Technical
Canopy mount or cab mount: which roof rack for a ute with a canopy?
Short answer
Cab mount is limited by the roof rating; canopy mount is limited by the canopy rating and suits long loads; Wedgetail makes both and canopy kits for named canopy brands. Wedgetail platforms on either are rated 100 or 150 kg dynamic (350 or 525 kg static), 100% off-road, and the lower of the rack rating and the vehicle or canopy maker's figure applies. Canopy kits are made for ARB, EGR Gen 2, Maxliner Venture, RSI Evo, Utemaster Centurion and Ascent canopies, and service body kits for Caddy Storage, CSM and Mode.
Facts from Wedgetail product data, updated .
- Cab mount limit
- Vehicle maker's roof rating
- Canopy mount limit
- Canopy maker's roof rating
- Wedgetail platforms
- 100 or 150 kg dynamic, 100% off-road
- Canopies fitted
- ARB, EGR Gen 2, Maxliner Venture, RSI Evo, Utemaster Centurion, Ascent
| Cab mount | Canopy mount | |
|---|---|---|
| What limits the load | The lower of the rack rating and the vehicle maker's roof limit | The lower of the rack rating and the canopy maker's roof rating |
| Where the load sits | On the cab roof, in reach from the doors | Over the tub, behind the cab |
| Suits | Shorter loads, recovery boards, a light awning, gear you reach often | Long loads such as ladders, pipe and timber, touring gear, a rooftop tent on a rated canopy |
| If the canopy comes off | The rack stays on the cab | The rack comes off with the canopy |
| Which canopy | Any canopy, or none | Only a canopy or body that has a kit: Wedgetail does not fit an unlisted canopy |
| Wedgetail options | Wedgetail Adventure, Wedgetail Core, Commercial Max and Oval Steel platforms, Trade Max bars | Wedgetail Adventure, Wedgetail Trade and Oval Steel canopy kits; Commercial Max and Wedgetail Trade service body kits |
| Off-road | 100% of the rack rating | 100% of the rack rating |
Choose a cab mount if
- Your canopy is not one of the makes Wedgetail fits, or you take the canopy off.
- The load is short enough to sit on the cab roof and you want it in reach from the doors.
- You want the tub and canopy roof left clear.
Choose a canopy mount if
- You carry long items that need support behind the cab: ladders, pipe, conduit or timber.
- You are setting up for touring and want the deck over the tub for a rooftop tent, awning and recovery gear.
- Your canopy is ARB, EGR Gen 2, Maxliner Venture, RSI Evo, Utemaster Centurion or Ascent, or your service body is Caddy Storage, CSM or Mode.
Work out the load limit
On a cab mount, the load must stay within the rack's rating and the vehicle maker's roof limit. On a canopy mount, it must stay within the rack's rating and the canopy maker's roof rating, which can be lower than the cab roof. Wedgetail platforms are rated 100 or 150 kg dynamic with static at 3.5 x dynamic (350 or 525 kg static), and the rating holds 100% off-road. The rack's own weight, the accessories and the load all count.
Racks on both the cab and the canopy
A ute's cab and tub are separate bodies on the chassis and move a little independently off-road. Two racks, one on the cab and one on the canopy, are each rated on their own and each load has to stay within that rack's figures and the roof it sits on. A long item that rests on both racks has to stay within both.
Find the right kit
The canopy compatibility guide lists every canopy and service body Wedgetail fits, with the range and fit method for each. The ute guides list the cab and canopy options by generation: Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux, Isuzu D-MAX, Mazda BT-50, Mitsubishi Triton, Nissan Navara and Volkswagen Amarok. The ute roof rack buying guide covers cab, canopy and tub racks together.
Questions people ask
Should a ute roof rack go on the cab or the canopy?
On the canopy for long loads and touring gear over the tub, if your canopy is one Wedgetail fits; on the cab for shorter loads or if the canopy is not on the list or comes off.
Is a canopy rack rated higher than a cab rack?
Not necessarily. The rack rating is per solution (100 or 150 kg dynamic on Wedgetail platforms), and on a canopy the canopy maker's roof rating can be the lower limit.
Does Wedgetail make racks for my canopy?
Only for ARB, EGR Gen 2, Maxliner Venture, RSI Evo, Utemaster Centurion and Ascent canopies, and Caddy Storage, CSM and Mode service bodies. Any other canopy is not fitted.
Can I put a rooftop tent on a canopy?
Yes, on a platform, if the tent is within the dynamic figures and the tent plus occupants is within the static figures of both the rack and the canopy. Wedgetail static is 3.5 x dynamic (350 or 525 kg static).
Can I have a rack on the cab and another on the canopy?
Yes. Each rack is rated on its own, and each load must stay within that rack's rating and the roof it sits on.
What do I need to tell a stockist?
Your ute's make, model, year and cab, the canopy make and model, and what you plan to carry. All 134 Wedgetail stockists sell and fit.