What to Do With Your Ute Tub

You've got the ute. Now everyone's telling you to do something with the tub.
What are you thinking? Canopy, Hard Lid or Tub Rack? What is going to work best for you?

The honest answer is it depends on how you actually use the thing. There's no one-size-fits-all setup, and the wrong choice will annoy you every time you open the tailgate.
Here's our straightforward breakdown of what's out there and who each option suits.

Canopy

A canopy can be the most versatile thing you can put on a ute tub. It gives you a fully enclosed, lockable space that works for work gear, camping kit, tools, dogs, or whatever else you're hauling around.

Our Maxliner Venture Canopy is a feature packed. It comes standard with central locking, a 300kg static roof load rating thanks to an internal steel frame, and has push button access to all external windows. It comes in a couple of body styles - full paint or two-tone - and fits a range of popular dual cab utes.

The roof load matters more than people think. If you're planning to throw a rooftop tent up there or run a full rack system, you need a canopy that can actually take the weight. Some cheaper options might not. 

The Venture Canopy also has a solid range of accessories to configure it the way you want. Window options include a doggy sliding window, solid side windows, solar shades, security panels and window boxes.

On the roof, you can run cross bars on the existing rails, swap to legs for alternative bar setups, or go the full platform rack via our X-country range. There's a canopy platform tray bracket too if you want a tray mounted off the canopy itself. It's a proper system, not just a box on your ute.

When a canopy works: you work out of your ute, camp regularly, carry gear you want locked up, or need weatherproof storage day to day.

Hard Lid

If you want a clean and simple setup, a hard lid sits flush with the tub rails and gives you covered, lockable storage without adding height to the vehicle. It's a cleaner look, easier to live with day to day, and usually a more straightforward fit.
We have both ABS and alloy hard lid options. ABS is lightweight and good value. Alloy is tougher and handles heavier use better. Neither is wrong -  it just comes down to how hard you use it. There's only $100 between them, so it mostly comes down to the conditions you're working in.
The trade-off with a lid is headroom. You're not standing in the tub, and carrying tall items gets awkward fast. If your load is flat, that's fine. If you're stacking things, a lid might frustrate you.
When a hard lid works: you want a low-profile look, carry flat loads, use the tub regularly but don't need full access height, or just want something clean and practical.

Tub Rack

A ute tub rack could be your perfect partner if you have commitment issues. Our Ute Tub Rack is a different kind of solution. Instead of covering the tub, it gives you a load-rated structure above it so you can carry long items, ladders, lumber, kayaks, or whatever won't fit inside a standard setup.
The tub stays open and accessible. You get the overhead capacity without losing the tub floor. It's a popular option for tradies and builders who need both.
When a ute tub rack works: you regularly carry long or awkward loads, need overhead capacity without closing off the tub, or want a flexible setup that works across different jobs.

Whatever you choose, you can build it out

Here's the thing - whichever direction you go, there's more you can do with the tub once you've made the call.
Our sliding tray works with a canopy, hard lid or tub rack setup. It rolls in and out smoothly with a 250kg load capacity and installs without any drilling - so you're not climbing into the tub every time you need something from the back.
If you need secure side storage, our MaxBox range has three options depending on how much space you're working with. The MaxSideBox sits neatly along the tub rail for quick access to smaller gear. The Concorde Xtra-V gives you more volume for tools and equipment. And the Trio MaxBox is the biggest of the three a full-width solution if you want maximum lockable storage across the tub. All three work with a bedliner installed too.
For canopy builds specifically, drawer systems from RV Storage Solutions or Neway Work Drawers take it to the next level, turning the tub into a proper organised workspace rather than just a lockable box.
The right setup is the one that fits how you actually use the ute. Start with the big decision, then build around it.

So which one?

There's no wrong answer -  it just depends on what you're doing with the ute.
If you need full weatherproof storage and want to actually live out of the tub, go canopy. If you want something clean and low-maintenance for covered storage, a hard lid makes sense. If you're carrying big loads and want the tub to stay open, the tub rack is worth a look.

Most people know pretty quickly which camp they're in once they think about a typical week of use. But if you need a hand deciding, our team are always happy to have a chat.

If you're also looking at what goes inside the tub, our tub liners are worth a look. They protect the tub floor and sides from scratches, dents and general wear before they happen, and come in one piece and five piece options.