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Home » Blog » How To Make Your Complex Ute Fitout Easy & Affordable
How To Make Your Complex Ute Fitout Easy & Affordable

How To Make Your Complex Ute Fitout Easy & Affordable

By Lance Manins | Driveline | 28 March 2025 | Posted in Buyer Tips & Tricks

Businesses often have specific ute fitout requirements to meet their needs – trays, canopies, tool boxes, drawers, racks, service bodies…

There are so many ute tray & canopy setups to choose from: canopy, half canopy, removable canopy, toolboxes, trays, and other features.

Need more tray space? Lots of dry storage? Tool compartments? No problem.

On This Page…

  • Who’s It For?
  • The Problem
  • The Solution
  • Affordable Van & Ute Fitout Payments
  • How It Works
  • What We Look For
  • Ute Fitout Examples…
  • Trays
  • Canopies
  • Tray & Canopy Combos
  • Service Bodies
  • Toolboxes
  • Bars & Racks
  • Ute Fitout Options for Adventure
  • Enquire Here

Who’s It For?

Ute fitout for field service agent
  • Field service agents
  • Diesel mechanics
  • Hydraulic repair services
  • Tradies – plumbers, electricians, builders, etc
  • Surveyors
  • HVAC technicians
  • Agricultural contractors
  • Animal control officers
  • Mobile vets
  • etc.

The Problem

Ute fitout by Forged Alloy: Service body with full storage system.
Ute fitout by Forged Alloy: Service body with full storage system.

It’s not always easy sorting out the good suppliers from the dodgy ones.

If you’re scratching your head wondering how to do your van or ute fitout, or how to work out what will work best when there are so many options out there, you’re not alone.

It’s not easy working out exactly what you need. Or marrying up what works best for you with what different suppliers have available.

And it ain’t cheap either.


The Solution

Driveline has done hundreds of van and ute fitout projects.
Driveline has done hundreds of van and ute fitout projects.

Here at Driveline we are absolute experts in ute fitouts. We’ve literally done hundreds of van and ute fitout projects.

From simple things like tow bars & ute racks to the full monty – ute service bodies, full-on storage systems, removable camping canopies with gas cookers and hot water… you name it, we’ve done it!

Affordable Van & Ute Fitout Payments

Van fitout supplied by Fleetline.
Van fitout supplied by Fleetline.

Full monty van or ute fitouts can quite easily go over $40k. But when you’re fitting out your new van or ute, we simply roll the fitout cost (at cost) into the lease. It’s then just part of your monthly lease payment.

Affordable and easy peasy.

And tax deductible.

Camping pods with gas cookers and hot water? Er, did you say job site smoko equipment, hygienic hand washing temperature water, and remote job accommodation? 😜🤣

How It Works

Ute fitout - M2 Overland service body.

We currently have 15 suppliers on our books. When you talk to us about your new van or ute, we’ll help you work out what will work best for your business needs. Then we’ll connect you with the right suppliers.

You can deal direct with them if you want to. Otherwise we’re happy to deal with them on your behalf.

Once the equipment list is costed and confirmed, we’ll then order it and project manage the whole build.

Our clients always comment afterwards on how easy we make it for them. That’s our aim – to do all the complex analysis and detailed paperwork and admin crap so all you’ve gotta do is drive.

And the fitout cost (at cost) is simply included in your monthly lease payments. Easy.

What We Look For

M2 Overland service bodies all lined up.

An example of some of the things we look for when evaluating van & ute fitout suppliers is a fully welded product.

Products that are riveted together tend to loosen and rattle, and they’re not as good security-wise. Or in a crash.

We look for heavy-duty products built to high standards that will stand the test of time.

It’s an honest approach that works because without fail. We know because our clients always rave about the result. They wouldn’t be repeat customers otherwise.

Ute Fitout Examples…

Ute Trays

Ute tray supplied by Forged Alloy.
A ute tray supplied by Forged Alloy.

A good tray is the starting point. You want a ute tray that’s heavy duty, fully welded, and built to high standards.

You also want one that’s compatible with the canopy, toolboxes, drawers and accessories you will be adding to the build.

Ute trays are generally made from aluminium or galvanised steel and are are available to fit all utes.

Some prioritise visual aesthetics, i.e. they look good. Others prioritise function for operators wanting a hardy and affordable ute tray that will take abuse.

Ute Canopies

A good canopy puts the "utility" back into your ute.
A good canopy puts the “utility” back into your ute.

A good canopy puts the “utility” back into your ute.

Ute canopies protect your tools and equipment from the elements, and keeps them securely locked away.

A fully-welded ute canopy from Forged Alloy.
A fully-welded ute canopy from Forged Alloy.

We look for strength, durability, and function. Fibreglass is cost effective. Heavy duty metal construction, fully welded, with reinforced doors and sturdy locks is super secure and very durable.

Some canopies such as this M2 Overland one even have locks that connect to the vehicle's central locking system.
Some ute canopies such as this M2 Overland one even have locks that connect to the ute’s central locking system.

Some ute canopies even have locks that connect to the ute’s central locking system.

Some of our clients want removable canopies so they can leave their tools and equipment safe and secure at home while the family heads for the hills in their flat deck.

Removable ute canopy.
Removable ute canopy.

Removable ute canopies have internal framing and external jacking slots. They’re the perfect solution if you need flexibility in your ute setup.

Tray & Canopy Combos

Forged Alloy tray and canopy combo.
Forged Alloy ute tray and canopy combo.

Whether you’re after a full canopy that can be removed to give you a flat-deck ute, or a part tray & part canopy setup, we can source it.

This option also give you flexibility if your requirements change down the road.

Suppliers can provide ute tray & canopy combinations from their standard range or build a custom solution. One of a kind builds mean you get exactly what you want.

A ute tray & canopy combo gives you the security of a canopy with added space for bigger or grubbier things.

Ute Service Bodies

Forged Alloy ute service body.
Forged Alloy ute service body.

Ute service bodies have been big in Australia for ages and have made big inroads in New Zealand over the last decade.

Forged Alloy ute service body.
Forged Alloy ute service body.

They offer heavy duty construction and a variety of storage layouts and shelving options that can be tailored to your fleet or trade requirements.

They’re very robust and provide excellent functionality, efficiency, organisation and performance.

Forged Alloy's plumbers package service body.
Forged Alloy’s plumbers package ute service body.
Forged Alloy's sparkies package service body.
Forged Alloy’s sparkie’s package ute service body.
Forged Alloy's builder's package service body.
Forged Alloy’s builder’s package ute service body.

Ute Toolboxes

Forged Alloy toolbox.
Forged Alloy ute toolbox.

Toolboxes need to be tough and reliable with good versatility.

These examples of ute tool boxes are supplied by Forged Alloy. They offer fully-welded aluminium construction, locks that can be wired into your ute’s central locking system, gas strut-supported doors, adjustable shelving, powder coat finish, heavy-duty stainless steel hinges, and rubber seals.

It all adds up to a ute tool box that’s sturdy, secure, waterproof and will protect your tools from dust, dirt and water.

Forged Alloy toolbox.
Forged Alloy ute toolbox.
Forged Alloy ute toolbox.
Forged Alloy ute toolbox.

Bars & Racks

ARB bull bars and protection equipment.
ARB bull bars and protection equipment.

You need to protect your rig when you’re travelling in remote areas.

Bull bars provide much better protection for mechanical components and a solid base for mounting accessories like driving lights and winches.

Good ones, like those supplied by ARB, are even air bag-compatible. This means they won’t affect your vehicle’s crush rate and airbag triggering.

Ute Fitout Options for Adventure

Ute fitout options for hunting, fishing & adventuring.

If you want the creature comforts of a caravan without the hassle of towing one, an adventure ute fitout might be for you.

M2 Overland camping ute fitout.
M2 Overland & Armourdillo camping ute fitout.
M2 Overland & Armourdillo camping ute fitout.
M2 Overland & Armourdillo camping ute fitout.
M2 Overland & Armourdillo camping ute fitout.
M2 Overland & Armourdillo camping ute fitout.

You can get standard layouts or go for a custom design & build for your dream setup.

Forged Alloy ute fitout for adventure.
Forged Alloy ute fitout for adventure.

If you don’t want a permanent adventure ute fitout, there is the option of a removable camping canopy. The jacking legs mean you can revert to a flat-deck in as little as 5-10 minutes.

Forged Alloy removable canopy.
Forged Alloy removable canopy.

Enquire Here

If you need help with a new van, ute or a wicked fitout for one, get in touch…

  • Fill out the “Request Quote” form below.
  • Phone: 0800 275-374
  • Email: info@driveline.co.nz
  • Visit our Contact page

Request Quote…

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About Lance Manins | Driveline

Lance Manins is Managing Director at Driveline Fleet Ltd and has over 25 years of experience in the vehicle leasing and finance industry. He is often invited to speak at conferences and seminars and is regularly quoted in the media as an industry expert. To discuss your requirements feel free to contact Lance.

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