I have clocked up more outback kilometres than I can count and I’ve tried every type of touring setup, from rooftop tents to camper trailers to caravans.

I didn’t want to buy a ute and swap the tub for a tray with an overweight and ineffective canopy, so I opted for the Alu-Cab Canopy Camper, and it has changed how I camp. In fact, I reckon it has genuinely shifted the game for ute-based touring in Australia.

Born in South Africa, the Canopy Camper has made its mark here for a straightforward reason: it works. It’s fast to set up, tough enough for serious tracks and gives the flexibility to go further without dragging a trailer behind. After a couple of months of using it on the road, I can safely say it’s one of the most efficient and enjoyable touring setups I’ve had.

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Why I chose the Alu-Cab Canopy Camper

Like many other adventurers, I juggled multiple systems depending on the trip – a rooftop tent for short stints and a camper trailer for extended stays. But the constant packing, setting up and trailer drama were getting old fast. I wanted something more streamlined, reliable and capable of keeping up with remote solo travel.

That’s when I started looking at the Alu-Cab Canopy Camper. It offered a promise of simplicity – no towball, no poles, no canvas bag fights in the dark – just a lightweight, hard-wearing, all-in-one camper that bolts straight to the back of my D-MAX X-Terrain. More importantly, it provides an internal habitat to escape inclement weather and pesky flies. 

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Alu-Cab Canopy Camper: Key features and build

The Canopy Camper is a fusion of three concepts: a ute canopy, a rooftop tent and a compact camper body. It’s a pop-top, aluminium camper shell that fits most dual-cab, extra-cab, and single-cab ute tubs. The roof lifts with gas struts to reveal an integrated sleeping platform and mattress, while the rear door opens into a walk-in interior with full standing room.

The structure is made from powder-coated aluminium and is lightweight, tipping the scales at only 240kg with the spare tyre fitted. It is also incredibly strong and built to handle the worst corrugations and dust the outback can throw at you. It’s properly sealed, secure and weather-resistant. Think of it as a touring pod that turns your ute tub into a fully self-contained travel rig.

The Canopy Camper comes pre-wired, which is very handy and tidy. Protected in corrugated tubing, there’s wiring for the solar input on the roof of the camper, the five cabin lights, two stalk lights in the tent, and 12v power and USB ports in the tent. 

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How professional installation works

The guys at Get Off Road 4×4 here in Wodonga installed the Alu-Cab Canopy Camper Deluxe on my D-Max X-Terrain, which I dropped off to them on the day I picked it up from Blacklocks Isuzu with just 10km on the clock.

The first step was to remove the roof rails, sports bar, hard tonneau cover and tailgate before cleaning the surfaces and preparing them for Sikaflex. Watching the camper swinging from a forklift as it was slowly lowered into place was nerve-racking. The team at Get Off Road 4×4 then spent the next three days bolting the unit to the tub, installing the vehicle-specific infill plates on the rear, the 50L water tank, 270° Shadow Awning and the Shower Cube before sealing the gaps with Sikaflex. 

Sealing the tub from dust and water ingress was more extensive than anticipated. Since each brand and model of 4×4 tub is different, identifying all the holes can be difficult. Even a smoke bomb didn’t reveal all the tiny holes that let dust in. It has taken me three tubes of Sikaflex to seal the tub thoroughly, so I’m confident it is dust-free and waterproof. Another critical point is the tub and Canopy Camper flex, so if a seal is defective, it might crack or split, allowing dust to penetrate, so I still carry a small tube of Sikaflex with me… just in case. 

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Set up camp in under a minute

I can’t overstate how good it feels to pull up to camp and be set up in less than 60 seconds. No lie – I park and level up the D-MAX, open the rear door, unlatch the roof, and give it a push, climb inside and lift the bed. I then fold out the Alu-Cab Shadow Awning and I’m done – no ropes, pegs or climbing a ladder with a torch between my teeth.

The bedding stays in place, the mattress stays dry and I’m off the ground and out of the weather. If the skies are angry or it’s late and I’m wrecked, I can still be in bed before the billy boils. In the morning, pack-down is just as easy – I leave my sleeping bag in place, close the roof, latch it shut, close the awning and I’m back on the road.

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Built tough for Australian conditions

The more time I spend with the Canopy Camper the more impressed I am with its resilience. It handles the heat in the Top End, the cold of the High Country and the dust of the outback… like a pro. The roof is insulated, the seals are solid and the powder-coated finish shrugs off chips and scratches. 

The tried-and-tested ripstop canvas tent offers durability and protection from the elements. It combines a robust canvas material with a reliable waterproof layer, providing a comfortable and secure environment. Whether you’re setting up in rainy conditions or hot sunny weather, this tent is designed to meet your needs and offer an enjoyable outdoor experience.

The fact that everything is contained within the tub footprint means I retain full off-road capability. No trailer means I can reverse the D-MAX down tight tracks, drive over soft sand without sinking and climb rutted hills without a second thought.

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Modular design for serious touring

One of the Alu-Cab Canopy Camper’s greatest strengths is its modularity and lightness. You’re not locked into a set design. The interior is a blank canvas, ready for you to kit out however you like. The basic shell’s starting weight is a mere 210kg. There is a difference between the base model and the Deluxe model.

Deluxe:

  • Internal storage bags on the tent roof 
  • Power: Internal USB and Type-C power points
  • Lighting: Internal lighting (5x National Luna dual colour lights, white/red)
  • Wiring for solar panels
  • Canvas mesh bags on the rear internal panels
  • Canvas bags on the rear door 
  • 2 x Molle Plates on the rear externally
  • 270° Shadow Awning and Awning deflector fitted
  • Midgee nets on the side doors
  • Fitment Kit

Tent Structure & Materials:

  • Fabric: Double-layer 400gsm UV-resistant ripstop canvas with sealed seams
  • Rooftop Load Rating: 50kg

Shadow Awning Structure & Materials:

  • 2600mm length when closed, weighs 24kg
  • 270° self-supported awning provides 10sqm of shade
  • 315gsm 100% polyester base cloth impregnated with an acrylic-based resin
  • Reflective ripstop material, the awning casts a noticeably lower shade temperature
  • Four heavy-duty aluminium arms
  • A single leg is available for windy conditions, and four tie-down ropes are integrated into each arm
  • Extra legs, storm kit and awning walls can be purchased separately

Interior & Comfort:

  • Mattress Material: 70mm high-density foam with a zip-off cover, to which I added a condensation mat underneath and a mattress topper to suit my preferences
  • Canopy Access: 3-point access with gas strut supported lift-up side doors and full vertical rear door
  • Tent Access: 3-point external access, one internal access point
  • Tent Insulation: Top and bottom foam insulation

To the deluxe model, I added:

  • Spare wheel bracket for the rear door
  • 50L food grade UV stabilised LLDPE water tank and canvas pocket kit (includes breather assembly and outlet fittings with a lockable tap)
  • Canopy Camper Table Slide and Alu Table
  • Midgee net for the rear door
  • Alu-Cab Shower Cube
  • Jerry can holder
  • Shadow Awn Gutter Kit
  • Roof Rack Tray
  • Push Button Lock Covers
  • Get Good Gear Molle panel on a side door
  • Razed Products Flush Mounting Kit for TRED Pros

Stage Two of the build will include fitting out the internal space with Goose Gear Modular Cabinetry, a Projecta Power Management System and battery, Projecta solar fixed solar panels, Duoetto 10L hot water, an EGON Water Hub, an Alu-Cab ModCAP Kitchen and a Travel Buddy. This setup will give me enough to stay off-grid for a week and to move quickly between camps without having to rely on caravan parks or powered sites.

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How it changed my remote travel

Before fitting the Canopy Camper, I debated whether to take the camper trailer or deal with the rooftop tent. Trips were slower, setup was a chore and I often avoided specific routes because I didn’t want the hassle. If the weather was bad or the flies were annoying, I was stuck outside with no respite.

Now I can travel lighter, further and more confidently. I no longer plan trips around campsites or trailer-friendly tracks. I go where I want, from remote desert tracks to high country ridgelines, and I know that camp is only a minute away at day’s end.

At camp, I know I can escape bad weather inside the Canopy Camper, with the insect screens covering the sides and rear door to prevent bugs from entering. I can even drop the access panel for the bed and use it as a workspace. At night, I’m safe knowing I can lock the rear door internally so that no one can open it from the outside, nor can they lock me in. 

There’s also a psychological shift: the simplicity makes touring more enjoyable, there is less gear to manage and fewer things to worry about. Everything has a place. Everything works.

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Final verdict: Is it worth it?

The Alu-Cab Canopy Camper isn’t cheap… and it’s not for everyone. But if you’re serious about touring, value your time and you want a setup that works hard without compromise, it’s one of the best investments you can make. It also makes more efficient use of the rear of your ute, unlike a tray with a canopy.

It’s taken the stress out of travel and made the road feel more like home. Whether chasing red dirt tracks or winding through rainforest trails, I know I’ve got a reliable, comfortable and capable setup that can go the distance.

Top 5 must-have mods 

  1. 50L water tank: Allows me to stay off-grid for longer.
  2. Alu-Cab ModCap Kitchen: The perfect modular kitchen with everything available, just add the stove.
  3. Rear Door Midgee Screen: Keeps the bugs out while increasing the airflow by keeping the rear door open.
  4. Canopy Camper Table Slide & Alu Table: Perfect storage for a simple-to-set-up aluminium table.
  5. Spare Wheel Holder: Holds up to a 33-inch wheel and tyre, freeing up space under the tub.

RRP: From $25,000

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