DROP SIDE TRAYS

Truck Body Builds, Repairs & Modifications Across Victoria

Looking for a truck body builder in Melbourne or Victoria? Metro Truck Body Builders designs, builds, repairs and modifies working truck bodies from its workshop in Seaford, Melbourne’s south-east.

Metro works with truck owners, trades, contractors, businesses, fleets, councils and commercial operators across Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula, regional and rural Victoria, with suitable interstate projects also welcome.

Whether you need a custom Tipper Body, Chipper Tipper, Beavertail Truck Body, Flat Tray or custom truck tray, Drop Side Tray, Service Body, custom truck toolbox or truck body repair or modification, start with the truck and what you need it to do.

Here are some useful things to know before you get in touch with Metro.

Where Is Metro Truck Body Builders?

Metro Truck Body Builders is based in Seaford, Victoria, in Melbourne’s south-east.

The workshop is well positioned for commercial trucks travelling from Frankston, Carrum Downs, Dandenong, Cranbourne, Pakenham, the Mornington Peninsula and greater Melbourne, with access through the major road network surrounding Seaford.

If you have driven through the area before, there is a fair chance you have already seen Metro. Look for the big yellow METRO sign visible from the overpass.

From the Seaford workshop, Metro undertakes custom truck body building, truck body fabrication, truck body repairs, truck body modifications and commercial vehicle fit-out.

Got a job in mind? Send Metro the details and request a quote.

How Far Is Metro From Dandenong, Frankston & Carrum Downs?

Metro’s Seaford workshop sits within one of Melbourne’s major south-eastern industrial and transport areas.

Approximate driving distances and times to Metro based on the routes checked are:

• Carrum Downs: approximately 4 minutes / 2.9 km
• Frankston: approximately 9 minutes / 7.9 km
• Dandenong: approximately 15 minutes / 19.2 km
• Cranbourne: approximately 18 minutes / 16.2 km
• Mornington: approximately 24 minutes / 24.9 km
• Pakenham: approximately 38 minutes / 45.4 km
• Melbourne: approximately 45 minutes / 49.3 km

Travel times vary with traffic, truck restrictions, road conditions and your exact starting point, so check your route before leaving.

If you are searching for a truck body builder in Melbourne’s south-east, Metro’s Seaford location provides practical access from many of Melbourne’s major south-eastern commercial and industrial areas.

Does Metro Service the Mornington Peninsula?

Yes. Metro welcomes truck body enquiries from across the Mornington Peninsula.

The Seaford workshop sits at the northern end of the Peninsula. Mornington is approximately 24 minutes from Metro based on the route checked, while Frankston is approximately 9 minutes away.

Businesses, trades, contractors and truck owners from the Peninsula can contact Metro about custom truck bodies, Tipper Bodies, Chipper Tippers, Beavertails, Flat Trays, Drop Side Trays, Service Bodies, truck toolboxes, repairs and modifications.

If your truck works on the Mornington Peninsula but needs specialist fabrication, a new body or repairs, send the job through to Metro.

What Does Metro Truck Body Builders Build?

Metro designs and builds custom truck bodies for commercial working trucks. Each body is developed around the cab chassis, available payload, application, load and the way the customer needs the finished vehicle to work.

Metro’s truck body work includes:

• Tipper Bodies for construction, civil, landscaping, transport and other commercial applications
• Chipper Tippers for arborists, tree crews and vegetation management
• Beavertail Truck Bodies for machinery, plant and equipment transport
• Flat Trays & Custom Truck Trays for open commercial carrying applications
• Drop Side Trays for commercial loads requiring side containment and access
• Service Bodies for trades, field service, maintenance and commercial fleets
• Custom Truck Toolboxes & Underbody Toolboxes
• Truck Body Repairs & Modifications

There is no point building the wrong body beautifully.

Tell Metro what the truck needs to carry, load, unload, tow or do on site. If you already have drawings or a specification, send them through. If you do not have every detail sorted yet, start with what you know.

The job starts with what the truck needs to do.

Does Metro Build Custom Truck Bodies?

Yes. Custom truck body building is at the centre of what Metro does.

Rather than trying to make one standard body suit every application, Metro works from the cab chassis and operating requirements to determine the body configuration, materials, dimensions, access, storage and equipment required for the individual job.

This approach applies across Metro’s range of custom truck bodies, from specialist Tippers and Beavertails through to Flat Trays, Drop Side Trays and Service Bodies.

If you are searching for a custom truck body builder in Melbourne or Victoria, send Metro your truck make and model, location and a description of what the vehicle needs to do.

Does Metro Build Tipper Bodies?

Yes. Metro builds custom Tipper Bodies for commercial and working trucks.

The body is specified around the cab chassis, intended load, available payload and working application. Material selection also depends on the job. Metro uses mild steel and, where the application and specification call for greater wear resistance, Hardox.

Metro also builds specialist Chipper Tippers for arborists, tree crews and vegetation management.

If you are looking for a tipper body builder in Melbourne, a custom tipper body in Victoria or need to discuss a Hardox tipper body for a demanding application, tell Metro what truck you have and what it needs to carry.

Does Metro Build Chipper Tippers?

Yes. Metro has particular experience building custom Chipper Tippers and arborist truck bodies.

These enclosed hydraulic tipper bodies are designed around arborists, tree crews and vegetation-management work, including the collection, transport and unloading of wood chip, mulch and green waste.

Metro Chipper Tippers can incorporate full-piece side walls, fully welded internal floors, hydraulic tipping systems, rear barn doors, storage, toolboxes, tarps, towing equipment and other features depending on the individual truck and specification.

If you operate an arborist, tree-service or vegetation-management business, the dedicated Chipper Tippers page explains this specialist truck body in greater detail.

Does Metro Build Beavertail Truck Bodies?

Yes. Metro builds custom Beavertail Truck Bodies for machinery, plant and equipment transport.

The deck, sloping rear section, loading arrangement, ramps, tie-down provisions, storage and fitted equipment are worked out around the cab chassis and what the truck needs to transport.

Fixed and hydraulic ramp arrangements are available depending on the individual build.

If you are searching for a Beavertail truck body builder in Melbourne or Victoria, tell Metro what machinery or equipment you need to carry and what truck you are working with.

Does Metro Build Flat Trays & Custom Truck Trays?

Yes. Metro builds custom Flat Trays and steel truck trays for commercial working trucks.

At Metro, they are called Flat Trays. You may also see the same general body style described online as a flatbed truck tray or flatbed truck body. Metro uses the Australian industry terminology Flat Tray while also building what customers searching for custom truck trays are looking for: an open commercial carrying deck fabricated around the truck and its work.

Flat Trays suit pallets, timber, building materials, equipment, freight and trade loads across construction, civil work, trades, transport, councils, agriculture and commercial fleets.

Tray dimensions, steel floor specification, side combing, rope rails, load restraint, access, toolboxes, racks, towing equipment, crane provision and other fitted components can all form part of the individual build.

Metro’s Flat Tray work is focused on custom steel truck tray fabrication for commercial trucks, rather than aluminium ute trays, generic accessories, truck hire or complete trucks for sale.

If you are searching for truck tray builders in Melbourne, custom truck trays in Victoria or a steel Flat Tray designed around a commercial cab chassis, see Metro’s dedicated Flat Trays & Truck Trays page.

Does Metro Build Drop Side Trays?

Yes. Metro builds custom Drop Side Trays for commercial trucks.

A Drop Side Tray combines a commercial carrying deck with hinged sides that help contain materials during transport while still providing practical side access for loading and unloading.

Depending on the build, Metro can incorporate removable drop sides, fixed or removable hurdles, over-cab racks, custom headboards, toolboxes, load restraint and other equipment.

If the work benefits from side containment but still requires practical loading access, a Drop Side Tray may make more sense than an open Flat Tray.

Compare the dedicated Drop Side Trays and Flat Trays pages to see how the two body styles suit different working applications.

Does Metro Build Service Bodies?

Yes. Metro builds custom Service Bodies and service truck bodies for trades, field service, maintenance operations, commercial vehicles and working fleets.

A Service Body can incorporate organised storage, toolboxes, equipment access, electrical fit-out and other components around the way the vehicle is used in the field.

Metro also supplies and installs custom truck toolboxes and underbody toolboxes, both as part of complete truck body builds and as suitable standalone work.

If you need a service truck body in Melbourne or Victoria, send Metro the truck details, equipment requirements and how the vehicle needs to work.

Does Metro Supply & Install Custom Truck Toolboxes?

Yes. Metro provides custom truck toolbox and underbody truck toolbox solutions for commercial trucks.

Storage can be integrated into a complete truck body build or undertaken as suitable standalone toolbox work.

Depending on the vehicle and application, toolbox arrangements can include behind-cab, on-tray and underbody storage with different sizes and door configurations.

Metro works through the specification, supply, installation and integration of suitable toolbox arrangements with the truck body. Toolbox manufacture is sourced through specialist suppliers rather than represented as in-house Metro manufacture.

The useful question is not simply how much storage will fit. Toolbox size, position, access, clearance, payload and surrounding equipment all need to work with the finished truck.

Does Metro Repair Truck Bodies?

Yes. Metro carries out truck body repairs in Melbourne from its Seaford workshop.

If a truck body has been damaged, worn through commercial use or needs fabrication work to return it to service, send Metro some details about the problem.

Repairs can involve fabricated body components, floors, doors, hinges, trays, Tipper Bodies and other truck body structures depending on the individual job.

Metro’s repair work provides a dedicated option for customers searching for truck body repairs, truck tray repairs, truck body refurbishment or commercial truck body repairs in Melbourne.

Photos help. So do the truck make and model, body type, location of the damage and anything you already know about the problem.

You do not need to diagnose it yourself. Show Metro what is going on and start the conversation.

Does Metro Modify Existing Truck Bodies?

Yes. Metro undertakes truck body modifications where an existing body needs to change to better suit the truck, its equipment or the work it now performs.

A truck does not always need a completely new body. Existing bodies can sometimes be altered, repaired, refurbished or fitted with additional fabricated components depending on their condition and the proposed work.

If you have bought a truck with a body that is nearly right, your operating requirements have changed or part of the existing setup no longer works for the job, talk to Metro.

Send photographs of the existing setup, explain what needs to change and describe what the truck needs to do when the work is complete.

Can Metro Add Equipment to a Truck Body?

Yes. Depending on the truck and build, Metro can incorporate equipment and fit-out alongside the body fabrication.

Available equipment can include tow bars, Redarc brake controllers, amber beacons, LED work lights, additional batteries, inverters, water tanks, fire extinguisher mounting, arrow boards, racks, toolboxes and crane provision.

The exact equipment depends on the cab chassis, body type, available space, payload and individual specification.

The useful equipment is the equipment the operator will use. Metro works through those requirements as part of the complete vehicle so the body, storage and fitted equipment work together.

Can Metro Build a Truck Body Around a Crane?

Yes. Truck-mounted crane provision can form part of suitable new complete truck body builds.

A crane installation affects the structure beneath it, body layout, available payload and engineering requirements. Metro therefore considers the selected crane and required supporting structure as part of the body design rather than treating the crane as something to bolt onto a finished tray later.

This type of setup is particularly relevant to custom Flat Tray builds and other working trucks where lifting equipment forms part of the vehicle’s regular job.

Do I Need to Know Exactly What Truck Body I Want?

No.

If you already have drawings, measurements, specifications and a complete brief, send them through.

If all you know is what the truck needs to do, start there.

Tell Metro about the cab chassis, work it performs, what you carry, how you load and unload it, equipment you need on the vehicle and what you are trying to achieve.

For new custom builds, Metro works through the body and major components before fabrication begins. Troy uses Fusion 360 3D modelling for custom builds, giving the workshop a defined fabrication plan before steel is cut.

For more answers about Metro’s materials, design, fabrication, engineering and truck body work, visit the Truck Body FAQ.

Does Metro Work With Businesses, Fleets & Councils?

Yes. Metro works with businesses, contractors, commercial fleets, dealerships and suitable council projects.

If you are organising a truck body build, repair or modification for a business or fleet, include your company details, truck information and scope of work when you enquire.

For multiple vehicles or ongoing requirements, explain what you are managing so Metro understands the broader project from the beginning.

Visit Recent Builds to see examples of completed Metro truck body fabrication and working vehicle configurations.

Does Metro Work With Customers Outside Melbourne?

Yes. Metro is based in Seaford, but custom truck body enquiries are welcome from across Victoria.

Metro works with customers from regional and rural Victoria, including Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, Horsham, Gippsland and Phillip Island.

For customers travelling a significant distance, contact Metro before bringing the truck to Seaford. Send the cab chassis details, body type, intended application, photographs where relevant and the work required.

The workshop is in Seaford. The customer does not have to be.

How Far Is Metro From Regional Victoria?

Specialist truck body work does not stop at the Melbourne boundary.

Based on the routes checked, approximate travel distances include:

• Phillip Island: approximately 1 hour 26 minutes / 102 km
• Bendigo: approximately 2 hours 24 minutes / 203 km
• Shepparton: approximately 2 hours 41 minutes / 240 km
• Horsham: approximately 4 hours / 345 km

Metro also receives enquiries from Geelong, Ballarat, Gippsland and other parts of regional and rural Victoria.

These times are approximate. Traffic, road conditions, route and truck restrictions affect travel time.

For longer-distance projects, contact Metro before travelling. The team can discuss the truck and proposed work before you put a few hundred kilometres on the vehicle.

Does Metro Take Truck Body Jobs From Gippsland?

Yes. Metro welcomes suitable truck body enquiries from Gippsland.

For Gippsland truck owners, contractors and businesses needing a custom body, Tipper, Beavertail, Flat Tray, Drop Side Tray, Service Body, repair or modification, Metro’s Seaford workshop is positioned on Melbourne’s south-eastern side.

If you are travelling from further into Gippsland, contact Metro first. Send through the truck details, application, photographs where useful and proposed work so the team can discuss the project before you travel.

Can I Bring a Truck From Phillip Island?

Yes. Metro welcomes suitable truck body projects from Phillip Island and surrounding areas.

Phillip Island is approximately 1 hour 26 minutes and 102 km from Metro’s Seaford workshop based on the route checked.

Metro’s work includes custom truck bodies, Tippers, Beavertails, Flat Trays, Drop Side Trays, Service Bodies, truck body repairs and modifications.

For a planned build or larger project, contact the workshop before travelling so Metro can establish what you need first.

Can I Bring a Truck From Bendigo, Shepparton or Horsham?

Yes. Metro welcomes suitable projects from regional and rural Victoria.

Bendigo is approximately 2 hours 24 minutes from Metro based on the route checked. Shepparton is around 2 hours 41 minutes and Horsham around 4 hours.

For customers travelling these distances, planning matters.

Tell Metro where you are coming from, what truck you have and what needs to be built, repaired or modified. The team can discuss the project before you head towards Seaford.

Does Metro Take Truck Body Enquiries From Tasmania?

Yes. Suitable truck body projects from Tasmania are welcome.

Metro works with interstate customers looking for specialist truck body fabrication in Victoria. Tasmania is particularly relevant for specialised custom bodies where the required configuration or fabrication warrants bringing the truck to Metro.

The Spirit of Tasmania operates between Devonport and Geelong, providing a vehicle connection across Bass Strait. From Geelong, trucks can continue by road to Metro’s Seaford workshop.

If you are considering Metro for a custom truck body, Chipper Tipper, Tipper, Beavertail, Flat Tray, Drop Side Tray, Service Body, modification or specialist repair, contact the team before organising transport.

Send through the cab chassis details, specifications, photographs and required work. Sort the job first. Then worry about getting the truck across the Strait.

Does Metro Take Interstate Truck Body Enquiries?

Yes. Suitable interstate custom truck body projects are welcome.

Metro Truck Body Builders operates from Seaford, Victoria. Customers outside Victoria considering Metro for specialist truck body fabrication should contact the team before arranging vehicle transport or travel.

The further the truck needs to travel, the more useful it is to establish the project scope first.

Send Metro your location, truck make and model, required body or work, specifications and relevant photographs. The team can then discuss the project with you.

How Long Has Metro Truck Body Builders Been in Business?

Metro Truck Body Builders has been building and working on truck bodies in Victoria since 1989.

The business began with founder Doug working from a Datsun 120Y station wagon under the name Doug’s Welding Service before developing into the truck body fabrication business Metro is today.

Metro remains family owned and is now run by Doug and Jenny’s sons, Scott and Troy, who remain directly involved in quoting, design, customer communication, workshop production and finished builds.

Read the full story on Family Owned Since 1989.

What Should I Send Metro for a Truck Body Quote?

Start with what you have.

Useful information for a custom truck body quote includes:

• Your name and business or company
• Phone number and email address
• Your suburb, town or location
• Truck make, model and cab chassis details
• The type of truck body or service required
• What the truck needs to carry or do
• Required body or tray dimensions, if known
• Typical loads and payload requirements
• Toolbox, storage and equipment requirements
• Towing or crane requirements where relevant
• Photographs for repairs, modifications or existing body work
• Drawings or specifications, if available

You do not need every answer before making contact. For a new body, describing what the truck needs to do gives Metro a useful place to start.

Request a quote from Metro Truck Body Builders.

Looking for a Truck Body Builder in Victoria?

Metro Truck Body Builders has been building working truck bodies in Victoria since 1989. From its Seaford workshop in Melbourne’s south-east, the family-owned business designs, builds, repairs and modifies truck bodies for commercial vehicles across Melbourne, regional Victoria and suitable interstate projects.

Tipper Bodies. Chipper Tippers. Beavertail Truck Bodies. Flat Trays & Truck Trays. Drop Side Trays. Service Bodies. Truck Toolboxes. Repairs & Modifications.

From Seaford, Frankston and Carrum Downs to Dandenong, Cranbourne, Pakenham, the Mornington Peninsula and greater Melbourne. From Gippsland and Phillip Island to Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, Horsham and rural Victoria. Suitable interstate projects are welcome too.

Want to know who you are dealing with? Read Metro’s family story, see completed work in Recent Builds, or visit the Truck Body FAQ.

Tell Metro what you need your truck to do.

Talk to Metro Truck Body Builders and request a quote.