Thread: Alloy tray

I've got an alloy tray on on the old farm truck 4.6m x 2.3m , i want to strengthen the deck to carry heavier stuff . I was thinking of laminating 2.5mm chequer plate steel sheets to the top with liquid nails rather than replace it with a steel tray. Do you reakon this would work ?

Several questions, what's the thickness of the current floor, how far apart are the beams across the tray, and what sort of load (tonnage) do you anticipate applying to it, will it be in the one spot (tractor or machinery) or spread out, (firewood, dirt, hay etc)?
Any chance of a pic of the underside of the tray, please? The whole tray may be OK, or it might hold 500kg?
There's no point in giving a definitive answer, without knowing these main points, it's a bit like will this rope be OK to tie down a load, ropes come in a variety of sizes and materials.
HTH
Kryn

Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore

Several questions, what's the thickness of the current floor, how far apart are the beams across the tray, and what sort of load (tonnage) do you anticipate applying to it, will it be in the one spot (tractor or machinery) or spread out, (firewood, dirt, hay etc)?
Any chance of a pic of the underside of the tray, please? The whole tray may be OK, or it might hold 500kg?
There's no point in giving a definitive answer, without knowing these main points, it's a bit like will this rope be OK to tie down a load, ropes come in a variety of sizes and materials.
HTH
Kryn

Its about 2-3mm thick id say same as most alloy trays on utes , alloy cross members about 50mm x 30mm spaced every 300mm, then it sits on 2 rails about 100mm thick. Want to move a 5 ton execavator around with attachments. Just a bit worried the alloy tray might bend as is without a extra sheets on it.

Don't worry it will more than likely still bend with the extra sheets.

Load capacity issues to the side, have you considered the potential effects of electrolysis.

The new steel sheet should not contact the aluminium but should have plastic insulators.

I do not believe that globs of liquid nails could be considered as a decent insulator.

All things considered I would think about building a new all steel frame on your truck chassis to suit your load requirements.

Grahame

The floor is a tad on the light side, as Grahame mentioned, electrolysis is going to be your enemy.
What weight is the excavator, as this too will have a bearing on the flooring plus the 50X25mm cross members, even with the steel on top of it all.
If it's in the 3 tonne range, and on rubber tracks, the frame and floor should be OK as it is, remembering that the tracking distributes the weight over a greater area.
If the tracking is steel, I'd bolt 19mm painted both sides construction ply to the floor in the areas the tracks to run on. You'd only require half a dozen bolts per section, so that they can be easily replaced if/when needed. If you're really concerned about the floor, this could be done for the rubber tracks, this would be a lot cheaper than steel also.
HTH
Kryn

Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore

The floor is a tad on the light side, as Grahame mentioned, electrolysis is going to be your enemy.
What weight is the excavator, as this too will have a bearing on the flooring plus the 50X25mm cross members, even with the steel on top of it all.
If it's in the 3 tonne range, and on rubber tracks, the frame and floor should be OK as it is, remembering that the tracking distributes the weight over a greater area.
If the tracking is steel, I'd bolt 19mm painted both sides construction ply to the floor in the areas the tracks to run on. You'd only require half a dozen bolts per section, so that they can be easily replaced if/when needed. If you're really concerned about the floor, this could be done for the rubber tracks, this would be a lot cheaper than steel also.
HTH
Kryn

i'd say machine max 2.5t in weight , plywood a good option and yer cheaper than steel sheets. I'll post a pic of the tray next week when i'm next there. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Grahame Collins

....All things considered I would think about building a new all steel frame on your truck chassis to suit your load requirements.

Grahame

Yes very expensive to build a decent steel tray as the cross members are 75-100mm on most trucks (5mm thick C channel) , plus not sure my welder would is strong enough to weld it together properly. I will try and beef it up with some ply first. Maybe plywood like KB said then cover the ply with steel sheets and just tex scew the whole thing together plus liquid nails. Thanks.

I think you'll find that most trays in the <8 tonne range, use 50 X 25 X 3 RHS for the cross members, and 100 X 50 X 3 RHS for the main chassis rails, with 75mm channel for the combing, (the frame around the outside of the tray.
If you're going to put steel sheet over the ply, make sure that it's given a few good coats of primer, otherwise it'll rust out in no time, and paint the ply as well, I've seen many a tray with ply underneath, that has rotted away.
I wouldn't use liquid nails, it'll cost you a fortune, if you use that stuff to do the job properly, as just putting it around the edge of the sheet, will be as useful as putting lipstick on a pig.
If you want to do something properly, do it once and do it right, yes it might cost a bit more, BUT you won't have to do it again$$$$$$$
Kryn

Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore

... will be as useful as putting lipstick on a pig.