Ute Tray Dimensions & Legal Guide (Australia)

Tray length is set by your cab configuration. Width is largely consistent across the popular utes. These are typical guides — your final dimensions depend on the tray model you choose, and every Duratray build is sized to suit your specific vehicle.

Dropside height on Duratray alloy trays is typically around 225–250 mm. Floor thicknesses and reinforcement vary by model — see individual aluminium and steel tray product pages for exact specs.

Most ute trays are around 1,800–1,900 mm wide so they suit standard Australian load patterns (and stay within the vehicle’s legal width). Trays wider than ~1,900 mm start to create overhang and visibility issues and are uncommon. The maximum legal vehicle width in Australia is 2,500 mm, but no popular cab-chassis ute needs anywhere near that.

Loads cannot extend beyond the vehicle in a way that creates a hazard. National guidance under the heavy-vehicle rules and state road authorities set the limits roughly as:

• Rear overhang: loads typically must not extend more than 1,200 mm beyond the rear of the body (and never more than 60% of the wheelbase). Anything sticking out beyond ~150 mm must be flagged in daylight, and lit at night.
• Front overhang: generally 1,200 mm beyond the front of the vehicle, but should not impair the driver’s view.
• Side overhang: a load can’t protrude more than 150 mm beyond either side, and total width can’t exceed 2,500 mm.

These figures are general guidance, not legal advice — check the current rules with your state road authority (TMR in QLD, RMS/Transport for NSW, VicRoads, etc.) before carrying an oversized load.

Every kilo the tray weighs is a kilo you can’t legally carry. A typical alloy ute tray weighs significantly less than the equivalent steel build — that protects your payload (the difference between your tare weight and GVM). Heavy steel trays on lighter utes can eat 100–200 kg of usable payload before you’ve loaded a thing.

Want to make the most of your payload? Read our aluminium vs steel comparison.

Replacing a factory tub with an aftermarket tray on a cab-chassis ute is normal and doesn’t require engineering on its own. Where you may need a compliance/engineering certificate is when the change affects vehicle specifications — for example a non-standard chassis-mount conversion, a GVM upgrade, a body that’s heavier than the original, or specific commercial-vehicle applications. Get in touch and we’ll tell you what your build needs.