How Do Custom Steel Ute Trays Outperform Aluminium?

 Ute vehicles are most sought-after in Australia. Almost every tradie keeps searching for add-ons to improve the functionality and performance of their work vehicle. Ute trays improve the workability of the vehicle and are the obvious choice for customisation. The increased load area due to the flatbed and openable high side make ute trays a practical solution. 

Custom ute trays Gold Coastare available in two material choices, steel and aluminium.  Both are popular and both are quite remarkable in terms of strength, robustness and weather resistance. Aluminium ute trays need practically no maintenance, though steel outperforms aluminium in many aspects. Keep reading to learn which tray material is better -  steel or aluminium?

What are the benefits of customising ute trays with Aluminium?

Adding customized features to a truck is obviously going to increase its weight. Therefore, for safer customisation, every manufacturer wants to reduce the load on the truck. Aluminium being a lightweight and strong material is a great choice for custom ute trays. 

Farmers and tradies pick aluminium when they want a maintenance-free choice and need to maximise load bearing capability. Since aluminium alloy is rust resistant, it doesn’t require additional coats of powder coating to protect the surface from corrosion. This makes corrosion resistance a particularly attractive feature of aluminium ute trays.

What are the benefits of customising ute trays in Steel?

Some professions require the transportation of heavy loads like generators, jack hammers or steel pickets. In this case, the strength of an aluminium tray might not be sufficient. Here the rigidness of steel is more reliable. Steel is not corrosion resistant, though galvanization or powder coating options  can effectively rust proof ute trays Sunshine Coast. The main benefit of customising ute trays in steel is strength.

Which one is better?

When comparing the pricing structure for customisation, steel is a more affordable choice than aluminium. Even the raw aluminium is three times more expensive than steel so the cost of converting the alloy into a customized tray bed is also a pricier affair. The cost difference is only reduced by the fact that steel trays need additional preparation to make them rust resistant. Aluminium trays can be left in the raw finish, whereas steel needs powder coating and timely maintenance of the paint to attain reliable protection against rust and corrosion. 

Aluminium is lightweight but steel is tougher. So how do you decide which one is better? 

The final verdict can be made on the basis of your work conditions. If you own a tipper, you are obviously carrying super heavy loads and hence the robustness of steel is more suitable. For carrying light weight equipment, aluminium is also a great choice. 

Bottom line 

Both aluminium and steel alloys have a huge demand in the ute tray customisation market. Tradies looking for an affordable option are initially more likely to be inclined towards steel rather than aluminium trays but often end up choosing aluminium ute trays due to its lightweight.  Customisation cost is not the only factor to consider and  you should not overlook the importance of work conditions when choosing the right alloy option. To make an informed decision, have a word with the specialists of custom ute trays brisbane, Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast on the link given below.