To an Aussie, anything with off-road capability and an open back is a ute. But in the rest of the world, there’s a difference between a ute and a regular pickup. The difference is the ute tray. You see, pickups are manufactured with their back section attached. It comes that way from the dealership or assembly line. Utes are different because you can buy the ute tray yourself and attach it your ute at will.

So why would you want a ute tray, and what are its benefits? Well, the first advantage is its utility. Ute engines and chassis have a powerful drive, and they can take you through any terrain from gravel through to slippery mud banks. Utes can ride over desert outback or plough through marshy winter-scapes. It’s the ultimate vehicle.

But none of that really matters if you don’t have the equipment to go through those regions. If you’re putting your vehicle through those conditions, there must be a method to your madness. Maybe you’re on the way to a construction site, or you’re commuting from the market to your farm. Maybe you’re just driving through town on errands, or you might be going into nature for some camping and R & R.

Whatever it is you’re up to, you need cargo. It might be a tent and camping gear, or bags of cement and construction gravel, or farm tools and implements. You might even be moving sheep and farm produce. Your ute tray allows you to carry all that, and since it’s a wide, all-cargo space, you can move your stuff in a single trip, which saves you a lot of time. It saves money too since those long drives use up a lot of fuel.

Even if you’re an urban ute owner, your tray still comes in handy. You can carry the kids’ heavy rucksacks during the school run, or their sporting equipment from the rugger pitch to the open beach. You can fit surfboards on there too. Busy mums have plenty of room for the monthly trip to the grocery store, or for that therapeutic shopaholic mall raid.

Another way that ute trays save time is when you’re piling on the cargo. Pickups can only open from the back, while most ute trays have detachable sides as well. This makes it easier to load and unload the tray, as well as shifting things around to create more space.

Ute trays are made of hardy materials like steel, aluminium, platinum, or alloy, so they can take on heavier loads than a regular car or truck. You can put everything in there, from farm animals to steel construction poles. And ute trays have lockable sections, so you can keep expensive equipment secure.

Since a ute is primarily a work vehicle, you might need to upgrade it as your tasks pile up and your activities expand. Instead of buying a bigger truck, you can just swap out your ute tray for a new one that has a bigger cab and more storage.

Possibly the best thing about utes is that they combine the best of brawn and beauty. They have powerful engines and all-road capability, but they also have style and class. The ute tray plays a big part in that, with its tough construction and the option of a shiny exterior. It’s cost-effective because building a ute tray costs far less than building a conventional car body. This lowers the overall price, yet you can get much more use out of it.

You ute tray can be accessorised for added benefit. For example, you can get a customised tool box that fits the exact shape and height of your tray. Underbody and gull wing boxes are available, as well as boxes with trundle drawers. You can also install detachable ladder racks to make your tray packing easier.

Turn your ute into a luxury vehicle by installing a quality ute canopy. Canopies can be styled to match your ute colour and finish, and it’s much cheaper than buying a new passenger vehicle. You can also protect the tray further by putting in a ute liner. There are endless ways to jazz up your ute, and none of them would be possible without your flexible ute tray, so be sure to say thank you, and you’re welcome.