We have just taken delivery of a BT50 duel cab and interested in any opinion on pros and cons of a canopy vs hard lockable cover for the tub when travelling.
Wombat66
Dougwe said
09:50 AM Apr 6, 2016
Hi Wombat, I have had my Colorado for nearly two years now with a Holden canopy fitted by Holden prior to delivery, it has hinged windows not sliding. I love it. It is everything I hoped for and does a great job. I am on the road full time.
That all said, if I was to do it all again I would get one of those stainless steel backs put on instead of tub and canopy. Why? I find at times I have to move things to get to somethings down the back or under other things. With the stainless steel back I would have lift up sides and back and could have shelving, resulting on things at reach at all times, I would have a gap down the middle for longer or heavier things.
What ever you decide keep in mind the weight of everything you want to carry and weight max's of the BT50. Also keep in mind that the ball weight of your van? is included in the overall weight for the back of your BT50.
KFT said
09:56 AM Apr 6, 2016
We have a Navara and an ARB glossy finish canopy with lift up side windows.
I also have a drawer system in the back.
Having the canopy means you can use the vertical space above the drawers for storage and in my case the fridge on a slide.
Dark tinted glass means the contents are hard to see and I feel, safer because it can be locked up.
The roof of the canopy has 2 120w solar panels to charge the aux battery which runs the fridge.
Best solution for me at this stage but Doug has a point about the service style body and the great access.
Frank
DMaxer said
10:08 AM Apr 6, 2016
Hi Wombat. I bought a Dmax new in 2014 and wasn't quite sure which way to go. In the end I had the tub lined and a tonneau cover fitted. I find that as a rule if I have space, I seem to fill it up with junk that I never will use. Usually all I carry in the back is my fishing gear, an esky and the washing. It is not lockable but then if someone is hell bent on stealing, a lock won't stop them.
I manage to fit all the items that I require in my van and anything else I leave in my storage shed for collection at some later date. If I was going to be free camping all the time (or most of the time) I would go along with the suggestion that Doug made. Obviously all alternatives have their own pros and cons.
I think KFT has the show sown up with his set up.
Enjoy your time on the forum and your travels. Welcome aboard!
-- Edited by DMaxer on Wednesday 6th of April 2016 10:09:43 AM
Desert Dweller said
01:24 PM Apr 6, 2016
We have a fibre-glass color coded Nissan canopy fitted to our 2015 Navara with tinted, hinged, lockable side & rear windows. Our previous vehicle was a Ford Ranger with a soft tonneau cover, we were just about to buy a canopy for it when it was struck by lightning in our driveway at home. We've spoken to a few people with the hard, lockable, lift up type tub covers, some have said they are quite restrictive as far as loads that are slightly higher that the tub rim are concerned.
Radar said
02:25 PM Apr 6, 2016
I do like the way our dual cab is finished with coloured matched canopy, has a cargo slide in the back plus a shelf up the front for light stuff, soft seats, hats etc.
It was a hard choice as we always talked getting a tray back with a aluminium canopy decked out with the necessary but at the last moment went the straightlines for appearance over practically use.
I fine the more we travel the less we take and as we age we need less.
Its a big choice, we even spoke of selling the ute back and canopy and going the tray back at sometime if needed.
If I did it all again the one thing I woud do is just buy the vehicle and then organise my own extras one at a time. In that I woud be happier and saved a few dollars.
For the most we are very happy with our purchase. It looks good, drives good, tows well. Just love it.
We are not full time Nomads, we do like to spend 2 to 3 months away at a time with our caravan, we spend some time at home then we off again on the next adventure.
-- Edited by Radar on Wednesday 6th of April 2016 02:33:30 PM
Mutley said
11:47 PM Apr 6, 2016
Hi Wombat,
Dougwe's reply above pretty well nails it!
Canopies are OK, but they are a compromise. We put one on a previous dual cab & it was OK at best (back then in 2010 it cost us $2,500, but they are more expensive now & they are still exactly the same design). It had the lift up windows & they are better than the sliding ones, but IMO still not great. Go to a car yard with a 2nd hand Ute with a canopy on & try to access the centre of the tub. You'll see what I mean.
We travel gravel roads & the canopy wasn't up to it at all! The 1st big dirt road for it was the GRR & the seal came off the window at the back. Got it fixed by the supplier. Next was the Oodnadatta Track/Old Ghan Heritage Track & it came off again, as did the seal between the tub & the canopy. Fixed again by the supplier.
Got tired of the seals falling off & moved the Ute on! (hindsight is a wonderful thing, I should have just put a tray & alloy canopy on it & kept it - it was a GREAT Ute!)
Now have another dual cab & no way I'd even consider putting a canopy on the tub!
Hard lids? No idea, never done it lol!
Gus1949 said
03:17 PM Apr 7, 2016
I put a hard top on the tub rather than a canopy, I knew if I got a canopy SWMBO would simply fill it.
The Doo crew said
09:19 AM Apr 9, 2016
Got a hard cover on our Triton tub ute, BIGGEST mistake ever. Restricts what you can put in size wise & renders the ute almost useless. Only plus is its weather/dust proof, but I would give that up to be able to use it as a ute!!
Mutley said
07:33 PM Apr 9, 2016
The above confirms what I've been thinking; time for us to replace the tub on the Ute with a tray.
Wombat66 said
11:38 AM Apr 10, 2016
Thanks everyone, I appreciate all your comments, probably get a soft tonneau cover for local trips and when we go on our big trip later in the year will get a canopy.
We have just taken delivery of a BT50 duel cab and interested in any opinion on pros and cons of a canopy vs hard lockable cover for the tub when travelling.
Wombat66
That all said, if I was to do it all again I would get one of those stainless steel backs put on instead of tub and canopy. Why? I find at times I have to move things to get to somethings down the back or under other things. With the stainless steel back I would have lift up sides and back and could have shelving, resulting on things at reach at all times, I would have a gap down the middle for longer or heavier things.
What ever you decide keep in mind the weight of everything you want to carry and weight max's of the BT50. Also keep in mind that the ball weight of your van? is included in the overall weight for the back of your BT50.
I also have a drawer system in the back.
Having the canopy means you can use the vertical space above the drawers for storage and in my case the fridge on a slide.
Dark tinted glass means the contents are hard to see and I feel, safer because it can be locked up.
The roof of the canopy has 2 120w solar panels to charge the aux battery which runs the fridge.
Best solution for me at this stage but Doug has a point about the service style body and the great access.
Frank
Hi Wombat. I bought a Dmax new in 2014 and wasn't quite sure which way to go. In the end I had the tub lined and a tonneau cover fitted. I find that as a rule if I have space, I seem to fill it up with junk that I never will use. Usually all I carry in the back is my fishing gear, an esky and the washing. It is not lockable but then if someone is hell bent on stealing, a lock won't stop them.
I manage to fit all the items that I require in my van and anything else I leave in my storage shed for collection at some later date. If I was going to be free camping all the time (or most of the time) I would go along with the suggestion that Doug made. Obviously all alternatives have their own pros and cons.
I think KFT has the show sown up with his set up.
Enjoy your time on the forum and your travels. Welcome aboard!
-- Edited by DMaxer on Wednesday 6th of April 2016 10:09:43 AM
We have a fibre-glass color coded Nissan canopy fitted to our 2015 Navara with tinted, hinged, lockable side & rear windows. Our previous vehicle was a Ford Ranger with a soft tonneau cover, we were just about to buy a canopy for it when it was struck by lightning in our driveway at home. We've spoken to a few people with the hard, lockable, lift up type tub covers, some have said they are quite restrictive as far as loads that are slightly higher that the tub rim are concerned.
I do like the way our dual cab is finished with coloured matched canopy, has a cargo slide in the back plus a shelf up the front for light stuff, soft seats, hats etc.
It was a hard choice as we always talked getting a tray back with a aluminium canopy decked out with the necessary but at the last moment went the straightlines for appearance over practically use.
I fine the more we travel the less we take and as we age we need less.
Its a big choice, we even spoke of selling the ute back and canopy and going the tray back at sometime if needed.
If I did it all again the one thing I woud do is just buy the vehicle and then organise my own extras one at a time. In that I woud be happier and saved a few dollars.
For the most we are very happy with our purchase. It looks good, drives good, tows well. Just love it.
We are not full time Nomads, we do like to spend 2 to 3 months away at a time with our caravan, we spend some time at home then we off again on the next adventure.
-- Edited by Radar on Wednesday 6th of April 2016 02:33:30 PM
Dougwe's reply above pretty well nails it!
Canopies are OK, but they are a compromise. We put one on a previous dual cab & it was OK at best (back then in 2010 it cost us $2,500, but they are more expensive now & they are still exactly the same design). It had the lift up windows & they are better than the sliding ones, but IMO still not great. Go to a car yard with a 2nd hand Ute with a canopy on & try to access the centre of the tub. You'll see what I mean.
We travel gravel roads & the canopy wasn't up to it at all! The 1st big dirt road for it was the GRR & the seal came off the window at the back. Got it fixed by the supplier. Next was the Oodnadatta Track/Old Ghan Heritage Track & it came off again, as did the seal between the tub & the canopy. Fixed again by the supplier.
Got tired of the seals falling off & moved the Ute on! (hindsight is a wonderful thing, I should have just put a tray & alloy canopy on it & kept it - it was a GREAT Ute!)
Now have another dual cab & no way I'd even consider putting a canopy on the tub!
Hard lids? No idea, never done it lol!
I put a hard top on the tub rather than a canopy, I knew if I got a canopy SWMBO would simply fill it.
Wombat 66