Chinese brand LDV has given the ute market a real shake up over the last handful of years with its T60 offering a heck of a lot of ute for the money compared with the established players.
That has meant the vehicle has made it to the short-lists of a lot of potential customers who recognise value for money.
In turn, that’s meant a lot of T60s have been used as workhorses first and foremost and that’s created a demand for a range of canopies to extend the vehicle’s skill-set.
It’s worth remembering, however, that the lower sales volumes of the LDV product, not to mention the smaller range of body options, has kept some (but not all) of the bigger canopy makers out of the game, allowing for companies with the flexibility to design and manufacturer on a smaller scale to get in on the LDV canopy act.
Speaking of body options, if you buy a brand-new T60 today, you’ll really only be offered one body; a dual-cab ute with a styleside tray.
Prior to October 2020, you could buy a T60 in cab-chassis form with a single-cab layout. Clearly, those are two very different utes and the canopies designed for each are likewise very specific.
So, let’s start with the earlier, single-cab-chassis. As a work vehicle, a lot of these cab-chassis T60s were fitted with an aluminium-skinned service-body style of canopy.
With lift-up sides and rear door, these are favoured by those who work out of their vehicle on job-sites and in the field.
They offer great security for tools and other gear and they’re also able to be tailored to suit a specific work requirement.
Typical options for these canopies include ladder racks, roof racks, LED lighting and even central locking.
A simpler, cheaper, but still very effective alternative canopy for the T60 cab-chassis is the traditional steel-framed, canvas canopy.
These are not only cost-effective, but very versatile as they can be slid forward or removed altogether quickly and, usually, as a one-person operation. Couriers with no idea what loads they’ll be moving each day love this ability to easily and quickly remove the canopy for really bulky loads.
Options tend to be a bit more limited in terms of accessories, but you can really put some thought into the layout of the canopy and the materials it’s made from.
As well as off-the-shelf canvas canopies from established retailers, motor or boat trimmers can often produce a one-off canopy specifically for your purpose.
For the vast majority of T60s sold (and all the current-model examples) with a dual-cab styleside body, the popular canopy choice is the fibreglass or thermoplastic hard-shell variety.
These are available in a range of layouts including sliding or tilting side windows and with a vast range of options from LED lighting, central locking, colour-matching, one-handle tailgate operation and lots of roof rack variations.
A roof vent is a good option on a couple of levels; it allows you to carry pets in the rear as well as pressurising the tub at speed to keep dust from entering.
You can also, in some cases, specify a full vinyl interior lining, high-level brake lights, a roof basket and even an extended warranty.
Like the other types of canopy, the hard-shell is available from lots of places including large and small off-road and ute shops to direct from the manufacturer.
The brands include (but are not limited to) Oz Canopies and 4X4, Razorback, Flexiglass and Carryboy. It’s worth noting that if you order your new T60 with a hard-shell canopy from your LDV dealer, the canopy will be the Carryboy version as that’s LDV’s official supplier.
Interestingly, some of the bigger manufacturers, including ARB, don’t list a canopy for the relatively niche T60 model. For the previous model T60, you’ll either need to stick with aftermarket brands or shop second-hand.
Second-hand is actually a good way to go as it can save you plenty while still delivering a solid product. Make sure all the latches, handles and struts work on a second-hand canopy and that all the options function as they should.
Many canopies find their way onto the second-hand market after the vehicle is front-ended and written-off with no damage to the rear, or the previous owner decided to sell the canopy separately to the vehicle when it was traded-in.
Either way, the for sale ads make some interesting reading and prove that second-hand isn’t necessarily second best.
The LDV T60 canopy price you’ll be quoted in most cases will have a lot to do with where it’s from, who made it and what options it has, as well as the actual style of canopy you decide upon.
You can cobble together your own canvas canopy at home for a few hundred dollars, but even a professionally made canvas unit can be had for as little as $1500, or so.
An alloy or metal canopy will be more expensive and a service body custom-built to a specific brief can be literally thousands of dollars.
The upper end of the off-the-shelf T60 canopy price range is around the $5000 mark and that gets you a really high-end canopy with plenty of options and a factory warranty.
Again, you’re a little more limited in the case of an LDV compared with more popular ute brands, so there’s a little less competition in the market that could be reflected in prices.
It doesn’t matter which canopy you choose for your T60, there’s one thing you need to do once it’s fitted. And that’s to tell your insurance company you’ve made the addition. Both the replacement value of the vehicle and the cost of the insurance premium could be affected.
But basically, if your insurer doesn’t know about the canopy and the vehicle is a total loss, the cost of the canopy may not be included in the pay-out.
Meantime, a vehicle with a secure canopy fitted might represent a reduction in the insurance cover for your work tools and camping gear.
Keyword: The best canopies for your LDV T60