canopies for a new STX V6

[leesy]

Hi All,
Well after much consideration and some sadness i have decided to move on from the big Patrol (AKA Fat girl) as it just does not have the go to tow without big revs, big fuel cost and big stress that it will go pop as the 3LT is known to do...
With the massive 2012 plate clearance sales i popped for a STX V6 Navara, list price $60K and i got one crunched down to $48500 with tow pack, mats, headlight protectors, slimline window weather visers and bonnet protector so i recon a top deal.
Now for the after market i have an ARB bar, brush bars and side step/sliders, snorkle, underbody armour, window tint going on along with a number of bits that will come off the Patrol like winch UHF ect ect.
I am however very confused about the canopy, i have had a good look at ARB, and i was not so impressed, lots of gaps for dust and water ingression, flexi ones seem to get really poor reviews and look average, the Ironman i liked, looked much like the carry boy but some average reviews too, the carry boy was good but not worth the $700 more and finally the Alpha which looks great and i am leaning towards.
Any thoughts here from ute tug owners would be appreciated
Leesy

 

[POD]

Welcome to the V6 club, mate!

I went through all the same dilemmas! Ended up with an Alpha, very happy with it. Think it ranks a lot higher then the price would indicate.

 

[macca]

I cant comment on Alpha, never seen one to know its an Alpha. I currently have 2 Arb canopies and have been happy with both. I went Arb because being a Plumber, i need a good roof rack system which they have. I like their internal support bars and the way it bolts up to their heavy duty roof racks. Regarding dust, im sure a tiny bit of silicone here and their would help but my bt 50 does not even have a tailgate seal so the canopy seal would be the least of my worries. The other thing i liked is a bit like Jayco, they have lots of dealers so if you smashed a rear glass, you can call ahead and order one.

Geoff

 

[leesy]

Welcome to the V6 club, mate!

I went through all the same dilemmas! Ended up with an Alpha, very happy with it. Think it ranks a lot higher then the price would indicate.

Cheers mate, yeah i am at the Alpha at the minute too

 

[leesy]

I cant comment on Alpha, never seen one to know its an Alpha. I currently have 2 Arb canopies and have been happy with both. I went Arb because being a Plumber, i need a good roof rack system which they have. I like their internal support bars and the way it bolts up to their heavy duty roof racks. Regarding dust, im sure a tiny bit of silicone here and their would help but my bt 50 does not even have a tailgate seal so the canopy seal would be the least of my worries. The other thing i liked is a bit like Jayco, they have lots of dealers so if you smashed a rear glass, you can call ahead and order one.

Geoff

good point on the replacement of glass, i had not thought about it from that perspective. I also dont get as per your point why they dont seal the tailgates, would be easy to have a bung system to drain water for the people that dont want a canopy or any kind of top on it?
Cheers

 

[macca]

good point on the replacement of glass, i had not thought about it from that perspective. I also dont get as per your point why they dont seal the tailgates, would be easy to have a bung system to drain water for the people that dont want a canopy or any kind of top on it?
Cheers

Sorry, I mean the car tailgate does not have a rubber seal, dont know why (thats a Mazda issue). I think people just get one from clark rubber. The ARB has a good seal on the BT50 tub. We have not had any water get in.

 

[cruza driver]

You can by a kit off eBay to macca.

 

[macca]

You can by a kit off eBay to macca.

Got a link CD?

 

[cruza driver]

Got a link CD?

I knew I should have saved it :frusty: I can't find the listing now, sorry mate I will keep an eye out.

 

[Timbo]

Hi Leesy, I had the Alpha on my last ute, 2010 Triton, and have an ARB on my current 2012 Navara St. I found the Alpha canopy itself to be excellent, but had many many issues with the installation done by a Sydney company. I would personally prefer the Alpha to the ARB, and if you're not getting it installed by the shonky distributor I used in Sydney, should be a pretty good option.

 

[Ligedy]

Hi Leesy, just been through the same dilemma – which canopy is best one for me …

I ended up ordering with an ARB canopy last week only due to future plans to put a tinny / boat loader on the roof when touring… If this wasn’t part of the equation I would have gone a genuine Nissan canopy as I think they look the best with the way they sit/overlap the tub rails which makes them look more SUV/Wagon like instead of a dual cab with a canopy...

Here is some food for thought.

ARB pros
- more of a vertical rear door/glass (compared to some) means slightly more storage volume (did read on read online somewhere that big cargo drawers and extra- large fridges on slides may need to be set back a little more so the fridge, or other equipment, doesn’t foul with canopy glass on those nice looking raked back/curved glass windows).
- less cash outlay if you don’t need canopy roof racks (costs about the same as others when you add roof racks to the equation).
- cheaper (in FNQ anyway) as transport for me killed other options. I reckon Nissan and Carry Boy are overpriced.
- should be lighter than fibreglass and steel canopies due to ABS/plastic
- 100kg load rating with two cross bars due to internal supports fastened to the tub.

ARB Cons
- dual locks on each window (I’ve gone lift up all round) – would seem easier with one slam lock to operate.
- no carpet lining / trimming
- boxy & boring design – it may be a practical canopy but it’s not as slick looking as others
- canopy roof rails and cross bars are a permanent install when fitting roof racks – with other canopies you can at least take the cross bars off and are left with better looking rails.
- ARB wont’ recommend or fit boat loaders to the canopy (but say many people fit them – as lots do from reading on other forums…).
- installs by drilling and bolting to the tub – others have clip on fasteners (could be a pro as it may keep the canopy on better with a tinny on the top).

Other notes
- EGR (Nissan plastic canopies) apparently have a 150kg roof rack/support kit available
- I have installed the Nissan canopy wiring harness ($40 from Nissan). I will be fit the canopy and wiring myself to know it’s done right and sealed properly from day one.
- boat loaders are mostly designed for wagons where 3 or more roof racks are installed to distribute the load (i.e. dual cab setups don’t work as well as it will load up the canopy or tug roof racks because it’s no good to tie the same load to the tug roof and canopy roof racks due to the flex between the two.)
- If you want to do a fair share of off road driving, with a loaded canopy roof rack, check the hardware available for mounting cross bars to the canopy roof rails are up to scratch as well. When I looked at Rhino Rack heavy duty cross bars to match the ones already on my tug – they aren’t available at the load capacity to suit most aftermarket canopy roof rails due to the clamp type arrangement needed for the sports style cross bars (again they look better but…) . I.e. Nissan’s canopy is rated for 68kg as are the Rhino Rack roof rack sportz bars and clamps to suit, then you need to de-rate this for off road use to 45kg. Permanent / solid leg roof racks are rated at 100kg are de-rated to approx. 67kg when used in off road… every bit helps as most will overload the roof racks if there is space available…. And I my case a 70kg tinny handing off the roof + 30kg for a boat loader will be pushing the Navara and canopy to its limits…

Good luck with your decision.

 

[leesy]

Hi Leesy, I had the Alpha on my last ute, 2010 Triton, and have an ARB on my current 2012 Navara St. I found the Alpha canopy itself to be excellent, but had many many issues with the installation done by a Sydney company. I would personally prefer the Alpha to the ARB, and if you're not getting it installed by the shonky distributor I used in Sydney, should be a pretty good option.

Thanks for the feedback, i think i have a ggod install lines up, they are the direct importer and do van and ute trade complete fit outs google Caddy storage.
cheers

 

[leesy]

Hi Leesy, just been through the same dilemma – which canopy is best one for me …

I ended up ordering with an ARB canopy last week only due to future plans to put a tinny / boat loader on the roof when touring… If this wasn’t part of the equation I would have gone a genuine Nissan canopy as I think they look the best with the way they sit/overlap the tub rails which makes them look more SUV/Wagon like instead of a dual cab with a canopy...

Here is some food for thought.

ARB pros
- more of a vertical rear door/glass (compared to some) means slightly more storage volume (did read on read online somewhere that big cargo drawers and extra- large fridges on slides may need to be set back a little more so the fridge, or other equipment, doesn’t foul with canopy glass on those nice looking raked back/curved glass windows).
- less cash outlay if you don’t need canopy roof racks (costs about the same as others when you add roof racks to the equation).
- cheaper (in FNQ anyway) as transport for me killed other options. I reckon Nissan and Carry Boy are overpriced.
- should be lighter than fibreglass and steel canopies due to ABS/plastic
- 100kg load rating with two cross bars due to internal supports fastened to the tub.

ARB Cons
- dual locks on each window (I’ve gone lift up all round) – would seem easier with one slam lock to operate.
- no carpet lining / trimming
- boxy & boring design – it may be a practical canopy but it’s not as slick looking as others
- canopy roof rails and cross bars are a permanent install when fitting roof racks – with other canopies you can at least take the cross bars off and are left with better looking rails.
- ARB wont’ recommend or fit boat loaders to the canopy (but say many people fit them – as lots do from reading on other forums…).
- installs by drilling and bolting to the tub – others have clip on fasteners (could be a pro as it may keep the canopy on better with a tinny on the top).

Other notes
- EGR (Nissan plastic canopies) apparently have a 150kg roof rack/support kit available
- I have installed the Nissan canopy wiring harness ($40 from Nissan). I will be fit the canopy and wiring myself to know it’s done right and sealed properly from day one.
- boat loaders are mostly designed for wagons where 3 or more roof racks are installed to distribute the load (i.e. dual cab setups don’t work as well as it will load up the canopy or tug roof racks because it’s no good to tie the same load to the tug roof and canopy roof racks due to the flex between the two.)
- If you want to do a fair share of off road driving, with a loaded canopy roof rack, check the hardware available for mounting cross bars to the canopy roof rails are up to scratch as well. When I looked at Rhino Rack heavy duty cross bars to match the ones already on my tug – they aren’t available at the load capacity to suit most aftermarket canopy roof rails due to the clamp type arrangement needed for the sports style cross bars (again they look better but…) . I.e. Nissan’s canopy is rated for 68kg as are the Rhino Rack roof rack sportz bars and clamps to suit, then you need to de-rate this for off road use to 45kg. Permanent / solid leg roof racks are rated at 100kg are de-rated to approx. 67kg when used in off road… every bit helps as most will overload the roof racks if there is space available…. And I my case a 70kg tinny handing off the roof + 30kg for a boat loader will be pushing the Navara and canopy to its limits…

Good luck with your decision.

Thanks, i dont think i will need the high weight/load on the canopy, perhaps a swag or two only, i might look at a steel unit for the cabin part of the deal for the 2nd spare and heavier stuff.
have a look at the Alpha units, look great like the nissan and carry boy, sleek and fitted rather than looking plonked on.
Cheers