A Ute gives you plenty of space for tools, luggage, shopping, camping equipment and everyday gear.
But leaving the tub completely open isn’t always ideal.
If you regularly carry items in the back of your Ute, adding a solid cover can make the space more useful for everyday life.
One option is an EGR Hard Lid.
A Hard Lid is a solid cover fitted over the top of the Ute tub. It creates a covered storage area while keeping the vehicle’s overall appearance clean and low-profile.
EGR offers Hard Lids for selected vehicles, with both 1-piece and 3-piece options available depending on the Ute and its setup.
Here are seven practical reasons a Hard Lid may be worth considering for work, touring and everyday use.
Note: Compatibility can vary depending on the vehicle model, year and configuration. Always check the individual EGR product page before choosing a Hard Lid.
An EGR Hard Lid provides a clean, low-profile way to cover the Ute tub for work, touring and everyday use.
1. Keep Your Ute Tub Covered
One of the main reasons to add a Hard Lid is simple: it gives you a solid cover over the tub.
An open tub is useful when you need to carry larger items, but smaller gear can be left exposed.
A Hard Lid creates a covered load area that can be useful for carrying things such as:
- Tools and work equipment
- Shopping
- Luggage
- Sports equipment
- Camping gear
- Bags
- Everyday items
For owners who normally carry gear below the height of the tub, a Hard Lid can make the load area much more practical.
Instead of leaving everything in an open tub, you have a covered space available whenever you need it.
2. Add Lockable Storage
Sometimes you don’t just want your gear covered. You also want another level of security when storing items in the tub.
EGR Hard Lids are lockable, helping create a more secure load area for equipment, luggage and everyday belongings. EGR Auto also offers optional remote central locking upgrades for selected Hard Lid applications.
This can be useful when your Ute is carrying:
- Work tools
- Travel bags
- Sports equipment
- Shopping
- Camping gear
- Other everyday items
A covered and lockable tub can make it easier to use your Ute for more than just transporting large loads.
3. Maintain a Clean, Low-Profile Ute Look
Not every Ute owner wants the extra height of a Canopy.
Some simply want to cover the tub while keeping the overall shape and appearance of the vehicle.
A Hard Lid sits over the top of the tub, creating covered storage while maintaining a lower-profile setup.
That can make it a good option for owners who want something practical without making a major change to the appearance of their Ute.
Whether the vehicle is used for work, weekends away or everyday driving, a Hard Lid can provide a clean and simple finish across the load area.
Toyota Hilux fitted with an open EGR Hard Lid and Sports Bar, providing covered tub storage with easy access to the load area.
4. Easy Access to Your Gear
A tub cover still needs to make it easy to reach the items you’re carrying.
EGR Hard Lids use gas struts to help lift the lid and provide access to the tub.
For everyday use, this means you can open the lid when you need to load or unload your gear, then close it again when you’re finished.
It can make simple tasks such as putting away shopping, grabbing tools or loading bags more convenient.
For owners who regularly use the tub throughout the week, easy access is an important part of making the storage area practical.
5. Remove the Hard Lid When You Need More Room
A Hard Lid works well when most of your gear fits below the height of the tub.
But there may be times when you need to carry something larger or taller.
EGR Hard Lids are designed so they can be removed when additional load space is needed.
That gives you more flexibility.
For normal everyday use, you can keep the Hard Lid fitted and enjoy a covered load area.
When a larger job or trip requires more open space, the lid can be removed to give you better access to the tub.
This can be useful for owners who want covered storage most of the time but don’t want to lose the flexibility of an open Ute tub.
6. Choose a Hard Lid Setup That Suits Your Ute
EGR Auto offers both 1-piece and 3-piece Hard Lid options for selected vehicles.
The right option depends on your Ute, its current setup and how you plan to use the tub.
1-Piece Hard Lid
A 1-piece Hard Lid provides one solid cover across the load area.
It offers a simple setup for owners who want a covered tub while keeping the overall appearance of their Ute clean and streamlined.
3-Piece Hard Lid
A 3-piece Hard Lid uses separate sections and is available for selected vehicle configurations.
It provides another option for owners looking for a Hard Lid that suits the way their particular Ute is set up.
There isn’t one configuration that suits every vehicle.
Always check the relevant EGR Auto product page to make sure the Hard Lid you choose is designed for your specific Ute.
Left: Mazda BT-50 fitted with an EGR 1-piece Hard Lid. Right: Mitsubishi Triton fitted with an EGR 3-piece Hard Lid.
7. Practical for Work, Touring and Everyday Use
A Hard Lid isn’t only useful for one type of Ute owner.
The same covered tub can be used in different ways depending on what you do with your vehicle.
For Work
If you carry tools or equipment that sit below tub height, a Hard Lid can give you a covered and lockable space for your gear.
It can be a straightforward option for keeping everyday work items together in the back of the Ute.
For Touring
When heading away, the tub can be used for luggage, camping equipment and other travel gear.
A Hard Lid gives you a solid cover over these items while still keeping the vehicle’s overall setup relatively simple.
For Everyday Driving
A Ute isn’t always carrying tools or camping gear.
Shopping, bags, sports equipment and other everyday items can also be placed in the covered tub.
That can make the rear of the vehicle useful even when you’re simply driving around during the week.
Isuzu D-Max fitted with an EGR Hard Lid and Sports Bar, providing a clean, low-profile covered tub setup for work and everyday use.
Is a Hard Lid Right for Your Ute?
The easiest way to decide is to think about what you normally carry.
If most of your equipment stays below tub height and you want a solid, low-profile cover, a Hard Lid may suit your needs.
If you regularly carry taller items and want a cover that can retract when needed, an EGR RollTrac may be another option to consider.
If you need more enclosed space above the height of the tub, an EGR Canopy may better suit the way you use your vehicle.
There isn’t one storage setup that works for every Ute owner.
Your choice should depend on the type of gear you carry, how often you use the tub and how much storage space you need.
Hard Lid, RollTrac or Canopy?
If you’re deciding between different ways to cover or enclose your Ute tub, it can help to keep things simple.
Hard Lid
A Hard Lid provides a solid, low-profile cover over the tub.
It may suit owners who usually carry items below tub height and want a straightforward covered storage area.
RollTrac
A RollTrac provides retractable coverage over the tub.
It can suit owners who want the flexibility to cover their gear during normal driving and open more of the tub when carrying larger items.
Canopy
A Canopy provides additional enclosed storage above tub height.
It may suit owners who regularly carry more equipment or want a larger enclosed load area.
The right option depends on how you use your Ute rather than simply choosing one type of cover over another.
Ute Hard Lid FAQs
What is a Ute Hard Lid?
A Ute Hard Lid is a solid cover fitted over the top of the tub.
It creates a covered load area while maintaining a relatively low-profile appearance.
Can an EGR Hard Lid be locked?
Yes. EGR’s current Hard Lid range is lockable, and optional remote central locking upgrades are available for selected applications.
Can an EGR Hard Lid be removed?
Yes. EGR states that its Hard Lids can be removed, giving owners more flexibility when they need to carry larger loads.
What is the difference between a 1-piece and 3-piece Hard Lid?
A 1-piece Hard Lid uses one main cover over the tub, while a 3-piece Hard Lid uses separate sections.
Which option is suitable will depend on the vehicle and its setup, so always check the relevant product information before choosing.
Is a Hard Lid useful for everyday driving?
It can be.
If you regularly carry shopping, bags, work gear, sports equipment or other items below tub height, a Hard Lid can give you a covered and lockable load area for everyday use.
Final Thoughts
A Ute Hard Lid is a simple way to make an open tub more practical.
It gives you a solid cover over the load area, adds lockable storage and maintains a clean, low-profile appearance.
For work, it can provide covered space for tools and equipment.
For touring, it can help store luggage and camping gear.
And for everyday driving, it gives you another useful area for shopping, bags and other items.
The most important thing is choosing a Hard Lid that suits your vehicle and the way you actually use your Ute.
Before choosing a product, always check the vehicle compatibility and fitment information on the relevant EGR Auto product page.
