Reply With QuoteStick a German Shepard in the back when you travel. It works a treat for my mate who runs a canvas canopy on his Hilux...
TopicToaster
Hello All,
Rebus my Series III tray back with steel sides and tail gate came with a galvanised pipe frame which has a vinyl canvas style top and sides. The sides of the canopy had eyelets which clip onto the outside of the tray sides.
The canvas is rotten and needs replacing. I really like how the top of the frame is 620 millmetres taller than the tray steel sides. The rear tailgate is 1800 mm wide. The canopy had zipped sides with clear plastic film "windows" sewn in. I like the idea of having opening glass side and rear windows, with insect screens.
The other bonus with Rebus' frame is that it has two rollers on top of the rear frame above the tail gate and another frame above the headboard, so a tinny can be mounted on top.
I have thought of replacing the rotten canvas with sheet metal and fitting factory manufactured side windows, plus lift-up top tailgate. My concern is that something made in my backyard might look bodgey and very "home-made".
It is really hard to beat the smooth look on the fibreglass canopies. Do any manufacturers make a fibreglass canopy for a tray back Series III?
The reason I ask is that for picking up mechanical parts or landscape materials the tray back is really convenient. However, if travelling long distances with baggage or camping in the back a tray lacks the security of being able to lock stuff up like you have with a custom side tub with the factory made sides and full roof.
A compromise could be a tray back with a decent sized fibreglass canopy. It would keep the benefits of the tray back and improve the level of security a bit.
Has anyone got any photographs of such a fibreglass canopy on their Series III tray back ute? Or of a metal sided canopy that they have made themselves that they are happy with?
Kind Regards
Lionel
Super Moderator & CA manager
SubscriberStick a German Shepard in the back when you travel. It works a treat for my mate who runs a canvas canopy on his Hilux...
If you need to contact me please email homestarrunnerau@gmail.com - thanks - Gav.
TopicToaster
G'day Bacicat,Originally Posted by bacicat
Stick a German Shepard in the back when you travel. It works a treat for my mate who runs a canvas canopy on his Hilux...
Good idea, however I would be arrested due to my two dogs licking any interloper to death. One is a Rotty-cattle dog cross and is just a big sook. The other is a Border Collie cross and only barks at the same people walking the same dog past our place everyday.
Kind Regards
Lionel
Master
Tie them up in the back.
Give them a steak each and walk away.
Have a mate they don't know immediately walk up and steal the steaks.
No-one will ever be able to approach the vehicle again
Besides, it's not the dog's behaviour that provides the security, it's their actual presence.
Have you priced having a good, green canvas cover made? I'm not saying that's the way to go but the cost of that compared to the options might sway your decisions.
By tray back, I'm guessing you mean there's a proper cab with a ute at the back which currently has a canvas cover (yes, I'm new to Landys). If so, that's what Wombat has so I'm interested in this discussion and your solution.
Cheers
Richard
TopicToaster
Hello Richard,
Are the photographs at the bottom of my first message showing up when you read the message?
Yes, Rebus has the ute cabin separate from the tray. Tray has a steel head board with about three horizontal strips that cover the rear window so loads don't come in and say hello. Two sides made out of steel and a steel tail gate. The floor is timber - well form ply.
I also have the same thing on another Series 3 that is all alloy tray.
Kind Regards
Lionel
TopicToaster
Hello All,
The loud clunk was me falling off my chair in shock! I just found an Australian fibreglass tray back canopy manufacturer and their prices started at $2500 and went up to about $4500. The last price was with insect screens on the side sliding windows and gas lifts for the rear window
Way beyond what I paid for Rebus in the first place. I think I will be going down the road of second grade alloy sheet from the local metal suppliers.
I will also start to look out for second hand canopies that I can get some windows from if the fibreglass is cracked and people just want to dump it.
The starting point will be an alloy sheet for the roof and then progress from there at different stages. I might even use some rivets as well as Sikaflex just so they blend in with the rest of the Landy
Kind Regards
Lionel
Master
Ask them what the price would be if they did away with the diamond highlights in the fibreglass.
Master
Can you give me the dimesions of your tray?
It looks very similar to the one on the back of my landy, which came with a fibreglass canopy. I've been trying to find who made it but nothing comes up on google.
EDIT: I raised the height of the canopy so it looked/fitted better, so it's not standard.
TopicToaster
Hello Mighty RR
Your canopy looks really good. Rebus's tray dimensions are: 2135 mm long and 1808 mm wide - the height of the drop-sides are 305 mm. All measurements are from the outside edges.
Kind Regards
Lionel
RoverLord
It is likely that the tray is a standard size that has been used on other makes. With this in mind, a search of wreckers may just find a suitable one second hand - probably cheap, because they will not be a fast moving item.
If your only real concern with the canvas is security, consider making panels from reinforcing mesh that fit inside the canvas. They could be either welded to the frame or simply bolted straps round the frame - if you use coach bolts with nyloc nuts on the inside they will be virtually impossible to undo from outside. The rear panel can have a welded frame and be hinged at the top, or simply removable, and locked to the tailgate. (which, if the tailgate needs lowering before lowering the sides, secures them as well).
John
John
JDNSW
1986 110 County 3.9 diesel
1970 2a 109 2.25 petrol
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