Alloy Tray V Timber & Steel.

I have a Triple M alloy tray which has traveled over 90,000 kms. The last 45,000 it has had a WOW canopy attached to it.
This tray has traveled well over 35,000 kms on all sorts of roads including the Gibb River Road, Oodnadatta Track, Plenty Highway and numerous other 'exciting' roads.
I cannot fault it. I have also had full steel and steel and timber trays. Being on the coast the Triple M stands the salty atmosphere better. I will most likely keep it for the next vehicle as it is set up the way I want it now.
Hope that helps.
DW

Depends on what you intend to carry with it. If you are likely to be close to gvm then the alloy is the way to go as you need all the leeway you can get, otherwise it comes down to personal prefence.
I have an alloy tray with a slide on which tips the scales at gvm and have done about 40k over plenty of less than perfect dirt roads eg strzekecki, oodnadatta birdsville and lots of flinders ranges roads so far with no ill effects.

I have had both types of trays, would now only ever buy an all steel . Alloy trays rattle to bits , I haven't seen one yet that will stand up if used for hard work in harsh conditions.
If you are only using it socially without carrying heavy loads you may be ok.

Some of the new high tensile steel trays would not be as heavy as the older style ones, they might be worth a look,cheers Butch

If you are going to use a tray top camper I would suggest steel is best based on my experience with 2 different tray tops, you need something substantial to attch them safely but extra weight is a factor if your near the limit.

Hi Fatso,

The most common tray in the country(not near the coast) is a steel tray IMHO the take a lot of punishment and can carry heavy weights regularly, you rarely see an aluminium one.

Its the other way round near the coast prob to stop the rust.

I believe its horses for courses.

In my town we have a pump from which you can get free water (Bore water) from to water the lawns.

I had an alloy tray supplied with my rodeo when I 1st got it. The tank I have on the tray is 1000lts or approx 1 tonne. It struggled after a few months of carting 6-7 loads a day (bolt hole elongated etc).

I changed it to a steel one and its been on it since. There isnt any real damage to it so far, I spray a little diesel on it every week or so to stop the rust.

The only down side is that legally I can only carry 950kg as the heavier steel tray would put me over with 1000kg on the back.

Cheers Wilko

Thanks everyone for their opinions. It has helped
Peter

Peter,

My only experience is with alloy - I prefer to keep the weight down.

I'd guess the strength would vary a lot between manufacturers.Mine is built by a local company and I haven't had a problem - over the past 5 years have done most of the badly corrugated tracks through the deserts. I did change the bolts holding it down with 12mm HT bolts and nyloc nuts.

A friend's was a "multifit" type and the steel brackets holding the alloy tray cracked badly on a gunbarrel trip. We welded some new stronger footings and his has been fine since.

Cheers
phil

one word steel