Buying a truck is a big investment. However, choosing the right body type for your truck can be overwhelming, especially for first-time buyers.
While both standard and custom body types have their advantages and disadvantages, the ideal body depends on your unique needs and budget. Learn three primary differences between standard and custom body trucks so you choose the best one for your needs.
Design Capabilities
Standard bodies have a limited selection of sizes, configurations, and capabilities based on the manufacturer's standard body size catalog. All bodies are pre-engineered, and you can only choose a body depending on available sizes and options, which may be limiting for some of your needs. While some manufacturers have a comprehensive selection of bodies and options, other manufacturers don't.
Fortunately, custom bodies have an infinite combination of sizes and configurations to your needs and exact requirements. You can alter the truck bed's structure, lower the body, or modify the bumper, lighting, and material racks - the options are limitless. As long as the custom configuration adheres to federal vehicle regulations, your imagination is the limit.
Custom bodies are excellent for specialized applications and cargo that cannot fit in a standard flatbed. With a custom body, you can design a truck to accommodate specific storage, equipment, and specialized tools. For instance, you can mount tools permanently on the truck without jeopardizing security and storage.
Cost
Standard truck bodies are less costly than custom ones since they are mass-produced and have similar features and functionality. These features of standard truck bodies create lower acquisition expenses. Standard truck bodies are ideal for buyers on a budget and consumers who use cost as the primary determination for their purchase. Since standard bodies have a standard configuration, they also have a high resale value and wide market.
Typically, any specialized or customized product is costlier than its standard counterpart, and truck bodies are no different. Custom truck bodies are expensive as much time and labor go into their manufacture. The more customized the body and configuration are compared to the standard body, the costlier it may be.
Also, the more customized your truck is to your unique application, the lower the resale value and the smaller the resale market is. When you want to sell the truck, you must find a buyer with the same application and needs, which may be challenging.
However, a custom truck can save you hefty maintenance and repair bills. Since you customize the body to meet your unique application, your truck is less vulnerable to premature wear and tear and costly repair. For example, if you intend to carry heavy loads, a custom body is better prepared with additional features such as a stronger or added suspension, thus reducing the risk of body damage.
Lead Time
Standard truck bodies are manufactured in bulk and thus readily available for purchase. As such, when you need a truck, you can get one almost immediately. A standard body is ideal for people who need a truck urgently and cannot wait for one to be made.
On the other hand, custom bodies have a longer lead time since they take significant time to make. A manufacturer must tailor a truck body to the clients' needs, whether the truck needs to carry fragile goods or animals. While manufacturers strive to decrease custom body lead times, standard bodies are still much faster to manufacture.
Get in touch with
Diamond Truck Body Mfg. Inc. for standard and custom truck bodies. We are leaders in truck body design and manufacturing, and we will work with you to create a versatile service vehicle to meet your everyday needs. We add rugged durability, versatility, and innovation to your truck.
