Canopy Recovery Tracks

Recovery Tracks on a Utemaster Centurion Canopy

For serious overlanders, recovery tracks aren't optional -they're the first thing you pack. The challenge is always where to store them so they're actually accessible when you need them, without turning the inside of your tub into a muddy mess.

The Centurion Canopy solves this by design. Its flat exterior door panels keep your tracks within arm's reach, off the ground, and well away from the gear inside.

Why the Centurion Canopy Is Ideal for Recovery Track Storage

Most ute owners default to throwing recovery tracks loose in the tub, bungee-corded to a roof rack, or wedged awkwardly in the back with the rest of their gear. Each option has a real problem: loose in the tub means dirty gear everywhere, roof racks mean climbing up to grab them in a hurry, and inside the tub means unloading half your kit before you can reach them.

The Centurion Canopy is built differently. Its side doors feature large, flat exterior panels that are structurally sound and purpose-suited for bolting on mounting hardware. This gives you a dedicated storage position that's:

• Immediately accessible -the tracks are right at hand height on the side of the vehicle, not buried or elevated
• Exterior-mounted -when you pull tracks out of deep mud or sand, they go straight back onto the outside of the canopy, not into your gear
• Clean and organised -the inside of your tub stays dry and free of sand, grit, and debris that recovery tracks accumulate on every trip
• Firm on the move -properly bolted mounting pins hold the tracks flat against the door panel with no rattling or movement on corrugated tracks

In a recovery situation, you want your tracks out and under the tyres in under a minute. Exterior door mounting is the fastest access point on the vehicle -faster than a roof rack, faster than digging through the tub.

How to Mount Recovery Tracks Using Maxtrax Mounting Pins

The most common and straightforward method for mounting recovery tracks to the Centurion Canopy is using Maxtrax Mounting Pins bolted directly through the canopy door panel. This approach is clean, low-profile, and holds the tracks flat against the door without adding bulk or weight to the roof.

What You'll Need

• Maxtrax Mounting Pins (or compatible mounting pin kit)
• A drill with appropriate bit for the canopy door panel
• Bolts, washers, and nylock nuts to suit the mounting pin hardware
• A spanner or socket set

Mounting Steps

1. Position the tracks on the door -Hold your recovery tracks flat against the exterior of the canopy door and mark the pin hole locations. Most standard recovery tracks have pre-drilled mounting holes at consistent spacings.
2. Drill through the door panel -Drill clean holes at your marked positions. Take care to avoid any internal door frame members or locking mechanisms. The Centurion Canopy's flat door construction makes this straightforward.
3. Install the mounting pins -Feed the mounting pins through the recovery track holes and then through the door panel. Secure from the inside with bolts, washers, and nylock nuts. Tighten firmly but avoid over-torquing the panel.
4. Fit the tracks and secure -Slide the recovery tracks onto the pins and fit the locking knobs or pins to hold them in place. Give the setup a firm shake test before hitting the road.

Compatibility

Maxtrax Mounting Pins are designed to suit the MAXTRAX MK2 recovery boards, which are among the most widely used tracks on Australian 4WD rigs. The same pin-style mounting approach is also compatible with many other track brands that share similar hole spacing. If you're running a different brand, check the hole dimensions before purchasing hardware.

Most setups mount the tracks to the rear side doors of the Centurion Canopy for the best balance of accessibility and aerodynamics. Mounting on the rear door is also a popular option, particularly for rigs where side access is a priority.

See It in Action

The video below shows a Centurion Canopy build with recovery tracks mounted to the canopy doors using Maxtrax Mounting Pins, alongside other popular Centurion setups including awnings, roof racks, and internal storage configurations.

Recovery Track Mounting vs Other Storage Options

Not sure how canopy door mounting stacks up against the alternatives? Here's a straight comparison of the most common recovery track storage setups on a ute:

Canopy door mounting wins on the two criteria that matter most in the field -speed of access and keeping your gear clean. The only trade-off is a one-time install that takes less than an hour.

Build the Rest of Your Overlanding Setup

Recovery tracks are just one piece of a well-configured overland rig. The Centurion Canopy is designed to support a full range of accessories that work together as a system - not as a collection of afterthoughts bolted on over time.

Popular additions that pair well with a recovery track setup include:

• Awning mount bracket -run a 270-degree awning off the side of the canopy for shade and shelter at camp
• Cantilever roof rack -carry a rooftop tent, spare wheel, or additional gear on top of the canopy
• Removable canopy shelving -organise the interior of the tub so everything has its place and nothing moves on rough tracks
  

The flat door design that makes recovery track mounting so clean is the same reason the Centurion Canopy works so well as a full overlanding platform. Everything mounts cleanly, nothing interferes with anything else, and the whole setup is engineered to handle Australian conditions.

Ready to build yours? Explore the Centurion Canopy and use the online builder to spec it out for your vehicle.