2023 Ford Ranger canopies and service bodies

A canopy is a great solution for 4x4 enthusiasts or tradies who need to store items safely and securely, while keeping them within easy reach. The modular design of aftermarket canopies allows owners to tailor a set-up that best suits their lifestyle and the gear they're carrying.

What it is: Rangers come with a tub or cab chassis. A canopy sits on top of the tub to form a cargo space, and a service body entirely replaces the tub

Why you need it: An open tub exposes your gear to the elements and offers no security. If you want something better, then a canopy or service body is the way to go.

Buying tips: A canopy is cheaper than a service body, and lighter. But a service body offers more interior storage space, and easy access from the side with large doors, but is far more expensive. Canopies might be $3000, a decent service body $12,000 and extras can run over $20,000. Ensure you buy one designed for off-roading, not a round-town tradie version, and take your time … there’s a lot of choice out there!

Almost all service body and canopy makers will have a product for the Ranger as it’s the most popular ute and it’s relatively easy to adapt the same product to different utes. There are so many we can’t list them all here, but we’ve listed a few to start with.

Ford Australia/ARB licencing agreement

Ford Australia has a licencing agreement with ARB. Order ARB accessories when you order your Next-Gen Ranger, and they’ll be covered by Ford’s 5-year warranty. So if you have a warranty issue, there are no grey areas about which company’s responsible.

If you order ARB accessories after purchase (through a Ford dealer), they’ll be covered by the remainder of the warranty period.

If you’d like to know more about the Ford/ARB partnership, then go here.

ARB Ascent canopy

ARB Ascent canopy

Specifications:

Material: UV stable ABS thermoplastic

Finish: Colour-coded

Weight: Approx. 60 to 70kg

Load rating: Dynamic 100kg, static up to 400kg

Buy now from Ford Australia

EGR Canopy

EGR Canopy

Specifications:

• Material: UV stable ABS plastic
• Finish: Colour-coded
• Weight: Not specified
• Load rating: Not specified

Buy now from EGR

Trig Point service body

Trig Point service body

Specifications:

• Material: Aluminium and mild steel
• Finish: Colour-coded
• Weight: 280kg (complete unit)
• Load rating: 300kg

Buy now from Trig Point

EZToolbox Tray and Canopy Package

Specifications:

• Material: Aluminium and mild steel
• Finish: Powder-coated
• Weight: 120kg (canopy and tray)
• Load rating: Not specified

Buy now from EZ Toolbox

Buyers’ Guide – Ute Tray Canopies and Service Bodies

What It Is

Utes come in two styles, tub (pick-up) or cab/chassis. A canopy sits on top of the tub to create a secure storage area, and to protect your gear from the elements.

We covered ute tub canopies in detail [ here in our Buyers’ Guide for Ute Tub Canopies ] {link to “Buyer’s Guide for Ute Tub Canopies” from my “The Best Ute Canopies Article 10” article}.

Ute tray canopies and service bodies use a different approach. They’re self-contained modules which then attach to a ute tray or directly to the chassis.

A ute tray canopy sits on top of the tray and forms an enclosed, secure storage area. They either bolt on permanently or have legs. If it has legs, you can wind the legs up then drive out from under the canopy.

Tray canopy styles vary widely. The most basic is an enclosed aluminium or steel box with two gullwing doors at the sides. At the other end of the scale are fully fitted-out camping canopies, with awnings, rooftop tents, electrical systems, fridges, kitchens, and whatever else you need for a complete campsite.

A service body replaces the tub or ute and bolts permanently onto the chassis. Originally developed for mobile service vehicles, service bodies are now available for everyone from tradies to serious campers.

Why You Need It

There are three reasons you might choose a ute tray canopy or a service body:

1. You need to secure your gear and protect it from the elements (ute tray canopy or service body).
2. You want the convenience of using the ute as a work vehicle during the week, then chuck in some camping gear for weekend trips (ute tray canopy).
3. You want to set up your ute as a permanent touring vehicle (service body).

The other reason you might choose a service body or tray canopy over a tub canopy? Roof loading. If you want to add a rooftop tent or roof platform, then a service body or ute tray canopy is a better choice.

Rated roof loadings of 300kg or more are common.

Tub canopies have lower roof loadings, often under 100kg. Why? Because they don’t have or need the same built-in structural strength. Instead, they rely on the ute tub to keep them in place. And the few tub canopies with high roof loadings usually need an internal sub-frame, which adds weight.

Buying Tips

A ute tray canopy is cheaper than a service body. A canopy might be $3,000 while a service body is generally $10,000 to $20,000.

Keep in mind though, you’ll need to add the cost of a steel or aluminium tray to the price of a canopy. Price totally depends on what type of ute tray canopy you want. Some are as expensive as service bodies, when you specify a fully customised tray.

And once you start adding accessories to either option, you can easily chew through $20,000 or more.

If you’re after a simple empty shell just to safely store work and camping gear, then a ute tray canopy makes sense. However, a more permanent touring setup is better suited to a service body.

Which One Is Lighter?

Straight off the floor, a ute tray canopy is lighter. It doesn’t need same the structural strength as a service body because the canopy attaches to the existing tray.

However, consider overall weight when comparing the two – how the weight of a canopy plus tray stacks up against a service body.

It’s impossible to give you an indication of weights. There are too many variables… design, materials used, insulation, flooring, overall length, height, and so on. When you start narrowing down your options, contact the supplier and ask them to provide the weight when empty. This way, you can quickly compare brands.

A steel canopy or service body is much heavier than an aluminium one. The best combination for off-roading or touring is aluminium panels with a steel frame. This provides strength without excessive weight.

Like every 4WD accessory, consider how much weight the canopy or service body itself adds to the vehicle. Then consider how much gear you’re planning to carry on top.

It’s so easy to load up the inside with gear, then throw a couple of spares, jerry cans, and a rooftop tent on top. Before you know it, you’ll be way over maximum GVM.

Which One Has a Better Departure Angle?

Departure angles aren’t an issue for either style, unless you’re into extreme 4WDing. Both sit above the chassis and wheel arches, so the floor levels are the same. If you choose to fit toolboxes behind the rear wheels, make sure they’re tapered and don’t impact departure angle.

Some service bodies have bumper bars, either as an option or standard. Check the bumper’s tucked up high so it doesn’t affect departure angle.

Which One Seals Better?

Short answer? There’s no difference in sealing performance.

If it’s designed as a body for a tradie ute, then it probably won’t seal as well as one designed for off-road touring. Most tradie utes don’t have to cope with thousands of kilometres of rough dirt roads, so the sealing doesn’t have to be perfect.

Plus, a layer of dust on tools and work gear doesn’t really matter… unlike on your mattress or in food.

Sealing for dust and water ingress is difficult, especially on large gullwing doors. As the body twists, they tend to open up slightly in the corners. Do lots of research here. Check online reviews and if possible, speak to someone who has the model you’re thinking of buying.

If you’re considering a second-hand service body, be aware it could be knocked around. This includes the rubber door seals, latches, and sealing faces around the door opening.

Which One Has More Space?

A service body wins every time. Because they bolt onto the chassis without a tray, manufacturers can use spaces which are normally voids for storage, water tanks, battery compartments, and so on.

But the hands-down most convenient feature of a service body is a flat floor.

When you open the door, the floor is flush with the bottom of the door opening. This alone saves space. You can mount fridges and drawers flush on the floor, without needing to allow for the lip which canopies tend to have.

What to Look For

Here’s what to consider when deciding between a ute tray canopy and a service body:

• Do you want to remove it occasionally or will it be a permanent fixture?
• What’s your budget? Costs can quickly add up, regardless of which one you choose.
• When you’re shortlisting possible options, find out what each one weighs. Some service bodies can be heavy, which eats into your payload.
• There’s nothing more annoying than chasing a dust or water leak. Do your research. Check reviews, ask people who own them about potential leaks.
• If space is your number one consideration, then go with a service body. They’re more space efficient.

Ute tray canopies and service bodies are a fantastic way to turn your ute into an ultimate tourer. Once you have the basic shell, your options are limited only by what you can dream up… and what you can fit in there.

Alternatively, select a tried and tested unit from a supplier, already kitted out and ready to go.

Whatever you choose, you’ll be well-equipped to hit the dirt and start exploring.

How we review products

4X4 Australia has been reviewing four-wheel drive vehicles and aftermarket products for more than 40 years.

When looking for the best accessories for your make and model of 4WD, there are some things essential to making sure you have the best off-roading experience.

When we compare products, here are some of the things we consider:

• Warranty
• Build quality
• Value for money
• Time and ease to set-up/install
• Weight
• Fit and finish
• How well it gets the job done
• What materials they’re made from
• Corrosion/UV resistance
• Coatings
• Compatibility with other accessories
• Compliance with ADRs and vehicle safety systems
• Country of manufacture
• Load ratings,
  to determine what's the best product across each price point.

We also consider user reviews and our own experience with these products to make sure our recommendations are for the best on the market.

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