THE STORY OF GRANT BUDD

"In this day and age you really do get what you pay for and I can happily say we made right choice."

Take a look at the lifestyle my setup has enabled:

Read on to hear Grants Story below:

> WHERE IT ALL BEGAN: TOO MANY OPTIONS, ONE BIG GOAL.

Taking the plunge in April 2024 to purchase a new V6 Ford ranger was for us a costly decision. This became even more evident as I knew we needed upgrades and extras, especially for towing our 2.8 tonne caravan. The 4x4 aftermarket industry has exploded and as a newbie, the research of these additional extras became a daunting experience amongst a sea of options. The many online groups had so many opinions that left me confused and needing more information.

I knew we needed a canopy and although the fiberglass options looked good, they were fragile, had windows and limited side access. We needed something that allowed for transporting various building materials and while away, my surfboards and kayak. Although we had opted for a caravan there could become a time where a rooftop tent weighing close to 100kg could be added so we had to get it right the first time.

During my research I learnt about my Ute's max roof load rating, something of which many people with roof top tents know nothing about and exceed daily. Certain brand roof systems required permanent mounting through the roof via rivets or adding brackets. Some of these systems suffer from wind noise, poor access for feeding straps through and more importantly roof cleaning. As a first time new car owner I didn't want anything that prevented easy cleaning or required permanent modification to the roof. The system needed to be quiet as I am one of those people who enjoys windows down without ever present wind noise.

LOST IN A SEA OF OPTIONS

After trawling the internet looking for the right solution - It was then through the powers of Facebook, my daily feed displayed a link to Utemaster Centurion Canopy. Given I was heavily intrenched in research I decided to learn more. On first noticing the product was not another Chinese import, but built in New Zealand I looked on. The videos did a great job of explaining the many canopy features and showcased a build quality that stood head and shoulders above what I'd previously seen.

FROM OVERTHINKING TO OVERLANDING 

When I started my list of upgrades and extras I made note of how much extra weight I was adding to the ranger. It's a numbers game as everything added takes away from GVM, maximum axel weights and GCM when towing. To my surprise the centurion canopy was lighter than fiberglass options due to its aluminium construction. The list of positives didn't stop there and the canopies aluminium build highlighted its ability to become indestructible and virtually impervious to water ingress. Having seen fiberglass canopies fail miserably at both I was now leaning heavily toward one. I say virtually because if you have water coming in you have far bigger problems to worry about as you'll be underwater!

As someone who does extended fishing trips where its not uncommon to have over 20 grand of tackle in the back I was instantly drawn to the lack of windows and the recessed locking features. This is a feature I'd not seen on other options and anything that prevents unwanted access to the contents is a big win. Theft from Utes is not uncommon and the lack of windows and a secure locking mechanism gave me increased confidence. Another feature I instantly noticed about fiberglass canopies is you don't get full width and height openings due to the materials structural integrity. I knew I wanted to eventually raise the floor of the tub for a drawer fridge and the ability to open all sides and have full open access was a must and the centurion canopy does this with ease.

I still however needed a roof rack/mounting system and this is where the cantilever roof rack stood out. As previously mentioned, when looking at bar and platform options, static and dynamic load ratings must be adhered to. Some systems fail with poor dynamic ratings which basically means allowable weight on the roof while the vehicle is in motion. These numbers can tumble dramatically downward when offroad leaving you with as little as 40kg in equipment weight to mount on your roof. If you go over these ratings you risk not only severe damage to the roof but also voiding your insurance, should you have an accident.

The cantilever system mounts directly to the canopy and doesn't involve the cab of the Ute at all. This not only provides easy access for cleaning but stops all wind noise. The cutouts down the side allow for strapping of wide loads and other bulky items and most importantly, it offers extremely high static and dynamic load ratings. The cab and tub can move independently when on rough roads or off road so excessive torsion isn't transmitted through the chassis when long loads are strapped down. Should I decide to add a roof top tent I know I am not overloading the Ute's roof, axel or GVM ratings and I'm road legal at all times.

Being built in New Zealand I had to find a local dealership and fortunately I found one 40km's from home on the Sunshine Coast. I took a trip to view the canopy and from the second I opened the rear door it felt solid, didn't flex and felt like it would last a lifetime. There were no ugly spot welds and poor spray jobs here! I placed the deposit and it was soon fitted with additional internal LED lights, central locking and rear roller for loading of timber and my kayak.

TESTED. TRUSTED. WORTH IT.

Having owned it for a year I can tell you that it is indeed indestructible. I've hit trees, been in a cyclone and driving rain where I had to pull over. When it comes to cleaning I have been through the carwash and hit it with a pressure washer from a safe distance and its never let a droplet of water in. Being black I was initially worried it would be hard to keep clean but its simple with a quality PH neutral cleaner and chamois. For extra shine I follow up with a light application of silicon spray and polish with a microfibre cloth.

I GOT IT RIGHT, FIRST TIME.

In this day and age you really do get what you pay for and I can happily say we made right choice. Furthermore, we supported a small business making a big difference amongst a sea of mass produced brands.

Check out Utemaster today and if you have any questions they are more than happy to give you a call.

- Grant Budd.