Anyone use lift off canopies?

[nab]

Toying with the idea of selling my work car and 4x4 and buying a dualcab ute (3-4 yrs old).

I currently run a single cab ute with big 2.4m canopy. It has plenty of room as I don't fill it right up but it is decked out with shelves/drawers etc to organise it all and 4 ladders on the roof. My Pajero is also kitted out as a touring machine. But paying 2x regos, 2x insurance, 2x servicing, 2x cleaning adds up each year. I also have 3 kids to lug around so it can be a pain having to drive home, change cars then go pick them up. It's been fine so far but now with the missus working more and more after school activities I can see it wearing thin soon.

If I just have the one canopy I know that I won't be too enthusiastic emptying it to go camping etc so I'll prob do it less. I am looking at getting a dualcab with flat tray then getting 2 canopies that are removable.

Has anyone got this setup?
Is it a pain in the arse to change over?
Any idea on cost to setup?
Do you use wooden dollys with wheels to change them over?

[Bad Scott]

I have a lift off canopy for work. 20mins and it’s on or off.

Edit: Works well for us.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[nab]

When it's off you just put the sides of the tray back on?
How is it attached to the tray?
How do the legs attached to lift it off?
How do the electrics connect?
Any pics?

 

[Cruiser 105Tvan]

Legs fit into sockets on corners.  (wind up, or hydraulic.)
12V. by Anderson socket/connector.
Water if needed, by click fit hose connector.
Not sure if turnbuckles work for holding them down, you'll have to check with 'Bad Scott'.

[nab]

Trayon - shell for $6k including legs, weighs 175kg.

http://www.trayon.com/blog/aluminium-ute-canopies/

Galvanised Trailer Co - $3100 including legs, $5200 with 6 drawers built in.

http://galvanisedtrailerco.com.au/trailers/ute-canopies/aluminium-jack-off-ute-canopies-2/

[Bad Scott]

When it's off you just put the sides of the tray back on?
How is it attached to the tray?
How do the legs attached to lift it off?
How do the electrics connect?
Any pics?

 

Yeah put the sides of the tray back on.
It’s attached to the tray by over centre latches.  Been 4WD with it on, with all the work gear out
The legs have an arm that comes out and just slide into the canopy.
Pics to follow tonight when I remove it off the ute

[Hoyks]

My camper box is a home made job.
Legs slide into holes in the corners and have industrial castors on the bottom so I can move it around the shed.
12V power is an umbilical with an anderson plug on the headboard.
Its attached by a few 10mm bolts through the tray with a big washer on top and bottom. Its a bit of a pain to align, so an over center latch would be a better option.
Swap over is probably around 40 minutes in a normal garage. Changing it in my shed is a pain though, it has a low roof, so I need to jack the camper up until it hits the roof, then let the tyres down so I get the ute out .

[glenm64]

Mines on wheels. Not decked out as a camper. Mainly for putting tinnie on and storing gear securely. Has solar on roof too.

Cheers Glen

[nab]

Glen, that is exactly what I had imagined, I like the jacks with wheels. Seen a few online but haven't seen how they attach to the tray.

Most of the ones I have seen are 1800mm long, too long for a dual cab for my liking. I reckon 1200-1400mm would be perfect.

Trying to find one that has a single central latch with central locking, seems you need to pay big bucks to get that... And everyone that does the good ones are over east 

[glenm64]

http://toolboxcentre.com.au/m/
2 shops here in WA, O'conor and Redcliff.
They will customise to how you want it.
Mine cost 5k no legs or hold downs.
Get it powder coated. The temperature difference is huge.
The hold down is 50mm RHS that goes right through, with clamps each side. Attached photo, hopefully it shows detail.


Cheers Glen

[nab]

Good work, may drop by tomorrow to ask a few questions...

[nab]

Got a call back from Bosston Canopies today. Had a chat with the lady who was very helpful and had some good advice. Quoted me for 2x custom sized canopies, central locking, colour coded, jack off legs. Added ladder rack and shelving to the work canopy.

Dropped by MW Toolboxes this arvo. Lots of pics of all the canopies they have done, look great. Had a good chat to the guy there, very helpful with plenty of options. 3 week lead time.

Prices for the canopies:

Bosston - Work canopy ~$12k, camping canopy ~$8k, Total ~$20k.
MW Toolbox - Work canopy $7.1k, camping canopy $5.7k, Total $12.8k (If I order both at the same time he will shave some more off the price).

[nab]

Glenn, is yours 1800mm long? Do you find it has too much overhang? I'm looking at getting the camping canopy 1400mm long as I don't want too much weight further back as my camper has a tow ball weight of 190kg.

[Cruiser 105Tvan]

I was on a trip in 2012 with a fellow traveller using a Tray-on Camper.
During the trip we discussed the overhang at the rear. 
It was revealed that an overhang of up to 60% of the vehicle wheelbase was permitted under the rules at that time.
That would create a lot of leverage around the back axle, even without a trailer, as I understand it.

[nab]

That would create a lot of leverage around the back axle, even without a trailer, as I understand it.

That's what I would like to make sure doesn't happen. I rarely tow a trailer for work so the work canopy overhang doesn't bother me. I'm just thinking about when going down a corrugated road with my camper on the back bouncing up and down, a bent chassis is not on my bucket list.

[glenm64]

Glenn, is yours 1800mm long? Do you find it has too much overhang? I'm looking at getting the camping canopy 1400mm long as I don't want too much weight further back as my camper has a tow ball weight of 190kg.

Mines 1800mm long, on a space cab, so it is 200mm short.
Got it made for a standard dual cab to keep weight forward, and so I can flog it off easier if i ever want to.

[nab]