How to Set Up a Dual Cab Ute for Touring

How to Set Up a Dual Cab Ute for Touring

Setting up a dual cab ute for touring isn’t about bolting on every accessory you can find. The best touring setups are practical, balanced and built around how you actually travel. Whether that’s weekend escapes, extended road trips or juggling work and play.

We tour in our own vehicles and build 4WDs every day, so this guide is based on real setups, real kilometres and real Australian conditions not brochure builds. Here’s how the Maxliner team approach a touring-ready dual cab ute.

Start With Protection (Before You Add Gear)

Before you load up camping gear, recovery boards or fridges, protect the areas that cop the most punishment.

Our all-weather floor mats to handle mud, sand and spills

Tub protection to suit how you’re setting your ute up. Whether that’s full tub coverage or tailgate-only protection if you’re fitting drawers or internal storage systems

Touring exposes your ute to dirt, water and constant in-and-out use. Some builds benefit from full tub protection, while others only need targeted protection in high-wear areas like the tailgate once internal storage is installed.

Sorting protection early keeps your vehicle easier to live with and easier to clean long term.

Choose the Right Tub Setup for How You Tour

Your tub setup defines how your ute works on the road.

  • Canopy setups suit:
  • Longer trips
  • Secure storage
  • Drawer systems and fridges
  • Touring electrics

Open tub + rack setups suit:

  • Lightweight touring
  • Trade and weekend crossover use
  • Roof-mounted tents and gear with awesome tub access

The key is access. A good touring setup lets you reach gear quickly without unloading half the vehicle at every stop.

Dial in Your Storage System

Storage is where touring setups either shine or fall apart. We run drawer systems and slides from RV Storage Solutions in our own vehicles. Their ADR-certified drawers are built specifically for Australian conditions and handle the punishment that touring dishes out. A proper storage system allows you to:

  • Keep heavy items low
  • Access gear easily
  • Maintain safe weight distribution

It also stops the constant reshuffle that turns touring into hard work.

Personalising Your Touring Setup With the Venture Canopy

One of the biggest advantages of a modern touring canopy is flexibility. Maxliner Venture Canopy is designed as a modular platform, allowing you to personalise your setup as your needs change instead of locking you into a fixed configuration. Depending on how you travel, your setup can include:

This modular approach means your ute can handle weekday duties, weekend escapes and longer trips without compromise.

Roof & Load Options That Suit How You Tour

There’s no single “best” roof setup only the option that works best for how you travel. The key is choosing the right configuration based on how much weight you’re carrying, how often you tour and the type of gear you run.

One of the best things about Venture Canopy is the range of roof and mounting options.

  • Canopy platform tray brackets for mounting trays or flat platforms where additional support is required
  • Roof rack mounting legs for the base of rack systems Whether you’re loading tools for work or packing for a weekend escape.
  • Cross bars that use the existing roof rails, ideal when you need to keep the load light and want flexible day-to-day use

Some setups are best suited to low-profile, everyday use, while others are designed for heavier loads and extended touring. If you’re not sure which option suits your build, our team can help you choose a roof and load configuration that matches how you actually plan to use your vehicle.

Roof Racks That Are Built for Real Touring

Roof racks aren’t just about carrying gear they’re about strength, fit and reliability once you leave sealed roads. We can help with all the major brands including Rhino Rack, Yakima, Tradesman & X-Country.

We run X-Country Roof Racks on our touring builds because load ratings, mounting systems and off-road durability matter when you’re travelling remotely. 

Rooftop Tents. Comfort Changes the Trip

If you tour more than occasionally, sleep quality becomes non-negotiable. We recommend, stock and use James Baroud rooftop tents on our own vehicles because fast setup, weather protection and ventilation make a noticeable difference night after night. A quality rooftop tent means:

  • Faster camp setup than a tent
  • Better rest than sleeping on the ground
  • Less gear clutter than carrying tents or swags
  • No need to tow or manoeuvre a camper trailer or caravan, keeping your setup lighter, simpler and more capable off-road

Gear That Comes in Handy

Touring means being self-sufficient and hiaving easy access to your gear. We stock gear for TRED and TieGear perfect for recovery, storage and camp set-up. Experience teaches you what’s worth carrying we love Dunny Buddy for remote travel, decent storage boxes that protect your gear from weather and damage while keeping everything organised (and make unpacking a breeze) and first aid kit that is designed for outdoor use. 

Real Touring Builds, Not Show Rigs

We don’t just talk about these setups. We build and use them. You can see real Venture Canopy touring builds on Ford Ranger 1, Ford Ranger 2 and the build our good mate Nas did on his Mazda BT-50 with a Venture canopy.  These builds show how different configurations work in the real world

Touring Builds & Fitment Across Australia

A touring setup is only as good as its installation. We can supply and fit complete 4WD touring setups  including canopies, storage, racks and accessories in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

If you’re elsewhere, we can also connect you with trusted stockists and fitment partners across Australia to help bring your touring build together properly.

Build for How You Tour

There’s no single perfect touring setup but there is a setup that suits how you travel.Start with protection, choose smart storage, keep your roof load sensible and invest in gear designed for Australian conditions. That’s how we set up our own touring utes and how we’d recommend setting up yours.

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