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Well after camping with the ute for a few trips in the last 18 months and getting everything on the tray thoroughly dusted I have decided to build a canopy.

Main goal is to have a canopy (canvas) with the capability of roof rack too.

Once the frame is built I'll setup a fridge slide and some drawers. A stainless chopping board/cook slide out area would be a secondary goal.

Got the base made. It slides between the sides of the tray.

Along the front and back of the frame I'll put some 50mm SHS to allow jacks to lift it on and off.
The headboard and rear frame will be 40mm SHS, and will make the side doors from 25mm square. Steel mesh to flesh it out.

Some beefing up on the roof side (prob 40mm SHS) to allow racks and a decent load.

Will have the canvas run down the front of the canopy frame rather than over the ute headboard as the headboard has some bits that would be hard to trim around and still seal.


Has anybody built their own canopy and had it trimmed with canvas? Are there pitfalls and gotchas that I need to look out for?
Thanks
Fish

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Mate watch your weight, from my experience you are using too heavy material, my canopy frame is not made for a roof rack but is way strong enough for 2 big men to sit on is made from 20 x 1.6 SHS. Look for smart design instead of brute strength.
Geoff

Bushbound wrote:Mate watch your weight, from my experience you are using too heavy material, my canopy frame is not made for a roof rack but is way strong enough for 2 big men to sit on is made from 20 x 1.6 SHS. Look for smart design instead of brute strength.
Geoff

Thanks for the tip. I will look at that. A lighter weight will make it easier to handle when not in use also.
Cheers

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There is some stuff about my canopy here in my build thread - viewtopic.php?f=41&t=10129
If you PM me your email address I will send you some more information about a tried and proven set up.
Geoff

Got the front and rear bits finished.

G clamps. G clamps everywhere.

Got a gap between the tray headboard and the frame of the canopy of about 10mm to allow room for the canvas.


Need to build a table to sit this creation on as it will become a bit unwieldy once I begin to stitch it together (to take it on and off the tray). Shed space is limited so might put some wheels on the table for mobility

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After a near miss with a mob of black Angus cattle on the road a couple of weeks back ive added some fleabay HIDs to the front. Retained the existing LEDs for close range visibility.

Mounted the LEDs at a 90 degree angle with some basic brackets attached to the uprights.

Wiring them tonight.

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