If you could build a canopy

[ADVAW8S]

I'm asking for people's opinion on what makes perfect canopy. If you could custom build your own or ask a existing builder to make the perfect canopy.

I'm figuring out the must haves and what you don't need.

 

[anand]

Weather sealing, strong enough construction allowing for mounting on the sides, windows on front (cab side) and rear (tailgate side), and a positive pressure vent to minimize dust intrusion.

If you have any plans of sleeping inside (or even storing a fridge, etc), add an insulated canopy to that list and interior opening to the list; if you're purely using it for storage, opening side walls/doors are a nice addition.

FWIW, we had an Alu-Cab Explorer canopy on the better half's previous long bed Tacoma (used just for storage, although I did spend one night in it) and an AT Overland Atlas canopy/camper on my previous double cab Tundra.

The Tundra/AT Atlas was awesome because the interior was set up for "living" space (decked drawers, bedrug on top of those, fridge, seating space, Truma heater, toilet, battery/inverter area, etc). The Tacoma had decked drawers and was almost always used for hauling plants, so having the side opening doors was super convenient to grab stuff and for hosing it out

 

[NQ94]

Don't make it too heavy use good quality latches, seals, good fold profiles for sealing the doors and try to use the folds in the panels to add structural strength because a canopy does flex and does crack. Work out the weight distribution of what is going in it and make the fit out as light as possible. Add vents to pressurize it in heavy dust to keep inside clean. If the canopy is permanently mounted to the chassis look at the mounting system, Aluminium work hardens with chassis movement and cracks. Some times an aluminium canopy attached to a steel subframe is a better option due to repair ease and less cracking. If you intend sleeping in it make sure the door latches are easily accessed and opened from inside the canopy. Look for a local sheet metal fabricator as they're more likely to build a good quality canopy exactly to your needs at less cost then the big companies that do lots of marketing, attend every show and are on every 4x4 YT channel. Make sure you have your build design set in stone because once the build begins it moves fast and the fabricators do not like mid job changes. We have Chinese cooky cutter canopies sold in Australia and some are well made for the price with add on options to reinforce the basic canopy.
The photo is the custom canopy I had made for my 2400mm single cab tray back ute. The front cage is for spare tyres (33" max) and tools, the roof is reinforced for a direct 300kg static load so no rack is required and has blind thread inserts for roof rails. The only tings I would change is the latch model, it has commercial body latches that can't be released from inside if locked from outside and catches are welded to the aluminium body and should of been bolted. It is a little bit heavy fitted to a steel tray and is difficult to remove with the solar and other brackets in the tray, it should be a permanent replacement for the tray which I think is a better option as there is no double floor and less weight. I have experimented with home made fit outs every major trip and ended keeping it simple and fitting tie rails in the canopy so it can be empty when not travelling. My first fit out looked a bit redneck but it was strong and very practical just too heavy made from the wrong ply wood. I the had the canopy built in 2015 and it has done multiple corrugated road coast to coast crossings of the top end lived in heavy bull dust, Gibb River road, Tanami and lived with bad NQ roads etc with no cracks.