SPECIALIST VEHICLE FITTERS

All Dual Cab Utility vehicles 'flex or Articulate between the Cab and the Tray/Chassis - Making them typically more difficult and Expensive than 4wd Wagons to fit up with Pole Less awnings and or roof top tents - some of our experience below when planning your build. 
 

INSTALLING A ROOF TOP TENT AND AWNING TO YOUR DUAL CAB UTE

DONT JUST ASSUME YOUR GOING TO PUT IT ON A CANOPY ON THE BACK
 

While the vehicles listed above (below if your on a Mobile) are all different makes - they do share in common only  1250mm or so of Rack length and width available at each end (1250 over the cab and 1650 over the tub) - (The American Trucks get a bit more) But Neither mounting surface is ideal to mount a Roof top tent on an common commercially available roof rack built to date. . If you just bollt a RTT to both front and rear racks, you will quickly destroy the tent or the rack or both. (Due to the twist of the vehicle.). 
 

Tough Touring pioneered the design of Dual Cab  Over cab / Dual cab Roof racks They are a heavy duty one piece folded rack , 1550mm wide and  1750mm long - The Tough Touring OVER CAB RACKS allow RTT to be mounted over the Cab  independently to the tray. This leaves the rear tub/Tray or canopy to flex how its supposed to. We also took the next step into 'Flexing front and rear"  awning mounts - another market first - which allow larger awnings to be installed to rear canopies, and also to the front Roof tent or Roof rack - bridging the articulating center of Dual cab utes.

 

The point of the Tough Touring Design Team was to improve the drive and safety of Dual Cab Utes running roof top tents  - and designing  racks that allow RTT to be  installed centrally to 'balance' the tent was a no-brainer. 

Running tents totally over the cab is also very functional for touring use - providing major benefits to available storage space infront or behind tents, and even allowing walk up access from the tray )no ladders.

MANY DUAL CAB UTES DONT HAVE MOUNTING HOLES FOR ROOF RACKS

Before purchasing any vehicle for a Touring Build - check to see that your Dual cab has roof rack mounting holes in its roof - as many do not -Roof cavities where the mounts would be are often jammed full of airbags - requiring internal mounts to be fitted under the roofs internal lining - (This means to install a roof rack you have to take the internal roof lining out) rack mount point insertion is a done from inside the cab - its difficult / time consuming and dangerous job (airbag charges  can explode if hit by drills etc)  - We do new rack mount point installs into cabs  using 'Reverse dome nut' mounts.  - a necessary pre-curser to any roof rack being fitted, the Reverse Dome nut mounts (once installed) allow Air bags to deploy without puncture - and allow through bolt insertion of solid High Tensile bolts to hold your roof rack. (foundations). If your vehilce has no Front Rack mounts - Budget in 2-3Days extra labour + {arts to get your rack installed properly. 

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TUB REMOVAL - CONVERSION TO TRAY

If your going to remove the Tub and Instead install a 'flat bed Tray' and then canopy - 'lift off' your also able to potentially install RTT and Awning to the Canopy for full Jack off Removal. This works well on single cab utes, but tents on shorter Dual cab canopies overhang forward around 600mm - 1m if installed flush with the back of the canopy - this can lead to rear axle overloading issues. Dual Cabs are typically not ideal vehicles for full jack off set ups unless your running a Chassis extended 79 series, or one of the larger American Trucks. 

 

BEWARE - SOME CANOPY DESIGNS CANNOT TAKE RTT

f your going to install a canopy - you need to avoid - 'GULL WING' side doors (Hinged on the top of the canopy like batmans car). Canopies with Gull wing doors are typically unable to be fitted with either a Roof top tent or an awning, as the doors  lift up through the roof - You just can't mount anything ontop. Some manurfacturers offer Racks that are pre installed to these type of door set ups, but these add height and do not fix the issues presented with Gull wing doors at all as the racks have to be really high or really narrow. Gull wing canopies add more height = more body roll and higher ladders. and limited options for tents and awnings.

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If your purchasing a canopy - go for one with doors that hinge from the sides of the canopy - and get a canopy that is as close as possible to the height of your cab when installed. 

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See the Images of Vehicles below for customers that have upgraded their dual cab utes to Roof top tent, pole less awning, and rack storage vehicles, probably the ultimate capable and yet spacious off road tourers they can be.