Ute canopies explained: Everything you need to know before you buy

Australia loves a well set-up ute. In fact, three of the top five best-selling vehicles here are utes.

The popularity of the humble utility has long been unmatched – and still is. Fair enough too. Few vehicles can compete when it comes to all-round versatility, scope for modification and sheer toughness for tackling this wide brown land’s most remote tracks. And as you’d expect, ute canopies are booming in popularity too.

What was once limited to a simple fibreglass shell bolted to the top edge of a styleside tub has now evolved into full slide-on canopies or frame-mounted units. They’re available in steel, aluminium or even high-end composites like carbon fibre. You can opt for an all-Aussie build or an imported job, and the fit-out options are almost endless. In fact, there are probably more ways to customise a canopy than there are TikTok dance trends — and if you’re too old to get that reference, consider yourself lucky.

So, here’s what you need to know when it comes to buying your next ute canopy 👇

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Canopy or tub topper: what’s right for your ute?

This is often the first big choice to make: do you go for a canopy that fully replaces your existing tub, or stick with what you’ve got and simply bolt on a shell over the top to create a sealed, weatherproof space for your gear?

There’s no right or wrong answer here – it’s all subjective – so let’s run through a few pros and cons of each option. With a canopy you get a fully sealed “box” customised to your needs. They don’t leak, they’re more dust-resistant and often weigh less than a steel tub and topper – saving you all-important GVM kilos. Side access is also far better, with most canopies featuring gas-strut-assisted doors on either side. The downside? They generally cost more.

A tub-topper is (relatively) straightforward to install, gives you far more usable space than a bare tub and – unlike most canopies – still allows rear access (though to be fair, there are a few three-door canopies on the market, such as Australian Performance Boxes and EZToolbox). However, compared side by side, a dedicated canopy will generally offer more internal space than a tub-topper.

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Frame-mount vs tray-mount: Choosing the best fit

So you’ve decided on a tub-replacement canopy. The next choice is whether to have a flat tray with the canopy mounted on top, or go for a direct frame-mount canopy.

Again, it comes down to your needs – but the short answer is to go for a tray-mount if you’ll need to remove the canopy. For example, if you’re hauling tools during the week, you can pull it off in the garage on Friday arvo and load up the dirtbikes for the weekend. If removal isn’t a requirement, then a frame-mount canopy is the clear winner. Less weight and more space – what’s not to like?

Alloy, steel or composite: Picking your canopy material

This choice usually comes down to weight and cost.

As a rule of thumb, aluminium is about two-thirds as strong as steel and one-third the weight, so thicker-gauge sheets can be used to retain strength while still saving a significant amount of kilos. Alloy also won’t rust – though it’s often more expensive. Does that mean alloy is the best option? Absolutely not. There are plenty of great steel canopies out there, and if you want something that can take a knock and is super-easy to repair, steel makes a lot of sense.

And because it’s no longer 1987, more modern composites such as glass-reinforced plastic and carbon fibre are increasingly being used – Mode Canopies, for example, offers all the strength of an all-metal unit at a lower weight, which is hard to complain about.

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Aussie vs imported canopies: Where to buy

There are plenty of high-quality units being built and imported from overseas – to say otherwise would be wrong.

Anything made in China, or anywhere else, is manufactured to a design and a cost. If the company you’re buying through has specified a high level of quality and functionality in their design, that’s exactly what you’ll get. So it definitely pays to shop around.

That said, buying Australian-made can save you the research and let you hand over your hard-earned knowing you’ll get a top product. Companies like Norweld, Concept Canopies and MITS Alloy are setting the global standard for canopy manufacturing – and with good reason. If quality is your number-one priority, this is the end of town you should be shopping in.

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External gear: Racks, awnings and accessories

Once you’ve chosen your canopy brand, it’s time for the fun stuff.

The list of gear you can mount on the outside is as long as your arm – and, as always, it comes down to your specific needs. Racks, ladders, awning mounts, solar panels, fuel-can holders, tyre carriers, rooftop-tent mounts, hi-lift jacking points, underslung toolboxes, fuel/water/air tanks, cameras and lights are all common inclusions. The best part is the level of customisation. There’s very little that can’t be tailored to your exact requirements.

Internal extras: Storage, power and convenience

That theme continues inside, too.

Complete lithium battery systems can be fitted under floors or behind false walls – and expanded into full kitchen, fridge/freezer, lighting, monitoring, charging and entertainment systems. Other popular inclusions include drawer set-ups, wall mounts for tools and recovery gear, and dedicated storage for items such as surfboards, chainsaws or even ATVs. We’re also seeing more modern conveniences in camping canopies these days. Dedicated espresso machines, shower tents and induction cooktops are no longer uncommon.

Having a ute canopy – no matter the design, the material or the country of origin – gives you the best possible platform to build your ideal camping and touring set-up.

Think of it as a blank canvas on which you can create just about anything you can imagine. And when you’re done, make sure you send us a few pics.