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Aluminium ute canopy worth chasing for!

Most people are used to being followed on social media, but you know someone is truly a big fan of your work when they literally follow you in real life. Not only do people turn their heads when they see Alite’s canopy backs, James has had people stop what they’re doing and literally chase him down to find out how they can get a canopy just like his!

James was on his way to Bunnings one day and little did he know he was being followed. He parked and a car pulled up at the same time, stopping in the spot next to him. The driver jumped out of his car and looked at him like a big kid in a toy shop and said excitedly, “I’ve followed you here! Who built your canopy for you?” James explained that he built it with his team at Alite Fabrications. The guy was extremely impressed with his work and really keen for James to build him one too.

Ute canopy requests rush in

James Beck established Alite Fabrications in Wollongong, NSW, three and a half years ago and in the last eighteen months, the business has boomed. Starting off as a one-man show, he now employs six staff – five fabricators and one for administration. In the early days James built a lot of architectural aluminium products as well but the demand for his quality, custom vehicle body builds has taken over. James says, “We built a custom canopy for ourselves and put it up on social media. Ever since, we’ve been bombarded with requests for canopies and ute trays with people asking us for quotes to build them one too. We’re at the point now where it’s pretty much all we do”.

Why do Alite Fabrications use Ullrich Aluminium?

James explains, “We use Ullrich Aluminium because they are able to extrude the specialised aluminium sections we use on our builds”. Mark Pilling from Ullrich Aluminium at Smeaton Grange supplies James with Ullrich Aluminium products including sections, strut rails, sheets and flat bars and has seen James’ excellent work first hand. Mark has seen a lot of vehicle body builds in his time and remarks, “James’ work is up there with the best in the industry. His work is just as good as the Australian leaders.”

An aluminium ute canopy that transforms from work to play

James builds a lot of the canopy framing out of strut rails so that he can bolt the modular components to them such as shelving and drawers. This allows stored items to be easily accessible for canopy back owners and they can transform from working to camping by simply removing parts to make way for larger items. James explains, “We build the outside shell and do the internal fit-out. Some people have a few different drawers for work and then they’ll have a few things on the other side that are mounted down to the strut channels. If they want to go camping, they can simply remove all the draws so that they have room for bags, kids’ pushbikes, etc. It’s an easily removable system for accessories.”

With Covid restrictions changing the way people travel and spend their money, travelling throughout Australia in a canopy back has become a popular alternative. Alite Fabrications is a great example of a business that has adapted to demand and flourished. Alite have customised a lot of Hiluxes and Landcruisers lately with every build being unique but the most popular feature is the removable canopy. This handy feature means when canopy back owners arrive at their campsite they can take the canopy off but still have the tray to use.

Ute canopy back features

Check out this recently customised red Landcruiser below, packed with features.

aluminium red ute canopy back

Features include:

  • Heavy-duty aluminium tray
  • Removable canopy
  • Dog box with vented doors
  • Flared mudguards
  • Undertray toolboxes
  • Trundle drawer
  • 40L water tank
  • Water pump
  • Central locking
  • Spare wheel carrier
  • Fold-down ladder
  • Black Sahara powder coat
  • 2 pac colour coded doors

Alite customers bring their own ideas and then Alite helps fine tune them into something that works. From two door and jack off canopy bodies to jerry can holders, sealed trundle drawers and under tray water tanks, they can do it all.

aluminium canopy back ute matt black

Explore the outback

Ute canopy backs make travelling to remote areas of the country possible. If James was able to pack up his camper today, he’d head north up to the Sunshine Coast and keep going all the way to Cape York. He knows of families who have had amazing adventures travelling up through the middle of the country to Uluru and all the way up to Darwin as well as heading west out to WA. The only limits are border closures but with most Australian states and territories being bigger than multiple European countries, there’s plenty of places to explore.

Check out Alite’s Facebook or Instagram pages. It’s much easier than trying to flag James down while he’s driving!

Or contact your nearest Ullrich Aluminium Branch for the supplies you need.

Posted at 20 October 21

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