Buyer’s Guide

Aluminium vs Steel Ute Trays: Which Should You Choose?

Aluminium ute trays are lighter — giving you more payload and no rust — while steel ute trays are tougher against impacts and cheaper to repair. The right choice comes down to your load, your budget and how hard you work the ute.

Updated 13 June 2026 · By Duratray Transport Equipment

The short answer

Choose an aluminium tray if you want maximum payload, corrosion resistance and a lighter, fuel-friendly set-up. Choose a steel tray if you regularly carry abrasive or heavy industrial loads and want the lowest repair cost. Both are built tough at Duratray and backed by a 5-year warranty.

Side-by-side comparison

	Aluminium tray	Steel tray
Weight	Light — more payload	Heavier — less payload
Rust / corrosion	Won’t rust	Can rust if coating is damaged
Impact strength	Very strong; can dent	Toughest against hits
Up-front cost	Higher	Lower
Repairs	Specialist welding	Easy & cheap to weld
Best for	Trades, touring, coastal	Heavy industrial, mining

Payload & GVM

Every kilo the tray weighs is a kilo you can’t carry. An aluminium tray can save significant weight over steel, which keeps you under your GVM and protects your legal payload — important for heavily-loaded trades and tourers. If you’re close to your limits, alloy is usually the smart pick.

Our recommendation

For most ute owners — trades, fleets and 4x4 tourers — we recommend an aluminium ute tray for the weight saving and rust resistance. If your work is genuinely punishing (mining, demolition, scrap), a steel ute tray earns its keep. Not sure? Send us your vehicle and load and we’ll recommend the right one.

Frequently asked questions

Is aluminium or steel better for a ute tray?

Neither is universally “better”. Aluminium is lighter and rust-free (best for payload, touring and coastal use); steel is tougher and cheaper to repair (best for heavy industrial loads).

Are aluminium ute trays strong enough?

Yes. Quality alloy trays like Duratray’s use reinforced floors and dropsides rated to carry serious payloads — many to a 1.8-tonne floor — while staying far lighter than steel.

Do steel ute trays rust?

Steel can rust if its protective coating is chipped or scratched and left untreated. Powder-coating and quick touch-ups keep a steel tray going for years.

Which is cheaper, aluminium or steel?

Steel trays are usually cheaper up front and to repair. Aluminium costs a little more but saves weight and won’t rust, which can pay off over the life of the ute.

Which ute tray lasts longer?

Both last many years when looked after. Aluminium has the edge in corrosive, coastal or wet environments because it won’t rust.