Utes are already flexible, and there are even more ways you can take advantage of the space they provide. The most important aspect is setting up the canopy to best suit how you use your ute. Many people underestimate the process, and don’t make the right choice the first time around, which ends up costing them a ton of time, money and nerves down the line. That being said, here’s what you need to pay mind to.

Choosing the Base

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There are three types of canopies to choose from based on the base they’ll be placed on – tub, tray and chassis-mounted. The most suitable canopy for you will depend on your ute’s factory setup, and personal preference.

Tub Base

A large number of utes come with a tub stock setup. These generally blend with the ute panels, and you can attach a wide range of canopies on top of them. The tubs aren’t worth much, and you can usually find a second-hand one for a few hundred dollars. Many people remove them in favour of aluminium tubs, as they’re lighter and allow you to carry more items without going over your recommended gross vehicle weight mass. However, if you intend on removing yours, keep the rear and tailgate lights, as they can cost quite a bit, and sell them separately.

Tray Base

Another common stock setup is the flat tray base. These feature fold-down sides and are typically made of aluminium. However, there are also steel options if you want a heavy-duty one. You can attach a steel or aluminium canopy to them by removing the fold-down sides, and then bolting them through the tray. There are jack-off tray canopies that feature legs and can be easily installed, removed and stored whenever you don’t need them. Trays are available in a wide range of designs and strengths, and they’re categorised as light-duty, medium-duty and heavy-duty. Their construction should suit your application, otherwise, you can end up having to deal with unpleasant problems.

Chassis-Mounted

Canopies that go on the chassis are permanent additions, as they’re very tedious to remove. Rather than having a tray, the canopy is simply bolted directly onto your ute’s chassis. Canopies meant for these bases are stronger beneath to form the base.

Choosing the Material

Metal Canopies

A large number of canopies are made using metals, such as aluminium and steel. An aluminium canopy will be lighter than a steel canopy, but it will be generally less durable. Steel canopies, especially stainless steel ones, are extremely tough, and capable of handling all types of weather conditions. They’re resistant to corrosion and rust, and will typically last for a very long time.

Fibreglass Canopies

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Fibreglass canopies are also popular. These canopies generally feature four windows, and the rear one lifts up on gas struts. There are tons of variations, and you can get them with so-called “windoors” on the side, fixed doors, sliding windows or nothing at all. Fibreglass canopies are on the costlier side, but you can get second-hand models for cheaper.

Canvas Canopies

Canvas canopies are typically the most affordable option, and many people find them quite useful. Most of them are frame-built, with the canvas attached to them. The roof can be a solid sheet, and the canvas zips on all three accessible sides. Some people get a mesh on the inside to enhance its safety.

Other Factors to Consider

Security

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The security the canopy offers is of utmost importance. Camping and 4×4 gear and accessories aren’t cheap, and they can be an easy target for low-life people. Some canopies can easily be broken into, while others will require the use of tools, so most people won’t even bother trying. Avoid glass canopies and canvas canopies that don’t have any safety features to boost their protection. Metal canopies are the most secure, as they have virtually no weak points. But at the end of the day, if someone decides to breach your canopy, they will.

Accessories

You can spend a ton of money on canopy accessories, including tool boxes, roof racks, air tanks, lights, vents, legs for jack-off canopies and so on. What you can do with your canopy will depend on how much you want to spend. Some manufacturers that make custom canopies can include these accessories if you want them to, but most of the time you’ll have to buy aftermarket. When buying aftermarket accessories, pay attention to compatibility.

Size

Last but not least, you have to consider the size of the canopy. This can be made easy if you buy a canopy meant for your specific ute. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay attention to things like length, width and height. The canopy should fit your tub, tray or chassis, without too much overhang.

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Luckily, camping enthusiasts have many options to feel secure, relaxed and comfortable when being away from home. There are versatile pieces of camping equipment designed to ensure the most out of a camping experience and one of them is the camping trailer for sure.

What is a camping trailer?

A camping trailer is a compact and usually small type of vehicle which can be towed by a car or a truck. It is ideal for camping adventurers and those in favour of weekend getaways. Camping trailers come in different sizes and models, however, all are designed to make the camping experience enjoyable. They have room for comfortable sleeping and most commonly come with a small refrigerator, a fan and other electrical devices.

Why buy a camping trailer?

For starters, sleeping in a camping trailer is far more comfortable and secure than sleeping in a tent. Let’s not forget that spending the nights in the wild is a little bit risky, so what a better way to ensure maximum relaxation and calmness than with a camping trailer. Camping trailers Australia retailers offer various types of camping trailers, each model with specific features, thus purpose. Take a look at the most popular types most of the camping trailers Australia retailers offer.

• Foldable Trailers:

  These are one of the commonly purchased camping trailers due to the fact that they are extremely convenient because they can be quickly and easily folded and ‘packed’ even into small cars and compartments. This type of camping trailer is the perfect choice for campers with limited space.

• Compact Style Trailer:

  If you are planning to go on a camping trip with few more people, consider buying a compact style trailer. This particular model is designed to accomodate 6 to 8 people, which makes it an ideal outdoor-sleeping solution for a family. Camping trailers Australia retailers offer ultramodern compact style trailers with cutting-edge features that provide superior level of comfort.

• Large & Expandable Camper Trailers:

  These are definitely the must-haves for large family camping adventures that count more than 10 persons. The large and expandable camper trailers are spacious and include many features to ensure a perfectly unforgettable experience.

Reference: Camp Trailers – Ways To Use Them When Exploring Australia

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Smaller, more compact and ideal for carrying lighter goods, these vehicles are a must-have. When it comes to choosing one for your business, you will have to go through several light commercial vehicle types. Here are the most popular types of light commercial vehicles you should consider.

Vans – Vans are your perfect choice for transportation of small loads on a daily basis. These light commercial vehicles are used for transporting both people and goods. Usually, the van is described as bigger than a car and smaller than a truck. Since vans are very popular, they are being produced by some of the world’s most popular vehicle brands. The vans have been used for many different purposes, such as postal services, federal express services, cargo services, police services, medical services, etc.

Pickup Trucks – A pickup truck is a light-type of truck with a cab in the front and an open-cargo area at the rear with a gate that opens for easy loading and unloading of loads. The first model of pickup truck was manufactured by Henry Ford in 1925, with a production of 34,000 units. Since, the pickup truck has been redesigned many times to match customers’ demands. Hence, to suit the specific needs of different users, there are pickup trucks of different sizes: compact-size, mini-size and fulls-size pickup trucks. Full-size pickup trucks are powered either by a six- or eight-cylinder engine. There are also some pickup truck models with rigid vertical sides that serve as a tray.

Three-Wheelers – The most unique type of light commercial vehicle is the three-wheeler. Even though some models look like a motorcycle and others like an all-terrain vehicle, the three-wheelers are vehicles that can be legally classed as either motorcycles or automobiles. Lightweight and compact, three-wheeled vehicles are the most economical vehicles to run. Most three-wheelers have two wheels at the back and one at the front, but there are some with one wheel at the back as well. These light commercial vehicles are usually preferred because of economic reasons since they have lower safety regulations and owners pay lower taxes.

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The semi truck manufacturers have retained the same structure and design, but with some slight changes over the years. Today, the biggest semi truck brands introduce newer and more sleeker models on the market, but they don’t go too far from the classic semi truck design. Some semi truck manufacturers have managed to earn a reputation for high durability. Others have earned a reputation for their powerful semi trucks. The most popular and top rated semi truck brands for the past 2014 are the following ones:

Freightliner – Freightliner is the top dog when it comes to quality and durability. A third from all 190,000 semi trucks which are sold annually belong to Freightliner. This number says a lot about the popularity of this top-selling brand. Freightliner was founded in 1942 in Portland, Oregon, USA. Over the years, this American giant introduced many truck models with different power and carrying capacities. Freightliner’s new line of heavy duty trucks feature greater payload capacity and greater operational efficiency. What makes this brand a No.1 choice for many truck drivers and trucking companies around the world, is the production of the most fuel-efficient semi trucks.

Kenworth Truck Company – Another semi truck manufacturer that deserves to be included in the top list is Kenworth. This American truck manufacturer is focused on producing trucks that offer the highest comfort level for the drivers. The trucks from Kenworth are also considered as fuel-efficient machines. Kenworth’s 52-inch sleeper that promises powerful performance is another reason why this brand deserves to be included in this top 5 list.

Volvo Trucks – Volvo is the second most popular semi truck manufacturer in the world. Headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, Volvo is known for its line of semi trucks that offer great visibility, high strength steel cab, driver’s side airbag and many other features that can be only seen in the trucks from this Swedish manufacturer.

Peterbilt Motor Company – Peterbilt Motor Company was founded in 1939 in Denton, Texas. It is another popular American brand which is known for its class 5 and class 8 semi trucks. This brand was one of the first manufacturers that managed to produce trucks that run on alternative fuels. Peterbilt is focused more on producing environmental-friendly machines that guarantee greater operator’s comfort.

International Trucks – Last but not the least is International Trucks. This brand operates on three continents with manufacturing plants in USA, Mexico and Canada. With a network of more than 1,000 dealerships, International Trucks is present in many countries around the world. What makes the semi trucks from this manufacturer so popular, is the standard roll stability, excellent maneuverability, and superior 50-degree wheel cut. These trucks are called the ‘kings of the road’.

Reference: http://www.trucks4u.com.au/buy/Used/

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MAN

MAN is definitely the most popular truck brand not only in Australia but world wide. This German truck maker was found in 1893, and since then it has been focused on producing a variety of transportation vehicles, including buses, pickup trucks and heavy trucks. The reputation of being one of the biggest truck brands in the world is a result of hard work, dedication, ground-breaking research and constant innovation.

Ford

Ford is the most profitable truck brand in America, and also one of the most popular truck brands in the world. This American giant has been one of the first truck manufacturers, with history full of innovations. In its product range, Ford includes a wide range of trucks, from light and medium duty trucks, to heavy duty trucks. With high efficiency and exceptional truck capabilities, the Ford trucks are certainly some of the best you can find on the market.

Kenworth

This is another American truck brand that is widely popular in Australia. Kenworth is a manufacturer of medium and heavy duty trucks. Headquartered in Kirkland, Washington, Kenworth is one of the those truck manufacturers that are always focused on introducing new features in their trucks. Kenworth has a facility in Victoria, Australia, where all Kenworth truck models are being produced.

Mercedes Benz

With a long history full of innovations, Mercedes Benz is one of the most popular truck brands in every country all around the world. The well-known logo “The best or nothing” describes the Mercedes Benz trucks perfectly, and the users from all around the world can proudly confirm that. Mercedes Benz is also known as a brand that offers trucks with the highest resale value in Australia.

Scania

Scania is a Swedish manufacturer of class 8 vehicles (over 16 tonne capacity). These heavy-duty vehicles are especially designed for hauling all sorts of goods over long distances. With a variety of trucks for haulage and construction purposes, Scania is one of the most popular truck brands in Australia. Although Scania and MAN are part of the Volkswagen Group, these two truck brands are fierce competitors with similar market positions on the market.

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The market for commercial vehicles is very big. You can find a wide range of different models with different power and storage capacities. This doesn’t mean that you are limited of buying new commercial vehicles only. There is also a market for used vehicles. Indeed, for many companies or individual operators, the used truck sales are better option because they can find cheaper vehicles in good driving condition.

All commercial vehicles are classified in two groups: light commercial vehicles and heavy commercial vehicles. These two groups include many models, so let’s go through the most popular: 

Trucks – Trucks are certainly the most common commercial vehicles that can be seen all around the world. That’s because the number of used trucks sales is very big. These vehicles are especially designed for transporting cargo and other heavy materials. They vary in size, configuration, power, features and suitable applications. The commercial trucks can be also equipped with specialized equipment and used for very unique applications, such as fire trucks, concrete mixers, truck-mounted cranes, etc. 

Semi-Trucks – The semi-trucks are the most popular truck types in Australia, and also among the largest commercial vehicles on the market. They are used for carrying goods and supplies over long distances and can be seen on every Australian road. Every reputable truck manufacturer design and offers semi-trucks. If new semi-truck is a costly investment for you, search for used truck sales.

Vans – Van, a short form of caravan, is a type of vehicle used for transportation of goods and people. Over the years, this big automobile, or small truck, has been used as an ambulance vehicle, ice cream van, kebab van, public light bus, station wagon, camping van, etc. These commercial vehicles vary in size, power, and configuration.

Buses – The bus is a type of commercial vehicle which is especially designed for transportation of people. The passenger capacity of the buses varies, and some models can carry around 300 passengers. There are many bus models on the market, but the most popular are the double-deckers, articulated buses, mini-buses, single-decker rigid buses, and the coaches.

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