Timber or chequer plate tray???

[mylesy]

Hey guys I've decided to rip my falling apart timber tray and replace it. But I'm in two minds whether to do it in hardwood again or just sheet it with chequer plate. It would be cheaper with the plate and it will be getting a rubber mat rolled over the top anyway, I just want to hear a few opinions...

Personal preference for you guys???

[D4D luxy]

Just rock the checkerplate. Far less work and looks the business! The mats are awesome too things just stick something fierce

[Bullzye]

If it's for show or just for light camping it's personal choice, but work go steel. I have a timber tray and unless you look after it monthly it will start to splinter and as soon as i put a bag of cement, feed, etc on it and drag it off, it rips the bag and you loose half of it. It is also a lot easier to clean oil stains of steel than timber.

[jakelux]

I've had both, but the 3mm chequerplate has been the best. Forget about the paint looking good for long though as it just chips off the raised chequer patterns.

[Luxrooter]

Mate, get the chequerplate galved....it will last forever!@

[mylesy]

Yeah the previous timber was splintered as and I just cracked it and ripped it out haha. Because the chequer sheets are only 1200 wide what's the best way to join, down the length of the tray or across the width?? And what's the best way to fix it to the metal frame?

(I'm a chippy so not A+ with metal work haha probably about a B- haha)

[Mattya]

How long has your timber lasted? I always liked timber floor trays.

Id say go tthe timber again but then ask your self how long it has lasted, the price and the ease of re doing it again next time.

[mylesy]

About 7 or 8 years but it was too far gone when I got it. They do look nice I agree. But not so practical for me anymore.

[brusa]

There's a timber product called "diamond deck", it's basically 12mm ply designed for the purpose, I've had it on my last 2 trays. I wouldn't have steel checker plate cos it's heavier, noisy and things slide around on it unless you put a rubber mat over it. But like every thing, it's a personal choice

[jakelux]

Oh yeah and don't forget about form-ply, that will last a very long time and cheap.
In regards to joining the chequerplate sheet just butt them up and its hardly noticeable. Weld from underneath, so you will prob have to take the tray off.

[LuxTruck]

Wood doesn't like the weather, it just swells and turns to shit.
Steel rusts yes but not if you get it galvanised. Bit heavier but will last the life of the truck.
I was a cabinet maker, now I'm a laser cutter
Steel floor plate is the best for a tray!!!

[mylesy]

Oh yeah and don't forget about form-ply, that will last a very long time and cheap.
In regards to joining the chequerplate sheet just butt them up and its hardly noticeable. Weld from underneath, so you will prob have to take the tray off.

Can I get away without welding them together? I was thinking of just sika flexing the join together and to the steel battens?? And what kind of screws would be the best???

[D4D luxy]

I guess it would depend what uv got sitting on top holding it down. I'd try And get some sort of fixing tho!

[mylesy]

Yeah I'd definately put some fixings into it the sika would just stop all the rattling... Would just 50mm 10 gauge metal countersunk screws do the job??

[Alby]

I would bed the cheque plate in Sika and then either use a TEK type screw or you could use large pop rivets. Run the join across the tray with the cut sheet closest to the cabin

[rustygilb]

Pop rivets would be the go then u dont have to worry about sliding thing over the heads and it getting stuck. Can be painted as well. And easy to get out if u have to not worrying bout stripping heads and so on

[mylesy]

Thanks Alby, that sorts out a few things! I'll be finishing off prepping the ute tomorrow night and will order the chequer plate tomorrow ready to pick it up on saturday, what kind of size pop rivets am I looking at??

[3dhilux]

timber needs to be looked after oil it every 3 months with a good decking oil. i use 1/3 linseed 1/3 poly 1/3 turps for a cheap mix and make sure its a class 1 hardwood or use steel and never touch it again

[Alby]

Thanks Alby, that sorts out a few things! I'll be finishing off prepping the ute tomorrow night and will order the chequer plate tomorrow ready to pick it up on saturday, what kind of size pop rivets am I looking at??

I would look at a rivet to suit about a 5 mm drill size, I think they go 4.8mm then up to 5.5 from memory. You can get countersunk head ones as well if you want to get fancy

[mylesy]

well for those playing at home I managed to snap up a few photos over the weekend of the 'nearly finished product'

just have to run a bead of silicone along all the sides to seal her up and everything's done!