Tray bodies come in more than one design
Tray bodies are one of the most versatile truck body configurations used in Australian industry, but the word “tray” covers quite a wide range of designs. Choosing the right type of tray for your work can make your loads more secure, speed up loading and unloading, and take some of the strain off the people doing it every day. Below we go through the three configurations we are asked about most often.
The flat tray
A flat tray is the simplest and most adaptable configuration. Because it has no fixed sides, it gives you a lot of flexibility. You can carry long materials such as pipe and timber, load by crane from any angle, and strap down machinery of just about any shape. Flat trays are common on the light and medium rigids used in construction, landscaping and general transport.
The trade-off is that you are responsible for restraining the load on all four sides. If you carry materials that shift or roll, you will want headboards, stanchions or tie-down rails fitted as standard, and VN Truck Bodies can build these into any flat tray.
The dropside tray
Dropside trays have hinged sides that fold down so you can load from the side with a forklift, a pallet jack or by hand. They are the usual choice for delivering construction materials and pallet freight, and for any work where you will not always have a loading dock or forklift waiting for you.
Side heights of 300 to 500 mm are typical, and the sides can run the full length of the tray or be split so you only open part of it. You can have the tray in steel or aluminium, with solid sides or rail sides, so there are plenty of ways to set one up. If you load by hand regularly, dropsides lower the height you have to lift to and make each job noticeably quicker.
The tilt tray
A tilt tray uses a hydraulic mechanism to tip the load bed towards the rear, so cargo can slide off or be put in position without a crane. They are used for vehicle transport, machinery hire and earthmoving equipment delivery, and anywhere else you need to pick up and drop off heavy or wheeled equipment without extra lifting gear on site.
Tilt trays take more engineering than the other two types, because the hydraulic system, the pivot points and the body structure all have to cope with significant dynamic loads. They are also heavier than an equivalent flat or dropside build, so it is important to work through the GVM calculations to make sure you are not giving up payload you need.
Other things to think about
Whichever type of tray you choose, it is worth thinking about the height and construction of the headboard, which restrains the load and protects the cab, as well as under-tray toolboxes for your equipment, where the tyre carrier will sit, and whether you need a crane mount or provision for a hi-ab. We offer all of these as standard fitment options at VN Truck Bodies.
Getting a quote on your tray body
VN Truck Bodies designs and builds custom tray bodies in Melbourne for light, medium and heavy rigids. If you tell us how you plan to use the truck, we will recommend the configuration that suits it. You can call us on 0447 452 222 or come and see us at 17 Cambria Road, Keysborough VIC 3173.