NewHilux.net

tray mounted:

next step is to cut the holes for the new lights

looks great. are you going to make a headboard?

headboard will depend on the canopy. I'm thinking I might be able to tie the 2 together

If the headboard is not a permanent fixture, I would have it removable for when your canopy is on, helps with the weight and last you mount your canopy 75mm odd further forward. That is what I have done with my new tray.

na, I was thinking of making the headboard / bar out of angle. that way the canopy can slide under it

Looks good Craig. Are you getting any sides made or is that it? What size is the RHS and C channel?

Cheers,

Chris.

packeteer wrote:na, I was thinking of making the headboard / bar out of angle. that way the canopy can slide under it

If you are making the canopy for jack off purposes with it fitting under the angled headboard ( which is a good idea) wouldn't that make it difficult to remove if loaded?

no plans to add sides or tailgate

the bearers are 100x50x3
the joists are 50x25x3 (radiused inner walls)
the mounts were fabbed from 10mm flat plate
and 3mm checker on top

kyle300exc wrote:

packeteer wrote:na, I was thinking of making the headboard / bar out of angle. that way the canopy can slide under it

If you are making the canopy for jack off purposes with it fitting under the angled headboard ( which is a good idea) make it difficult to remove if loaded?

yes, not something I've figured out as yet

also haven't figured out how to attach the canopy to the tray

over centre latches was the suggested method (utilising the jack off points)

Looks good Craig.

Chris has first hand experience that maybe those over centre latches aren't quite strong enough. Something about a waywood tree if I remember correctly

I couldnt find any over centre latches that are adjustable and yet strong so ill be setteling for these non adjustables. Just have to weld the hook to a plate and bolt it to the tray. Check out the over centre catch zp steel c/w hook (5th from the bottom) Good luck
http://www.ovesco.com.au/products.php?c ... bname=Over Centre Catches&subsubid=3&subsubname=Non Adjustable Zinc Plated

Rocket55 wrote:Looks good Craig.

Chris has first hand experience that maybe those over centre latches aren't quite strong enough. Something about a waywood tree if I remember correctly

those bloody trees! they're a menace!

Yeah I had a little problem with mine where the canopy nearly fell off. It wasn't the latches that failed though, it was the little hooks that I had bolted to the tray with small bolts which weren't strong enough for when you drive into a tree. I haven't got around to fixing it properly yet but I plan on welding hooks to the latch which will hook under the side of the tray..

Ross. Ive got these bad boys. Got them from Ovesco.
http://www.ovesco.com.au/products.php?c ... table%20ZP



Cheers,

Chris.

Craig. These are the brackets I made for my canopy. They fit in the jack up point like you mentioned. I'm just going to weld a hook to the loop at the bottom to do away with the hook which used to be bolted to the tray (also in the pic you posted above). Then they will hook directly under the side of the tray like I said above. I recon this is about as strong as you need.



Cheers,

Chris.

Opps that didnt post the link properly so heres a photo. Nice and strong. Cheers Chris, yer thats where i get most of my slides, clips, seals and clamps from

thanks guys, lots of good ideas there

as I've made my tray 28mm thick, it's going to be a challenge to find a suitable method

The latch in the picture of the tray actual has a self locking plate spring. I use these on my tray. Extremely hard to rip off. I can get a photo of how it works tomorrow if you like.

picked up the canopy:


very neat and tidy finish to the whole thing. would definitely recommend.
just make sure you spec + draw up the design and get every detail sorted before build