HVAC is one of the few trades where the truck can be smaller than you think. You are carrying gauges, recovery machines, refrigerant cylinders, a vacuum pump, filters, and a ladder — bulky, but not especially heavy compared to a plumbing or welding rig. The mistake we see most often is buying too much truck and then complaining about fuel and parking. Here is how we spec HVAC trucks across Texas.
In stock now in Wharton, TX — real prices, installed in one business day.
Shop CM from $3,950 | Shop RKI from $8,500 | Shop Norstar from $9,550
Browse all in-stock truck beds and bodies or call (979) 532-1486 for a same-day quote.
Run your load list first
| Item | Typical weight |
|---|---|
| Steel 8′ service body | 1,400–1,900 lb |
| Recovery machine, vacuum pump, gauges, tools | 300–500 lb |
| Refrigerant cylinders (4–6) | 300–600 lb |
| Filters, fittings, line set, duct stock | 300–700 lb |
| Ladder rack + ladders | 250–400 lb |
That lands most HVAC service trucks between 2,600 and 4,000 lb of body plus payload — right at the edge of a three-quarter-ton and comfortably inside a one-ton.
Our recommendation by role
- Service and maintenance tech — F-250, Ram 2500, or Silverado 2500HD with an aluminum 8-foot service body. Lightest, cheapest to run, parks anywhere.
- Install crew lead — F-350 SRW or Ram 3500 SRW with a steel 8-foot body and a ladder rack. Room for equipment and line set without weight anxiety.
- Change-out / new construction crew — F-350 DRW or Ram 3500 DRW cab and chassis with a 9-foot body, or a flatbed if you are hauling condensers and air handlers on pallets.
- Commercial rooftop work — F-450/F-550 class with a crane body if you are setting units yourself.
Cab-to-axle for HVAC builds
- 60″ CA — 8′ body. The default and the easiest configuration to find in stock.
- 84″ CA — 9′ or 11′ body. Worth it if you carry sheet metal or full line sets.
- Aluminum bodies save 500 lb or more and are worth the premium on a three-quarter-ton.
- Spec a compartment tall enough for upright refrigerant cylinders — this is the single most common regret.
Bodies we stock for HVAC work
- CM SB and SK — best installed value, six lockable compartments, easy to add shelving and cylinder racks.
- RKI service bodies — built in Houston, with the best compartment sealing we sell. That matters when your tools ride through Gulf Coast humidity year-round.
- Norstar SB — deep vertical boxes that hold cylinders and long tools upright instead of laid flat.
Details that pay for themselves
- Interior LED compartment lighting — you will work in the dark on every emergency call.
- A drop-down or fold-away ladder rack instead of a fixed overhead rack.
- A dedicated, vented compartment for refrigerant cylinders, strapped upright.
- Powder-coat finish and a habit of washing the truck; we do not sell galvanized bodies.
Ready to compare? See what is on the ground on our service bodies and truck beds pages.
Talk to Someone Who Installs These Every Week
Tell us your service call load and how many techs you’re outfitting, and we’ll spec the fleet with you. We stock, spec, and install these bodies at our shop in Wharton, TX, and we serve buyers across Texas and Louisiana. Call us to discuss which is right for your truck — we’ll go over cab-to-axle, wheel configuration, hitch rating, and total installed cost before you commit.
📞 Call (979) 532-1486 — Star Truck Equipment, 2507 County Rd 231, Wharton, TX 77488. Most in-stock bodies are installed in one business day.