If you need to pick up a pump, a gearbox, or a motor in the field, you have two paths: buy a purpose-built crane body, or mount a crane on a flatbed you already have. Both work. One is safer at higher capacities, the other is dramatically cheaper. Here’s how we walk buyers through it at our shop in Wharton.
In stock now in Wharton, TX — real prices, installed in one business day.
Shop RKI from $8,500 | Shop CM from $3,950
Browse all in-stock truck beds and bodies or call (979) 532-1486 for a same-day quote.
Crane body vs flatbed with a crane
| Factor | Purpose-built crane body | Flatbed + bolt-on crane |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Reinforced subframe and crane pedestal engineered for the load | Deck and frame must be reinforced separately |
| Typical capacity | 3,200 – 14,000 lb cranes | Light cranes, commonly under 3,200 lb |
| Outriggers | Integrated, rated | Aftermarket, if available at all |
| Compartments | Deep service compartments included | Deck space only unless boxes are added |
| Deck space | Limited, most space is body | Full open deck for cargo |
| Liability / rating | Documented capacity chart from the builder | Rating depends on installer engineering |
| Approx. installed | Crane bodies from $8,500 (body) plus crane | Flatbeds from $3,950 plus crane and reinforcement |
Choose a crane body when
- You’re lifting over about 3,200 lb or working near the crane’s rated limit regularly.
- Lifting is the job, not an occasional task — pump jacks, gearboxes, compressors, irrigation motors.
- You need rated outriggers and a documented capacity chart for safety or insurance requirements.
- You want the tooling with the crane — deep compartments, air, and a work bench layout.
Choose a flatbed with a light crane when
- You lift a few hundred pounds occasionally — a tire, a small motor, a pallet of parts.
- Deck space is your priority. A flatbed keeps hauling capacity a crane body gives up.
- Budget is the constraint. In-stock flatbeds start around $3,950 installed here.
- The truck has other jobs — towing goosenecks, hauling pipe, ranch work.
The mistake we see most
Buyers under-spec the crane and over-spec the load. A crane mounted on a deck that wasn’t engineered for it will eventually twist the frame, crack welds, or worse, tip the truck on an unlevel lease road. If you find yourself wondering whether a lift is within the rating, that is the signal you needed a crane body. Ask us for the capacity chart before you buy — we’ll pull it for whatever configuration you’re considering.
Related pages
Browse crane bodies for sale, RKI truck bodies, CM truck beds, and flatbed truck bodies. Also see service bodies for mechanics truck builds.
Talk to Someone Who Installs These Every Week
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.