New canopy I found on Alibaba

[pablo94sc]

I've been chatting with Jessica H regarding the Bahrenpoint canopy in aluminum. The side doors have windows in them.

The shipping weight for aluminum is only 25kg less than steel, at 123kg vs 148kg. That doesn't seem very light compared to the smartcap clones, which are like 90kg from what I've seen (but I could be way off, here).

She also stated the weight capacity is around 350kg static, but I still don't have a dynamic rating, nor the mounting system used. I'd prefer bolting through the stake pocket holes over clamps.

Edit: updated based on latest info

Sponsored

 

[pablo94sc]

Another interesting option I found. Not as stylish as the first one, but I'm really liking the T-slots along the top and bottom rails. I wonder if those continue inside as well.

https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...4K0e&priceId=6966b0b2e3a14c4398b387698f53263d

Edit: they have a couple other door options, and an interesting cross bar mount.

https://www.bestwyll.com/product/be...camper-truck-bed-hard-topper-canopy-for-ford/

 

[superj]

I have been looking at that one, @pablo94sc , for a while. The alibaba link you have in the post above

 

[pablo94sc]

This canopy/tent combo caught my eye. I really like the concept.

https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...WxFJ&priceId=1aba3f020242478384ec47f97d370008

 

[superj]

This canopy/tent combo caught my eye. I really like the concept.

https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...WxFJ&priceId=1aba3f020242478384ec47f97d370008

That is very cool. I wouldnt look foolish driving around town with a tent for most of the year when I only camp once a year

 

[Oscar Indy]

That is very cool. I wouldnt look foolish driving around town with a tent for most of the year when I only camp once a year

Thats why I built this

 

[pablo94sc]

Thats why I built this

I've thought about a trailer sooooo many times, but they aren't a match for my type of travel and exploration.

 

[CaptAngry]

Damn, I really like that BESTWYLL cap w/ the glass doors. Almost enough to bail on Realtruck and my perpetually delayed rolling cover

I found it for $1600 + $175 shipping on Aliexpress. Curious what direct from BESTWYLL would be?

 

[Oscar Indy]

I've thought about a trailer sooooo many times, but they aren't a match for my type of travel and exploration.

I used to think a trailer couldnt go where I wanted but its a goat. With a lock n roll hitch and full sealed box Ive had it float behind me Creek crossing and Crawl over some knarly rocks when I had my Jeep on 37s. Having a base camp I dont have to tear down to do anything is also awesome. Trailer is the win

 

[Ag3ntC00p3r]

I used to think a trailer couldn't go where I wanted but its a goat. With a lock n roll hitch and full sealed box Ive had it float behind me Creek crossing and Crawl over some knarly rocks when I had my Jeep on 37s. Having a base camp I dont have to tear down to do anything is also awesome. Trailer is the win

I like these inexpensive options but I just bought a homemade adventure trailer too. I love my RTT on my rack and will likely use it for trips that I know I won't be staying in the same place and will be breaking down camp each day, but I just bought a RTT trailer someone made with nice huge drawers and racks for my kayak and the GFs SUP. Too many times it became inconvenient to break down the full camp to go wheeling or make a run to the store. I'll be changing the axel and hubs to accommodate bigger tires and add a lock-n-roll hitch later this summer. I also want to move as much weight to the trailer vs it being in the truck itself. The RR has really good payload for what it is, but it still runs out pretty quick once the accessories and mods start getting added.

 

[Ag3ntC00p3r]

@pablo94sc , I will say the toppers still have really good merit over my current tonneau and rack setup. They can be more watertight, allow taller items in the bed, and can be converted to a sleep space of their own.
Take this for example. I recently replaced my old 12v/battery cooler with an ICECO VL75. I liked other options but they all were about an inch or two too tall to fit under my tonneau cover. Even with the reduced height, I can't use my slide-out drawer with the new cooler as it sits a couple inches too tall again.

 

[Oscar Indy]

^^ exactly.
My offroader is my lexus. 2 kids and 2 dogs the truck doesnt work. Plus with the lexus I dont care about the paint or Shennanigans.

I threw some earlier versions of the trailer in the pics too. I built it like 16 years ago and have been tinkering and refining for ages.
The lexus is nice cause if I go solo or just one kid we can skip the trailer all together and sleep in the back.

 

[pablo94sc]

Trailer will likely be a future upgrade as I get older, but right now it just doesn't fit our travel light and fast mentality. I'm not even interested in the canopy with the tent built in, but that was such a unique design I had to post it.

 

[pablo94sc]

@pablo94sc , I will say the toppers still have really good merit over my current tonneau and rack setup. They can be more watertight, allow taller items in the bed, and can be converted to a sleep space of their own.
Take this for example. I recently replaced my old 12v/battery cooler with an ICECO VL75. I liked other options but they all were about an inch or two too tall to fit under my tonneau cover. Even with the reduced height, I can't use my slide-out drawer with the new cooler as it sits a couple inches too tall again.

I actually loved my current rack/soft top, but the fact it was able to shift enough off roading for the clamps to come loose has me debating re-engineering it or just getting a regular canopy. Then I found that first one I posted, and was like, I gotta share this!

Speaking of slide-outs, have you seen the newest flavor of drawer systems on Alibaba? They have a slide-out on top of the drawers, so kind of a best of both worlds. You'd definitely need a half-height canopy to fit a fridge on top, though. That might be an option for your build to keep your tent at/below cab height, and give you the room for all your gear? Edit: the canopy, not the drawer system.

 

[Oscar Indy]

I know that feeling. When I first started out we used hammocks and the dog slept in the back of the 2 door jeep.
More bodies more crap

Im seriously interested in the topper just cause the price makes it an option where a 3 or 4 K generic leer type fiber glass I cant justify. As it is the most that goes in my bed is golf clubs. Anything bigger I hook up one of my 4 trailers.

Ive done "over landing" since I was kid and we called it car camping.
And Ive tried the tent on the vehicle multiple times. Never works out and Im always back to the trailer. Base camping works better for my style.

Sponsored