Ute canopies

Ross'
Ford are the only one doing a single cab wellside and the numbers obviously aren't sufficient to interest the canopy firms.. Mazda do only a cab chassis in single cabs so the canopies are quite different.
I will have to go back to thier Slack's creek yard and see how they effect the seal between the headboard and their canopy because this could be a problem area.

JIm, thanks for the info.
I'm undecided about the windows. Others have said to get lift ups but I'm not really using it for camping gear. Unless these windows are fairly large, I can't see how they would make things much easier to retrieve gear but maybe I'm wrong. Just tell me how they've been useful for you and what size you needed.
The sliding ones are pretty pathetic and for the $170 are just a cosmetic thing.
The biggest problem is that the tray is 2320 long and so getting stuff out from the front will drive me nuts. At one stage I thought of just fitting a dual cab caopy (1450mm) with no rear door and this would have given me a rain cover for the front 2/3rds and I could get a skid on the back. Since both canopies are the same price this isn't the way to go.

At 2320 long you'll never be able to get at stuff up the back without crawling in. With the lift up windows at least you can reach in and lift stuff out.

Naturally I've got a set of drawers in my ute which also keeps the lift out stuff at a workable height. eg I can slide my generator in its cardboard box through the window and then stand it up. Bloody lot easier than pushing it in from the tailgate and then clambering in when I go to retrieve it.

Size? Get them as big as they make them, but they are generally pre-fabbed, so you take what you get offered.

Jim.

John,
FG say only available in leathergrain finish.
Dont think the problem you had with cab contact will arise because wellside has a headboard as part of tub structure and they will have to butt up to this.
I intended wiping the bolts with vaseline if were mild steel but are you saying that the contact between stainless and mild produces a galvanic reaction between the two and corrosion is impossible to stop.

No, just that the nuts/bolts should be either stainless or gal - mild steel is not fit for exterior applications. They can be easily replaced, but should be done right in the first place.

John.

Twinkles,
On the TJM site, they talk about "loadboards" but no one else does so what's it all about.
Tjm stuff may be a bit up market for what I need ans I need to find out if they do a Ranger single cab model.

Axel.
Very encouraging that the quality of the canopy per se was good.
After your experience I will make sure that it's aligned properly and opens before leaving their premises.