hey guys my datsun 1200 ute has it all done all ready but i dont know how to upload pics

if i was u using marine carpet id get a torneau cover as the water does sit in the tray damp. but im quite fussy with things liek that

marine carpet is usually pretty heavy duty and stiff.

I would just trim the carpet to fit the tray neatly and leave it at that.
Dont glue it, fix it to wood, or anything.

If it gets wet, pull it out , and let it dry, put it back in.

Rust wont set in overnight, so a few days with it wet wont hurt.

A good alternative maybe is what is called "fatigue matting".
Its a very soft rubber that has holes in it about 3-4cms diameter with little rubber knobs on the bottom.
Its used where people have to stand all day in the same spot.
It lets water drain away well, grips well (stops stuff sliding inthe tray) and looks reasonable. Clark rubber here in WA recetnly had a sale on similar stuff.

the velcro i got from clark rubber was the strongest one i could get. it sticks well...and i pretty hard to pull apart with your hands

Yea good idea on the rivets. If i do use velcro, using it alone might be a risk driving on the motorway at high speed. With a strong gust of wind the carpet might fly off and kill someone. Is that what you were thinking louix? You guys reckon the velcro would stick well enough to the tray? Maybe use additional adhesive?

yeah self adhesive..4 rivits at each corner to hold down

Self adhesive velcro ? I have used it on inside carpet to keep it in place at times.

Sounds sweet louix. Only thing there is that I was told aluminium is known to chemically react with steel over time. Just wondering how did you fix the aluminium sheet to the tray?

Thought of a new alternative method today...using stainless steel or galvanized steel tack strips glued across the tray and then fixing the carpet to them. Would probably need foam strips in between to level the carpet out. Anyone ever hear of installing it this way?

i used a thing sheet of aluminium for the bottom of the tray. i then made 2 wooden trapezium shaped boxes to go over the wheel wells and marine carpeted over them so the carpet doesnt bubble due to the shape of the wheel well. carpeted all the rest.i glued the carpet to the aluminium on the bottom but i used double sided velcro so stick the sides on as they were painted and the glue can wreck your paint.

try marine ply better for wheather conditions.cheers