Ordering a custom truck body is a significant investment. Whether you are fitting out a single vehicle or specifying a whole fleet, getting the details right before fabrication starts will save you time, money and a fair bit of frustration. At VN Truck Bodies in Keysborough we work closely with customers all the way through the specification process, and the questions you ask at the start make a real difference to the finished body.
These are the main things we suggest you talk through with your truck body builder before you place an order.
1. What the truck body will be used for
Start with the job rather than the body style. It helps to be clear about whether you will be carrying refrigerated goods, construction materials, general freight or something more specialised, because the intended use decides everything from the body type and material to the door layout and the fittings inside.
A refrigerated body for fresh produce, for example, has very different requirements from a tray body used on a building site. If you tell your builder exactly what you carry, how heavy the loads are and how often the body will be opened, they can design something that holds up to the work in the real world.
2. The chassis you are fitting it to
Your truck body has to be engineered to suit your particular chassis, and the make, model, year and wheelbase all affect the build. Please bring the vehicle’s compliance plate details or GVM rating to your consultation. If you are buying a new truck, try to confirm the chassis specifications before you lock in the body design.
Cab-over trucks, bonneted trucks and tandem axle set-ups all have different mounting requirements. Getting this wrong can affect your payload rating and roadworthiness, and it can even affect the warranty on the truck itself.
3. The internal dimensions you need
The floor length, internal width and internal height of the body directly affect what you can carry and how efficiently you can load it. Before your meeting, it is worth measuring your usual pallets, equipment or product so you know the minimum usable space you need.
Think about whether you need full pallet access from the rear, side doors for walk-in access, or a particular floor height that lines up with loading docks. These requirements will shape the whole body design.
4. The materials and construction
Truck bodies can be built from mild steel, aluminium, fibreglass composites or stainless steel, and each has a different balance of weight, durability and cost. It is worth talking about the conditions you work in, because coastal areas may call for corrosion-resistant materials and heavy-duty work may need reinforced flooring or subframes.
Ask your builder about the floor options, which include timber, aluminium chequerplate and composite, as well as the wall lining and roof construction. The right combination of materials can make your body last significantly longer and reduce your ongoing maintenance costs.
5. The doors and access you need
Doors are one of the most important parts of any truck body and one of the most often customised. The options include barn doors, roller doors, side-hinged doors and tuck-away roller shutters, and each one suits a different way of working.
Think about how often the body is opened, whether you need forklift access, and whether you load from the rear, the side or both. If you run a multi-drop route, quick and easy access may be your top priority, while security and lockability may come first if you carry high-value equipment.
6. Any compliance or industry requirements
Depending on your industry, your truck body may need to meet particular standards. These can include food-grade linings for carrying consumables, certifications for the refrigeration unit, dangerous goods compliance, or industry codes for livestock or waste. Raise these requirements early so your builder can allow for them in the design and the paperwork.
At VN Truck Bodies we build to the relevant standards for your work, and we work with registered engineers and certifiers, who handle the approvals where a build needs them. On refrigerated bodies we build the insulated body and coordinate with a refrigeration technician for the unit.
7. Your timeline and budget
A custom truck body takes time to build properly. Depending on how complex it is, lead times can range from a few weeks to several months, so be upfront about the date you need it, especially if the truck is tied to the start of a contract or a fleet renewal schedule.
When it comes to budget, try to separate the features you must have from the ones that would be nice to have. A good builder will help you prioritise the specifications and get the best result within your budget, rather than selling you features you do not need.
When you are ready to specify your next truck body, contact VN Truck Bodies in Keysborough on 0447 452 222 to book a consultation. We build custom bodies for all truck types and industries across Melbourne and Victoria.