Norstar builds two flatbeds that get cross-shopped constantly: the WB, their workhorse steel deck, and the SD, the skirted, toolbox-equipped model. Both bolt to the same trucks and both are built from the same steel, so the decision comes down to whether you need storage on the bed or a clean, open deck you can load from anywhere.

Norstar WB vs SD at a Glance

Feature	Norstar WB	Norstar SD
Style	Open skirted deck, no boxes	Skirted deck with integrated toolboxes
Best for	Ranchers, hay, general hauling	Service techs, welders, oilfield
Storage	None (add a headache rack box)	Multiple lockable side compartments
Deck loading	Open on both sides	Boxes limit side loading
Weight	Lighter — more payload left	Heavier — storage costs payload
Hitches	Gooseneck + rear receiver	Gooseneck + rear receiver
Typical price	Lower of the two	Higher — you’re paying for the boxes

Buy the Norstar WB If…

• You load from the side with a forklift, tractor, or by hand and can’t have boxes in the way.
• You haul hay, pipe, panels, or equipment more than you carry tools.
• Payload matters — the WB gives that weight back to your load.
• You want the lowest-cost path into a steel Norstar deck.

Buy the Norstar SD If…

• Your tools live on the truck and need to be locked up overnight.
• You run service calls, welding jobs, or oilfield work where a job box in the bed isn’t enough.
• You want the storage without stepping up to a full service body.
• You’d rather buy one body than a flatbed plus a bolt-on toolbox setup.

Build Quality: Identical Bones

Both bodies use Norstar’s heavy steel construction, treadplate decking, and the same integrated gooseneck and rear receiver hitches. Neither is the “cheap” option — Norstar sits at the heavier-duty end of the market, which is why they hold up in oilfield and ranch service. The SD simply adds fabricated storage into the skirt. If you’re comparing across brands, see our Norstar truck bed lineup, CM truck beds, and the flatbed body category page.

Price and Payload Reality

The SD costs more and weighs more. On a single-rear-wheel 3/4-ton, that added weight can eat into what you can legally carry — a real consideration if you’re already hauling a heavy gooseneck. On a dually one-ton it rarely matters. Bring us your truck’s door-jamb payload sticker and we’ll do the math with you before you order.

What Fits Your Truck

Both come in cab-to-axle lengths for 56-inch and 60-inch CA trucks, single and dual rear wheel. Getting CA and wheel configuration right matters more than the WB/SD choice — a body sized for the wrong CA will either overhang badly or leave the rear axle too far back. See our guide to 56-inch vs 60-inch cab-to-axle fitment.

Our Recommendation

If tools ride with you every day, buy the SD — the integrated boxes are better built and better sealed than anything you’ll bolt on later. If you’re primarily a hauler, buy the WB and put the savings toward a headache rack or a gooseneck upgrade. Roughly two out of three Norstar decks we install around Wharton go out as open decks, and most of those buyers never wish they’d bought boxes.

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.