If you are a daily driver or even are frequently near a road, chances are you have noticed the massive increase of utes being driven. Additionally, many of these utes will have trays, whether it be for work or leisure. The benefits of a tray are plentiful when owning a ute, but which tray is best: steel or aluminium? We have created a summary of why you should pick aluminium trays:
Pros
If you have seen utes driving by with roof
racks, bull bars, full canopies, roof tents etc and towing, chances are it is
lugging more weight around than it should. A way to combat this is to utilise
an aluminium ute tray. On average, an aluminium tray weighs about 90% less than
a steel tray, saving up to 160kg in weight. This will result in better fuel
consumption, less wear and tear on tyres and lower vehicle weight, meaning you
can carry more.
Another massive advantage aluminium has
over steel is the corrosion factor. Aluminium is non-ferrous and rust-free,
meaning your aluminium ute tray will not rust. No protection is required once
it is fitted, and no maintenance is required. Aluminium ute trays are perfect
for coastal environments where salt is more prevalent in the air.
Quite often a ute is used as a rugged
working machine. Whether it be for day-to-day work or a tough off-road trip,
your tray will undoubtedly see a lot of abuse. Another point of difference for
aluminium trays is the safety aspect. Firstly, the lighter weight means that
your car will be able to handle better. Also, you can place up to an extra 160kg
in weight on the ute, without it exceeding the GVM of the vehicle.
Additionally, an aluminium ute tray is safer than steel. Aluminium is
non-magnetic and is also non-ferrous, which is helpful if you are commonly
carrying flammable products in your vehicle.
Cons
In terms of strength, steel comes out on
top. On average, steel is four times stronger than aluminium. However, if you
are not constantly carrying heavy rigid items around on your tray, then an
aluminium tray will do the job. A steel tray may be stronger, however, an
aluminium tray will allow you to transport more of a payload. For the most
part, your everyday workman will be more than happy with an aluminium ute tray.
On average, aluminium will be approximately
30% more expensive than steel. If you are purchasing a ute, an aluminium ute
tray will often be a very viable option and can save you money if you plan on
keeping the ute for the years ahead. This will be due to the lack of
maintenance required on your aluminium ute tray.
If you are wanting to try a new tray
set-up, or believe aluminium is better suited to you, reach out to the team at
Ullrich Aluminium. They will make the tray specific to your needs, with a.
range of options including sideboards, chassis rails, heavy-duty latches, light
rails, headboards and more.
