4WD Canopy Setups, How to NOT MESS IT UP 

Less is king. Less weight, less restrictions, less fuel, less damage, less time at work to pay for stuff destined to become landfil

Great video! I think given all that you've covered, an upright fridge will be the best choice for my motorcycle.

A well done "no commercial" tutorial. Good job!

Great educational video. A large number of people have no idea about GVM for their vehicle and that everything they attach or remove from the vehicle alters the GVM. Ball weight is a big issue when it’s forgotten about.

Another 4WD channel just did one on canopies. We won't mention the name😊 Yours is much better🎉❤

5:16 engineer here. Weight up top can be offset by adding weight as low as you can. If you have 90kgs on the roof if you add around 1.5x the weight just below the tray (ie; 135L of water) you will potentially lower the centre of gravity back to where it was prior to adding the tent.

I have been watching people set up utes and canopies for many years and have been laughing at many set ups. Now your talking about what I have been laughing about. My canopy has no heavy draws, no drop fridge slide, no steel fridge slid, no oven, no microwave, no big inverter, no induction hot plate, no kitchen slide, no false floor, no false wall to hang all the high tech 12v bells and whistles and only one spare wheel and my wheels are alloys not heavy steel. Another thing to think about is the spare weight carrying over the front axle. I have air compressor and other gear under the bonnet or to the front rather than in the canopy. Glad to see you have come around and are now promoting weight consciousness. Love your channel.

I know people that have the "full package" canopy set up with everything including the kitchen sink installed and they end up toruing more uncomfortably than what I do with a very basic set up, I just have a little 1000mm canopy with a fridge and some draws I don't even have a fridge slide and I can tour more easily based off the fact that I'm light. And having that small of a canopy leaves empty space in the tray for carrying things like wood rubbish all sorts of messy items you won't want to have in your nice canopy set up, and at the end of the day it's simple but it achieves the same purpose, it's a lockable place that keeps your Camp gear out of the weather and that's it. The guys I go with that have massive set ups are so nervous off road due the the amount of weight over the back axle and there's been multiple times where cars have almost rolled on tough tracks. All those guys are opting out of their massive set ups and going back to small set ups

Great video. With all of the talk about power, I did not recall the mention of solar panel weight.

This is interesting to me. I live in the states in a town where the power goes out often. I designed my setup around the idea of a portable power generator (powered by solar on the RTT), that I can pull out to power the house, or whatever I need as needed. It keeps the fridge always on when in the truck but can easily be pulled to power whatever I need in a power outage, be it power tools, home fridge/freezer if needed, and power home lighting. Everything had to be modular to make it work, but if a friend loses power I'm the one they call. Also relatively light and was completely DIY. But being able to remove the power source as needed was the key.

This video was so professional, you covered everything Ronny. Loved this edit; we just saw Ronny's channel flash by. Brian, Luke, Torbs, Wayne, Dylan, modifieds, and the surprise 'one and only camp setup in daylight'... such good times.

Very well covered. Everyone's needs are different, don't get caught by 'want' and what is needed.

Wow just discover you Ronny some days ago and those kind or video are so usefull I’m going to start the big lap in two months and this is really what I need now, tips from people that have experience on it Thank you

Great vid Ronny. Some helpful concepts. I find a simple weight saving solution to having to carry a funnel for filling water tanks, is to borrow the Mrs' shewee and use that.

Great video, so many good points. We like to keep the storage lighter than what's being carried. And use thin material to save space .

Best video on canopies on RU-vid! Thanks!

All worth considering, your probably going to be hating this if you haven’t thought of all this before! Recovery gear in low compartment on canopies hey. That table of yours is gold!

Another great video. I just do not understand why people put a Ute Canopy on the back of their Ute and over fill it with junk! Also I have never understood why people put on a Canopy and then a Roof Top Tent? When there is so much room to sleep in the standard canopy, not need to waste the time and money on a rooftop tent. Trust me, having driven adventure tour across north Africa, about Europe, and skinny Scandinavia to Nordkapp for over 5 years! I used to sleep under the couch in one of the lockers 6 to 8 months a year solid each year. Well, I may have bought myself and slept in the backseat, quite often, too . But the lockers were much cooler and easier to sleep in .

Well done mate, so many guys out there with 'all the gear and no idea'.

This is a real good video given my rig atm is tub n canopy and looking at going canopy tray when the ranger hits 10yr old (as a bday treat for it). I have considered a full canopy multiple times but after this video, I might go either a half canopy with tilt slide to my 60L chest fridge and one drawer one side and one long slide to the other, or a quarter canopy with just the fridge and double stack drawers on the other. It is odd on the second one but I have plans to remove my backseats for more storage/drawers anyways so anything like my swag and sit in cab anyways.

Hey Ronnie, tub racks are becoming super popular over this the states (platforms like the leitner racks). Might be good to get some content on your view on bed/tub racks vs canopies? Just my 2c 🙌

Banga video Ronny! Weight distribution is often overlooked. Just as you said, we have all been there my friend. Light weight is the best. One thing I tell people new to camping/4x4ing is spend a little extra on hiking equipment, get used to using it and you'll save a s$&T load of weight and it encourages a minimalist approach to camping. K.I.S.S.

Awesome information, well said. Couldn't be said any better 👍👍👍👍👍

Upright fridges loose cold air very quickly every time you open the door, which makes the fridge run more often to keep it cool inside. Tilting slide for a fridge is a great idea.

Helpful video, for bigger Overlanders like my Iveco Daily 4x4 too

Great video Mr Dahl I learnt a lot about over landing

Ive been around the World on motorbikes and bicycles. Watching all the stuff beardstrokers need for a weekend away from home boggles my mind. No wonder they hardly leave home, both packing and working to pay for all this junk 😂

Fantastic episode, coming from lived experience, well done

On weight… I initially bought/installed a twin-draw setup in the tub. At ~100kg it was heavy. After a number of trips, I realised that a draw should be ONLY for things I wanted to get to every day. Why was the recovery gear stored in a draw FFS. So I split the pair of draws, installed one, and put everything else into plastic tubs. Anything I needed to access everyday in the draw, and everything else in boxes strapped down. And all the small-but-heavy stuff (tools/jacks/shackles/etc) now go in the rear passenger side footwell.

A real eye opener mate…awesome thanks

Yes I was sucked in to getting something that I didn’t really need. Now as I travel more less is best. Especially for weights

Great video food for thought. I have a MUX so I’m looking at building a fridge box with a food pantry. Weight is key

You man, are the KING!!!

i think there's an advantage to having two 40l fridges instead of one 80l. you can take 1 or 2 depending whats needed. you have redundancy. you can have 1 fridge 1 freezer with no concerns about the fridge getting frozen or the freezer not being frozen. you can put one in a trailer giving you one in camp one in the vehicle. 2 40l might pack better than 1 80l. weight difference for two 40l engel vs one 80l combi engel is 8kg in the 80l favour. but you have the ability to leave 24kg at home if you only need a 40l that trip. max power consuimption is 1.8 ah more for 2 40l engels than 1 80l engel combi, it's not no difference but it's also not a massive difference considering the lithium and solar available these days.

Great discussion and review 👍 lots of sense said

Super cool stuff! But the actual outfitting and the stuff has really become the adventure in a set up like that. A great four-wheel-drive, proper tools to fix things in the bush and the Then get the best base camp backpacking equipment and your set. Use the vehicle to carry some extra water, maybe even a simple platform on the top that you set your backpacking tent up on so you’re not down on the ground if that’s what you prefer. All the talk about time the rooftop tents take less time to set up, really? You’re out on vacation/holiday. Are you really worried about 10 minutes of set up time? But again, all that stuff is super cool and I think the stuff has become the actual hobby. Keep it light and simple and quit. Trying to take all your home conveniences out in the bush with you. And if your spouse needs all that convenience? They going to be happy out there anyway so just leave them at home.

Get a set of bathroom scales ,weigh absolutely everything , there's always a lighter option,if it weighs you pay , fuel is never getting cheaper

As I get older I only want to open/move one thing to get to another. A canopy with upright fridge, draws and shelves; means everything is ready to go and easy to access. With driver, 40L water, 70L fuel, bull bar, rock sliders, canopy, fridge, electrical package and camping gear for touring I’m at 3t with a GVM of 3.45t in the Dmax using 12L/100km.

I believe you would have the most experience since you have done lotsa different set ups and also asked lotsa people through modified series. It's just that every series looks good that you want a similar set up, especially custom made purpose built canopy😂.

Full canopy is the go. Fridge, battery, chairs and a table. Everything stays dry. Not too heavy as its half empty

Have you thought about doing a modified episode on The Cartwrights? They have a really nice family setup.

Good stuff Ronny!

who buys a ute onlybto spend 60 grand to turn it into a wAGON

4wd 24/7 did this buy Ronny’s videos aren’t complete sell outs

Cheers Ronny. Good video. 🎉

Great advice well done

Great bit of info!

Redlights also help keep your night vision

excellent advice

Nice one Ronny!

I want to keep my Ranger tub. Can you help with the top Ute canopies for the normal utes that are lightweight and will be able to carry some gear on my roof and the canopy for touring?

Thanks

I think the No1 mistake is buying a Dual cab, an xtra cab or single cab chassis is a better option, most dual cab setups I see only have two people and the back seats are crammed full of stuff that's hard to get to, the extra weight of the 2nd cab puts you on the backfoot from the start, xtra cab are good because they have suicide doors makes it easier to get at stuff from a larger opening, single cab is better as you can have a decent canopy and keep a lot more weight in front of the rear wheels

More modified episodes plz xxx

Great video. Too much weight and poor weight distribution are the enemies. Too many accessory manufacturers just throw steel at it instead of "engineering" their products.

can the Mitsubishi Triton DID GLX R 2009 fit these canopy's I want to get a roof tent and a fridge haven't seen many with them but I'm wondering if it's because of the chassis problems

I thought green light was the best for dark nights. Ships and ocean tankers also use it in their wheelhouse. Better for the eyes as well. No lights posts or light pollution on the Atlantic or Pacific...

Ronny - PLEASE buy an Isuzu NPS 175/55 dual cab - build it and make us videos!!!!

nice .. excelent suggestions...

How big do draw fridges get ?? Surely one good size draw fridge would be way better

What one must do to turn a Jimny for world tour

Great video with tons of amazing advice!

Hey Rhonny i have a 2016 hilux. Its air inlet is pretty well insulated behind right wing and very high up. I cant understan importance of snorkel. I have no problem with leafs water up to 1 meter also dust. According to you you have no advantage over original desing. Whats the point.

With your experience with canopies you’d have a stroke if you saw my canopy setup. Lol

Hey Ronny, Where'd you get your silicone hose from?

I'd remove the big swing-out awnings people have, and instead use a tarp and some carbon fibre (or alu) tarp poles. Needless to say, the tarp should be lightweight ripstop polyester.

Water on ya Table? Swell, good luck!

Thanks Ronny, a few things to consider as we look to set up our new D-MAX!

here me out. instead of a drop down fridge slide. just buy a normal one and build the whole thing on a angle. thats what i did and its works great. its cheap, light and can take up less room.

The complete kit in one bag. But it is a big bag.

Thin Grade 5 Titanium everything

Hey Ronnie, I’m thinking about doing a week long laning trip in Wales (UK) this winter. I was wondering about water storage, does the exhaust not heat up your water storage tank with it above the exhaust?

Lol at the triton at 0:29. Towing + big arse canopy is not something I’d do with mine.

Also I'm sure you had already planned it but the timing was not good, 4wd 24/7 released one 2 days before.

Mr physicist, having those 2x45kg as low as possible will offset the 90kg high. How well is to be determined. Obviously in the wheels would be best, but not possible. Just saying. May not be as much as average Joe schmoe thinks but it will at least a little.

A Blow up doll is a major benefit. No food or water needed. No extra weight. She fits in the glove box. Can leave her at camp on security watch while you go a fishin n stuff. Does not argue or talk when you want those quiet times. Call her what ya want to. 🤣💦

Lmao at people doing build outs with 18mm ply. I did a van build almost entirely out of 3mm and it survived a few years. Then I switched to super light weight plastic containers.

Mistake 1 listening to RU-vid “experts” 😂😂😂😂😂

great tips

Its funny how you have gone back to a ute setup, Car manufacturers get it right, RND is next level compared to aftermarket.

all of those builds for all4adventure are ridiculous now. completely out of touch. it's all4glamping now

K.I.S.S

Love this I'm doing my new build a 2014 Toyota Hilux N70 tray back auto for the first time 150k klms awesome find it's my first auto 4x4 I've had landcruiser and prado what I've decided to do to this build is what this man is telling you and it's what I've learned from years of remote living if your looking for a cool time with the misses and kids while singing songs and all the mods for comfort or more for show don't just ask for advice call the bank for your next stupid purchase because your a kings king yes Chinese camping worries worrier K I S S keep it simple stupid

Couldnt justify 20k+ for a box with doors 🤣.... Tub/canopy basic single draw, water tank, fridge basic 12v system done.

Canopy's equal dead weight. No way around it. All adds to GVM.

@rony dahl come to Guyana to mine gold.

Go back to basics and you don't half the crap

its a shame this industry puts crap we dont need for nothing but profit out but is it them or the people buying the crap?

1 of your 1st comments was don't copy what others are doing. Yet here you are giving "your opnion" on mistakes others have made including experts. What make you more qualified than someone else to pass judgement on how someone should set up their canopies?

Call me a negative buzz kill if you like, but I can't wait to see the custom canopy industry rationalized. I will never understand how we got to $10,000 or $15,000 or $25,000 dollars for an aluminum box, just so we could go camping?? I mean for millions of people, their 4x4 ute is probably only worth $20k to $35k. How the fck do you justify spending 40% of the value of the WHOLE vehicle on an aluminum box with overly complicated 12V systems (which you don't need anymore), push-button dick warmers, fancy disco lights and a kitchen fit for a 5 star hotel? I mean sure, if your ute is worth $60k to$80k then $10k on a flash canopy makes a little more sense I guess. The companies (Norweld, MITS, Boss, Chivalry etc etc....there's so fkn many of them) are laughing at us. Their profit margins would be obscene. Once you're set up to punch out the shapes and you have the data for about 6 different vehicles you're off and racing. To call every canopy "custom" is bullshit IMO. You can knock these things out of a factory jig real fast. Order shitloads of materials and pay a couple of young fabricators about $60k a year. I'd wager the pricier ones are ripping 200% margins out of the customer in the name of "game changing, next level, must have, ultimate" upgrades. I swear to god, if I hear the word "ultimate" in this industry one more time I'm gonna lose my shit.

Great video Ronny! I would love to see a video on your thoughts on open tray set ups, different options for mounting water, gas, compressors, 12v under the tray - pros and cons to a battery being exposed under the tray etc.

Man the carnivore diet simplifies your kitchen life perfectly. Cast iron fry pan, gas cooker. Done.

Instead of too many hard boxes or drawers I've opted to go with arb soft cases for recovery gear and north face gear bags for camping gear/living gear. I'm also thinking steps for the fridge

Or, just don't do any of that shit. and take a tent.

Ive had a compact canopy with duels spares. Things I’d change if I had my time over: mounting the awning on the opposite side to the fridge, maybe getting a quarter length canopy, going with the old style fold out RTT (lighter, you should have time to set up when you are camping), getting a track correction to prevent dual spares. One thing I would recommend though is to pull the canopy off for a few months a year so you can service/detail it and drive with just a tray and going over the weigh bridge before a big trip. Another thing if you are starting from scratch is do you even need a tray body when you can get roof conversions for wagons and troopies.

Plastic bins in metal or wood dividers make excellent light weight drawers. Easy to build, light weight, and come out easily for packing. Big win all around!

Too much attention on rear axle, what no one is talking about is the front axle load Most don’t realise once you add a bull bar and winch, 4 adults most of the mid range Ute’s are at their max front axle load and that’s before the canopy goes on let alone the stuff you want to put in it Please do an episode highlighting this issue which is the real elephant in the room

I prefer back to basics. Kiss keep it simple stupid. In the past I had all the gear and with age body isn't as it was so having less now means less stress on me. Awesome channel you have will be watching more. My gear is so simple it can go on a motorcycle as well.

Need a full run down on your current bare bones setup !!

Excellent guide. Definitely need a custom set up that suits your needs but not follow others. Would rather spend time than bad experience and money.