Aluminium Ute Canopies
Which ute canopy should you buy? For a dual-cab tradie or tourer, the default is a 700–900 mm canopy with three-door access and a jack-off system, so you can drop it in the driveway and get your flat tray back on a weekend. Step up to a 1000 mm high canopy only if you're running a fridge on a slide with shelving above it — every extra 100 mm costs price, payload and highway fuel. Prices start at $1,170 for a 500 mm unit and run to $3,999 for a TIG-welded Xceed.
Every canopy here is built on a unistrut framework with corner reinforcement — corners are where canopies fail on corrugations. Full sizing, door and payload advice: the ute canopy buying guide.
- Dual Cab
- Extra Cab
- Single Cab
- 1000mm High
- Part Tray
- Xceed Series
- LC79 Genuine Tray
- Chassis Mount
- Tub Canopy
- Hard Lid
Canopy, tub canopy or service body — three different builds
| Build | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Hard lid | Weather protection and basic security, almost no weight penalty. | No standing height or side access. |
| Tub canopy | Real lockable volume with zero tray conversion. | Limited by the tub shape and wheel arches. |
| Tray + canopy | The mainstream tradie and tourer setup. Modular, canopy can come off. | Adds 300–450 kg to the vehicle. |
| Chassis mount | Maximum volume, cleanest lines, professional fleet look. | Not removable; higher cost. |
| Part-tray canopy | Locked tools plus open deck behind for long or dirty loads. | Less enclosed volume. |
Not converting the tub? See the tub canopy and hard lid guide.
Sizes and prices
| Canopy | Price | Black |
|---|---|---|
| 500 mm flat plate | $1,170 | – |
| 600 mm flat plate | $1,260 | $1,475 |
| 700 mm flat plate | $1,350 | $1,575 |
| 800 mm flat plate | $1,440 | $1,780 |
| 900 mm flat plate | $1,575 | $1,790 |
| 1000 mm flat plate | $1,665 | $1,980 |
| 1100 mm flat plate | $1,710 | $2,070 |
| 700 mm, 1 m high | $1,845 | $2,025 |
| 900 mm, 1 m high | $1,999 | $2,250 |
| 1800 mm 3-door, Gen 2 rear frame | $2,999 | – |
| Xceed 1000–1800 mm | $2,799–$3,999 | black only |
| LC79 genuine tray canopy, 1600 mm | $4,200 | – |
GST inclusive, supply only, current at September 2026. Matched tray and canopy packages start at $4,999.
Door configuration and jack-off
Three-door means doors both sides plus a rear door, so you grab gear from whichever side is closest to the job. It's the tradie default for good reason — across a working year it saves real hours.
Gullwing doors lift upward on gas struts rather than swinging out, so they open in a tight car park or between two vehicles, and the open door becomes a rain shelter. Check overhead clearance in your garage and on your regular tracks.
Jack-off adds four legs that let you lift the canopy off and leave it standing. You get a flat tray back for the weekend, you can service the tray or rear suspension without stripping the build, and at trade-in you can sell the canopy separately. Retrofitting costs more than specifying it up front — see jack off legs and clamps.
Common questions
How much does a ute canopy weigh?
An aluminium canopy alone typically runs 90–170 kg depending on length, height and door configuration. A complete tray-plus-canopy build commonly adds 300–450 kg to the vehicle, which comes straight out of legal payload.
What height canopy should I get?
Standard 850 mm suits most trade fit-outs. Choose 1000 mm or taller if you're running a fridge on a slide with shelving above it, or want to reach in without crouching.
Do I need engineering approval to fit a canopy?
A canopy fitted to a compliant tray on a standard vehicle generally doesn't require individual approval, but the finished vehicle must still comply with mass limits and load restraint requirements. A chassis-mount body or GVM upgrade is a different conversation.
Can I take the canopy off myself?
With a jack-off system, yes — four legs, a clear driveway and about fifteen minutes. Without one you need two to four people or an engine hoist.
How does a canopy affect fuel consumption?
Expect a measurable increase, driven mostly by frontal area and height rather than weight, and most noticeable above 90 km/h.
See them in person at Laverton North VIC, Coopers Plains QLD or Penrith NSW, or call 1300 710 666.
