The Ram 5500 is a medium-duty chassis wearing a pickup cab, and it is one of the best flatbed platforms sold in Texas. With a GVWR around 19,500 lb and payload capacity commonly north of 12,000 lb, it hauls what a one-ton only pretends to. The catch is that the 5500 comes in several cab-to-axle lengths and the deck has to match. Here is how to spec it.
In stock now in Wharton, TX — real prices, installed in one business day.
Shop CM from $3,950 | Shop Bedrock from $4,450 | Shop Norstar from $9,550
Browse all in-stock truck beds and bodies or call (979) 532-1486 for a same-day quote.
Ram 5500 chassis basics
| Spec | Ram 5500 (typical) |
|---|---|
| GVWR | ~19,500 lb |
| Rear axle | Dual rear wheel, standard |
| Payload with a flatbed | Commonly 11,000–12,500 lb |
| Gooseneck / 5th wheel tow | Up to ~30,000+ lb depending on configuration |
| CA lengths offered | 60″, 84″, 108″, 120″ (by cab and wheelbase) |
| Frame | Full C-channel, body-builder friendly |
Matching deck length to cab-to-axle
- 60″ CA — 8′ or 8’6″ flatbed. Tightest turning; best for city and jobsite work.
- 84″ CA — 9’4″ to 11′ flatbed. The most common Ram 5500 hotshot and welding spec.
- 108″–120″ CA — 12′ to 14′ deck or a stake/platform body. For hauling pipe, pallets, and long material.
- Rear overhang should stay near or under one-third of the wheelbase for stable handling and legal weight distribution.
Best flatbed choices for a 5500
- CM TM and PLS — the TM is the classic hotshot deck with a factory gooseneck; the PLS platform handles long material and pallet loads.
- Bedrock Granite and Marble — heavier-duty skirted and flat decks in 84″ CA DRW configurations, in stock from $4,450 across the Bedrock line.
- Norstar — heavy steel beds and service combinations from $9,550, worth it when the truck runs lease roads daily.
- For a mechanics truck, step over to crane bodies — the 5500 is the right chassis for a 6,000 lb class crane.
Common Ram 5500 builds we see in Texas
- Hotshot: 84″ CA, 11′ steel deck, gooseneck ball, headache rack, toolboxes under the deck.
- Welding rig: 84″ CA deck with a skirted body, machine mount behind the cab, and lead reels.
- Oilfield service: 84″–108″ CA with a service or combo body and a crane.
- Ranch and hay: 84″ CA deck with a bale bed or a bale spike setup.
Things buyers get wrong on a 5500
- Ordering the deck before confirming CA on the actual chassis — the 5500 has four common lengths.
- Forgetting that a CDL may be required once the combined rating crosses 26,001 lb. Check your trailer weight.
- Skipping the mud flaps and rear bumper spec, then failing a DOT inspection over it.
- Assuming a one-ton deck fits. Dually width and frame rail spacing on a cab and chassis are not the same.
Pricing and install in Wharton, TX
Flatbeds for the 5500 start around $3,950 for in-stock CM decks and $4,450 for Bedrock, with heavier Norstar units from $9,550. Longer 11-foot and 12-foot decks price above the 8-foot units. Most in-stock bodies are mounted and wired in one business day.
Related: flatbed truck bodies, crane bodies for sale, platform bodies.
Talk to Someone Who Installs These Every Week
Give us the CA length off your Ram 5500’s build sheet and we’ll match a deck the same day. 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.