Alu-Cab
Photo: Alu-Cab
What is Alu-Cab?
Alu-Cab is a South African overlanding brand best known for the Canopy Camper, a pop-up truck bed topper, and the Khaya, a fully equipped slide-in pop-top. Both are imported from Cape Town and sold through US dealers.
About Alu-Cab
Alu-Cab has been building overland equipment in Cape Town, South Africa for over two decades, earning a reputation in the global 4x4 community long before their products became widely available in North America. The brand's truck camper lineup sits in a category they largely defined: ultra-light aluminum canopy systems that open into a full sleeping loft, skipping the bulk of a traditional slide-in without sacrificing the rigidity of a fabric rooftop tent.
The Canopy Camper is the product most North American buyers encounter first. It mounts directly to the bed rails of a mid-size or full-size truck, collapses to a low driving profile, and pops up to reveal two sleeping decks separated by the truck bed floor. The double-layer ripstop canvas, integrated LED lighting, and solar pre-wiring are standard, not add-ons. The Deluxe variant adds a Shadow Awning and rear MOLLE plates. The Khaya is a separate, more fully equipped slide-in pop-top aimed at self-sufficient expedition travel, with a factory kitchen, water tank, awning, shower, and heater included at the base price. Both products arrive fully built from South Africa and are installed by US dealers such as OK4WD, Das Mule, and Tiny Rig Co.
Key Features
- Double-layer 400gsm UV-resistant ripstop canvas with foam insulation is standard on the Canopy Camper, not an upgrade
- The Khaya ships as a complete expedition unit: kitchen, awning, shower cube, air and water heaters, and water tank included
- Aluminum construction throughout keeps the Canopy Camper basic shell weight to approximately 463 lbs (210 kg); fully kitted is approximately 551 lbs (250 kg)
- Pop-up design on both products means a low driving profile that fits in most garages and campground height restrictions
- Compatible with 40-plus truck models from the Tacoma and Ranger to the F-150, Ram, and Tundra
Models & Specs
Photo: Alu-Cab
Canopy Camper
A pop-up aluminum bed topper that opens into a dual sleeping-deck loft, with double-layer insulated canvas, integrated LED lighting, and solar pre-wiring standard from the factory. The Deluxe variant adds a Shadow Awning and rear MOLLE plates for buyers who want a ready-to-camp kit without sourcing accessories separately.
Photo: Alu-Cab
Khaya 2 Sleeper
A fully equipped expedition slide-in pop-top that ships with a kitchen, 270-degree Shadow Awning, shower cube, air and water heaters, and water tank included, so it is ready to deploy without sourcing individual accessories.
Specs
Weight
- Shell weight (basic)
- 210 kg
- Shell weight (basic)
- 463 lb
- Fully kitted weight
- 250 kg
- Fully kitted weight
- 551 lb
Dimensions
- Main bed
- 2075 x 1225 mm
- Rear bed
- 1340 x 1225 x 430 mm
Capacity
- Roof load rating
- 50 kg
Build
- Mattress thickness
- 70 mm
- Canvas
- Double-layer 400gsm UV-resistant ripstop canvas with foam insulation
- Lighting
- 5 dual-color LED lights + USB and Type-C ports
- Solar
- Pre-wired (panel not included)
- Deluxe adds
- Shadow Awning included + MOLLE plates included
- Country of manufacture
- South Africa
Specs
Weight
- Shell weight (dry)
- 400 kg
- Shell weight (dry)
- 882 lb
- Fully kitted weight
- 770 kg
- Fully kitted weight
- 1,698 lb
Dimensions
- Closed height
- 1,483 mm
- Open height
- 2,800 mm
- Length
- 2,859 mm
- Width
- 1,850 mm
- Main bed
- 1995 x 1225 mm
- Rear bed
- 1340 x 1225 x 430 mm
Capacity
- Water tank
- Included
- Sleeps
- 2
Build
- Awning
- 270-degree Shadow Awning included
- Kitchen
- Dometic 2-burner cooktop and sink included
- Heating
- Air heater and water heater included
- Power
- 220V and DC/DC charger, 7 LED dual-color lights
- Country of manufacture
- South Africa
Review Videos
Contact
Address
9 Blomvlei Road, Nerissa Estate, Cape Town, South Africa
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Turnkey expedition kit: the Khaya 2 Sleeper includes awning, shower, heater, sink, and cooktop so buyers avoid sourcing individual accessories
- Canopy Camper's dual sleeping decks (main overhead and rear fold-out) sleep two people without a bulky cabover
- Global overland community and decade-plus of product refinement; parts and expertise are widely available internationally
- Drive-off design on the Khaya means the camper can be left at a trailhead while you wheel the truck
- Solar pre-wiring on all Canopy Camper models; integrated dual-color LED lighting standard
Cons
- Imported from South Africa, so US warranty service goes through dealers, not a domestic factory, and 10-12 week lead times are common
- Owner reports on the Canopy Camper cite leaking door seals, freezing paddle latches in cold weather, and dust infiltration requiring aftermarket weatherstripping
- The Khaya has less interior living space than a comparably priced domestic slide-in, and the no-glass-window design limits ventilation options
- Canopy Camper fitment gaps, especially on the rear hatch seal, have been a recurring complaint in early production runs
- Khaya shell weight of approximately 882 lbs dry means mid-size trucks need payload confirmation before ordering the fully kitted variants
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