There's a reason why the utility vehicle, or 'ute', is so popular across Australia these days. It is one of the highest-selling vehicles for a reason—it is practical and can be the ideal solution for a small business owner. You may have acquired one of these vehicles recently but needed to make sure that it is configured for your liking. Perhaps, as part of the upgrades, you want to install a ute tray. There are many options in the marketplace that can help you with your upgrade, but you first need to choose between steel and aluminium alloys. Which is best?
Base Calculations
You'll be using this vehicle to make money, so you will need to determine your daily haulage needs. How much will you need to carry and how many trips will you need to make in order to perform to an optimal level?
Once you've settled on your ideal capacity and performance needs, bear in mind that the overall, laden weight of the vehicle could factor into your equation. You need to ensure that you are always road legal. Remember that the tray itself is part of that consideration.
In this case, note that aluminium is much lighter than steel, so if you choose aluminium then you will be able to add more tools, equipment and products to the bed of the ute while remaining within the maximum permitted weight. Make these calculations carefully—this can be the difference between profit and loss in the ultimate equation.
Durability
If you live near the coastline, as most Australians do, you may want to consider aluminium instead of steel. There is a lot of humidity and salt in the air near the coast, which is not always a good combination when it comes to steel. Aluminium will not corrode as easily under these conditions, and this may make your vehicle more durable over the course of several years.
Upgrade
Some people need to carry very heavy or cumbersome materials on a regular basis. This may have a bearing on whether they choose steel over aluminium, but if the overall weight is a serious issue then it may be better to choose a vehicle with much larger capacity instead.
Clear Winner
As you can see, aluminium alloy ute trays are likely the best option. Make sure that you choose the right tray so that you can maximise your opportunities on the open road.
