the time so that no others came across our gear......ve embarrassing to have to explain how we lost a couple gun's



any how got a couple of spots for the damaged gun case ( gun was a ok) but the case was RS as the trailer went over it

We have Carry Boy canopies on two of our vehicles and cannot fault then...differant league to the ARB and Flexiglass ones.

Regards Richard

carryboy is ment to be the best followed by ARB then flexiglass. the cost and quality also falls the same way.

BUT....if you are willing to give a product a go, i see that ironman now do a canopy. it looks just like the carryboy, dont know what the price is like, saw them at the last melb 4x4 show

This may be another angle...

My 91 hilux has a flexiglass canopy that was installed (to my knowledge) when the ute was new. There is little fading (it's metallic grey) and is still solid and waterproof. I know that I don't have much knowledge of their current product but if their quality is as good as it was back then I would definitely recommend the flexiglass product.

BTW. I agree with earlier posts... Get the lift up windows on the sides. I have to climb in to get to stuff right up the front.

Have fun with the ute.

If you really want good access, then get a twin cab traytop, and build an aluminium canopy on the back. That way you'll get full width, full height lift up doors, and you can build drawers/fridge slides both sides. You can also mount your spares on the back of the canopy, and slip a water tank under the tray. But it will cost you more $$

I've had a Carryboy canopy on my '05 Hilux since new. Had it fitted as a 'never to remove' and they did a great job. Looks like it belongs - not an add on. Colour matching is perfect and the canopy colour is guaranteed for the life of the canopy.

Because of it's shape, it looks great, but slightly reduces storage capacity compared to others. Otherwise I've been very happy. It is rated to carry 100KG on top without internal supports. I carry my boat (plus lots under it) direct on bars on the canopy.

In hind sight though, I should have got a tray back and put a good full canopy on it with full sized opening door on each side. For an idea of what I'm talking about check out Roscos canopies on this link:
Roscos Canopies

My next ute will hopefully be a Landcruiser Trayback with a canopy like these. Lots more storage space and better access to it.

I brought an ARB canopy for my new dual cab hilux and it was a nightmare to fit! It is like they had another model that was nearly the same so they just used it.
Now fitted have no probs with it