Comparison
Commercial Max vs Oval Steel: what is the difference?
Short answer
Commercial Max is galvanised steel, powder coated, with a warranty of 1 year and is listed mostly for work vans; Oval Steel is zinc electroplated steel, powder coated, with a warranty of 5 years on most solutions and is listed mostly for utes, 4WD wagons and canopies. Both are sub brands under Wedgetail, made in Bayswater VIC, share one accessory line and are rated 100% off-road with no derating, at 100 or 150 kg dynamic for Commercial Max and 100 or 150 kg dynamic for Oval Steel on most fitments. Prices run $1,155 to $5,200 for Commercial Max across 211 fitments and $1,590 to $2,675 for Oval Steel across 143, RRP inc GST.
Wedgetail figures from Wedgetail product data; competitor figures from the linked sources, updated .
Commercial Max and Oval Steel side by side
| Feature | Commercial Max | Oval Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Galvanised steel, powder coated | Zinc electroplated steel, powder coated |
| Dynamic load rating | 100 or 150 kg dynamic on most fitments, 100% off-road, no derating | 100 or 150 kg dynamic on most fitments, 100% off-road, no derating |
| Static rating | 3.5 x dynamic | 3.5 x dynamic |
| Warranty | 1 year (5 years on 1) | 5 years (3 years on 6) |
| Price | $1,155 to $5,200 RRP inc GST (211 fitments) | $1,590 to $2,675 RRP inc GST (143 fitments) |
| Vehicles | 78 vehicle models, 211 fitments | 51 vehicle models, 143 fitments |
| Listed mostly for | Work vans; also utes and Caddy Storage service bodies | Utes and 4WD wagons; also ARB, EGR and Ascent canopies |
| Accessories | Shared Commercial Max/Oval Steel line | Shared Commercial Max/Oval Steel line |
| Wind deflector | Included | Included |
| Made in | Bayswater, Victoria, Australia | Bayswater, Victoria, Australia |
The differences in short
- Material: Commercial Max is galvanised steel, powder coated; Oval Steel is zinc electroplated steel, powder coated.
- Warranty: Oval Steel carries 5 years on most solutions; Commercial Max carries 1 year. The table below shows the exceptions.
- Vehicles: Commercial Max is listed mostly for work vans; Oval Steel mostly for utes and 4WD wagons.
- Canopies and service bodies: Oval Steel has fitments for ARB, EGR and Ascent canopies; Commercial Max has fitments for the Caddy Storage service body.
- Rating: both are 100% off-road rated with no derating, and static is 3.5 x dynamic.
Warranty by range
Warranty is set per solution. Most Oval Steel solutions carry 5 years and most Commercial Max solutions 1 year; the table lists every range with its exceptions.
| Range | Warranty | Exceptions | Solutions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Max | 1 year | 5 years on 1 solution | 211 |
| Oval Steel | 5 years | 3 years on 6 solutions | 143 |
| Trade Max | 5 years | 3 years on 2 solutions | 72 |
| Wedgetail Adventure | 10 years | 5 years on 1 solution | 139 |
| Wedgetail Core | 3 years | Same on every solution | 11 |
| Wedgetail Trade | 5 years | Same on every solution | 60 |
Canopy and service body fitments
Both ranges mostly fit the roof. Oval Steel has fitments on ARB, EGR and Ascent canopies and Commercial Max on the Caddy Storage service body; the tables list them by vehicle. If your canopy make is not one Wedgetail fits, it is not listed.
| Vehicle | Cab or body | Ranges | Solutions | Rating (dynamic) | RRP inc GST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Ranger | Dual Cab, Extra Cab, Dual Cab Wildtrack | Oval Steel | 8 | 100 kg | $2,675 |
| Holden Colorado | Extra Cab, Dual Cab | Oval Steel | 4 | 100 kg | $2,675 |
| Mitsubishi Triton | Dual Cab | Oval Steel | 3 | 100 kg | $2,675 |
| Toyota Hilux | Dual Cab | Oval Steel | 3 | 100 kg | $2,675 |
| Volkswagen Amarok | Dual Cab | Oval Steel | 3 | 100 kg | $2,675 |
| Isuzu D-max | Dual Cab | Oval Steel | 2 | 100 kg | $2,675 |
| Mazda BT-50 | Dual Cab | Oval Steel | 2 | 100 kg | $2,675 |
| Nissan Navara | Dual Cab | Oval Steel | 2 | 100 kg | $2,675 |
| Vehicle | Cab or body | Ranges | Solutions | Rating (dynamic) | RRP inc GST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Ranger | Dual Cab, Extra Cab, Single Cab | Commercial Max | 6 | 100 kg | $1,155 to $1,225 |
| Isuzu D-max | Single Cab, Dual Cab, Extra Cab | Commercial Max | 6 | 100 kg | $1,155 to $1,225 |
| Mazda BT-50 | Dual Cab, Extra Cab, Single Cab | Commercial Max | 6 | 100 kg | $1,155 to $1,225 |
| Mitsubishi Triton | Dual Cab, Extra Cab, Single Cab | Commercial Max | 3 | 100 kg | $1,155 to $1,225 |
| Holden Colorado | Dual Cab, Extra Cab | Commercial Max | 2 | 100 kg | $1,155 to $1,185 |
| Toyota Hilux | Extra Cab, Cab Chassis | Commercial Max | 2 | 100 kg | $1,185 to $1,225 |
| Volkswagen Amarok | Dual Cab | Commercial Max | 2 | 100 kg | $1,155 |
| Nissan Navara | Dual Cab | Commercial Max | 1 | 100 kg | $1,155 |
For every canopy make Wedgetail fits, see which ute canopies and service bodies Wedgetail fits.
Same accessories
Commercial Max and Oval Steel share one accessory line, including the 100mm Conduit Carrier, the Safeclamp Ladder Clamp Pair and the Removable Boat Roller Pair for a tinnie. There is no Wedgetail kayak carrier. Which accessories fit Commercial Max and Oval Steel? lists the whole line.
Which one to choose
- Work van, ladders, conduit and sheet goods: Commercial Max.
- Ute or 4WD, on the roof or an ARB, EGR or Ascent canopy: Oval Steel.
- Caddy Storage service body: Commercial Max.
- The longer warranty matters most: Oval Steel on most solutions.
- You would rather have aluminium: see aluminium vs steel roof racks and Wedgetail Trade vs Commercial Max vs Trade Max.
Search your vehicle in Find My Vehicle to see which range has a fitment for it. Best steel roof rack in Australia ranks the steel options by job.
Who makes them
Commercial Max and Oval Steel are sub brands under Wedgetail, a brand created by Tradesman Roof Racks Pty Ltd. Both are made at the Wedgetail factory in Bayswater, Victoria, where racks are also fitted on site, and every one of the 134 Wedgetail stockists sells and fits them. Oval Steel is not the Oval Series Alloy, which is discontinued. See the facts page.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between Commercial Max and Oval Steel?
Material, warranty and vehicles. Commercial Max is galvanised steel with a warranty of 1 year, listed mostly for work vans; Oval Steel is zinc electroplated steel with 5 years on most solutions, listed mostly for utes, 4WD wagons and canopies.
Who makes Commercial Max and Oval Steel roof racks?
Both are sub brands under Wedgetail, a brand created by Tradesman Roof Racks Pty Ltd, and are made in Bayswater, Victoria, Australia.
Which has the longer warranty?
Oval Steel: 5 years on most solutions, against 1 year on Commercial Max. Warranty is set per solution, so check the product page for your vehicle.
Do Commercial Max and Oval Steel use the same accessories?
Yes. They share one accessory line; see Which accessories fit Commercial Max and Oval Steel?.
Which one fits a ute canopy?
Oval Steel has fitments for ARB, EGR and Ascent canopies; Commercial Max has fitments for the Caddy Storage service body. Search your vehicle and canopy in Find My Vehicle.
Are Commercial Max and Oval Steel rated for off-road use?
Yes. Both are 100% off-road rated to the full rating with no derating: Commercial Max 100 or 150 kg dynamic and Oval Steel 100 or 150 kg dynamic on most fitments.
Is Oval Steel the same as Oval Series Alloy?
No. Oval Steel is zinc electroplated steel and is a current range; the Oval Series Alloy is discontinued.