If you’re looking to travel with your Mitsubishi Triton around the Australian outback, you’re in for a world of excitement and exploration. Australia has some of the most pristine places, untouched by people. If you want to travel across it, though, or spend time in some of the remote places it has to offer, it’s important you bring everything you need to survive for the duration of your trip. This is especially important if your trip is going to last for several days, and you’re travelling with a few friends or family.
For survivalists and minimalist campers, the boot of their Mitsubishi Triton may provide enough space for the bare essentials. However, everyone else will probably struggle to bring along everything they need to make it through the trip. This is why most people install some kind of storage accessories for Mitsubishi Triton before they even start planning their journey. That said, you can find roof racks and canopies at a store that sells 4×4 accessories online Australia wide, made to suit your specific Triton make and year for a seamless and easy fit.
In fact, you probably had the chance to get factory-installed roof racks for Mitsubishi Triton when you bought it if you bought it new, of course. Or, your vehicle may come equipped with factory crossbars, in which case you won’t need an entire aftermarket system, but just a few accessories, such as universal attachment mechanisms that are compatible with the factory crossbars.
If you don’t have factory crossbars, however, you’ll definitely need to buy roof racks for Mitsubishi Triton. The type of roof rack system you can get will depend on your roof setup and what you intend on carrying.
So, What Are Roof Rack Systems?
The most basic roof racks consist of crossbars and support mechanisms. Generally, two crossbars span across the length of your vehicle, and the support mechanisms help attach them to the roof. Other parts you’ll see mentioned in this article are load bars (the two crossbars), towers (the support for the crossbars), and clips (brackets or pads that help attach the towers onto the vehicle).
Crossbars come in different lengths, depending on how long your specific vehicle is, and what you intend to carry on it. The most basic crossbars are round or square, but you can also get wider, flatter bars that feature an aerodynamic profile for better fuel consumption and reduced drag.
What Type of Roof Rack Setup Do You Need?
There are four basic types of roof rack systems. Depending on your existing roof setup, the right one for you will vary.
- Raised Rail System – If your vehicle features raised rails along the sides of your vehicle, you can get a tower that clips onto them. The good thing about this type of system is that you can use a universal kit, reducing the overall cost of the system significantly.
- Solid Rail System – Solid rails don’t feature a gap between the roof and the rail, so you’ll have to get vehicle-specific clips.
- Fix Points – Some vehicle roofs feature a setup designed for mounting a rack onto. These are generally covered with plastic tabs.
- Naked Roof – If your roof is naked, you’ll need a complete roof rack kit or a kit that’s designed to clamp to the door jamb.
What If You Have a Truck?
If you have a truck, there are a couple of ways to configure your roof rack setup. Some owners install crossbars over the cab and place a rear hitch mount crossbar. You can install tracks on the truck cap and then mount a roof rack system on the cab. There are also truck bed rack systems that you can raise or lower as needed. Alternatively, you may decide to get a canopy.
Types of Canopies
Canopies are the more expensive storage solution for 4WD utes. You can find them in specialised 4×4 accessories online Australia stores, in one of three types, based on how they attach to your vehicle, including tub, tray and chassis-mounted canopies.
Tub Canopies
As most 4×4 utes come with a tub or well body arrangement, tub canopies are the most common type of canopy. The tubs are quite affordable, and you can find a second-hand one for a few hundred dollars. Many tubs are replaced with aftermarket steel or aluminium trays, and the most valuable parts on them are the rear lights and tailgate. That being said, if you want to replace your tub, keep the tailgate and rear lights and sell them separately.
Tray Canopies
Another common factory setup for utes is the flat tray setup. These are generally made of aluminium for their lightweight properties, but there are also steel options if you’re looking for extra durability.
Tray canopies are installed by removing the fold-down sides of your tray and bolting through the tray itself. As a result, tray canopies are easy to install and remove. They can come with legs so you can remove and store them conveniently in your garage.
Tray canopies are available in a variety of strengths and designs and are typically marketed as light-duty or heavy-duty. The construction should suit your application, or you can end up with issues that are difficult to deal with.
Chassis-Mounted Canopies
These canopies completely replace the tray and are directly bolted onto the chassis. As a result, they’re the strongest, most stable canopies. However, they’re permanent fixtures, as installing and removing them is a taxing process.
Important Considerations for Canopies
Obviously, you have to consider what you’re going to use the canopy for before choosing one, so you can make an informed decision. For off-road travel, you’ll need a durable, yet lightweight canopy made of aluminium. As aforementioned, the outback can be unforgiving, so you’ll want a durable, reliable solution.
Plus, you’ll want to reduce the impact the canopy will have on your fuel consumption, as you’ll be travelling long distances, so every gallon of fuel helps. Furthermore, it’s important for the canopy to be lightweight so you can keep your vehicle road legal. If you install a heavy canopy, you risk a bent chassis and causing an accident.