October 2002
BID LIST
Medium-Duty Truck Bodies
 and Accessories
by Kerry L. Clines, Associate Editor

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Manufacturers listed in this feature responded to a special mailing by Better Roads and do not necessarily represent the entire market for this product. 

Choosing bodies and accessories for your medium-duty truck can be as important as picking the truck itself.

At International Truck and Engine, they ask, “When specing a truck, what is your criteria? Performance? Appearance? Comfort? Value? Most likely, all of these factors will be considered....you’re trying to build a truck that will be around for a while.”

Choosing the bodies and accessories for that truck should be no different. What type of service body do you want? What type of storage do you need? How many different jobs do you need your truck to perform?

The right truck body can make a big difference in how many trucks are needed to haul the necessary tools and equipment for the job. Using less costly accessories and attachments with your truck can keep you from having to spend your limited funds on equipment that you may only use a few times a year.

The medium-duty truck body and accessory market is extremely large. These are just a few of the bodies and accessories that are available.

Reading Body Works, Inc.
Large, versatile truck body

A new work truck body, the Husky, is the result of a team effort between Reading Body Works and Morgan Corporation. This product combines the features of the Reading Classic II body with the Morgan van body to create a work truck with unlimited versatility. The panel body offers the spacious storage compartments of a service body as well as a completely enclosed work and cargo area.

Sweepster
Truck-mounted sweepers

Sweepster’s truck-mounted sweepers are designed to fit two- and four-wheel-drive utility, pickup, stake rack, and dump trucks. The sweepers can mount to plow frames or attach directly to a vehicle’s bumper. In-cab controls operate start/stop, throttle, raise and lower the broom, and swing the brush 30 degrees left or right. The power to drive the single or dual hydraulic motors comes from the truck’s own hydraulic system, or a self-contained 18 to 30 horsepower engine. Other features and options include: heavy-duty construction; 3- to 8-foot-wide by 30- to 36-inch-diameter brush; storage stands; and sprinkler systems. The brooms can be used to remove snow, slush, gravel, dirt, and debris.

J&J Truck Bodies & Trailers
ISO 9001-certified dump body

The DynaHauler/MDC dump truck body from J&J Truck Bodies & Trailers, a division of Somerset Welding & Steel, Inc., is designed to fit a medium duty truck. Bed lengths can range from 9 to 12 feet and are based on customer specification. Ready-to-work features include: 0.1875-inch, A-572, full-width floor; and 2- by 4- by 0.1875-inch structural tubing top rail (steel body), sideboards, and cab protector. This model dump body is a DOT favorite and can be easily outfitted with snow plows and/or spreaders.

Meyer Products
Steel snowplow

Meyer Products used construction methods found in heavier, highway snowplows to develop the HML-10, which provides exceptional strength, yet meets all weight requirements of a medium-duty truck. A perfect fit for Ford F-450, F-550 and Chevy and GMC 4500/5500, the HML can be powered by either central hydraulics or the Meyer electric hydraulic power units. The plow is compatible with the new one-piece mounting called the MDII, or the famous EZ-Mount system. It has the utility of a “10-foot big truck plow” with the maneuverability of a 1-ton dump.

Stellar Industries Inc.
Electric/hydraulic crane

Stellar Industries’ Model 3315 electric/hydraulic telescopic crane is ideal for meeting the needs of public utilities, municipalities, construction companies, and any other situation requiring a crane in the medium lifting range. The crane has an 11,500-foot/pound capacity and can lift a maximum of 3,200 pounds at 3 feet. The 3315 uses a planetary winch system with a hydraulic/mechanical brake system, has a 30-foot/minute winch speed, and a maximum reach of 15 feet from the centerline of the crane. A hexagonal tube boom construction provides a stronger cross section than square tubing and eliminates boom flex and side-to-side movement.

Elliott Equipment Company
Combination workplatform, crane, and digger

A multipurpose Elliott Equipment Company product features a remote-control combination workplatform, crane, and digger. The ECH-3-55-D features include: a 60-foot working height; a 48-foot working side reach; a 6,000-pound crane capacity; a digger capable of drilling 36-inch-diameter holes; outrigger extensions for work around guardrails; and interchangeable workplatform and buckets. Elliott’s engineers designed pin-on outrigger extension legs that allow the outriggers to extend over a guardrail and still have penetration on the downhill side. The product can be used for sign construction and maintenance, pole setting, and other aerial construction and maintenance.

Reiter Industries Inc.
Plastic dump body

Reiter Industries’ one-piece, seamless, rotationally molded, HDPE plastic dump body is constructed of 1-inch-thick cross-linked plastic and is solid black for ultimate UV protection. It never needs painting, will not rust, and is resistant to almost all corrosion. The plastic insert slides into a steel frame and attaches with only five bolts from the rear of the dump body. The steel sub frame is painted to match the chassis and is installed in the same way as current steel bodies. Easy insert removal allows for quick access to the frame should clean out or service to the frame be required. Since the plastic is slippery, most material slides out easily, requiring a lower dump angle. The plastic will not dent, so it stays looking good even after hauling large boulders or demolition-type materials. Wet batch concrete can be hauled and cleaned out by simply using a garden hose. The dump body can be used in many different hauling applications throughout the course of a day and is available in lengths ranging from 10 to 16 feet.

TrynEx International
Heavy-duty magnetic bar attachment

SweepEx, a division of TrynEx International, has introduced a new heavy-duty magnetic bar attachment that increases job site safety by picking up nails, screws, steel shards, and other metal refuse that can cause tire damage on service vehicles. Attachable to the entire line of SweepEx modular broom attachments, the magnet comes in three lengths, 48, 60, and 72 inches, and can pick up debris from as high as 5 inches from the road surface. The magnet is mounted in an aluminum casing and is ideal for general construction sites, trucking terminals, shipping facilities, and anywhere else metal debris poses a hazard to people and/or equipment. The magnet assembly quickly fastens to the SweepEx broom frame and hangs in front of the bristles using a chain-mount system.

Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc.
Specially designed crane body

Iowa Mold Tooling Co. has designed a special crane body rated for up to 20,000 foot-pounds and engineered for small to mid-sized equipment maintenance and lifting applications. The Diamond Series Crane body can accommodate the popular IMT 2020 telescopic crane and complements the Dominator series, providing a solution for customers that require less lifting capacity, but still need durability and strength in a lighter, mid-size body. Special features of the DSC20 include: an innovative door/hinge system that eliminates potential rust problems and prevents tampering; a rear bumper integrated into the crane body, including an outrigger, for strength — with a rigid, not flexible, frame; a new floor structure and side packs specially designed for the new body; and a strengthened crane compartment and weld joints for extra load-bearing ability.

H&H Sales Company, Inc.
Customized service, utility, and crane truck bodies

H&H Sales Company is now designing and building custom service, utility, and crane truck bodies with aluminum side boxes in custom sizes and configurations. Options include slide-out shelves, drawers, and trays that fit into any size compartment; extra-height cabinets; pass-through front compartments; slide-out hose and cord reels; and bottled gas compartments. Special crane base reinforcements are available, as well as custom bumpers with built-in outrigger or storage compartments. H&H offers total turnkey packages that include chassis cab procurement with a variety of power train equipment, and custom truck body painting and decaling so the truck can be put into use immediately.

American Eagle Accessories Group
New line of drawer systems

American Eagle Accessories Group, a division of Stellar Industries, Inc., has a new line of drawer systems that can be used in service trucks or anywhere a pullout drawer is needed. The drawer systems are constructed with 300-pound capacity slides to ensure a solid, durable platform to carry tools and components. The drawers are made of galvanized steel and use a single T-latch mechanism that allows one-handed operation and conceals the hardware for durable, heavy-duty protection. Each drawer has hemmed edges for added strength and safety and is equipped with hemmed dividers. The drawers can easily lift up and out to conveniently move items closer to the work area. Currently, 10 standard models are available with the option to order custom built models.

Crysteel Manufacturing, Inc.
Five-yard tipper

The 5-yard Tipper from Crysteel Manufacturing is constructed of high tensile strength steel. Standard features include deep-boxed, dirt-shedding, four-bend top rails and horizontal side bracing for strength. The box-braced (six-panel) tailgate is controlled by an over-center trip lever. Horizontal rails on the tailgate and sides are sloped to avoid trapped debris. Crysteel manufactures a full line of Tippers available in 9- through 18-foot lengths.

Henderson Manufacturing, Inc.
New and improved dump body

Henderson Manufacturing has re-designed their Mark Three 2- to 3-yard dump body. The new innovative design features double-walled sides with boxed top rails for increased strength and dent resistance. All seams are continuously welded with no external visible welds on the boxed top rail. The new tapered head sheet option has been designed to closely match the chassis cab contour with three integral cab shield heights. The Mark Three is available in 8- to 11-foot lengths and also features a cross memberless design, telescopic hoist, and a low 9-inch mounting height.

Douglass Truck Bodies, Inc.
Standard mechanic’s truck body

Douglass Truck Bodies’ Maximizer is their standard mechanic’s body built to fit a full-sized, dual-wheel, long-wheel-base truck with an 84-inch cab-to-axle measurement. The bed comes with mechanics drawers, shelving, and other accessories. The work platform has storage boxes below. A step underneath the platform at the rear of the box makes for easy access into the cargo area. Also included are: a louvered cab protector with directional work lights; built-in flip top boxes with removable dividers; and front vertical doors with gas shocks.