Huge savings with my jack-off canopy | Fuel economy experiment

Fuel savings was one of the main reasons I opted for a jack off canopy for the back of the Ranger. In today's video, we run a full experiment on what economy I get with the canopy on vs with the canopy off. Keep in mind that these results are if you're able to leave your canopy lifted off while it's not in use. Enjoy!
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#jackoffcanopy #diycanopy #campinghack

[@trmindustries.2549]

Even without saving $400 bucks a year you still get the convenience of being able to take the canopy off really easily if you want to use your tray to get firewood, do a tip run, move house etc etc.

[@drewjohn6847]

The tent is probably 90% of that, I had the same setup and when i removed the tent it went back to pretty close to the standard ute.

[@OutAboutOffroad]

I notice a bit of a saving similar to yourself by having my jack-off canopy off the ute, however because i have 500KG constant load leaf springs in the rear the ride when the canopy is off is uncomfortable after awhile. So for me comes down to comfort vs fuel savings. Awesome video and nice to see someone actually showing true figures. -Stirlo

[@explorebound]

Thanks mate and you're right about the ride, certainly more comfortable with the canopy on!

[@paulclarke4431]

Nice work. A surprisingly accurate and scientific test (not often seen on KZbin). Seems like a lot of k's for one week, I must be a sloth.

[@bigred6927]

The issue with taking it off though, is you then lose the ability to cook up grub at work, or pull over and make a coffee etc.. So depending on lifestyle, you might end up buying more food at a petrol station or take away joint and that $400+ savings you got from taking the canopy off, disappears into buying food or coffee etc.. But that obviously depends on everyone's lifestyle.

[@explorebound]

Very true and worth considering! For my weekly driving and work it’s not a concern, but can imagine with others having the canopy setup on during the week could save lunch costs. 🙂

[@mandythompson9655]

Thanks for this calculation, has definantly helped make some decisions Also good to see the real test /how it affects day to day costs

[@jayjackson85]

Not just that. You can also use your Ute as a Ute :)

[@ebonylo]

This will help convince the other half, personally I just want to have the camping gear packed and ready to go for those spontaneous weekends away without having to drive around with it day to day.

[@mathewjon9329]

Excellent video. Convinced me to drop my tub setup. Thankyou very much

[@sheraaz_panda_life]

Well done mate. Great comparison.

[@EFFICIENTSELF]

Great video mate on how the savings can be made 👍🍻

[@russellwyborn3667]

Well done, plus possible savings on tyre wear

[@deathmin98]

Damn, that math was impressive. Great video as always

[@shellez101]

Be interesting to see your thoughts at todays diesel price of $2.29 per litre ?

[@stevekeenes4030]

Try it on todays fuel prices LOL... just got a new jackoff, curious to see if i get the same savings :)

[@explorebound]

Haha so true, probably pays for itself in about 6 months now 😂

[@krump7429]

Goooooddddd morninggggggg mr exploranger 😂 Felt like i was back at school again lol. Good video eye opening with the weight of it and fuel. Thats a good saving you can get youself. I will give you credit mate, ur videos are straight out of left field, not many youtubers put the ideas you have into video. Keep it up. My mrs wants to know how will you get your car in the garage when u get a lift kit looking pretty tight for room at the roof lol.

[@explorebound]

Haha had a good laugh at that! 😂 Thanks for the feedback mate and glad you’ve been enjoying the vids! Regarding the height, I’ve got about 8cm to spare on top of the RTT to the open garage door so hopefully I should be ok to go 2” higher... fingers crossed anyway!

[@lukehutchinson6754]

Nice video and comparison, just a couple of things. Firstly and on a legal note egr delete makes your car unroadworthy and will void insurance. Second would be a comparison in diesel types, living remote we only have access to standard bp diesel, when traveling I always aim for the ultimate and it's makes a huge difference, similar to your comparison with canopy on v off.

[@flyingbirdz7456]

Dear Luke Can you Please explain erg and insurance thing more . . . .thank you for your time and effort and knowledge about this topic Can you pls explain egr delete for you me . .and your audience ? Do you know what it is? What it does? Where did this come from ? What is delete erg ? What is not delete erg ? What is the difference ? Why is the vehicle so dangerous now, that insurance is null and void ? Will it explode or lose power and control and kill people? what is it/wrong ? I simply know nothing about which you speak. Please Luke, I am now worried now about my set up. As are many others, who wish to be legal. Even just a link to more info would be great. Thank you Luke for making me and others aware of this issue. Awaiting your erg delete response Thank you for listening ninsurable

[@henrybates3805]

Great video mate!

[@newport5504]

Awesome to see this done, thanks for taking the time to do a video like this, do you wish you got a tray with tray sides as well? Thank you

[@explorebound]

Thanks mate! It would be nice to have a headboard on the tray, but evens that is for cosmetic reasons mainly as I find it quite functional as a flat tray. I think I’ll look into making up a custom headboard in future 👍

[@stephenashe2160]

MRT should give a back wall behind your window, even some bars or something. Shame to leave the car looking like it does without the tray. Thats just my opinion. I have the same lift off canopy on my Hilux

[@explorebound]

Haha I agree it does look a bit funny! I had the option to go for a proper tray with headboard, sides and back from MRT but I went with this ‘tray only’ option as it was a fair bit cheaper.

[@russcans316]

Assuming you have suspension to handle the load, hows the ride when the weight isnt on the back

[@explorebound]

Suspension is due for an upgrade but it's quite stiff with the canopy off

[@gary7684]

I would be interested in the total weight of the canopy setup

[@explorebound]

Me too, I imagine it will be a nasty surprise!! It's on my list to get down to the weight bridge and do comparison with the canopy on/off - will make a vid about it when I do.

[@gary7684]

@@explorebound guessing competition? I'm going 430kg

[@explorebound]

You're on! I'm thinking 350, but perhaps I'm being a bit optimistic haha

[@jackbensted2898]

Hmmm, I recognize that fuel station!

[@shadowturtle96]

So do i

[@explorebound]

Yeah? Small world!

[@r.dimples]

can you still lock it somehow while the canopy is off? either manually or with the central locking like if you want to run to the shops while your out camping.

[@explorebound]

Yep, the central locking system is run off the battery in the canopy so works while lifted off. Even if the central locking is powered via the vehicle though, the locks all work independently with a key so no power required 👍

[@matthewplambeck3638]

Been watching a couple of your vids mate, really good stuff I love how clear and to the point all your vids are and the way you present! keep up the good work! I was wondering if I could ask a favour, I have a 1200mm Canopy, But didn't get a lift off system at the time, due to the cost. I thought I would find a way to add a lift off system myself, anyways I was just wondering if you might be able to measure the Width of the pillars, the pillars that have the lift off holes in them? and maybe the inside measurement of the lift off squares, That would help so much as to figuring out if my Pillars are wide enough for me to Retro-Fit some square tubing into them and weld up to the existing frame. Keep up the vids, they are solid! , Matt

[@explorebound]

Hi mate, glad to hear you’ve been enjoying the vids! The square tube that the legs slot in to are approximately 35mm internal and are spaced apart 160mm - is that what you were after?

[@matthewplambeck3638]

@@explorebound Yeah pretty much! Thanks man, That must mean that the width of the pillars is about 40mm. the Exterior dimension of the holes. Cheers!

[@Mac_Stacks]

$1.17.....ah 2022 thank you! 😭🤣

[@absk4891]

Hey mate, great video 👍🏼 I’m currently deciding whether to go lift off system or not. silly question but I didn’t see any bolt holes on the ally tray lol... did you have it bolted down?

[@explorebound]

Hey mate! The canopy is held to the tray with 4 clamps, one on each corner

[@Liskah]

How much of that is having the rooftop tent on? Would be interesting to know what the difference is with just the canopy.

[@explorebound]

That’s a good question, my guess is that it would be relatively minimal compared to the canopy+tent as a package, but something I’ll look to test in future. 👍

[@DasGav]

Now do th maths with today's diesel prices 😭. My local is $2.20/L

[@explorebound]

Similar prices my way too - hurts to fill up the tank that's for sure! 😬

[@TheJanope13]

How hard is it to line up the canopy perfect? or does it no have to be mm precise? I imagine that 500kg canopy wouldn't be easy to shimmy around

[@explorebound]

It's actually not as hard as you'd think, I just look out my window to line it up on one side and usually get it first go - you can make slight adjustments to how it sets down based on which legs you wind down too

[@TheJanope13]

@@explorebound that’s great to hear. I’m terrible at lining up my awning to my already pegged out awning wall ahaha

[@truckasurus]

Great informative video, and the exact reason why I got a jack off canopy, car is a lot nice to drive without all that weight! When you’re camping do you have ever take your canopy off and use it as like a base station? So if you’re out doing a bit of 4wding you’re not carrying around all that extra weight?

[@explorebound]

Thanks mate! Yep sure do, we've taken it off at camp many times for this exact reason, don't have to pack everything away or worry about the canopy while out 4wding.

[@truckasurus]

Exploranger, as soon as I wrote that I watched another video where you had taken the canopy off. Have you figured out a better way to store the legs? Mine don’t even come apart so they take up even more room!

[@explorebound]

Still working on that one I'm afraid! A few people have suggested an under-tray drawer to store them as that would use the otherwise unutilised space and keep the weight down low, but it will be a tight fit from my measurements!

[@truckasurus]

Exploranger I’ve got an under tray drawer and wouldn’t have a hope in hell of getting the legs in there, wouldn’t even get one in, and it’s a big drawer! Currently thinking up some sort of bracket system so the can hang off the back of the canopy.

[@explorebound]

@@truckasurus That's good to know, I suspected as much! Good idea regarding the bracket for them. I did have an idea a while back while mocking up my canopy fitout to store them standing upright behind the aux batt (top left in this pic: instagram.com/p/B8YAqWtAGcm/ )

[@lifestyledownunderadventur5456]

Hey mate what size are your tyres ?

[@explorebound]

Hey mate, they’re 32s

[@lifestyledownunderadventur5456]

@@explorebound ohh ok sweet ...did you have to do much with the standard mrt mud guards or did the tyres go straight in perfect ?

[@explorebound]

MRT installed the toolboxes and rear guards quite close to my original 31s, but I was able to just shift everything back 1 run on the underside of the tray with minimal effort to allow the 32s to fit. This photo sort of shows how it was before: instagram.com/p/B1rBCCKHX1R/

[@AssaultWolf]

On the specs before any addons, whats the fuel pre 100 km's?

[@explorebound]

Hey mate, by pre addons do you mean when the canopy was empty?

[@AssaultWolf]

@@explorebound I meant like when you brought the car, did you know the fuel per 100km's. What model and year is your ranger?

[@explorebound]

It's a 2007 model - got it in 2018 with the factory tub on the back (bullbar and sidesteps already installed). I used to get 10.3L/100ks before I had the remap done, didn't notice much difference when the flat tray was fitted but after the remap the economy dropped to 9.8-10L which is the same as it is now with the flat tray on. Also just checked specs online - apparently new my model "should" get 9.2L/100k but those figures are usually optimistic. Hope this helps!

[@M_a_r_ke]

$1.17 bargain

[@explorebound]

I know right - those were the days haha