Thanks again for your patience and ideas guys. The short story is the original store did a real crappy job fitting the canopy, as verified by the factory when they saw how they had mounted the brackets etc. So they put it back on properly ... changed the brackets, fitted the load shackles which were missing (the other store told me there were meant to be rubber plugs in there) ... I wouldn't call it a perfect fit but its a damn sight better and will do me
The new piccies show it looks something more like the brochure ! There is still a rise above the rear of the cab but its at least 10-20 mm less than before. The over-the-lip tub liner adds some height (I bought that because the retail store said there was no such thing as a FLexiglass inner liner, which it turns out there is
)
Anyhoo, the curve on the triton tub still means there's some bits you might say look less than 100%, (there is a steel bracket across the front of the tub to give a flat unsurved surface to screw the canopy to) but it's nice to not see a bunch of foam filler
To sum up, if you want a canopy and tub liner around $2,100 fitted I reckon these are good value (lifetime warranty on the shell). I'd avoid the over the lip version of liner next time (although apparently the inner liner doesn't allow for the load tie down points).
If your vehicle needs to look perfect, I am not convinced the Flexiglass is as close-fitting as ARB, for example (although I happened to see an ARB on a VR on the road today and there was a slight gap at the front of the tub as well - I guess that could be due to fitting, which seems to vary wildly)
On the fuel economy, the jury's out - it actually seems marginally lower than before the canopy was refitted so I think I will give it some time as that doesn't sound quite right !
All in all, even this whinging pain in the a### is pretty happy with the result. The dogs will be even happier
Cheers
Carl