Thanks for all the positive feedback!

Jason, I drilled and tapped 28 M6x1.0 holes in the steel frame then countersunk the holes in the aluminum and used stainless steel hardware. The 1/8in. 8'x4' sheet of brite tread aluminum was $130 <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> Rough Tuff dull aluminum was another $60 or per sheet. If I were to do it over again I probably would have just gone with 1/8 steel for around $60 for a sheet that size.

I was really worried about the weight of the steel treadplate but it would have been so much easier to just weld it to the top of the frame. The aluminum will hold up much better to the winter enviorment around here though.