What are the pros & cons of Aluminium UTE Trays

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.