When you’re shopping for a professional service body for your work truck, two names you’ll often encounter are RKI (Rawson-Koenig Inc.) and Royal Truck Body. Both brands build solid service bodies, but there are important differences in product focus, availability, and overall value that Texas and Louisiana buyers need to understand before pulling the trigger.
At Star Truck Equipment in Wharton, TX, we carry and install RKI service bodies and truck equipment across Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana. Here’s how these two brands stack up.
About RKI (Rawson-Koenig Inc.)
RKI is a Houston, TX-based manufacturer with a long track record in commercial truck body fabrication. Their service bodies, utility bodies, and crane bodies are built for the demanding Texas and Gulf Coast market — oilfield, construction, utility, and municipal fleets rely on RKI equipment daily. Because RKI is manufactured right here in Texas, parts availability and service support are strong throughout the region.
RKI service bodies are available in steel and offer a range of compartment configurations, ladder racks, crane body packages, and custom mounting options. Common configurations include:
- Standard single-rear-wheel (SRW) and dual-rear-wheel (DRW) service bodies
- Crane body variants (with integrated crane mounting provisions)
- Extended cab-to-axle configurations for chassis cab trucks (Ford F-450/F-550, Ram 4500/5500)
- Steel construction with powder-coat finish
- Multiple compartment heights and widths to match your tools and gear
About Royal Truck Body
Royal Truck Body is a California-based manufacturer that has grown significantly through acquisitions and distribution partnerships. They build a wide range of service bodies, contractor bodies, platform bodies, and dump bodies — primarily targeting fleet buyers on the West Coast and nationally. While Royal has expanded distribution into Texas and Louisiana, their regional dealer network and service infrastructure in our area is thinner than what you’d find with a Texas-based manufacturer like RKI.
Royal Truck Body offers:
- Steel service bodies in several standard configurations
- Contractor bodies and combo units
- Platform bodies and dump bodies
- National fleet programs for larger corporate accounts
RKI vs Royal: Head-to-Head Comparison
| Category | RKI | Royal Truck Body |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing Origin | Houston, TX | City of Industry, CA |
| Regional Availability (TX/LA) | Strong — TX-based dealer network | Limited — fewer local dealers |
| Service Body Focus | Service, crane, utility bodies | Service, contractor, platform, dump |
| Steel Construction | Yes | Yes |
| Powder-Coat Finish | Yes | Yes |
| Crane Body Options | Yes — purpose-built crane body packages | Limited |
| Local Parts & Support | Excellent (TX-made) | Variable in TX/LA region |
| Fleet/Government Programs | Yes | Yes (national focus) |
Which Service Body Is Right for You?
If you’re a Texas or Louisiana-based contractor, oilfield operator, utility company, or fleet manager, RKI is the stronger local choice. Here’s why:
- Built in Texas — RKI’s Houston manufacturing base means faster lead times and stronger parts support in our region
- Crane body integration — If you need a service body paired with a crane, RKI offers purpose-built crane body configurations designed to work with Tiger Cranes and other truck-mounted crane systems
- Proven in the Gulf Coast market — RKI equipment is a common sight in oilfield, utility, and construction fleets across Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana
- Local dealer support — Star Truck Equipment in Wharton, TX provides full installation, service, and warranty support for RKI bodies
Royal Truck Body isn’t a bad product — it’s a solid national brand. But for buyers in the Texas-Louisiana corridor who want local manufacturer support, faster turnaround, and a dealer team that knows the regional market, RKI consistently delivers more value.
See RKI Service Bodies at Star Truck Equipment
We carry RKI service bodies, crane bodies, and utility bodies at our Wharton, TX location. Our team can help you choose the right configuration for your Ford F-450/F-550, Ram 4500/5500, or other chassis cab — and handle the full installation in-house.
We also carry STI (Service Trucks International) service bodies and mechanics trucks, CM truck bodies, and a full lineup of crane body packages including Tiger Cranes — so you can compare options from a single dealer who knows work trucks.
📞 Call us at (979) 532-1486 or stop by our shop at 2507 County Rd 231, Wharton, TX 77488. We serve buyers throughout Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana.
