Dropside tray size (advice)

[FSH00]

G/Day all,
I'm after some advice on what size & type (alloy v's steel) dropside tray to fit to a FG694 swb. I would like to use it as a general use ute with the ability to fit a resonable size (shower & toilet unit) slide on camper at a later date.
Concerns are:
Alloy:strength when camper is on, weight when unladen for ride?
Steel:more weight so less carrying capacity but may be better when empty?
Size:was thinking about 2.1x3.6 mts to keep it close to the width and length of truck.
Will be registered as 4.5t with wheel & suspension mods.
Don't have any idea of camper size yet so just trying to get any info if there is a couple of standard size trays they use here in AUS for light trucks.
Any info or comments welcome.

Cheers,
Pete.

[1Engine]

If you are thinking about in the future of doing overseas trips then keep it so it will fit in a 20ft container

[SkiFreak]

Aluminium may be slightly lighter, but to obtain the same strength as steel it would need to be a much more solid section. There is also the other issue, that being that aluminium will fatigue far easier than steel. Stress cracks in aluminium are common place.
Should a weld crack when you are out in the middle of woop, finding someone with aluminium welding gear is far less likely than finding someone with steel welding gear.

As for dual usage… you would need to setup the vehicle for the maximum GVM.
With no load on the tray it is going to be a rough ride; there is not much you can do about that.

[bptp7270]

I have had an aluminium tray on a defender and found the lower weight to be its only advantage. I built a slide on that weighed about 400kg and found that the tray would bend and flex quite a bit. After several days driving off road I would have to re tighten most of the fixings as it would start to creak with movement. I also had to reinforce anything mounted to the tray. The tray was one of the "heavy duty" off the shelf items. I have had two fg's with steel dropsides and find the far more robust and easier to mount things to. My current tray is the same width as the canter.

[FSH00]

Thanks guys, some good points there i never considered.

[PKDreamers]

Hi,
Our tray is steel frame and stell sides wooden floor it is 2100mm wide but if i was to make one i would make it the same width as the cab for a couple of reasons easier to see down the sides with the mirrors in traffic, reversing etc etc and for fitting down bush tracks .

[FSH00]

Hi,
Our tray is steel frame and stell sides wooden floor it is 2100mm wide but if i was to make one i would make it the same width as the cab for a couple of reasons easier to see down the sides with the mirrors in traffic, reversing etc etc and for fitting down bush tracks .

Yes come to think of it i had an older relo who used to make his box trailers with wooden floors, they used to ride so good you forget they were there and so much quieter as well.
Do you carry any type of camper on the tray?
If so how is it holding up?
Any pos or neg thoughts on the wooden deck?
It should keep things a bit more quiet back there!
How long is your tray and does it hang over the chassis much?

Thanks,
Pete.

[westyss]

Another thing to consider would be what the camper would be constructed from, if alloy is used, then an alloy deck would prevent mixed metals and corrosion. My alloy deck doesnt flex at all, just depends on construction, cost might be a consideration too.

[Amesz00]

3.6x2.1 is a good size for the swb, pushed up against the cab makes for a pretty short compact rig, and excellent angles (especially if using tall XZLs). my truck is 3.3x2.1 on a dualcab (roughly same overhang). have never really found the extra 2" each side to limit bush mobility- with trucks its always the top corners that cop a beating, so if you can keep the corners streamlined on your camper, should have no worries. oh and steel is superior for tray construction, IMO.

[FSH00]

3.6x2.1 is a good size for the swb

Yeah thats the size i came up with as well.
Good for tracks,parking & the minister for war (opps i mean the missus )