Canopy Removal & Storage

[Florin1]

Hello guys. So my ram has a canopy which I love, but am probably going to go with a 5th wheel for my travel trailer. Having said that, I'm looking for ideas on a clever way to remove my canopy. I want it to be easy to do, so I can go back and forth from open to covered. I've heard of an elaborate pulley system. I'd like to see some ideas of what y'all have. Parts and prices photos and links are a plus. I'm not afraid to build something. I just need ideas. Thanks.

[Hawkez]

Are you asking for ideas for taking your canopy off your 5th wheel?  Why do you want it off?

[Royal Squire]

I believe he's referring to a pickup topper

[Hawkez]

Oh crap.  He's talking about a bed cover or a shell!    I'm an idiot, my brain got stuck.

Edited February 16, 2017 by Hawkez

[Royal Squire]

Calling it a canopy must be a regional term?

[Mopar1973Man]

Mine as aluminum so I just lifted it off the Truck by hand and solo. My old fiberglass was so heavy it took 3 guys to lift it on and off. For a heavy canopy I would highly suggest manually lifting it on and off. 

[Florin1]

Yeah they're called canopies here in the north west. And yeah it's like 300 lbs. 

[Mopar1973Man]

Very risky doing a pulley setup. The only way I would do a pulley setup is if the eyelets are bolt style in the canopy or off a piece of angle steel bolted to the edge. If it's just floating on 2x4's wouldn't take much for that to be off balance and slide off crashing to the ground. But if the ropes are clipped to eyelet bolted to the canopy it will be much safer. 

[War Eagle]

I struggled over a similar decision.  How could I remove my truck canopy when I wanted to load my slide in camper?

 

After looking at a lot of different ideas, I decided on a relatively simple and somewhat efficient design.

 

I parked my truck in the area where I wanted to store my canopy and then marked places to sink four posts in the ground.  One off each corner of the truck bed and about 6" wider (on each side) than the truck body.  I then installed 4 posts (set in concrete).  Then I installed 2x6 rails between each of two posts and parallel to the length of the truck.  Those rails were set about 4" higher than the top rail of the bed when the truck was parked between them.  This design allows me to back the truck between these posts.

 

Then I get in the bed of the truck and standing there use my back to lift up either the front end of the canopy (or the back end) then my wife slides a 2x4 across those 2x6 rails and under the canopy that I have lifted up.  I then set the canopy down on that cross rail and move to the opposite end and repeat the process.

 

Then I just drive the truck out from under the canopy that is now sitting on the cross rails.  Loading the canopy back on the truck is just the opposite procedure. 

 

Then I also take two nylon straps and put them over the canopy (one in the front and one in the rear) and cinch them up to insure the canopy is not at risk of being blown off this resting place if a big wind of some kind was to come up.

 

I don't have a picture of the canopy off the truck but with this enclosed picture I hope you can see what I am trying to explain.

 

Edited February 18, 2017 by War Eagle
some double posted lines

[Jolsen]

I just pick mine up and drop it on a pick up bed trailer...

[Mopar1973Man]

9 hours ago, War Eagle said:

I struggled over a similar decision.  How could I remove my truck canopy when I wanted to load my slide in camper?

 

After looking at a lot of different ideas, I decided on a relatively simple and somewhat efficient design.

 

I parked my truck in the area where I wanted to store my canopy and then marked places to sink four posts in the ground.  One off each corner of the truck bed and about 6" wider (on each side) than the truck body.  I then installed 4 posts (set in concrete).  Then I installed 2x6 rails between each of two posts and parallel to the length of the truck.  Those rails were set about 4" higher than the top rail of the bed when the truck was parked between them.  This design allows me to back the truck between these posts.

 

Then I get in the bed of the truck and standing there use my back to lift up either the front end of the canopy (or the back end) then my wife slides a 2x4 across those 2x6 rails and under the canopy that I have lifted up.  I then set the canopy down on that cross rail and move to the opposite end and repeat the process.

 

Then I just drive the truck out from under the canopy that is now sitting on the cross rails.  Loading the canopy back on the truck is just the opposite procedure. 

 

Then I also take two nylon straps and put them over the canopy (one in the front and one in the rear) and cinch them up to insure the canopy is not at risk of being blown off this resting place if a big wind of some kind was to come up.

struggled over a similar decision.  How could I remove my truck canopy when I wanted to load my slide in camper?

 

After looking at a lot of different ideas, I decided on a relatively simple and somewhat efficient design.

 

I parked my truck in the area where I wanted to store my canopy and then marked places to sink four posts in the ground.  One off each corner of the truck bed and about 6" wider (on each side) than the truck body.  I then installed 4 posts (set in concrete).  Then I installed 2x6 rails between each of two posts and parallel to the length of the truck.  Those rails were set about 4" higher than the top rail of the bed when the truck was parked between them.  This design allows me to back the truck between these posts.

 

Then I get in the bed of the truck and standing there use my back to lift up either the front end of the canopy (or the back end) then my wife slides a 2x4 across those 2x6 rails and under the canopy that I have lifted up.  I then set the canopy down on that cross rail and move to the opposite end and repeat the process.

 

Then I just drive the truck out from under the canopy that is now sitting on the cross rails.  Loading the canopy back on the truck is just the opposite procedure. 

 

Then I also take two nylon straps and put them over the canopy (one in the front and one in the rear) and cinch them up to insure the canopy is not at risk of being blown off this resting place if a big wind of some kind was to come up.

 

I don't have a picture of the canopy off the truck but with this enclosed picture I hope you can see what I am trying to explain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting Idea for heavier canopies. 

[War Eagle]

10 hours ago, Jolsen said:

I just pick mine up and drop it on a pick up bed trailer...

 

When I had kids here at home I could do that as well.  Just put one on each corner and lift it off.

 

I have a heavy fiberglass canopy and the challenge comes when you don't have multiple people to call on to help take it off then put it back on.

 

 

 

With this system I can easily get it on or off when I need it.