ASK ARB – which canopy
is best for me?

Dear ARB,

I have an ARB standard roof canopy fitted to my 2007 dual
cab HiLux, as I wanted to have the option of adding an ARB
canopy roof rack in the future.

Having not had a canopy on previous vehicles, I love the extra
carrying capacity and security a canopy offers. The problem
I am currently finding is that although there is ample room
for most things inside the canopy, loading larger items into
the back is sometimes problematic due to the rear window
opening level. Have other canopy owners reported this problem
and are there any plans to raise the level of the rear window
closer to the roofline to allow easier access for larger items?

Cheers,
Richard Walker

Dear Richard,

We are pleased to hear that the ARB canopy fitted
to your Toyota HiLux dual cab fulfills the three core
functions of a canopy:

• Increased storage space

• Improved security

• Protection from the weather

Your question is quite tricky considering you have already purchased your ARB canopy. And unfortunately there is not really any way to improve your access for larger items with the standard roof canopy. Ultimately, product selection comes down to individual preference and balancing your wants versus needs as part of the purchase decision. This question is, however, a great example for ute owners who are considering the purchase or a canopy, so allow me to provide a general response.

ARB has an extensive range of canopies for most dual cab utes, consisting of either a standard roof, which transforms the vehicle into a more wagon-like appearance, or the high roof which allows larger items to be loaded in the canopy. The high roof canopy increases the door opening by approximately 130mm compared with a standard roof. For standard roof canopies the door height is all the same, however the trim or placement in regards to the canopy roof varies to work in with the individual vehicle design. For example, some recent vehicles have a taller ute side wall and lower canopy shell to balance the overall height.

For customers wanting the option of adding a genuine ARB canopy roof rack, then the standard roof canopy is the only choice; alternatively the high roof canopy can be optioned up with canopy roof bars such as the Thule professional bars, with an extensive selection of accessories.

With either of these ARB options, your canopy will be suitable for carrying an additional 100kg of evenly distributed roof load. Please note that a high roof canopy will raise the overall height of your vehicle and you will also have to reach further to grasp a door in the open position. Dependent upon your overall vehicle set-up, access to underground parking lots or even your own garage may govern your choice of canopy.

For customers who need to carry very tall items occasionally, the complete canopy can be removed and refitted at your convenience, and this simply requires our fitters to configure the weather seal to suit, at the time of installation.

Rob Puts
(Manager – ARB Canopies)