Buying a custom ute tray on the Gold Coast or across south-east Queensland is an investment that is likely to last for the life of your vehicle. It can be difficult however to select the right ute tray for you especially if you haven’t purchased one before. 4WD Accessories Direct are the leading manufacturer and supplier of ute trays for the Gold Coast. They are also manufacturers and suppliers of ute canopies and other ute customisations.

The 2 main types of ute trays available are either aluminium ute trays or steel ute trays. Both materials have features that make them suitable ute trays for the Gold Coast and the right choice for you depends more on how you will use it. Here is what you should think about before making your custom ute tray purchase.

Weight

Aluminium is substantially lighter than steel; therefore, a steel Ute tray weighs about twice as much as an aluminium one. This is both a pro and a con for both types of trays. The lighter aluminium custom ute tray allows for heavier loads to be carried by the ute as the tray will use less of the vehicle’s GVM.

However, most utes have rear leaf spring suspension which operates more smoothly when under load. An aluminium custom ute tray and canopy may not provide the necessary weight to put the leaf springs under sufficient tension to create a smoother ride, whereas a steel tray will.

Cost

The cost of your custom ute tray is determined by 2 things, the choice of material and the level of customisation. Aluminium is a more expensive raw material than steel and also more expensive to weld. 

Designing and building a custom ute tray to fit your needs perfectly is also a more expensive option than an off-the-shelf prefabricated bolt-together ute tray. Custom Ute trays are seen driving all around the Gold Coast and are the preference for a lot of trades over something prefabricated.

Therefore, a custom-fabricated aluminium ute tray will likely be the largest investment option while a prefabricated bolt-together steel ute tray is the cheapest.

Durability

Your ute tray is an investment in your vehicle and will likely last you for the life of your vehicle. Both aluminium and steel custom ute trays have benefits that improve their durability.

Steel is without question much stronger than aluminium. This makes steel the superior option for transporting other steel products or heavy materials that may move around in the tray. However, steel is also a ferrous metal and therefore is subject to rust and corrosion. Steel ute trays on the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast are regularly exposed to the corrosive salt air from the ocean which will cause them to rust. It is unlikely however that in the lifetime of the tray any rust from salt air will impact the functionality of the tray, only the appearance.

By contrast, aluminium doesn’t rust and is therefore ideal if you frequently take your ute driving on the beaches of South East Queensland.

Customisability

If you are wanting more than just a simple tray on the back of your ute, aluminium is the answer. As previously stated, steel is heavy and so the creation of a full custom canopy setup out of steel will be extremely heavy.

Aluminium allows for the creation of a full custom ute tray and custom canopy. 4WD  Accessories Direct are specialists in creating these custom ute setups. For over 25 years they have been building and installing ute trays for customers on the Gold Coast, Sunshine  Coast and all across South East Queensland.

Hydraulic Tippers

A 3^rd and less known type of tray is a hydraulic tipper. Hydraulic tippers are the perfect tray solution for tradies who need to move a lot of loose material to the worksite such as soils,  mulches, gravel, sand etc. A hydraulic tipper allows for the tray to be used as a standard tray while also allowing for the quick removal of material through a hydraulic lift. This ability is extremely useful for trades such as landscapers.

Steel ute trays are stronger, likely cheaper but also heavier. In contrast, aluminium ute trays are lighter, allow for more customisation and last longer when exposed to the salty air of South East Queensland. Your exact needs will determine which option is right for you. 4wd Accessories Direct has decades of experience in providing either option of Ute Tray to the Gold coast, Sunshine Coast and Brisbane. Contact us today to find the right ute tray for you.

When you pull up to the job site are you suffering from at least a little bit of ute tray envy? If your ute tray is still stock, then it is time to start considering the many custom ute canopy and tray options available. Custom ute trays and custom ute canopies are extremely popular, especially on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and across South East Queensland. 4WD Accessories Direct are a local manufacturer of custom ute canopies and ute trays that service this region.

A stock ute tray has its uses and its benefits making them extremely popular in Australia. But depending on your needs, adding a custom ute canopy can further improve its usability. Dual Cabs are among the most popular utes for their ability to transport a family of 5. 4WD Accessories Direct produce a range of prefabricated ute canopies to suit all major brands of dual-cab utes, but they also produce custom ute canopies on request.

All prefabricated and custom ute canopies are manufactured by 4WD Accessories Direct using marine-grade aluminium and are available in either a checker plate or powder coat finish. The powder coat finish is especially popular for a custom ute canopy on the Gold  Coast or Sunshine Coast for its enhanced corrosion resistance and for custom ute canopy designs made from steel.

Dual Cab utes are a popular choice for those who intend on going for a drive along the beach or four-wheel driving in the hinterland of South East Queensland. A custom ute canopy or ute tray needs to therefore be built to last and withstand the bumps, shocks, salt,  sand and dust of these areas. The best custom ute canopies are built by top-quality professionals with fully welded seams. The doors should be equipped with full-length hidden stainless steel piano hinges, long-life gas struts and a real rubber seal. 4WD Accessories Direct manufactures all their prefabricated and custom canopies to these high standards.

A common addition to a custom canopy is the ability to remove it with ease. This allows the tray of the ute to still be accessible and the weight of the canopy removed when not needed. Custom Ute Canopies fitted with 4 x heavy duty jacks allow for this easy removal of the canopy. This is a common addition for those whose ute is a work car during the week and a  family car on weekends.

When fitted to a ute a custom ute canopy can limit the ability to transport larger or bulkier items. Fortunately, 4WD Accessories Direct can fit ladder racks to the custom ute canopy. The heavy-duty ladder racks are made using 40mm x 40mm bars and allow for items to be carried on top of the canopy. When combined with racks on the roof of the ute cabin items greater than 4m in length can be carried.

If a full or half ute canopy is not what you are looking for then a customised ute tray may be more suitable. 4WD Accessories Direct are manufacturers of custom ute trays for the  Sunshine Coast and across South East Queensland. Ute trays are available in either aluminium or steel with several customisations available. These customisations include full-length rope rails, ladder racks and under-tray toolboxes.

Whether you are looking for a ute canopy on the Gold Coast or a ute tray for the Sunshine Coast, 4WD Accessories Direct are leading manufacturers who love to build customised solutions for their clients. With over 25 years of experience, we are the trusted professionals regardless of the brand of ute that you drive. Contact 4WD  Accessories Direct today, or visit us at our Slacks Creek location.

A ute tool box is perfect as either your first ute customisation or your next one. In South East Queensland, ute tool boxes can be found on almost every ute you see on the road.

Utes are one of the most popular vehicles on the market. If you are a tradie you no doubt purchased a ute for work. In Australia, a ute is a necessity for most tradespeople. If you are not a tradie then you most likely purchased your ute for the flexibility it provides you. Doing odd jobs around the house or taking the family away on a road trip or camping weekend is much easier with a ute. Either way, if you haven’t already then you should seriously consider purchasing a ute tool box. 

Benefits of a Ute Tool Box

Ute tool boxes provide a range of benefits to both professional tradespeople, DIYers or those who just use their ute for recreation. These benefits include flexibility, convenience, security and affordability.

Ute tool boxes don’t have to be used exclusively for tools. While they are perfect for storing your tools and transporting them to the job site, they have plenty of uses for other ute drivers or even for tradespeople on weekends. Ute toolboxes are a great storage option when going camping, a day to the beach or park or even when picking up the groceries. This flexibility of use means every ute should have a ute tool box in South East Queensland.

When you purchase your ute, the tray is convenient however it is not secure. This may cause you hesitation in storing anything of value on the tray. Ute tool boxes are secure and lockable, allowing you to store valuable tools and equipment in them without being afraid that they will get stolen. No matter where you are on the Gold Coast or across South East Queensland, you can have a piece of mind that your valuables are secure.

While your preference may have been to drive your ute around the Gold Coast with a full custom ute tray or ute canopy, you may still be on an apprentice wage or just on a tight budget, so this is not an option. Ute tool boxes are a great affordable option that gives you some of the benefits without all of the cost.

How Ute Tool Boxes are Made

Ute tool boxes are either made in advance using templates specific to your make or model, or are custom designed to suit your exact needs. If you already have a custom ute tray or custom ute canopy, then you may need to look at a custom tool box as the space available may not fit a pre-made one.

Ute tool boxes come in a range of different shapes, sizes and configurations, including high side and low profile toolboxes, tool boxes with door and drawer combinations, square edge tool boxes, under tray tool boxes, dog boxes, gull-wing toolboxes and many more.

Regardless, all aluminium ute tool boxes from 4WD Accessories Direct are built using high-quality aluminium checker plate or marine-grade aluminium with a powder coat finish. They include heavy duty T bar locks, a full length hidden piano hinge and real rubber seals to protect the contents from dust and water.

Why buy your ute tool box locally?

Not all ute tool boxes are created equally. Ute tool boxes that are manufactured overseas are not built to survive the Australian conditions. Ute tool boxes on the Gold Coast need to be built to survive the corrosive salt air and scorching summer conditions. 

Local manufacturers such as 4WD Accessories Direct understand these conditions better than anyone and ensure their products are built to last. They have spent 25 years building custom ute canopies, ute trays and ute tool boxes for clients from the Gold Coast and across South East Queensland. 

If you buy your ute toolbox from overseas, you risk it not fitting your Australian model ute. 4WD Accessories Direct are specialists in ute customisations for all Australian makes and models. We have a range of templates that are used to ensure your custom ute tool box fits your make and model perfectly. If there are any issues with fitting your tool box the team is just a short drive from the Gold Coast to assist.

Your ute needs either a custom ute tray or canopy or, at the very least, a ute tool box. 4WD  Accessories Direct are a local manufacturer and supplier of ute tool boxes to the Gold Coast and the rest of South East Queensland. Contact the friendly and experienced team today to discuss your options.

Click here to find out more about our ute tool boxes.

If you have ever gone to collect materials from your suppliers only to realise, the materials are too long for your ute,  then you have probably experienced the frustrations of having to wait for the materials to be delivered instead. As a tradie, time is money and you don’t want to have to wait around at the job site for a material delivery, especially if you know that with ladder racks you could have collected it yourself. 

So, regardless of if your ute is still stock or you have already begun to add customisations like ute canopies, custom ute trays or under tray tool boxes, then a ladder rack needs to be next on your shopping list. 

Ladder racks are steel racks placed over the tray above the roof height of the cab. Ladder racks are popular amongst tradespeople for the benefit that they allow for the transportation of longer pieces of building material. This includes materials such as timber, roofing, pipes, conduit and of course ladders. 

Based in South East Queensland, 4WD Accessories Direct manufactures ladder racks to suit any model ute. Our ladder racks are made using high-quality Australian steel and come in a range of finishes including polished, satin or powder-coated. 

Ladder racks are mounted either to the ute tray or to the top of your custom ute canopy. They can be aligned with the roof racks on your cab to allow for the transportation of even longer materials. Further, an additional ladder rack can be fitted to the bull bar allowing for the transportation of materials as long as your vehicle. 

4WD Accessories Direct manufactures custom ute canopies in South East Queensland and ladder racks and tool boxes are very common additions. On the Gold Coast, a ladder rack can make work life easier during the week and trips away on the weekend more enjoyable. You will often see custom ute trays on the Gold Coast with ladder racks loaded with kayaks, tents and stand-up paddleboards on the weekend. 

Customising your ute tray with a ute canopy or ladder rack is becoming increasingly popular on the Gold Coast and in South East Queensland for the added benefits they provide. Providing additional storage, protecting your equipment from dust and water, securing it from theft and allowing you to transport larger loads are just a few of the benefits of these customisations. 

However, ladder racks and ute canopies are not the only customisations popular amongst South East Queensland tradies. Undertray tool boxes are very common on utes across the Gold Coast and the rest of South East Queensland. Undertray tool boxes provide convenient storage beneath the tray and around the wheels, taking advantage of the space beneath the tray that is otherwise unused. 

Undertray toolboxes from 4WD Accessories Direct are perfect for tidying up the clutter in your tray.  They are made from Australian aluminium and come in a range of different finishes, including polished, satin and powder coated. They are equipped with rubber seals to protect your equipment from dust and water.

Start taking advantage of the benefits of ladder racks by installing them on your vehicle. Allow the expert team at 4WD Accessories Direct to design and fit ladder racks to your tray or custom ute canopy and start attending your Gold Coast worksites fully prepared. Contact us today.

Find out more about our ladder racks here.

When choosing a ute canopy for your ute there are many options available so the first thing to consider is custom ute canopies v’s off the shelf or prefabricated ute canopy designs. Off the shelf ute canopies are available in Dual cab canopies, Space cab canopies and Single cab canopies with removable options available. Custom ute canopies obviously can be customised to suit your needs. To help you decide which direction to go, we have put together the following questions.

Ask yourself the following questions:

What are you going to use the custom ute canopy for?

When buying a ute canopy for your ute it is very important to consider how the ute canopy is going to be used. Work and recreation each carry different requirements. Most often ute owners want to use the ute canopies for both work and pleasure, so finding a balance between durability, weight and convenience are essential. This combined use is very common in coastal areas like the Gold Coast in Queensland where utes are regularly used for a trip to the beach or fishing on the weekend while work prevails through the week. For this reason, many ute owners on the Gold Coast customise their ute canopy to cater for dual purposes.

How often will you use your ute canopy?

If you are only planning to use your ute canopy every now and then you may not need to invest in a custom ute canopy design. 4WD accessories directly supply a wide range of pre-fabricated designs and service Brisbane, the Gold and Sunshine Coast and South East Queensland in general. If you are planning to use your ute canopy on a regular basis you should investigate custom ute canopies as an option.

Does your ute canopy need to be detachable?

If you only plan to use your ute canopy occasionally you most likely will opt for a removable model. Likewise, detachable ute canopies are perfect if you carry varying loads with different heights. Customising your ute canopy to allow for easy removal gives you the option to carry a small digger or bobcat one day, while enclosing tools in a waterproof canopy the next. In cities like the Gold Coast where weather conditions vary, this customised flexibility is very desirable to ute owners.

Do you want to use the ute canopy for work or recreation?

Many ute canopies are used for both work and recreation. Custom ute designs allow for a balance between the two uses. For example, custom ute canopies could be fitted out for a camping holiday to the Gold Coast Hinterland with both sleeping and storage options.

What accessories do you want to add/customise?

Accessories such as ladder racks which can double as surfboard racks on a trip to the Gold Coast, add greater flexibility to your custom ute design. Custom toolboxes can double for storage for work tools or fishing gear. Design is key. Even if accessories are not in your current budget, plan for them at the start and add them later.

What sort of roads will you be driving on?

If you are planning to take your vehicle off-road it is worth having your custom ute canopy and custom toolboxes dust proofed and waterproofed. If you are planning on driving on the beach, through saltwater or simply live near the beach in cities like the Gold and Sunshine Coast, it is wise to either have your steel ute canopy treated with corrosion-resistant paint or opt for aluminium ute canopies and toolboxes which offer excellent corrosion protection.

Have you thought about the added weight?

Adding a custom ute canopy adds weight and this will affect the load-bearing capacity of your ute. Aluminium custom ute trays are popular because they are lightweight yet durable as compared to custom steel ute canopies. The extra weight can also affect towing, handling, off-road capability and the feel of the steering. Our team at 4wdaccessoriesdirect can help you figure out the load calculations and advise you on the best configurations for your vehicle.

Does the roof of the ute canopy need reinforcing?

You may need to consider reinforcing the roof of your custom ute canopy to allow for carrying/ packing things on top, including roof or ladder racks on top of the canopy or even mounting a tent on top. Proper planning and design is key to the success of your custom canopy.

How do you want to mount your ute canopy?

Consider how the canopy will be mounted eg directly onto the ute tray or chassis or on top of an existing well body or tub. With a chassis mount canopy, the custom ute canopy bolts directly onto the chassis.

What is your budget?

Finally, what is your budget? Design your dream custom ute canopy, then get a quote from us. It may be possible to equip your custom ute canopy in stages if this helps with financial considerations.

Our team at 4wdaccessoriesdirect has years of experience designing and fitting custom ute trays in South East Queensland and have plenty of tips for choosing the best custom ute canopy.

Contact us directly to discuss your ideas . . .

Contact us to discuss your requirements

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Just like you need the right tool for the job, you need the right ute toolbox for your ute.

Have you ever tried to use a hammer for a job that clearly required a screwdriver? (Well, we hope not.)  The same can be said of using stock ute tool boxes in comparison to custom ute tool boxes.  Just like certain tools are made for certain jobs, a custom ute toolbox provides a seamless user experience, for a well-executed project every time. Whether you’re transporting jackhammers in the mining industry or securing smaller tools to complete personal projects; you’ll appreciate the benefits of this tailor-made work necessity.

Built to Last

One of the biggest selling points for anyone in the toolbox industry is longevity.  Here, on the rain-filled coast of South East Queensland, ute tool box longevity is compromised by weather with the potential for corrosion.  With customizable features such as different powder coated finishes and choices of metal, your toolbox can be modified to suit the mild to extreme conditions that frequent Southeast Queensland.  Specifically, in rainy cities like Brisbane, the customizable placement option further ensures the longevity of the ute tool box by placement beneath the ute; shielding from the weather altogether.  In places like Gold Coast, aluminium tool boxes are used and placed on top to ensure overall safety and product durability.  Whether placement, coated finish or material, all of these unique features create a ute toolbox that’s built to last.

Easy, Customizable Organisation

In comparison to stock ute tool boxes, made to order ute tool boxes are able to create an organised space for your expensive tools.  There might not be anything worse than having generalised storage that only stores your belongings and doesn’t offer organisation or convenient foolproof ways to retrieve them.  This poses the chance your tools will be damaged from unfit storage, or worse, not being able to locate the needed instrument for timely jobs.  When you customise your ute tool box, you’re creating the exact storage space you need to make sure your tools are safe, accessible and organised.  We offer drawers and doors of various quantities and sizes to accommodate your tool needs, as well as ergonomically fit storage bins. 

Tailor-Made Utilisation

With so many different sized utes, being able to create a toolbox specific to your vehicle’s specs is important.  Specially crafted ute toolboxes are customised to suit your vehicle by utilising the least amount of space in your ute and offering maximum storage for your tools. Configurations can be made based on location such as underbody or above body utes, and are further customizable by various shapes and even full/ half versions of dog boxes. Whether you’re driving a Toyota Hi-lux or a Volkswagen Crafter, we offer ute tool boxes that can be made to fit perfectly, so your long withstanding secure storage space and your beloved ute can travel as one.

No matter the use for your ute tool boxes here in South East Queensland, we know you have one thing in mind and that’s getting the job done.  Whether that means utilising the optional undertray, aluminium ute toolboxes in Gold Coast, or the special powder coat finished ute tool boxes of Brisbane, you can give more attention to your projects with the guarantee that the carrier of your tools is built to last, easy to use, and tailor-made for your ute.

If you’re thinking about creating your very own ute toolbox, contact us to us and discover the endless opportunities.

Under tray Toolboxes for ute trays in South East Queensland;

Undertray toolboxes are not something that immediately comes to mind when we think of how ute toolboxes are used in South East Queensland. However, they are very popular and provide a very safe and space-efficient solution for the storage of small tools and supplies. Often they are used in conjunction with toolboxes that sit on top of the ute tray to really optimise storage possibilities, further extending the functionality of ute toolboxes.

In cities of South East Queensland like Brisbane and the Gold Coast, it only takes an observant drive around the suburbs or down the freeway to see how many utes have had customised ute toolboxes added to them. The toolboxes that sit on the ute tray are fairly easy to spot. Once you start looking carefully, you will also notice ute tool boxes tucked under the ute tray, usually behind the back wheels of the ute. If you look even closer you can also find hidden, slide-out, under tray tool boxes which are referred to as under tray drawers.

So let’s look a little more closely at both under tray ute tool boxes and drawers to discover why they are so popular:

Under Tray Ute Toolboxes

Under tray toolboxes free up space on the ute tray by providing efficient storage that is tucked away. They are very economical to buy – always a plus. The most popular designs of under tray toolboxes are made from aluminium which is very lightweight. Aluminium under tray toolboxes typically weigh around 15kg, hardly affecting the available load and fuel efficiency. They are also very strong and durable and can be easily fitted to most models of utes. Custom under tray tool boxes are also available for any difficult to fit models.

Ute tool boxes in South East Queensland are often powder coated for aesthetic purposes, often to match the colour of the ute tray. Our tool boxes at 4wd Accessories Direct typically include fully welded seams, heavy-duty stainless steel T bar locks, rubber seals to resist dust and water and strong hinges. Some models of our under tray tool boxes include a piano hinge along the full length of the tool box for extra strength and durability. The combination of features delivers a quality product which our customers have come to trust and expect.

Under Tray Ute Drawers

Under tray ute drawers provide clever storage without detracting from the lines of the ute. They offer many of the same features as under tray ute tool boxes and are popular amongst more discerning customers who value style combined with functionality.

Aluminium Under Ute Tray Drawer Installed in Slacks Creek, Brisbane

Common to both the under tray tool box and the under tray drawer is their space efficiency and ability to keep the top of the ute tray free to carry larger items such as machinery or landscaping supplies. The danger with ute tool boxes is they are a little addictive – once you have one you just want to keep adding more, mainly because they are so efficient, safe and look pretty good as well. Ute tool boxes can be added to your ute in stages if the budget is a consideration. This means you can design your dream configuration of ute tray, tool boxes, ladder racks and canopy and have the choice to get them all installed in one hit or installed in stages.

Talk to us about what you need to accomplish. Together we can come up with a plan that suits both your needs and budget.

Contact 4WD accessories direct to discuss your under tray ute toolbox requirments

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Ute canopies are extremely popular in South East Queensland, both on recreational vehicles and on work vehicles, in particular work utes. Often the work vehicle doubles as a weekender so customised and versatile ute canopy designs are highly sought after. When designing a custom ute canopy in and around the Gold Coast, or supplying and installing a standardised ute canopy in other parts of South East Queensland, we often get asked, “Are ute canopies removable?” Here we explore the answer to that question?

Are Ute Canopies Removable?

The short answer is yes. However, we find that what customers really want to know is, “Are ute canopies EASILY removable?” The answer to that is a little more complicated and revolves around the following factors:

Weight

The most obvious factor to consider is the weight of a ute canopy. This applies to both standard and custom ute canopy designs. Weight is pivotal in the design of a custom ute canopy with factors such as increased load, safety, security, durability and versatility needing to be considered. Ute canopies can be designed with extra versatility in mind, allowing for dual purpose ute trays that can be used open for bigger loads with increased height (eg motorbikes) and for closed in, secure loads suitable for storing work tools and other valuable possessions.

Aluminium ute canopies are a clear choice to keep the additional weight low while providing more options for both load and versatility.

Type of material

The type of material ute canopies are made from will be a huge factor in determining if the ute canopy is easily removable. Ute canopies are typically made of steel or aluminium and are often powder coated for aesthetic purposes or to protect the steel from rust and corrosion. Some fibreglass options are also available. As mentioned above, weight is a key factor when designing removable ute canopies and correlates strongly with the type of material used. Steel is the heaviest material, aluminium the lightest and fibreglass sits somewhere between. Clearly aluminium is the lightest choice. Ute canopies made from aluminium can be removed, although it is at least a two-person process (typically 4) and requires a bit of effort.

Jack off canopies

Jack off canopies are an emerging product. As the name suggests jacks are used to either lift ute canopies up off the ute tray or lower the ute canopy down onto the ute tray. Most jacks have a manual mechanism that can be operated by one person, although hydraulic jacks are gaining popularity. Jack off canopies do in fact allow for ute canopies to be EASILY REMOVABLE, providing maximum versatility and functionality to the ute owner. It is simply a matter of parking in the garage, jacking up the ute canopy and driving away. When you want to use the ute canopy again, the reverse action quickly restores the canopy to the ute and you once again have a closed in ute tray ready to go.

Purpose

Ultimately the type of ute canopy you choose for use in South East Queensland comes down to purpose. It is understandable that canopies are in demand in South East Queensland and places like the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, simply as a means of providing protection from the weather – the harsh sun and torrential downpours. Additionally, there are very real safety concerns in these areas with opportunistic fingers ready to grab any unsecured items. Ute canopies can also improve efficiency in the work environment and pleasure in recreational settings. When customising a ute canopy design in South East Queensland (or for that matter anywhere), it is important to talk about why you want a ute canopy with your designer.

And finally

If you do want your ute canopy to be removable, talk to us about the many options available. If we don’t have a suitable design in stock, we can customise a ute canopy design for you.

We are conveniently located in South East Queensland in between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Just give us a call or pop in and see us….

Check out our gallery of ute trays and canopies here

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