Before you pick a brand, you have to pick a wheel configuration. A flatbed built for a single rear wheel (SRW) truck will not fit a dual rear wheel (DRW) truck, and buying the wrong one is the single most common mistake we correct over the phone. Here’s how to get it right the first time.

SRW vs DRW: what actually changes

Item	SRW flatbed	DRW flatbed
Typical deck width	84″	86″–97″ (fenders clear duals)
Wheel wells / skirt	Narrower cutouts	Wider, deeper cutouts
Payload	Lower — tire and axle limited	Higher — more rubber on the road
Gooseneck comfort zone	Up to roughly 15,000–18,000 lb trailers	20,000 lb+ trailers, comfortably
Stability under high loads	More sway with tall/heavy goosenecks	Noticeably more planted
Tire replacement cost	4 tires	6 tires
Fuel economy empty	Slightly better	Slightly worse
Daily driver friendliness	Parks and fits anywhere	Wide in traffic and drive-thrus

Choose SRW if you…

• Pull a bumper-pull or a light gooseneck (single-axle or light tandem) a few times a month.
• Use the truck as a daily driver as well as a work truck.
• Want the lowest running cost — four tires instead of six adds up fast.
• Need to fit in tight job sites, alleys, or city parking.

Choose DRW if you…

• Haul a loaded gooseneck, equipment trailer, or livestock trailer weekly.
• Carry a bale bed, crane, or welding rig — anything that puts constant weight behind the axle.
• Regularly run near your truck’s rated payload, where dual tires give real safety margin.
• Are building a truck that will be sold into a commercial market later; DRW work trucks resell faster.

Fitment checklist before you order

• Cab-to-axle (CA): measure from the back of the cab to the center of the rear axle — commonly 56″, 60″, or 84″.
• Wheel configuration: SRW or DRW, confirmed by looking at the truck, not the trim badge.
• Frame width and rail height if the truck has been modified.
• Intended trailer — bring us the trailer’s loaded weight, not its empty weight.

Tell us those four things and we can put you on the right deck in one phone call. Both configurations are available in stock across our main brands, so you rarely have to wait on a factory build.

Compare specific models next: CM truck beds, Bedrock, Norstar, or read the flatbed truck bodies overview.

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.