Thread: Thickness of Checker plate Steel Floor 110 Trayback Ute

3mm will be more than adequate Lionel, that's a common thickness on trucks. 2.1mm may be suitable with extra cross members, you'll have to calculate which comes out heavier.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

3mm will be more than adequate Lionel, that's a common thickness on trucks. 2.1mm may be suitable with extra cross members, you'll have to calculate which comes out heavier.

Beat me to it, 5 or 6mm is overkill and way too heavy.

What are your cross-member spacings? At 400mm spacings it is 2.1mm steel checker. I wouldn't go more than 600mm for spacings, 400mm is ideal.

Just putting an option out there.
I'll never use steel for a ute tray again after using Synthetic eco wood (plastic / wood composite)

Heavier than wood , but oil & slip resistant , UV stable , zero maintenance, 30 year guarantee & dont get hot so good for dogs . Expensive though. Used on my Power Wagon , its excellent. 450 between bearers Ekodeck from bunnings.
IMG20220524172010.jpg

Originally Posted by goingbush

Just putting an option out there.
I'll never use steel for a ute tray again after using Synthetic eco wood (plastic / wood composite)

Heavier than wood , but oil & slip resistant , UV stable , zero maintenance, 30 year guarantee & dont get hot so good for dogs . Expensive though. Used on my Power Wagon , its excellent. 450 between bearers Ekodeck from bunnings.
IMG20220524172010.jpg

Sorry for the Hijack - have you had any problems with expansion and contraction with the "eco wood"? I have it as decking and am surprised at how much the full lengths move between summer and winter.
Also don't put anything hot on to it as it does "melt".

Hello All,

Thank you for the responses. I will need to check the spacing on the bottom of the tray. If I went outside now the mozzies would carry me away.

I have been looking at the recycling option and I have been looking at second-hand single cab ute trays on Market Place and Gum Tree. Prices start at around $500 for one that has to have part of the floor replaced due to rust. To second-hand steel trays that come in over $1000. However, the dearer ones do include tool boxes and ladder racks. The issue is the second-hand trays are off things like Land Cruisers and may need things like wheel arches and other things changed to fit the Land Rover chassis and wheel spacing. This all means additional costs. It is surprising how few second-hand ute trays come with sides.

Two new sheets of checker plate at 3.0 mm x 1200 mm x 2400 mm comes in over the $500 mark. So new checker plate could be the better option in the long run.

Going Bush - how would the 'ecodeck' stand up to shovels and steel nail rakes unloading gravel off the top of the tray surface?

Kind regards
Lionel

Originally Posted by Lionelgee

Hello All,
unloading gravel off the top of the tray surface?
Kind regards
Lionel

Lionel, I have an ally tray on my '93 Tojo 'tilly and it has stood up to all sorts of treatment. I'm assuming that you're going steel for weight purposes.
One thing I would consider, if unloading gravel and soil, would be an hydraulic, tilt setup.
Every time I get garden soil or go to the green waste at the dump, I crave a tilt tray.

Originally Posted by Lionelgee

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Going Bush - how would the 'ecodeck' stand up to shovels and steel nail rakes unloading gravel off the top of the tray surface?

Kind regards
Lionel

no problems so far, have made about 1/2 dozen tip runs, keep a rake, broom and shovel in there at all times. apart from some spilled oil which comes off easy without staining , have noticed no damage , apart from very end of a board where I dropped a besser block , I should cap the ends but I'm just aware of being careful there now.