Thread: D130 - tray or tub

Mine originally had a tub and I liked the look and the lower load deck height. I changed over to a tray for a Canning trip so that I could more easily fit 2 spare 255/85. 16s as well as a fuel tank and a drawer box for tiedowns tyre repair and recovery stuff below the tray.
I thought the tub wasn't good for tying loads down and the filler cover and wheel arches limited load floor area. The tray is wide and makes reversing some trailers hard and you have to remember it when you are trying to thread the vehicle between trees etc.
Both have pros and cons I guess.

On my previous 130 I had a tub, with a steel lockable canopy and it was very good for touring, 4wding etc.

With my new one I was tempted to put a tray on... but just can't bring myself too. I love the classic 'tub' look.

A tray would be more practical for use as a shooting vehcile, but I dont use it for that very often in the big scheme of things.

Ours was purchased in 2007 to replace the aging Disco touring vehicle, so the tub had to go to make room for the camper I can't find a pic minus camper at present actually our avatar pic has the camper sitting next to the defender

AULRO 10th in Qld


When the camper was near new


Mrs hh

Here is one at play



Here is a pic of the slide that I fitted in the rear


And one without the canopy

square box like the car. Not the prettiest, but very practical.

I use mine for work, the flat floor on the tray allows for a lot more to be carried. No wheel arches or fuel neck in the way.
When out travelling square boxes fit and lock into a square tray brilliantly.
Square sides allow for things to be stowed better. If you have kids you will understand. Also I have only had one instance where the tie rail on the roof complicated 4x4ing. Even then it became a roof slide bar.

Personally I prefer the style side, but it's based on looks not function.

We went with the tub - primarily because it looks a lot better. But the tray is far more practical and I think if I had my time again I would go for the tray.

At the moment I have the Rijidij wheel carrier, and drawers filling the bottom. There is a floor at the top of the tub and I store stuff up top in plastic boxes. Even with the tub I have never filled the car up - the storage area is huge. We also have a featherlite rooftop tent that I like fitted onto the canopy. This keeps it low, and the featherlite already has a much lower profile (but you do need to spend 5 seconds attaching the ladder).

I am currently talking to the guy who made the canopy to have a rear door put on as well so I can put a biggish fridge on a drop down slide on top of the drawers.





and just because someone is bound to take the **** out of how shiny it is

Haha, now you mention it, it looks like the ones in the glossy pamphlets... in a good way of course, looks great, but just how DID it look so shiny after driving there on those roads?

ImageUploadedByAULRO1385021100.422563.jpgI picked up a 130 recently with a steel tray and had been pondering this question as well.

If I had a tub, I probably would have been happy with a canopy or canvas setup to suit it, because I did like the 'look' of a tub.

Early with this car I was thinking of replacing the tray with a tub, but the tray started winning me over in terms of convenience and potential space. The amount of room under the tray is pretty good.

I will stick with the tray myself, and work out some kind of canopy arrangement to suit the tray so it can be closed up to the weather, maybe canvas.

SamImageUploadedByAULRO1385021532.786905.jpg