If you run a landscaping company in Texas, your truck body is your mobile office — it carries your equipment, organizes your supplies, and projects professionalism to clients. Two of the most common choices for landscapers are the landscape body and the service body. Both work well, but they’re built for different businesses. Here’s a breakdown of how they compare.
What Is a Landscape Body?
A landscape body (also called a landscaper body or dovetail body) is an open-top truck body with stake sides and a dovetail ramp at the rear. It’s designed specifically for loading and transporting mowers, edgers, and ground equipment. Key features include:
- Open sides or removable stake rails for easy equipment access
- Built-in ramp or dovetail for driving mowers on and off
- Toolboxes integrated at the front of the bed
- Blower and trimmer racks along the sides
- Typically made from aluminum or steel for weight savings
What Is a Service Body?
A service body replaces the truck’s pickup bed with a fully enclosed compartment system on both sides of the vehicle. Landscapers who use service bodies are often focusing on chemical application, irrigation work, or lawn care services where tool organization is more critical than hauling large equipment. Key features include:
- Lockable compartments on both sides — driver and passenger
- Weatherproof storage for chemicals, sprayers, and small tools
- Professional appearance that builds client confidence
- Available in aluminum (lighter) or steel (more durable)
- Can be combined with a crane or utility rack in some configurations
Landscape Body vs Service Body: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Landscape Body | Service Body |
|---|---|---|
| Primary use | Hauling mowers & equipment | Organized tool & supply storage |
| Equipment access | Rear ramp / dovetail | Side compartments |
| Weather protection | Low (open top) | High (enclosed compartments) |
| Mower transport | Excellent | Not designed for it |
| Chemical storage | Limited | Excellent (lockable) |
| Payload capacity | Moderate | High (lower center of gravity) |
| Aluminum option | Yes | Yes (RKI, STI options) |
| Typical price range | $4,500–$9,000 | $6,500–$14,000 |
Choose a Landscape Body When:
- You’re a lawn mowing operation hauling zero-turn mowers, walk-behinds, and trimmers
- You need to load and unload riding equipment multiple times per day
- You want the lowest initial investment for your work truck
- You’re operating in residential neighborhoods where open access is efficient
- You want to add trimmer racks, blower holders, and fuel cans on the same truck
Choose a Service Body When:
- You specialize in irrigation installation, chemical lawn care, or pest control
- You carry thousands of dollars in small tools, parts, and supplies that need to stay organized
- Security is a priority — locking compartments protect your investment
- Your work requires a professional image (commercial property management, HOA contracts)
- You want to carry hand tools, sprayers, and fertilizer products in a weatherproof setup
What About Combination Setups?
Some landscaping companies use both — a service body truck for the irrigation/chemical crew and a landscape body truck for the mowing crew. This split gives you the right tool for each job without compromise. At Star Truck Equipment, we’ve upfitted both types for landscaping operations throughout the Wharton, Houston, and Victoria areas.
Brands We Carry for Landscapers
For landscape bodies, we work with brands that build tough, ramp-equipped platforms suited for Texas terrain. For service bodies, our lineup includes RKI service bodies, STI service bodies, and other options built for durability and organization. Visit our landscape body page and service body page to see current inventory.
Talk to a Truck Body Expert
Not sure which setup is right for your landscaping operation? Call us at (979) 532-1486 — we’ll walk through your crew size, the equipment you’re hauling, and your budget to find the right match. We’re located at 2507 County Rd 231, Wharton, TX 77488 and serve landscaping businesses across South Texas and the Gulf Coast.