Sleeper canopy for single cab ute set-up

Hey Kmacca, take a look at Highrise Offroad for some ideas - I saw an ad for them years back in a 4WD mag. The fridge is built-in, as is a table, stove, v. small wardrobe, seats, etc. There are drawers under the stove bench for other food, etc. and storage under the internal seats if you wanted to carry outdoor seats as well.

The funds won't stretch this far for me, but I'd like a set-up similar to those pictured on the site (not so good if you want to travel with the kids tho'!).

A few drawbacks that I can think of with this one is that there is little space for tools, spares, recovery gear etc. (limited to the two little under tray toolboxes) and everything seems to require a full set-up to access it - not so good for a quick lunch stop beside the road.

I'm sure there are other manufacturers that make similar units, including those full-sized older style slide-on ones with the beds over the cab.

Are you talking about actually sleeping in the alloy canopy or elsewhere.

Personally I wouldn't sleep in the canopy. You'd either have to sleep with relevant side door open (with the possibility of rain blowing in), or have some form of ventilation as most of the allow canopys seal very well (hense only needing the rubber seals to keep dust out).

I've got an alloy canopy on the back of my trayback, but it just contains all of the "stuff" you mentioned, theres a rooftop tent on the top of the canopy for sleeping in.

Theres a few pictures below, I hope they help or at least give you a few ideas to think on.

John


All packed up


Opened up, tent up


Driver side - Home made drawers and room above for storing 'stuff'


Passenger side - The kitchen.

We have an alloy canopy on our trayback with canvas dropsides. An alloy platform buts up to the frig and space case trunk (at front) at the same level which offers a full length platform on which to set up our bed. The area beneath the platform gives ample storage space for four main boxes containing all our camping gear and other bits and pieces. I do intend building a drawer system in the alloy platform before our next longer trip. The table and chairs sit on top of the bed during the days travel and set up at end of the day travel is quick and simple.

The small vents at the front of the canopy are invaluable for keeping dust out and I would recommend you fit these. We travelled Brisbane to Karumba last year and never had dust intruding at all, even with the less sealed canvas curtains. On longer term stays we run a large tarp over the whole ute but short term overnighters we have a sailtrac mounted tarp off the passenger side which offers plenty of weather protection. I am currently looking to get a foxwing awning as they look great. Two under tray tool boxes provide storage for tools, recovery gear, and a second auxillary battery. I also have a pole storage tube and 40L water tank under tray.

My advice if you go this way is to make sure you have enough height between platform and roof. You need enough room to roll over in bed and not feel claustrophobic. You will love the simplicity of this setup.

Thanks for the advice and pictures.
We were planning to get the canopy shell custom made for us and then insulate and line it ourselves. We had planned to leave both doors up when camping, with an awning out to one side. If it was raining, the door without the awning would be closed.
We thought about the tent on the roof, but are concerned about having to wait for the canvas to dry in order to pack it up (if there was a heavy dew, or rainy night). We like to get on the road bright and early. By packing the tent up wet, would it soak through to the inside of the tent and wet your bedding before unpacking it again that night?

Thanks tim_c for the idea of the Highrise offroad, but yes, we too have limited funds. We would also like to have something that you could use without totalling pulling it apart in order to have a bite for lunch. I've priced some of the slide on campers with the bed above the cab -- nice setup inside, but way more than what we would like to spend at the moment.

John H -- that is an interesting tent you have on top of your vehicle. I see it has a hard top, but what sort of material are on the sides?

Platform to roof is 700mm although I would go 800mm. We have a 100mm self inflating camp mattress on top of platform and leave it set up for the trip. The platform is 400mm high which matches the case height and just a little shorter than the Vitrifrigo frig. A mozzie net is clipped on to a length of stretch cord fixed all round the ceiling perimeter. Works a treat.

Hey kmacca, you probably thought this thread was finished?!

I thought I'd draw your attention to it because it's similar to what you sounded like you were thinking of...
I was browsing through some site blogs just yesterday and came across the setup of Member - Chris D (Newcastle) - see the pics at the bottom of his profile page. This one has hard sides which would be more secure (esp. if you want to leave the vehicle unattended in populated areas) and the sides hinge up to provide shelter for cooking, eating, etc. Personally, it looks like a great setup.