Do you ever see a ute tray setup that just brings a tear to your eye? No? Maybe it’s just me, although I’m sure I’m not alone in this, the reason being that there are some gloriously decked out utes around. Anyone with even a passing interest in ute accessories would surely have no choice but to look twice at some of these rigs and, if not shed a tear, at least nod decisively in admiration.
I don’t know if this is a recent development, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was. Aluminium fabrication technology is no doubt developing rapidly, giving rise to new possibilities for tray, toolbox and ute canopy designs. Melbourne, no doubt, is at the forefront of these developments, as it is with many innovations. So it all stacks up.
It probably sounds like I’m waxing overly lyrical here – after all, we’re talking ute parts, not high art or rocket science over here. Or are we? That’s my question to anyone who says I’m getting obsessive in my attention to detail. Who says that aluminium accessories can’t represent the heights of human genius? Clearly, someone who’s never tried to transport a whole lot of variously sized tools and equipment that must be easily accessible, securely stored in an orderly fashion and protected from the elements.
Try doing all that without a killer ute rig, then get back to me. Even a half canopy can be a thing of beauty, allowing space in the tray for additional equipment that can’t be fitted into boxes. It’s all a delicate dance of balance, proportion, shape and arrangement, thoughtfully choreographed into a powerful statement of functionality.
This dazzling ballet is widely underappreciated in our culture, and I accept that. Still, I’ll continue to shed the occasional tear in honour of the supreme grace and elegance that is a mint ute rig.