Use case
Can you put a rooftop tent on a ute canopy?
Short answer
Yes, you can put a rooftop tent on a ute canopy if it sits on a platform made for that canopy, the tent is within both the rack's dynamic rating and the canopy maker's dynamic roof rating while driving, and the tent plus the people in it is within both static ratings when parked. Wedgetail canopy platforms are rated 100 or 150 kg dynamic (350 or 525 kg static), hold that rating 100% off-road, and are made for ARB, EGR Gen 2, Maxliner Venture, Utemaster Centurion and Ascent canopies. The canopy maker's own figure applies as well: ARB says its canopies with internal support are rated between 100 kg and 150 kg dynamic and 350 kg and 400 kg static depending on the vehicle, and Maxliner lists the Venture at 150 kg dynamic and 350 kg static.
Specs from Wedgetail product data, updated .
- Answer
- Yes, on a platform made for the canopy
- Driving
- Tent within the rack and canopy dynamic ratings
- Parked
- Tent plus occupants within both static ratings
- Wedgetail platforms
- 100 or 150 kg dynamic, 100% off-road, static 3.5 x dynamic
The shortlist
| Pick | Why | Rating (dynamic) | RRP inc GST | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wedgetail Adventure canopy platform | The touring platform, made for named canopies | 100 or 150 kg, 100% off-road | $2,020 to $2,310 | 4 models |
| Wedgetail Trade canopy platform | Work platform on the EGR Gen 2 canopy | 100 kg, 100% off-road | $2,055 | 2 models |
| Oval Steel canopy combination rack | Steel racks for ARB Classic and ARB Ascent canopies | 100 kg, 100% off-road | $2,675 | 8 models |
Top pickWedgetail Adventure canopy platform
Made for ARB, EGR Gen 2, Maxliner Venture, Utemaster Centurion and Ascent canopies, and listed for the D-MAX, BT-50, HiLux and Ranger. Wedgetail Adventure is the touring range with the longest Wedgetail warranty, the rating holds off-road, and the tent fixes to the platform with the Wedgetail roof top tent mounting hardware. Check the tent against the lower of the rating shown here and the canopy maker's roof rating.
- Rating
- 100 or 150 kg dynamic (350 or 525 kg static), 100% off-road
- Warranty
- 10 years
- RRP inc GST
- $2,020 to $2,310
- Vehicles
- 4 models, 10 solutions
- Add
- Roof Top Tent Mounting Hardware $115
Work ute that toursWedgetail Trade canopy platform
Made for the EGR Gen 2 canopy on the 2020 on D-MAX and BT-50. The same rating rules apply and hold off-road, so it suits a ute that carries ladders and long loads in the week and a tent on the weekend. The roof top tent mounting hardware is listed as a Wedgetail Adventure accessory, so confirm how your tent fixes with a stockist.
- Rating
- 100 kg dynamic (350 kg static), 100% off-road
- Warranty
- 5 years
- RRP inc GST
- $2,055
- Vehicles
- 2 models, 2 solutions
Steel, more utesOval Steel canopy combination rack
Steel combination racks for ARB Classic and ARB Ascent canopies on the Ranger, HiLux, D-MAX, BT-50, Triton, Navara, Colorado and Amarok. A few show no published rating, and a tent needs a rated platform, so pick one with a rating on its product page.
- Rating
- 100 kg dynamic (350 kg static), 100% off-road
- Warranty
- 5 years (3 years on 4)
- RRP inc GST
- $2,675
- Vehicles
- 8 models, 27 solutions
The two checks for a tent on a canopy
Driving, the tent and anything else on the rack must be within the dynamic rating of the rack and of the canopy. Parked, the tent plus everyone sleeping in it must be within the static rating of both. For every Wedgetail with a rating, static is 3.5 x dynamic, and the rating holds 100% off-road.
| Check | Load | Limit | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driving (dynamic) | 70 kg | 100 kg dynamic | Within the rating |
| Parked, tent plus occupants (static) | 70 kg + 160 kg = 230 kg | 350 kg static | Within the rating |
| Vehicle roof limit | Tent plus rack | Maker's figure | Check your vehicle (see the model guide) |
The example checks the rack only. Run the same two checks against the canopy maker's figures, and use whichever is lower in each case.
| Limit | Driving (dynamic) | Parked (static) | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wedgetail canopy platform | 100 or 150 kg dynamic, per solution | 350 or 525 kg static (3.5 x dynamic) | The table below and each product page |
| ARB canopy | Between 100 kg and 150 kg with internal support, depending on the vehicle | Between 350 kg and 400 kg, depending on the vehicle | ARB's Ascent canopy page |
| Maxliner Venture canopy | 150 kg | 350 kg | Maxliner's Venture canopy page |
| EGR Gen 2, Utemaster Centurion, RSI Evo | Check the canopy maker's own roof rating | Check the canopy maker's own roof rating | The canopy maker |
| The rule | Use the lower figure | Use the lower figure | Count the rack, accessories and tent |
| Vehicle | Cab or body | Ranges | Solutions | Rating (dynamic) | RRP inc GST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Ranger | Dual Cab, Extra Cab, Dual Cab Wildtrack | Oval Steel, Wedgetail Adventure | 9 | 100 kg | $2,130 to $2,675 |
| Isuzu D-max | Dual Cab | Oval Steel, Wedgetail Adventure, Wedgetail Trade | 7 | 100 or 150 kg | $2,055 to $2,675 |
| Mazda BT-50 | Dual Cab | Oval Steel, Wedgetail Adventure, Wedgetail Trade | 6 | 100 kg | $2,055 to $2,675 |
| Holden Colorado | Extra Cab, Dual Cab | Oval Steel | 4 | 100 kg | $2,675 |
| Toyota Hilux | Dual Cab | Oval Steel, Wedgetail Adventure | 4 | 100 kg | $2,310 to $2,675 |
| Mitsubishi Triton | Dual Cab | Oval Steel | 3 | 100 kg | $2,675 |
| Volkswagen Amarok | Dual Cab | Oval Steel | 3 | 100 kg | $2,675 |
| Nissan Navara | Dual Cab | Oval Steel | 2 | 100 kg | $2,675 |
| Not vehicle specific (see the product) | Dual Cab | Wedgetail Adventure | 1 | 100 kg | $2,020 |
Why the canopy rating matters
On a canopy mount the tent's weight goes through the canopy roof, so the canopy maker sets a roof limit and says what internal support it needs. ARB quotes its figures with internal support, and Maxliner's Venture page also quotes 120 kg dynamic and 300 kg static for its internal steel structure in another section, so confirm the figure for your canopy with the maker before you fit a tent.
Wedgetail fits ARB, EGR Gen 2, Maxliner Venture, RSI Evo, Utemaster Centurion and Ascent canopies. A canopy not on that list is not fitted. See which canopies Wedgetail fits, and the brand guides for ARB, ARB Ascent, EGR and Maxliner Venture.
Canopy or cab for the tent
- Canopy mount: the tent sits over the tub and the cab roof stays free. The limit is the lower of the rack rating and the canopy maker's roof rating.
- Cab mount: the tent sits over the cab and works with any canopy, or none. The limit is the lower of the rack rating and the vehicle maker's roof limit. See best roof rack for a rooftop tent on a dual cab ute.
- One structure per tent: a ute's cab and tub move separately over rough ground, so keep the tent on one platform rather than spanning the cab and the canopy.
More on the choice in canopy mount or cab mount, and the tent weight maths in the rooftop tent roof rack guide.
Questions people ask
How heavy a rooftop tent can I put on a ute canopy?
Up to the lower of the rack's dynamic rating and the canopy maker's dynamic roof rating, counting anything else on the rack. Wedgetail canopy platforms are rated 100 or 150 kg dynamic, per solution, 100% off-road.
What does the static rating mean when sleeping in the tent?
It is the load allowed parked: the tent plus the people in it. Wedgetail static is 3.5 x dynamic (350 or 525 kg static), and the canopy maker's static figure applies as well, so use the lower.
Platform or crossbars for a tent on a canopy?
A platform. Platforms are the Wedgetail rooftop tent base, and the Wedgetail canopy kits are platforms made for named canopies.
Which canopies take a Wedgetail tent platform?
ARB, EGR Gen 2, Maxliner Venture, Utemaster Centurion and Ascent canopies have Wedgetail canopy platforms; RSI Evo is fitted too. A canopy not on the list is not fitted.
Can I run an awning and a rooftop tent on a canopy platform?
Yes, if the tent, the awning and everything else on the platform together stay within the lower of the rack and canopy dynamic ratings. Third-party awning brackets fit; some need a 10 mm spacer to clear the platform lip.
Is a canopy mount rated higher than a cab mount?
Not usually. Most Wedgetail canopy platforms carry the same rating as the cab platform on the same ute, and the canopy maker's roof rating can be lower still. See canopy mount or cab mount.
Do I need internal supports in the canopy?
Check with the canopy maker. ARB quotes its canopy roof ratings with internal support, so fit the support the maker specifies for a tent.