DIY garage: How to dust proof a ute

Can you really dust proof a ute? With a bit of know-how, we reckon 4X4 ute owners can beat off-roading enemy number one.

Dust is a killer. It gets in your bedding, it gets in your food, it gets in your clothes. If you own a tub-back ute, I’m sure you feel my pain. I’ve brought together a few things I’ve picked up from those wiser than I to defeat this formidable foe.

How does the dust get in there to start with?

Without positive air pressure in your canopy, there is always going to be dust forced into your ute and the need for dust proofing. This is caused by a vacuum created by the air being displaced by your vehicle. This air travels around the vehicle and is ‘sucked’ through all the gaps in your tub and canopy. Low and behold, enjoy your dust sandwich.

There are a few ways this dust enters the tub, but the lack of sealing around the tailgate is the most obvious culprit. There is generally no sealing from the factory – good old cost-cutting. Next, there is the magnitude of holes used during the manufacturing process or for optional accessories. Most of these are out of sight, and if you have a tub liner, there is plenty hidden underneath that will cause you woes.

Then there is the canopy sealing. It is very hard for a canopy manufacturer to get the mating surface to the tub entirely matched. There are ridges, dips and difficult angles. The door and window seals are another easy place for dust to enter, and the poor sealing materials used on some canopies also won’t help your plight when it comes to a dust proof ute. Over time, these tend to fatigue, shrink or perish and let in dust and even water.

Here’s what you can do to help dust proof your ute!

Seal up that tailgate

There are a number of companies that do tailgate sealing kits, so if you can find a kit for your vehicle, it’s worth getting one. However, many auto-part stores sell a Universal Rubber Tail Gate Seal, so with some precise measurements, this will also get the job done.

To start dust proofing your ute, you’ll need to seal along the edge where the tub seam meets the tailgate, down the edge of the tailgate where it meets the taillights, and along the bottom of the tailgate. This should prevent the majority of dust from getting in. Once you have it installed, hit the dirt and see if there are any obvious signs of dust ingress around the seals. These gaps can be filled with a bit of self-adhesive foam rubber or off-cuts.

Seal those holes

I mentioned those holes all around the tub. If you didn’t tick the ute-tub liner box, this part of the dust proofing is a fairly simple job. For those of you that did, welcome to my world. Your favourite hardware store sells blind grommets in most sizes for large holes. For the smaller holes a bolt can generally be threaded in.

The odd-shaped gaps should be solved with good old Sikaflex. Use it liberally and smooth it out with your fingers. I will warn you, make sure you use rubber gloves because once it’s on your fingers, it ain’t comin’ off – leading to words with the boss come Monday.

Before you go filling every single hole on your mission to dust proof, if your ute is anything like my Amarok, it has giant square holes under the lip at the front of the tub. Now if my thinking is correct, these aren’t necessary to fill – remember that positive pressure I talked about earlier? These are a start to creating that pressure now that all of the other holes are filled. But for other vehicles, dust can still find its way in.

One such ute dust proof solution involves a square piece of open-cell foam, strangely akin to the stuff used in an air filter, coated in some vegetable oil or filter oil and shoved into the holes. This will filter out the dust. They’d do well with a spray of oil before each trip.

Pressurise the canopy

This is a bit more difficult when it comes to dust proofing your ute. Caravan and camper manufacturers have this down to a tee, but canopy builders are still playing catch up. Some canopies can be optioned with a ‘scupper vent’, while others may have a sliding window. These are great, however they also let in dust from other vehicles and when it starts to rain, it’s another thing to worry about. The pressure only needs to be a fraction more than what is outside the vehicle, but this is difficult to measure.

Scupper vents can be bought aftermarket but will require taking a grinder to your canopy, which is not something I’m willing to do this time around.

Check your seals

Have a close look at all of the seals on your canopy. If they are fatigued or damaged, there is a good chance they are letting dust in or at least affecting the pressure inside the tub. If foam rubber has been used to mate the canopy to the tub, this compresses over time and may not do the job as initially intended. Consider finding a suitable rubber seal that will last significantly longer. Canopy manufacturers also do re-sealing kits.

It won’t hurt to treat the seals with silicone spray that won’t attract dirt every so often to keep them fresh as a bit of ‘dust proofing your ute pre-maintenance’.

So, is my ute now dust proof?

Well, considering I had a two millimetre layer of red rust in my tub after just 200 kilometres off the bitumen before making these changes, I’d say anything less is a win. Considering that benchmark, a World Cup is on the cards. These changes, which are an easy afternoon DIY job, have all but eliminated the entry of dust. Yes, it will take some maintenance to keep it like that, but I’m happy with that.

Got a dust proofing tip for a ute? Did we miss something? We’d love to hear it!

Don’t forget your engine air filter and cabin air filter

Since you clearly plan to be hitting the tracks and dust (otherwise you wouldn’t be reading an article on dust proofing your ute), make sure to give your engine air filter and cabin air filter some love too. Both of which have more serious consequences than a dusty tub-ute if you don’t maintain them.

We love Ryco’s range of air filters. They win awards for them, and they’re not too badly priced.

Unsure of the difference between a cabin air filter and an engine air filter? Have a quick squiz at our articles below to learn what they are and why they’re important.

• What is a cabin air filter (and why you shouldn’t forget about it)
• What is an air filter and why it’s so important for your engine

Already know you need to stock up on a spare filter before you leave? Get your Ryco filters below (simply set your vehicle type after you click the link to find the right one):

Words by Tobey Bostock and Jessica Palmer. Photos by Tobey Bostock.

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