Aluminium Ute Trays
Which ute tray should you buy? For a dual-cab, the standard answer is a 1600–1850 mm aluminium tray with drop sides and a headboard, plus a trundle drawer if you carry long gear. Aluminium over steel isn't a style choice: a fitted steel dual-cab tray runs roughly 250–380 kg against 100–180 kg for aluminium, so the swap hands back around 100 kg of legal payload before you load a single tool. Prices start at $3,499.
Every tray here carries a lifetime structural warranty — structure is exactly what fails on a badly built tray. Full sizing, payload and fitting advice: the ute tray buying guide.
Tray length by cab type
| Cab type | Common lengths | Typical width |
|---|---|---|
| Dual cab | 1600, 1650, 1800, 1850 mm | 1780–1800 mm |
| Extra cab | 2100, 2150 mm | 1780–1800 mm |
| Single cab | 2400, 2450 mm | 1780–1800 mm |
| LandCruiser 79 | 1850 mm dual cab, longer for single cab | Model specific |
| Xceed | 1700, 1900, 2100, 2400 mm | Model specific |
Australian trays are usually 1780–1800 mm wide, deliberately sized around a standard pallet. Decide your canopy at the same time as the tray — a 1600 mm tray won't take an 1800 mm canopy plus usable open deck.
Sizes and prices
| Tray | Price | RRP |
|---|---|---|
| Black aluminium tray 1600 mm | $3,499 | $3,900 |
| Black aluminium tray 1800 mm | $3,499 | $4,100 |
| 1650 mm with headboard | $3,899 | $4,450 |
| 1850 mm with headboard | $3,899 | $4,650 |
| 2150 mm for extra cab | $4,190 | $5,500 |
| 1600 mm + trundle drawer | $4,599 | $5,150 |
| Full-set tray 1650 mm | $4,799 | $5,450 |
| LandCruiser 79, 1850 mm, colour-matched doors | $4,899 | $5,250 |
| 1800 mm + trundle drawer | $4,999 | $5,400 |
| 1850 mm + trundle drawer | $5,190 | $5,750 |
| 2450 mm + trundle drawer, single cab | $5,790 | $7,100 |
| Xceed full-set 1700–2400 mm | $6,250–$7,750 | $6,750–$7,950 |
| RAM 1500 tray and toolboxes setup | $8,685 | $9,650 |
GST inclusive, supply only, current at September 2026. Fitting and tub disposal additional.
Headboards, drop sides and trundle drawers
A headboard costs a few hundred dollars and does three jobs: stops a shifting load coming through the rear window, gives you a ladder rack mounting point, and keeps gravel off the roof. It's a load-restraint component, not a styling item. Unless you have a specific reason to run an open front, buy it.
A trundle drawer turns the dead space under the tray floor into a full-width storage run on heavy-duty slides. It swallows star pickets, conduit, levels and awning poles — the things that never fit in a box — and brings them out at hip height instead of making you climb onto the deck. If you're undecided, order it with the tray; retrofitting is possible but costs more and fits less well.
Drop sides contain a load; they do not restrain it. Rated tie-down points, correct straps and a headboard are the practical implementation of load restraint requirements.
Common questions
How much does an aluminium ute tray weigh?
Roughly 100–180 kg fitted for a dual-cab tray, against 250–380 kg for the steel equivalent. Adding a trundle drawer, headboard and under-tray boxes pushes that up.
What size tray fits a dual cab?
1600–1850 mm long and around 1780–1800 mm wide. Choose 1600–1650 mm for a tidier turning circle, 1800–1850 mm if you carry sheet material or want a longer canopy.
Do I need engineering approval for a tray?
A compliant tray fitted to a standard chassis by a competent fitter generally doesn't need individual approval, but the finished vehicle must comply with mass limits, lighting, rear marking and load restraint requirements.
Can I keep my tub and put it back later?
Yes, and you should keep it if the ute may be sold standard or returned at the end of a lease. A complete tub with lights and loom has real resale value.
How long does a tray fit take?
Allow a day for a straightforward tray. Add time if a canopy, drawer, 12V system and accessories go on in the same visit.
See them in person at Laverton North VIC, Coopers Plains QLD or Penrith NSW, or call 1300 710 666.
