Custom Ford Ranger Tray: What Owners Actually Want

The Ford Ranger occupies an interesting spot. Smaller than a full-size pickup, larger than a compact truck, and increasingly the platform of choice for trades work and overland builds in the US. A custom tray (or flatbed conversion) opens the Ranger up to use cases the factory bed cannot support.

Here is what owners actually ask about when commissioning a Ranger tray build.

Use cases that justify a tray

Trade work. Plumbers, electricians, HVAC techs, landscapers. A tray with side cabinets, integrated lockable storage, and a flat working surface beats a bed for daily access. Standing in a bed to grab tools, then climbing out, costs time on every job.

Overland or expedition use. A flat tray with tie-down rails accepts modular gear systems (RotoPax, water cans, kitchen boxes, recovery gear) more cleanly than a stock bed with wheel-well intrusions. The wheel-well bumps in a factory bed make modular layouts painful.

Hauling specific oversized cargo. Lumber, kayaks, motorcycles, ATVs. A flat tray with no inner wheel-well bumps accommodates loads a stock bed cannot.

Aesthetic build. Some owners want the tray look as a finished statement. This is a valid use case but it should be honest - a tray for looks costs the same as a tray for work, and the use-case answer determines the build details.

Tray material choices

Steel is the most common. Cheaper, stronger per dollar, easy to weld additions onto later. Heavier than aluminum. Will rust if not properly coated and maintained. For New England use, steel needs a quality protective coating and ongoing maintenance.

Aluminum is lighter (meaningfully - sometimes 100+ lbs lighter than equivalent steel), rust-resistant, and ages cleanly. Costs significantly more. Welding aluminum requires different equipment and skills than steel, so adding modifications later costs more too.

Composite/fiberglass trays exist but are uncommon for working applications. Lightweight and rust-free, but harder to repair and less suited to heavy point loads.

For most Ranger owners in Western Massachusetts, a steel tray with quality paint or powder coat plus a urethane bed-liner-style coating on the working surface is the right answer. It costs less than aluminum, holds up to salt with proper care, and accepts welded modifications easily.

Mounting and integration

Done right, a tray bolts to the existing factory bed mount points so removal is possible later. Done poorly, the tray gets welded directly to the frame, removing future flexibility.

Quality tray builds keep the original tail-light wiring functional (with new lights repositioned at the tray's rear corners) and preserve the factory rear bumper or replace it with a compatible step-bumper that integrates cleanly.

Storage boxes and cabinets

Common additions for trade-work trays:

• Side-mounted lockable cabinets along the tray rails for tools
• A headache rack behind the cab for ladder mounting and lumber stops
• Tie-down rails integrated along the tray edges
• A spare tire mount if the factory location is no longer accessible
• Underbody toolbox if vertical access is needed

Each addition has cost and weight. A tray loaded with every option easily adds 400+ pounds, which affects fuel economy, handling, and tire wear. Match the additions to the actual work the truck will do.

Lead time and process

A custom Ranger tray build is a multi-week project. Design and material sourcing first, then fabrication, then mounting and finish. Expect 3 to 6 weeks at a shop that builds custom trays as a regular line of work.

Where Full Tilt fits

Full Tilt handles tray fabrication, mounting, coatings, and the protective spray-liner finish on the working surface. We coordinate with electrical specialists when the tail-light and brake-light wiring needs rework. Bring the Ranger and a description of what you haul, and we will design a tray that suits the work.