Ute Tray Liners/Hardcovers - Options

[cashie]

What have you guys placed in the tray of your utes to stop things from sliding around?
Also, what have you used to stop the tray getting scratched?
The factory tray liner has a RRP of $500, is this worthwhile?
There is also a rubber mat for about $300, what does this look like?
What does everyone recommend?

With the factory hardcover, the RRP is about $2000, what should I really pay for one of these?
Is the factory one the best?

[stealthvz]

I went to clark rubber and got a rubber sheet fo $100
or you can get a mat from www.blueys.com.au for $190
Pics on their site!

[pagey]

to stop things flying around I have 2 things

1 - a decent rubber mat. Bugger paying $300 - I got some very good quality rubber matting from the markets for $30 and cut a template then cut it to size. It is as good or better than the $300 job.

2 - I have a ratchet pole it the back. Basically an extendable pole that ratchets into place. I have a few milk crates in the back - push them against the tailgate & ratchet the pole against the crates. Done. I have a hard lid so it is easy to lift it up and get acces to the crates without undoing anything.

[bigdog1971]

Mate I bought the Tub liner and found that everything slid around in the back and drove me bonkers! So I ended up visiting Clark Rubber and getting some thick rubber matting to go onto the floor over the top of the tub liner anyway. So I would recommend against the tub liner and visit Clark Rubber for some matting ($110 about covers it at 6mm thick)
Hard cover = not sure on the right price but dont pay RRP! hit them hard for some discount. I didnt bother as I carry my dirt bike around on weekends and the hard cover is too hard to remove.

Also regarding the scratching of the lip area around the top of the tray, I went to supercheap and bought some 3M headlight protector sheeting, basicly some clear sheeting with stickly back - 2 pieces of 550mmX150mmx2mm and cut it into 6 50mmx550mm strips then stuck them around the top of the tray. The std tounneu cover still fits and I now have some protection around the top. :D

[OscarTheGrouch]

IMHO, don't bother with a plastic tray liner, I hate mine as everything just slides around. Personally I would look at a rubber mat, although what I plan on doing at a later date is carpeting the tray. What does the rubber mat look like? It's a piece of black rubber, bloody expensive for $300 but it works :)

At the moment what I have is a large piece of scrap foam sitting in the bottom of the tray, it looks untidy but stops things sliding around, and as an added bonus I can sleep on it if I get a bit tired...

As for a hardcover, I got a fair few quotes a couple of months back (never went through with the purchase as some unforeseen circumstances arose)... from memory the best quote was $1600 painted and fitted, but they were all fairly similar.

[pagey]

I didnt bother as I carry my dirt bike around on weekends and the hard cover is too hard to remove.



You have got to be joking!!!!!!!! :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

I get mine off in under a minute

[uterus]

under a minute with two people. :)

[cashie]

Thanks guys, some great ideas there, I think the Clark Rubber mat might be the go.
What about the tailgate, should I use anything there?
Pagey> where did you get these ratchets from, they sound like a good idea?
Bigdog> so did you put the stick-on protector right on the top edge, was this mainly to stop the tonneau from rubbing the paint?

Has anyone tried this Rhino Spray-In Liner, I have a feeling it wouldn't be cheap!!

[pagey]

under a minute with two people. :)

Nope - just me!!

[pagey]

Pagey> where did you get these ratchets from, they sound like a good idea?


Sorry mate - It came with the ute - first one i have seen too. Maybe someelse might have seen them around?

[alexcs]

What have you guys placed in the tray of your utes to stop things from sliding around?
Also, what have you used to stop the tray getting scratched?
The factory tray liner has a RRP of $500, is this worthwhile?
There is also a rubber mat for about $300, what does this look like?
What does everyone recommend?

With the factory hardcover, the RRP is about $2000, what should I really pay for one of these?
Is the factory one the best?

1. ive got a blueys rubber mat, its a woven thing that lets water out so you dont grow mushrooms under the rubber :)

2. nothing. a plastic tray liner will rub the paint down to metal over a few years, the blueys mat will haze the surface of the paint until its dull. about the only thing you can use to deifnitively sotp it from scratching is a spray on protectant which i believe can either be black, or a clear colour. this is meant to stop scratching, but im not sure how easy it is to remove, and the black certainly doesnt look the best, i thats what youre concerned about. its sorta like a sandpapery finish.

3. i would buy a blueys ute mat or the spray on stuff before the hard liner, ive heard way too many stories about liners ****ing the paint.

4. you can pickup a blueys ute mat for about 200 bucks, its woven out of old tyres, fits perfectly into the back with provision for tyre tubs, corners etc. that what i recommend :)

5. the hardliner is good in the way you can lock it up, but if youre going to be putting a lot of stuff into the back all the time, you may find a soft cover might be more practical, its harder to load near the front of the ute with a hardcover.

hope this helps.

[Mongy]

I also have one of Bluey's woven mats. They are good, things do not slide if you drive normally but you still have to take care of the sides. I have a mate with one of the plastic tub liners and he actually wanted to swap it for my mat he hates it that much. It offers very little movement resistance to anything he puts in the back.

[bigdog1971]

Cashie
Yep I stuck the 3M straight onto the top edge, both to stop the Tonneau from rubbing the paint off and also to protect the edge when Im putting stuff into the ute. Things always seem to rub or dent the top of Utes.
Pagey,
I reckon the Hard cover was not suited to my application. I thought that it would take 2 people to get off safely with out scratching anything. Then my storage space is limited (by kids toys and my toys in the garage) so I wasnt sure what to do with it when it was off. :confused:

[uterus]

How do you take off the hard cover with only one person.? Is it a HBD one or one of those light weight jobbies.

[keenas]

Go the Bluey's tyre woven mats I have had the same one and put it into four different utes - two fords and two holdens :)

[cashie]

Go the Bluey's tyre woven mats I have had the same one and put it into four different utes - two fords and two holdens :)

I think I will go the Bluey's mat, my only concern is that there isn't a bluey's over West here, I have a feeling that postage will be expensive, might give them a call.

[stealthvz]

The ratchet pole is also available form blueys, I think it called a cargo bar and is about $45!

[OscarTheGrouch]

I remember seeing something that I swear was called a "ute extender" or something like that... thought it was on Bluey's or Quig but can't seem to find it. No hits on Google either. But it seemed like a nifty thing at the time, if I can find what I'm thinking of I'll post it! :bash:

[LSX-438]

How do you take off the hard cover with only one person.? Is it a HBD one or one of those light weight jobbies.

you could walk into the tray, stand backwards and lift and walk the lid out.

[stealthvz]

I remember seeing something that I swear was called a "ute extender" or something like that... thought it was on Bluey's or Quig but can't seem to find it. No hits on Google either. But it seemed like a nifty thing at the time, if I can find what I'm thinking of I'll post it! :bash:

Ute 'X-Tender' available from 'jhp'
http://www.jhp.com.au/utextender.php

[OscarTheGrouch]

Awesome, thanks! That's what I was thinking of!

It looks like a great bit of kit to stop loads sliding around (at least to some extent).

[pagey]

you could walk into the tray, stand backwards and lift and walk the lid out.

Bingo.... As i said 2 people are definately preffered - but it can be dome quite "easily" with one.

Standard Holden Hardtop.

[Fire Truck]

What about those 'Rhino' spray on linings, can anyone tell us how much/how good they are?

[JezzaB]

Some great ideas here. Pitty its a little late for me as the whole tray is scratched, lips worn and the soft cover stiching is coming undone and the tags to undo is have ripped off (gonna kill those dumbass apprentices!!!)

Will look at the rubber matting though. I hate that sound of everything bashing around during take off and breaking.

[Rod VZ Storm]

Hi Guys
Im just reading thru some old stuff here.
I went to Blueys in Sydney today and saw the woven mats. They are about $200 and apparently u can just open the weave up slightly to make the floor mounted tie down fit thru.

I saw the ratchet type fence thingy and the sales person said dont bother with them. It did look a bit flimzy.

The hard lids, colour coded are about $1700 fitted.

cheers
Rod

[rocks-crewman]

When I got the Crewman I went to visit my mates at the Navy Safety Equipment section and got 3 long rubber mats that we use at sea to stop dinner plates sliding all over the tables when the sea gets a bit rough. Cost = $zilch. Effectivness = 100% Don't know where you can buy this stuff in civvy street - but it is the ducks guts. Not only does it stop stuff sliding around, it is virtually indestrucable (which is high praise for anything that sailors use!)
Check out your local boating/marine supplier if you are interested.

[DaveMorro]

I'm not a tradesman, i'm in sales so i only have a fold up laddr and medium size toolbox in my Crewman.
I have one of those cargo bars and its the best thing i bought.
Simple, quick and hasnt slipped yet.

[jbernie]

What about those 'Rhino' spray on linings, can anyone tell us how much/how good they are?

I am guess since it is spray on, it is the same ro close to what we have up here in the US, basically you should get a spray on bed liner asap after the purchase of the vehicle and it isn't recommended for used vehicles, cos once it is on, it's on for life and any damage rust or whatever that is there before it goes on cant be touched.

You will more than likely have the same issue as a regular drop in bed liner with loads sliding around, however using some of the mats suggested or the bed extender the combination should work well for you.

The benifit to the spray on is that it is just as strong if not stronger than the drop in versions, you cant scratch your paint, but then again you cant remove it, and you also dont require hardware to hold it in place.

As for the top of the bed, the clear 3M stuff sounds good, maybe look to see if they sell any kind of protectors, we have diamond metal look toppers, and various other styles. These solutions though make it hard to work with a topper to due to the change in dimenions.

Depending on what you are going to use the ute for i would strongly suggest something in back to protect the body/paint from dents/chips/paint scratches. We use my wifes truck for carrying dirt, rock grass, etc and the bed liner cops all the beating and not the bed itself. Always cheaper to drop in another bed liner than replacing the bed itself or getting it repainted.

James

[doogal]

I have carpeted the back of the ute(no sides or tailgate) just used 2 bits of about 2cm ply with marine carpet over it. looks pretty sweet 2. will post a pic later on when im home.

[streaty]

Love the liner i got its a Rhino Spray on liner its the best thing out if you want pics send me a email at troy@purenoyz.com and ill send some pics of my VU if you want cost me about $700 i think of memory that was for the full tray sides tail gate and firewall doesnt rust peal or fade i love it....



What about those 'Rhino' spray on linings, can anyone tell us how much/how good they are?

[streetneat1]

Gday Guys- streetneat here- I just Bought a new Crewman SSZ Impulse blue. Number plates are EVL 57 ( left over from my 57 Plymouth 'Christine')
Any how I have ordered a bed liner and it has not turned up just yet - so I was wondering how bad they really are - I might just cancel the order and go a Ute mat from what I have read here. How much are the Holden Mats? I normally go to clark rubber as well for the cars we build but I reckon a genuine mat might be the way to go. Im gunna go out and have a look at existing mats and liners this morning.

Cheers streetneat -Andrew.

[chillicatqld]

the ute liner is good mate - when I take mine out (on rare ocassions) it is like brand new underneath. There are only a couple of minor scuff marks where it does rub a little. Do what I did and went and got some stick on rubber foam strips and ran them a intervals acroos the bottom of the liner - works great.

[mmm]

What about those 'Rhino' spray on linings, can anyone tell us how much/how good they are?

bought my ute 18mths old with Rhino spray on
previous owner was landscaper, tray has taken a beating & liner still going strong

i have previous experience with plastic liner in 02 ute
too damn slippery, bought rubber mat from Clarkes, beautiful
BUT when removed plastic liner, found tray paint all scratched from sand getting trapped under liner, doing damage it is meant to protect from:(

IMO - go the spray on, stay away from plastic

[Chris52]

bought my ute 18mths old with Rhino spray on
previous owner was landscaper, tray has taken a beating & liner still going strong

i have previous experience with plastic liner in 02 ute
too damn slippery, bought rubber mat from Clarkes, beautiful
BUT when removed plastic liner, found tray paint all scratched from sand getting trapped under liner, doing damage it is meant to protect from:(

IMO - go the spray on, stay away from plastic


Seconded...go with the Rhino.

Cheers

Chris.

[chillicatqld]

Yer but whats the use of a spray on method- the tray is then stuffed also cause it is all covered in the spray finish.Too bad if the tray is perfect underneath - it's covered in Rhino crap???
Or does the spray on surface simply peel off when not needed?

[Chris52]

Yer but whats the use of a spray on method- the tray is then stuffed also cause it is all covered in the spray finish.Too bad if the tray is perfect underneath - it's covered in Rhino crap???
Or does the spray on surface simply peel off when not needed?

Seen too many trays absoloutly rooted with tub liners after a few years of neglect, however this is only on utes with trays that actually get used to carry building materials etc.IMHO if you have a tubliner and remove,inspect, clean and dry the tray and liner regularly then I dont see a problem.
"Too bad if the tray is perfect underneath"....C'mon mate thats exactly what it's supposed to do! Any way each to his own.

Cheers

Chris.

[10sec_rx7]

i just have a rubber mat from clark rubber in the back of mine and the ute liner, works fine and was about $40 from memory,

i just got a SSZ hard cover as well :) only problem is it makes my wheels look too small, had it on order since the skid pan day,

http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/dheiler/ssz.jpg

[SSZ Ute]

You have got to be joking!!!!!!!! :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

I get mine off in under a minute

How do you store yours when it is off? I am thinking of making a bit of a rack up so it can stand up on the hinge end in.

Any other ideas?

I got the factory ute liner thrown in when I bought mine. Yes it does protect the tray but geez it rattles like nothing else and it must have teflon in it because everything slides around. My answer was to get a couple of metres of marine carpet. About $60 I think and I got it in blue to match the impulse car.

[mmm]

Yer but whats the use of a spray on method- the tray is then stuffed also cause it is all covered in the spray finish.Too bad if the tray is perfect underneath - it's covered in Rhino crap???
Or does the spray on surface simply peel off when not needed?

'stuffed'? the liner is high strength, high stick to do it's job, it does not peel off, it can be topped up / resprayed to look brand new if you get a bit anal about it looking like new

show me a ute tray that is perfect underneath & i'll show you someone who doesn't use a ute for its intended purpose

experience is better than opinion

[Chris52]

'stuffed'? the liner is high strength, high stick to do it's job, it does not peel off, it can be topped up / resprayed to look brand new if you get a bit anal about it looking like new

show me a ute tray that is perfect underneath & i'll show you someone who doesn't use a ute for its intended purpose

experience is better than opinion


Again ...seconded;)

Cheers

Chris.

[DEVOJET]

I have the factory liner in my crewman. It is a poor fit and dust and dirt get trapped underneath. My Crewman is not used as a work vehicle.
I find that the slipery surface of the liner can be very handy when loading large heavy objects such as white goods. you just lay them on the tail gate and slide them in. you can't do that with a rubber mat and if you take the rubber mat out you will scratch both the item and the tray.

[6speedgen3]

im after a gud tray liner 4my vyss, who's got the best tray?

[Mungrel]

I've got either the standard or JHP one in my car (it came with it :shrug:)
works alrite :) i carry i tie-down strap in the ute tho to stop stuff sliding.

[scoot1]

Got a genuine liner in mine. They work great to protect from damage, hovever, they are very slippery. I found this out after my carton became a 22 pack and the rear of the ute smelled like a brewery. It just slid from side to side. Now I also have rubber matting in there too. Much better.

Have had to pull the liner out a couple of times, for a tail light globe, and for access to the fuel pump, and it is as good as new under there.

I have the genuine hard cover too and they seem to be the goods. Mine is about 3 years old and when I travel on a gravel road I get a small amount of dust in now and occasionally it lets a bit of water in but I expect that with age so it doesn't worry me. It does limit you a bit if you want to cart somthing big and you can't get the top closed but on the whole, it keeps out the weather so it's all good.

[lowriding]

the plastic ute liners are just crap imo. Hate them in the Ford utes and looks like now in the VE std :vpo: Always poor fit , they warp , they rattle and are stupidly slippery. My ute simply has the woven recycled tyre mat -these are unreal look good , breath and everything grips well on it , including the dog :)