alloy camper

[roscoFJ73]

I went to the yearly 4wd show i today and snapped this super sturdy alluminium tradesmans canopy mad by Tuff used as 2 person camper and storage.

It was a mixture of annoyance and admiration when I saw it.
I was annoyed because I had approached several alluminium canopy makers about building something like this for me ,but they were too busy with trade customers.
So I gave up.

Turns out the fabricator of these doesnt have a web site.

What I liked about it was,the other makers of similar tradesman canopies want to sell you their tray so the whole thing becomes one large body attached to the frame .

The Tuff canopies fits on top of the majority of aussie style trays with drop sides.(6'x8')
So once removed ,your landcruiser is ready for work Monday morning
This one was about $12K as pictured.

You can see some canvass that extends out the back to increase the sleeping area.
I guess the roof of the canopy would be about 6" higher than a 70 series low roof.


No connection with company.just like the concept.

 

[D'Animal]

Is that two of them side by side or is that one of them?

 

[NJTaco]

I'm probably looking at it wrong, but it looks like a single unit, with side opening doors, two on each side. Sleeping area about 5 ft wide by 6 feet long, the storage in the "front" half looks about 3 ft wide.

The fabric "tent" extension out the back looks neat, so you don't feel like you're in a coffin so much.

I like...

 

[roscoFJ73]

Is that two of them side by side or is that one of them?

I'm probably looking at it wrong, but it looks like a single unit, with side opening doors, two on each side. Sleeping area about 5 ft wide by 6 feet long, the storage in the "front" half looks about 3 ft wide.

The fabric "tent" extension out the back looks neat, so you don't feel like you're in a coffin so much.

I like...

Its a single unit. The storage area at the front has a door each side and the sleeping compartment has one side door and a rear door for the extension.
The sleeping area is about 7ft with the extension.
The extension takes about 30 seconds to erect or pack up
I guess the height inside the unit is about 4ft,so you could build some overhead shelves in the sleeping area if you wanted.
The doors in the sleeping area had mosquito netting for the warm nights

 

[Coyote808]

Once again, the Aussies show us how to truly enjoy the great outdoors with your Cruiser.

 

[Mickldo]

Here's one that we build at work.

 

[roscoFJ73]

Here's one that we build at work.

Mick, is that a tray and canopy combined,or can they be separated?
How much are they charging for them?
That type would be ok with a RTT or F/G shell type camper up top

 

[millatruse]

Also Mick, does it have a door on the rear for access...or is the only way in through the sides?

 

[roscoFJ73]

Also Mick, does it have a door on the rear for access...or is the only way in through the sides?

Mick seems to have not returned.
The doors are usually added to suit the customer. One shop said if they do a rear door,they shorten the side doors to keep the rigidity.

 

[roscoFJ73]

Also Mick, does it have a door on the rear for access...or is the only way in through the sides?

Mick seems to have not returned.
The doors are usually added to suit the customer. One shop said if they do a rear door,they shorten the side doors to keep the rigidity.

 

[Coyote808]

Mick seems to have not returned.
The doors are usually added to suit the customer. One shop said if they do a rear door,they shorten the side doors to keep the rigidity.

Would make sense to me. I think that having a flat back on your truck would be much more versatile especially if you can get a removable canopy or shell for it and you can use your truck for work during the week, put the camper/canopy/shell on for the weekend and drive it up country and then enjoy the scenery, back home, take it off and store it for next weekend and you're ready for work come Monday (or whenever your weekend is finished). Although that looks to me to be more set up for a tradesman than a serious camper, but I've heard stories of even more improvised stuff than that.

(Old Air Force Dodge D350 service truck salvaged by a Seabee unit in Korea and turned into a water truck for a roadworks project in the middle of summer using nothing more than duct tape, 55 gallon drums, and garden hose)

 

[roscoFJ73]

Would make sense to me. I think that having a flat back on your truck would be much more versatile especially if you can get a removable canopy or shell for it and you can use your truck for work during the week, put the camper/canopy/shell on for the weekend and drive it up country and then enjoy the scenery, back home, take it off and store it for next weekend and you're ready for work come Monday (or whenever your weekend is finished). Although that looks to me to be more set up for a tradesman than a serious camper, but I've heard stories of even more improvised stuff than that.

(Old Air Force Dodge D350 service truck salvaged by a Seabee unit in Korea and turned into a water truck for a roadworks project in the middle of summer using nothing more than duct tape, 55 gallon drums, and garden hose)

Im not sure what happens over in Micks area,but here, most of those alloy canopies have their own tray which bolts directly to the chassis mounts.
If you want a removeable canopy with its own floor its another $1000. It doesnt make sense as the floor has much less work in it than a canopy and tray combined.
Im guessing they dont like to change their method of prodution too much.
It also makes more work for them as you have to buy a new canopy each time you buy a new truck

There is a fine line between a tradesman's canopy and one set up for camping.
They are both looking for the same thing,being able to find gear without turning everything upside down

Phil G on exploroz has one of the best alloy canopy setups on his HDJ79 Ive seen
My Profile - Member - Phil G (SA) @ ExplorOz

 

[Coyote808]

I guess the different idea of what a tradesman's truck would be utilized for is slightly different here than in Aus. Here, not only do they need to store tools and parts, but many also carry 8' x 4' sheets of plywood or dry wall as well as 12' long bits of rain gutters on a pipe rack over the back and cab. So that's a need for an open back for easy access to the plywood, storage bins for tools and smaller bits, and a pipe rack/lumber rack for stuff that won't fit flush in the bed and some place to tie your 10 gallon jug of water and disposable cups to keep you going through the work. Or at least that's the more common configuration for trucks used by people in the trade skills here.