METRO TRUCK BODY BUILDERS / STRAIGHT ANSWERS
FAQS
Got questions about custom truck bodies, tippers, trays, beavertails, service bodies, toolboxes, repairs or what will actually work on your truck? You’re in the right place.
Metro Truck Body Builders has been building and working on truck bodies in Victoria since 1989. Below are straight answers to the questions we get about truck body design, fabrication, fit-out, options, compliance and choosing the right setup for the job.
Still not sure? Tell us what truck you’ve got, what you need to carry and what you need the body to do. We’ll work through it with you.
TRUCK BODY BUILDING
Where can I get a custom truck body built in Melbourne?+
Right here in Seaford. Metro Truck Body Builders has been building custom truck bodies in Melbourne since 1989.
We build tippers, chipper tippers, beavertails, flat trays, drop side trays, service bodies, custom truck toolboxes and specialised bodies for businesses, councils, truck dealers, fleets and private operators.
We’re a small family business, so you deal with the people who know the work. Tell us what truck you’ve got, what you carry and what you need the finished body to do. We’ll work through the chassis, payload, equipment and layout with you, then build it here in Melbourne.
If you’re looking for a truck body builder in Melbourne who’ll talk straight and build the thing properly, send us the job.
Who is the best truck body builder in Melbourne?+
We reckon Metro has a pretty solid claim to being one of the best truck body builders in Melbourne.
We’ve been building truck bodies in Victoria since 1989. We’re a small family-owned business, the work is built here in Melbourne, and you deal directly with people who actually understand the truck and the fabrication. No layers of sales people. No passing the job around.
The boys take pride in what leaves the workshop. Workmanship matters. Fit matters. Strength matters. Payload matters. If something needs changing, strengthening, moving or building from scratch, we work it out properly before it goes on the truck.
Metro’s team is experienced, fully qualified, easy to talk to and used to building for private operators, businesses, councils, fleets and truck dealers. We build tippers, chipper tippers, trays, beavertails, service bodies, custom toolboxes and specialised truck bodies around the job they need to do.
If you want a truck body built properly by people who care about the finished result, Metro belongs on your shortlist.
How do I choose a truck body builder in Victoria?+
Choose a truck body builder who’ll ask what the truck actually has to do before they start talking about the body.
At Metro we look at the chassis, payload, body weight, equipment, access, storage and the gear you need to carry. If the truck is too small for what you want, we’ll tell you. If a layout needs changing to make it work properly, we’ll tell you that too.
We’ve been doing this since 1989, and the people you talk to are the people who know the work. That matters when you’re spending good money on a truck you need to earn its keep.
Metro builds in Seaford for customers across Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula, Gippsland and regional Victoria.
Does Metro build truck bodies for businesses across Victoria?+
Yep. Metro is in Seaford, but the trucks come from all over Victoria.
We take jobs and enquiries from the Mornington Peninsula, Frankston, Dandenong, Cranbourne, Pakenham, Phillip Island, Gippsland, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, Horsham and plenty of places in between.
If you’re coming from regional Victoria, send us the truck and job details first. We’ll talk it through with you before you waste a day driving down for something that isn’t the right fit.
For the right build, distance isn’t much of a drama. Get the truck to Metro and we’ll build it properly here in Melbourne.
What does a truck body builder actually do?+
We build the working body that goes on the truck chassis. That might be a tipper body, chipper tipper, beavertail truck body, flat truck tray, drop side tray or service body.
The important bit is making the body suit the truck, its payload and the work you’re doing with it. A good truck body is built around the job, not slapped on as an afterthought.
Does Metro Truck Body Builders build custom truck bodies?+
Yep. Custom truck bodies are a big part of what we do.
That might mean a different toolbox arrangement, a particular machine you need to carry, extra storage, a crane, racks, different access, a heavier floor, lighting or a body layout built around the way your crew works.
Bring us the truck and the job it needs to do. We’ll work out what fits, what makes sense and what stays within the truck’s engineering and payload requirements.
What types of truck bodies does Metro build?+
We build custom tipper bodies, arborist and chipper tippers, beavertail bodies, steel truck trays, drop side trays and service bodies.
We also fit and integrate equipment, storage and custom truck toolboxes, plus carry out truck body repairs and modifications.
Do you only build bodies for new trucks?+
No. New builds are a major part of the workshop, but we also repair, modify and refurbish existing truck bodies where the truck and body are suitable.
If something is too far gone, or the truck presents engineering or registration problems, we’ll tell you. There’s no point spending good money trying to save something that shouldn’t be saved.
What truck brands do you build bodies for?+
We work across commercial truck chassis and regularly see brands such as Isuzu, Hino and Fuso through the workshop. The body itself is designed around the chassis, wheelbase, payload, application and equipment involved in the job.
How do I know what truck body will suit my job?+
Start with what you need to do, not what looks good in a photo.
Tell us what you carry, how you load it, how you unload it, what machinery or equipment goes with you, whether you need side access, what needs tying down and what storage you need.
From there we work around the chassis, available payload and legal requirements. Sometimes the answer is that the truck you’re looking at is too small for everything you want on it. Better to know before you buy the wrong truck.
Can Metro work with my truck dealer before I buy the truck?+
Yep, and it’s often the smartest time to talk to us. A lot of Metro’s work comes through truck dealerships, so we’re used to sorting the body spec before the chassis arrives.
If you know you need a tipper, crane, toolbox layout, service body, beavertail or something custom, get us involved early. We’d rather help make sure the truck suits the finished job than have everyone discover afterwards that there isn’t enough payload or space.
You can put your dealer straight onto us. We’ll talk truck with them and sort out what needs to happen.
Do you deal directly with private customers as well as truck dealerships?+
Yep. Dealers send plenty of work our way, but you don’t need to come through a dealership to talk to Metro.
Private owners, tradies, civil contractors, arborists, construction businesses, councils and fleet operators are all welcome to talk to us directly.
TIPPER BODIES
Does Metro build custom tipper bodies in Melbourne?+
Yep. We build custom steel tipper bodies at our Seaford workshop for trucks working across Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula and throughout Victoria.
Body size, floor thickness, sides, tailgate arrangement, hydraulics, tarp, toolboxes and additional equipment all depend on the truck and what you’re carrying.
Have a look at our custom tipper bodies for more detail.
What is the difference between a fixed-side tipper and a drop-side tipper?+
A fixed-side tipper suits jobs where you mainly load from above and tip from the rear. Bigger tippers carrying heavier material often use this sort of setup.
A drop-side tipper gives you side access as well. They’re useful where you need to load or unload from the side and are common on smaller trucks, council vehicles and general-purpose work trucks.
What thickness steel floor do you use in a tipper body?+
It depends on the truck and the work. Our tipper builds commonly use a heavy-duty 5 mm floor where appropriate, with the material specification selected around the application.
Bigger and heavier work needs the right material underneath it.
What tailgate options are available on a custom tipper body?+
Depending on the job, tipper bodies can be built with different rear arrangements including side-swing and two-way tailgates, with manual or air-operated configurations where suitable.
Can you fit a tarp to a truck tipper body?+
Yes. Depending on the body and application, tarp options include manual pull-out arrangements and electric hoop tarp systems.
Can you add toolboxes or a crane to a tipper truck?+
Where the chassis, payload and engineering allow it, yes.
A crane needs proper structural consideration and engineering. You don’t bolt a crane onto a bit of thin floor and call it finished.
CHIPPER TIPPERS & ARBORIST TRUCK BODIES
Does Metro build arborist and chipper tipper bodies?+
We do. Chipper tippers are one of the body types Metro is well known for.
We build enclosed steel chipper bodies for arborists and tree crews, designed around carrying wood chip, mulch and green waste. They can be configured with barn doors, sloping sections, storage boxes, tarps and other equipment to suit the truck and crew.
Why are Metro chipper tipper bodies fully welded?+
We use full-piece side walls and fully welded construction where specified because fewer joins mean fewer places for moisture and corrosive material to get into the body.
Wood chip and green waste are hard on steel bodies. Good construction matters when the truck spends its working life full of the stuff.
Can an arborist tipper have barn doors?+
Yes. Barn doors are a common arrangement on our enclosed chipper tipper builds and work well for access and unloading.
Can you build storage into an arborist truck body?+
Yep. Toolboxes and storage can be incorporated into the overall arborist truck setup where space, payload and chassis layout allow it.
Do you build beavertails for arborists and tree companies too?+
Yes. Tree and arborist businesses often need more than a chipper tipper. A beavertail truck body can be set up to move machinery and equipment such as excavators and stump-grinding equipment.
FLAT TRAYS & DROP SIDE TRAYS
Does Metro build custom steel truck trays?+
Yep. They might not be the flashiest thing in the workshop, but a good steel truck tray is the workhorse of plenty of businesses.
We build custom flat truck trays around the truck and what it needs to carry, with options for different floors, side combing, rope rails, steps, headboards, toolboxes, racks, tow bars and equipment.
What floor thickness is available on a steel truck tray?+
A 3 mm floor is common on our standard tray work, with 5 mm available where the truck and application call for something heavier.
What is the difference between a flat tray and a drop side tray?+
A flat tray gives you open access to the deck. A drop side tray adds removable or opening sides to help contain loose gear and material while still giving you access when you need it.
Can you build removable hurdles and racks into a drop side truck tray?+
Yes. Hurdles can be fixed or removable and positioned to suit the material you carry. Over-cab racks and other arrangements can also be incorporated for long lengths of timber, pipe and similar material.
Can you fit a tow bar to a custom truck tray?+
Where suitable, yes. Tow bar requirements vary with the truck and the towing job, so the setup needs to match the vehicle and required capacity.
Who uses custom flat truck trays and drop side bodies?+
Concreters, builders, timber and pallet carriers, councils, trades, construction crews and civil businesses all have different reasons for running a tray.
BEAVERTAIL TRUCK BODIES
What is a beavertail truck body used for?+
A beavertail body is built to make loading and carrying machinery easier. Think excavators, skid steers, mowers, scissor lifts, plant and other equipment that needs to drive or be loaded onto the truck.
We build custom beavertail truck bodies for machinery transport across construction, civil, council, trade and other commercial applications.
Do Metro beavertails have hydraulic ramps?+
They can. Hydraulic ramp arrangements can include two individual ramps or a full-width ramp depending on what you’re loading. Bi-fold arrangements are also useful where low machinery needs a longer, gentler loading angle.
What floor do you use on a beavertail body?+
It depends on what the truck is carrying. Lighter applications might use 3 mm checker plate for grip, while heavier machinery and larger trucks need a heavier-duty specification such as 5 mm where appropriate.
How do you tie machinery down on a beavertail truck?+
Tie-down arrangements depend on the build and machinery. Options include keyhole-style tie-down points, lashing points and other suitable arrangements incorporated into the body.
SERVICE TRUCK BODIES
What is a service truck body?+
Think of it as a mobile workshop built around your job.
A service truck body gives field technicians and mobile service businesses enclosed storage and working space for tools, parts and equipment.
Who uses custom truck service bodies?+
Diesel mechanics, hydraulic technicians, field-service businesses and other mobile trades are typical service-body users.
What can you put inside a custom service body?+
Drawers, shelves, storage compartments, vices, machinery, tool storage, lighting, power, inverters, batteries, water storage and other equipment can all form part of the layout where suitable.
Do you design service body layouts around the customer’s tools and equipment?+
That’s the idea. Bring us the list, the rough layout or even the problem you’re trying to solve. Once the job is confirmed, the build can be drawn and worked through properly before fabrication.
TRUCK TOOLBOXES & EQUIPMENT
Does Metro supply and install custom truck toolboxes?+
Yes. We supply and install custom truck toolboxes and underbody toolboxes as part of complete body builds and as standalone jobs.
Can you fit underbody truck tool boxes to an existing truck?+
Often, yes. Existing trucks can be assessed for underbody or under-tray toolbox installations where there’s suitable space and the installation works with the chassis, tanks, exhaust, existing equipment and legal requirements.
Can you fit a truck-mounted crane to a Metro truck body?+
We can incorporate suitable crane installations into truck body builds where the chassis, body design, payload and engineering support the required crane.
Can you install VMS boards, arrow boards, beacons and work lights?+
Yes, where suitable for the build. Traffic-management and council trucks often need specialised equipment such as VMS boards, arrow boards, flashing lights, amber beacons, work lights and sign storage.
Can you organise truck signage or wrapping after the body is built?+
We have industry connections for truck signage, wrapping and branding, so talk to us if you want the finished truck branded as part of the job.
TRUCK BODY REPAIRS & MODIFICATIONS
Does Metro do truck body repairs in Melbourne?+
Yes. Our Seaford workshop carries out truck body repairs and modifications for suitable commercial truck bodies.
Work can include existing trays, tippers, beavertails, sides, floors, tailgates, hinges, toolboxes, structural work, cracks, damage, refurbishments and modifications depending on the condition of the truck and body.
Can you modify an existing truck tray or truck body?+
Yes, where the existing body and truck are suitable. We can look at altering trays, adding or removing equipment, changing storage, repairing floors and sides, modifying body components and refurbishing existing setups.
Will you repair any old truck body?+
Not blindly. Some bodies are simply too old, too damaged or too far gone to make a sensible repair. There can also be engineering and registration issues with older trucks.
Do you repair tow truck bodies?+
We don’t build tow truck bodies, but Metro has repaired tow truck trays. Contact us with the truck and repair required and we’ll assess the job.
CUSTOM BUILDS, DESIGN & ENGINEERING
Can Metro build something unusual that isn’t a standard truck body?+
That’s often where custom truck body building gets interesting.
Metro has built bodies around unusual equipment and jobs where an off-the-shelf setup wasn’t going to work. If you’ve got an odd requirement, talk to us. We’ll work out whether it can be done properly and legally.
Can you draw the truck body before it is built?+
Yep. For custom jobs, dealer work and council builds, we can work through the layout before fabrication so everyone knows what is going where.
That is especially useful when you have cranes, toolboxes, machinery, storage, access requirements or other gear competing for space. Better to sort it on paper than after the steel is cut.
Do you take payload into account when designing a custom truck body?+
Always. The truck has a limit. The body, toolboxes, crane, equipment and everything you want to carry all eat into what’s available.
What if the fuel tank or chassis equipment is where I want a toolbox or other equipment?+
Welcome to truck body building. Chassis rails aren’t empty. Fuel tanks, batteries, exhaust systems and other equipment all compete for space.
Depending on the truck, there might be another position, an alternative body layout, equipment that can be relocated correctly, a longer wheelbase or a different chassis that suits the finished job better.
Does Metro work on electric trucks and EV truck bodies?+
Yep. Metro has worked on electric commercial trucks, including electric tippers.
They’re a different animal underneath. Batteries and electrical equipment can take up the space you’d normally use around the chassis rails, so mounting and body layout need more thought.
That’s the sort of job where experience matters. We work around what is actually on the truck rather than pretending every chassis is the same.
Do new Metro truck body builds get engineering approval?+
Yep. New Metro builds go through the engineering and compliance process required for the vehicle and the work being done.
Where engineering sign-off is required, we work with automotive engineering specialists. We also use qualified auto electrical and hydraulic specialists for the parts of a build that need them.
The point is simple. The truck needs to leave Metro built properly, legal and ready to work.
COUNCILS, FLEETS & TRUCK DEALERSHIPS
Does Metro build truck bodies for councils and government fleets?+
Yep. Metro builds for councils and fleets, and we know those trucks usually need to work hard, carry specific gear and be straightforward for crews to use.
We build tippers, trays, machinery-carrying bodies, beavertails and specialised setups, then fit the storage, access, safety equipment and other gear the job calls for.
It still comes back to the same thing. Tell us what the crew needs the truck to do and we’ll build around that.
What truck bodies do councils commonly order?+
Tippers are common, often with custom storage, cranes or other equipment. Metro also builds trays, machinery-carrying beavertails and traffic-management setups with sign racks, VMS boards, arrow boards, flashing lights and other safety equipment.
Does Metro work directly with truck dealerships?+
All the time. Truck dealers have been sending work to Metro for years.
They know they can talk directly with the people building the body, get the spec sorted and send the customer out with a truck that is ready for the job.
Can the truck body be included as part of a truck dealer sale?+
Yep. Your truck dealer can organise the chassis and work directly with Metro on the body as part of the complete vehicle.
That means the dealer, Metro and the customer can get the truck, body, payload and equipment sorted together instead of treating the body like an afterthought.
LOCATION & SERVICE AREA
Where is Metro Truck Body Builders located?+
Metro Truck Body Builders is at 24 Keppler Circuit, Seaford, in Melbourne’s south-east, near Carrum Downs, Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula.
We’re close to Peninsula Link and EastLink, making the workshop straightforward to reach with commercial trucks coming from Melbourne, Dandenong, Cranbourne, Pakenham, Gippsland and regional Victoria.
Do you build truck bodies for customers outside Melbourne?+
Yep. Metro is based in Seaford in Melbourne’s south-east, but plenty of customers come from outside Melbourne.
We build for businesses, private operators, councils and truck dealers across Victoria, including regional jobs where it makes sense to bring the truck to us.
If you’re a few hours away, send the details first. We’ll talk through the job with you before you organise the trip.
Do you work with customers from the Mornington Peninsula and Frankston?+
Yep. We’re in Seaford, right near Frankston and at the top of the Mornington Peninsula.
For Peninsula tradies, arborists, civil crews, contractors, fleets and truck owners, Metro is a short run up the road. Bring us the truck, tell us what you need it to do and we’ll sort the body around the job.
Do customers bring trucks to Metro from Gippsland, Phillip Island and regional Victoria?+
They do. We get enquiries and jobs from Gippsland, Phillip Island and regional Victoria because the right truck body is worth travelling for.
If you’re coming a fair way, send us the truck details, photos and what you need built first. We’ll talk it through before you organise getting the truck to Seaford.
Do you take truck body enquiries from Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton and Horsham?+
Yep. If you’re looking for a custom truck body builder from Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, Horsham or elsewhere in rural Victoria, give Metro a call.
We’ve been building truck bodies since 1989, and for a proper custom build plenty of customers are happy to travel to Seaford rather than settle for something that doesn’t suit the job.
Send us the truck details and what you need built first. We’ll talk it through with you before you organise getting the truck down to Melbourne.
STILL GOT A QUESTION?
GOT A TRUCK TO BUILD?
Tell us what truck you’ve got, what you carry and what you need the finished body to do. You’ll be talking to people who know the work, and we’ll tell you straight what will work, what won’t and what we’d build.
Truck Body FAQs
Got questions about custom truck bodies, truck body fabrication, truck body repairs, modifications, materials, design or commercial truck body building? You’re in the right place.
Metro Truck Body Builders has been building working truck bodies in Melbourne since 1989. From Metro’s workshop at 24 Keppler Circuit, Seaford, the family-owned business designs, fabricates, repairs and modifies truck bodies for commercial vehicles across Melbourne, Victoria and suitable interstate projects.
Below are answers to common questions about choosing the right truck body, custom fabrication, materials, payload, equipment, toolboxes, design and getting a custom truck body built in Melbourne.
If you already know what you need, explore Metro’s custom truck body building, see completed work in Recent Builds, or contact Metro Truck Body Builders for a quote.
General Truck Body Questions
What does a truck body builder do?
A truck body builder designs and fabricates the working body fitted to a commercial truck cab chassis.
The exact work depends on the vehicle and its application. A truck body might need to carry machinery, loose material, pallets, timber, tools, equipment, building materials or specialist gear. It might also require hydraulic tipping equipment, ramps, toolboxes, load restraint, lighting, towing equipment, crane provision or other components incorporated into the finished vehicle.
Metro approaches the body as part of a complete working truck rather than treating it as an isolated steel structure.
The cab chassis, available payload, intended load, access requirements, equipment and way the operator works all influence what gets built.
Explore Metro’s custom truck body building capability and the major body configurations available.
What types of truck bodies does Metro build?
Metro designs and fabricates a range of custom commercial truck bodies in Melbourne from its Seaford workshop.
Metro’s major truck body types include:
- 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 loads requiring side containment and practical access.
- Service Bodies for trades, field service, maintenance and commercial fleets.
- Custom Truck Toolboxes & Underbody Toolboxes for commercial working vehicles.
Metro also undertakes truck body repairs and modifications where an existing body needs attention rather than complete replacement.
If your required configuration does not fit neatly into one of those categories, talk to Metro. Custom fabrication exists because working trucks do not always fit neatly into categories either.
Does Metro build custom truck bodies?
Yes. Custom truck body building is at the centre of Metro’s work.
Rather than forcing every customer into one standard body configuration, Metro starts with the cab chassis, available payload, intended application and what the truck needs to do.
Body dimensions, construction, access, storage, loading and unloading requirements, equipment and other details are then worked through as part of the individual specification.
Some builds follow established body configurations. Others need a more specialised solution.
Explore Metro’s custom truck bodies or tell Metro what you need your truck to do.
Where are Metro truck bodies built?
Metro builds its truck bodies at 24 Keppler Circuit, Seaford, Victoria, in Melbourne’s south-east.
The workshop works with customers throughout Melbourne and Victoria, including Frankston, Carrum Downs, Dandenong, Cranbourne, the Mornington Peninsula and surrounding commercial and industrial areas.
Metro also welcomes suitable projects from regional Victoria and interstate, including Tasmania.
If you are travelling from outside Melbourne, contact Metro before arranging transport so the truck, proposed body and project requirements can be discussed first.
How long has Metro Truck Body Builders been operating?
Metro Truck Body Builders has been building and working on truck bodies since 1989.
Founder Doug started performing mobile welding and truck repair work from a Datsun 120Y station wagon under the name Doug’s Welding Service. The business later developed into Metro Truck Bodies after Doug won an early contract to manufacture a run of tipper bodies.
Today Metro remains family owned and is run by Doug and Jenny’s sons, Scott and Troy.
Read the full story on Family Owned Since 1989.
Choosing the Right Truck Body
How do I know what type of truck body I need?
Start with what the truck needs to do.
What will it carry? How will it be loaded? How will it be unloaded? Does the operator need open side access? Does machinery need to drive onto the body? Does the truck need to tip? Does the load need side containment? Where do tools and equipment need to go?
Those questions usually tell Metro far more than starting with a body name.
A Tipper Body suits work where material needs to be hydraulically discharged. A Beavertail Truck Body is designed around loading machinery, plant and equipment. A Drop Side Tray combines side containment with loading access. A Flat Tray prioritises open deck access. A Service Body is configured around tools, storage, equipment and field work.
You do not need to arrive with every detail solved. Tell Metro what the vehicle needs to do and the team can work through the appropriate configuration with you.
What is the difference between a Drop Side Tray and a Flat Tray?
A Drop Side Tray has hinged sides that help contain materials and equipment during transport while allowing the sides to be lowered for loading and access.
A Flat Tray provides an open commercial carrying deck where unrestricted access from the sides and rear is the priority.
At Metro, the preferred term is Flat Tray. You may also see the same general body style described online as a flatbed truck tray or flatbed truck body, particularly in overseas terminology.
If load containment matters during everyday work, a Drop Side Tray often makes more sense. If forklift access, pallets or an open working deck are the priority, a Flat Tray is worth discussing.
What is a Flat Tray truck body used for?
A Flat Tray provides an open carrying deck for commercial loads such as pallets, timber, building materials, freight, tools and equipment.
Metro builds custom Flat Trays and steel truck trays around the cab chassis, payload and intended application rather than using one generic tray specification.
Depending on the job, the build can incorporate different floor specifications, side combing, rope rails, load-restraint provisions, racks, toolboxes, towing equipment, access features and crane provision.
The correct configuration depends on what the truck carries and how the operator needs to use the deck.
What is a Beavertail Truck Body used for?
A Beavertail Truck Body is designed around loading and transporting machinery, plant and equipment.
The sloping rear section works with the ramp arrangement to provide loading access for machinery that needs to move onto and off the truck body.
Metro builds custom Beavertails for applications including construction, excavation, civil works, landscaping, access equipment, machinery hire, councils and commercial operations.
Ramp configuration, deck dimensions, tie-down provisions, storage and additional equipment are worked out around the truck and the machinery being transported.
What is a Chipper Tipper?
A Chipper Tipper is an enclosed hydraulic tipper body used by arborists, tree crews, vegetation-management contractors, councils and similar operators carrying wood chip, mulch and green waste.
The enclosed body contains bulky loose material while the hydraulic tipping system allows it to be discharged.
Metro has extensive experience building custom Chipper Tippers and arborist truck bodies, with configurations including full-piece side walls, fully welded internal floors, rear barn doors, storage, toolboxes, tarps and other equipment depending on the truck and specification.
What is a Service Body?
A Truck Service Body turns a commercial truck into a working field-service vehicle.
Rather than concentrating mainly on open carrying capacity, a Service Body is configured around organised access to tools, equipment, parts and storage.
Service-body requirements differ considerably between trades, maintenance operations, field technicians and fleets. Storage layout, compartments, access, electrical equipment and other fit-out therefore need to suit the operator and application.
What is the difference between a Flat Tray and a Beavertail?
A Flat Tray provides an open, level commercial carrying deck. A Beavertail incorporates a sloping rear section and ramp arrangement for loading machinery, plant and equipment.
If open deck access for pallets, timber, freight or general equipment is the main requirement, a Flat Tray is usually the relevant starting point.
If machinery regularly needs to be driven or moved onto the truck, the loading arrangement of a Beavertail deserves consideration.
What is the difference between a Tipper Body and a Chipper Tipper?
Both use hydraulic tipping, but they are designed around different work.
A Tipper Body is built around carrying and discharging materials used across applications such as construction, civil work, landscaping and commercial transport.
A Chipper Tipper is a more specialised enclosed body designed around arborists, tree crews, wood chip, mulch and green waste.
The correct body depends on the material, required volume, payload, access and how the truck is used throughout the working day.
Custom Truck Body Design & Fabrication
Does Metro design each truck body around the cab chassis?
Yes. A custom truck body needs to work with the cab chassis it is being fitted to.
The truck affects available dimensions, body space, payload, equipment placement and the configuration of the completed vehicle.
Metro works through the cab chassis and intended application before the final body specification is established. This helps prevent the body from being designed independently of the truck carrying it.
Why does payload matter when designing a truck body?
Because the body and every piece of equipment fitted to the truck contribute to the completed vehicle.
A physically larger body does not increase the amount the truck is designed or permitted to carry. Floors, toolboxes, racks, towing equipment, batteries, hydraulics, cranes and other fitted equipment all add weight.
Metro therefore considers truck body weight, available payload and intended load as part of the specification.
The aim is not to fit the largest or heaviest body possible. It is to build a body suited to the cab chassis and the work the completed truck needs to perform.
Does Metro use 3D design for custom truck bodies?
Yes. Troy uses Fusion 360 3D modelling to develop custom Metro builds.
This allows dimensions, components and body configuration to be worked through before fabrication begins and gives the workshop a defined plan once material starts being cut and fabricated.
The digital design process supports the fabrication work rather than replacing it. The finished body still needs to be measured, cut, welded, assembled, fitted and checked in the Seaford workshop.
Does every custom truck body use the same specification?
No.
The appropriate specification depends on the truck, body type, intended load, payload, working application and individual requirements.
Metro has established fabrication methods and familiar body configurations, but custom truck body fabrication exists because one specification does not suit every commercial vehicle.
Where technical details vary by job, Metro works through them during quoting and design rather than pretending one specification applies universally.
Does Metro manufacture its truck bodies in Australia?
Yes. Metro’s custom truck bodies are fabricated at its workshop in Seaford, Victoria.
The business has been building truck bodies in Melbourne since 1989 and remains Australian and family owned.
Scott runs the workshop and works alongside Metro’s fabrication team. Troy handles much of the quoting, technical design, ordering and customer communication.
Learn more about the people behind the business on Family Owned Since 1989.
Truck Body Materials & Construction
What materials does Metro use to build truck bodies?
Material selection depends on the body, load, application and individual specification.
Metro builds steel truck bodies and selects construction materials around the work the vehicle is expected to perform.
Different areas of a body also perform different jobs. Floors, sides, headboards, structural members, ramps and storage components do not automatically require identical material or thickness.
The material specification is therefore considered as part of the complete truck body rather than reduced to one generic answer.
Does Metro use Hardox?
Yes. Metro uses Hardox steel where the job and specification call for greater wear resistance.
This is particularly relevant to suitable Tipper Body applications where the body is expected to handle demanding materials and repeated commercial use.
Hardox is not automatically required for every truck body. Metro considers the material being carried, the working application, body design and individual specification when determining the appropriate material.
Are all Metro truck bodies made from the same thickness of steel?
No. Steel thickness depends on the body component, cab chassis and application.
For example, Metro Flat Trays can use different steel floor specifications depending on the truck, load and working conditions. Other truck body types have their own construction requirements.
Thicker steel also adds weight. Choosing material simply because it is heavier does not replace specifying the body around its intended use and available payload.
Truck Body Options, Toolboxes & Equipment
Can Metro add toolboxes to a truck body?
Yes. Metro provides custom truck toolboxes and underbody toolbox solutions for commercial working trucks.
Depending on the vehicle and body configuration, storage can include behind-cab, on-body and underbody toolbox arrangements with different dimensions and door configurations.
Toolbox placement needs to account for available space, access, clearance, payload, equipment being stored and the rest of the vehicle setup.
Metro also accepts suitable standalone toolbox projects rather than limiting toolbox work to complete new truck-body builds.
What equipment can be incorporated into a custom truck body?
The available equipment depends on the truck, body type and individual build.
Depending on the project, Metro truck bodies can incorporate equipment including toolboxes, tie-down points, tow bars, Redarc brake controllers, amber beacons, LED work lights, additional batteries, inverters, water tanks, fire-extinguisher mounting, racks and other commercial fit-out.
Specialist equipment such as ramps, hydraulics, tarps and crane provision can also form part of suitable builds.
The useful equipment is the equipment the operator needs. Metro considers those requirements alongside the body layout so the finished components work together.
Can Metro incorporate hydraulic ramps into a Beavertail Body?
Yes. Beavertail Truck Bodies can be configured with fixed or hydraulic ramp arrangements depending on the vehicle, machinery being transported and loading requirements.
Hydraulic ramps provide assisted raising and lowering for regular machinery loading and unloading.
Ramp length, width, rear structure, loading angle and machinery dimensions affect the finished setup, so the intended loading arrangement should be discussed before the body specification is finalised.
Can Metro incorporate a crane into a new truck body build?
Yes. Metro can provide truck-mounted crane provision as part of a suitable new complete truck body build where the body is designed around the crane installation.
A crane affects the supporting structure, layout and requirements of the completed vehicle. It therefore needs to be considered during the body design rather than mounted onto a standard tray without considering the structure beneath it.
Tell Metro about the selected crane, truck and intended work when discussing the body specification.
Can Metro incorporate a tow bar into a truck body build?
Yes. Tow-bar provision can form part of suitable custom truck body builds.
The correct setup depends on the truck and required towing capacity. If towing forms part of the vehicle’s regular work, tell Metro during the initial discussion so it can be considered alongside the body, storage and other fitted equipment.
Truck Body Repairs & Modifications
Does Metro repair truck bodies?
Yes. Metro performs truck body repairs in Melbourne from its Seaford workshop.
Repair work depends on the existing body and damage involved. Suitable jobs can include fabrication associated with damaged or worn floors, doors, hinges, trays, tipper bodies and other fabricated truck-body components.
If you are unsure what needs repairing, send Metro photographs along with the truck make, model, body type and a description of the problem.
You do not need to diagnose the failure before contacting the workshop.
Does Metro modify existing truck bodies?
Yes. Metro undertakes truck body modifications where an existing body needs to change to suit different equipment, operating requirements or the way the truck is now being used.
A complete replacement body is not always the appropriate answer.
If the existing setup is nearly right but needs fabrication, repair or alteration, show Metro what you have and explain what needs to work differently when the job is finished.
Does an old or damaged truck body always need replacing?
No.
Whether a body should be repaired, modified or replaced depends on its condition, construction, damage and what the vehicle needs to do afterwards.
Metro can assess suitable truck body repair and modification enquiries from the information and photographs supplied, with inspection where required before work proceeds.
Getting a Custom Truck Body Built
What information should I provide when requesting a truck body quote?
Start with the information you already have.
Useful details for a custom truck body quote include:
- Truck make and model
- Cab chassis details
- The body type you are considering
- What the truck needs to carry
- How the truck will be loaded and unloaded
- Expected payload or working loads
- Required dimensions, if known
- Toolbox and storage requirements
- Towing requirements
- Lighting and electrical equipment
- Hydraulic equipment
- Crane requirements where relevant
- Any drawings or specifications already available
- Your location
For a repair or modification, photographs of the existing truck body are also useful.
You do not need a completed engineering brief before speaking to Metro. If you know what the truck needs to achieve, that is enough to start the conversation.
Request a truck body quote from Metro.
Do I need to know exactly what truck body I want before contacting Metro?
No.
If you already have drawings, dimensions and a complete specification, send them through.
If you only know what the truck needs to carry and how you need to use it, start there.
Metro can discuss the body configuration and practical requirements with you before the final specification is settled.
What happens after I contact Metro about a custom truck body?
The first step is understanding the cab chassis and what you need the finished truck to do.
From there, Metro works through the appropriate body type, dimensions, configuration, materials, payload considerations, storage, equipment and other requirements relevant to the project.
Custom builds can then move through technical design and planning before fabrication begins in the Seaford workshop.
Troy handles much of Metro’s quoting and 3D design work. Scott runs the workshop and stays involved as the design becomes a finished truck body.
Can I see examples of truck bodies Metro has already built?
Yes. Visit Recent Builds to see examples of completed Metro truck bodies and fabrication work.
Real projects are useful when planning a new build because they show body configurations, equipment, storage and fabrication solutions Metro has already put into working trucks.
Truck Body Builders Melbourne, Victoria & Interstate
Where does Metro service?
Metro Truck Body Builders operates from Seaford in Melbourne’s south-east and works with customers throughout Melbourne and Victoria.
This includes customers from Frankston, Carrum Downs, Dandenong, Cranbourne, the Mornington Peninsula, greater Melbourne, Gippsland, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton and other parts of regional Victoria.
Suitable interstate projects are also welcome.
If you are travelling a significant distance to Metro, contact the team first so the project and truck requirements can be discussed before you arrange transport or travel.
Does Metro build truck bodies for customers in Tasmania?
Yes. Metro welcomes suitable custom truck body enquiries from Tasmania.
Customers in Hobart, Launceston, Devonport, Burnie and elsewhere in Tasmania can discuss the cab chassis, body requirements and intended application with Metro before arranging for the truck to come to Victoria.
For interstate work, providing detailed truck information, dimensions, photographs and equipment requirements early gives Metro a useful basis for working through the project before the vehicle reaches the Seaford workshop.
Does Metro work with businesses, contractors, councils and fleets?
Yes. Metro builds working truck bodies for businesses, contractors, dealerships, commercial fleets and suitable council projects.
Applications include trades, construction, civil works, landscaping, arboriculture, field service, machinery transport and other commercial work.
The important part is the vehicle’s application.
An arborist truck has different requirements from a machinery transporter. A field-service vehicle needs different access and storage from a tipper carrying loose material. Metro works through those operational requirements as part of the body specification.
Why Choose Metro Truck Body Builders?
Why use Metro for a custom truck body?
Metro has been building truck bodies in Melbourne since 1989.
The business remains family owned and is run by brothers Scott and Troy, who are directly involved in the work.
Troy handles much of the quoting, customer communication and technical design. Scott runs the workshop and works alongside the fabrication team.
Metro combines more than 35 years of truck body building and fabrication experience with modern 3D design, workshop equipment and hands-on fabrication.
Just as importantly, the business remains willing to listen when a customer needs something different.
Founder Doug put the reason customers return to Metro more simply:
“Because we do a good job. And I think because we’re easy to get along with.”
Read more about Doug, Jenny, Scott, Troy and the history behind the business on Family Owned Since 1989.
Ready to Talk About Your Truck?
If you have a new custom truck body, truck body repair or modification in mind, tell Metro what you have and what you need the vehicle to do.
Explore Metro’s Custom Truck Bodies, compare Tipper Bodies, Chipper Tippers, Beavertail Truck Bodies, Flat Trays, Drop Side Trays and Service Bodies, see completed work in Recent Builds, or contact Metro Truck Body Builders to request a quote.
