If you’re shopping for a service body or crane body for your work truck in Texas or Louisiana, two names come up constantly: STI (Service Trucks International) and Autocrane. Both build tough equipment. Both are well-established in the commercial truck body market. But they serve different purposes — and knowing the difference can save you from buying the wrong rig for your operation.
At Star Truck Equipment in Wharton, TX, we carry STI and work with buyers across the region every day. Here’s an honest, side-by-side look at what each brand offers.
What STI Builds
STI (Service Trucks International) is a full-line manufacturer of truck bodies designed specifically for service work. Their lineup includes:
- Service bodies — enclosed side-compartment bodies for technicians, mechanics, and utility crews
- Mechanics trucks — integrated crane and body packages for on-site equipment repair
- Crane bodies — bodies built around hydraulic cranes for heavy-lift service work
- Lube and fuel service trucks — fleet maintenance trucks for oilfield and industrial operations
STI focuses on the complete service truck package — not just a crane or just a body, but a purpose-built unit. If you need a mechanics truck that includes compartmentalized storage, integrated crane capability, and a durable work surface, STI builds that as a single product.
STI bodies are known for heavy-gauge steel construction, smart compartment layouts, and durability in demanding environments. They’re a popular choice for oilfield contractors, pipeline crews, and industrial service companies throughout Texas and Louisiana.
What Autocrane Builds
Autocrane is primarily a crane manufacturer, not a truck body manufacturer. They specialize in truck-mounted hydraulic cranes — knuckleboom and straight-boom models — designed to be installed on existing service bodies or flatbeds.
Autocrane products include:
- Series 3100 — light-duty knuckleboom for utility and telecom trucks
- Series 4400 / 6400 — mid-range cranes for contractor and field service applications
- Series 8600 / 8800 — heavy-duty cranes for oilfield, construction, and industrial use
When you buy an “Autocrane service truck,” you’re typically buying a separate service body (from another manufacturer) with an Autocrane unit bolted to it. The two components come from different sources and are integrated by an upfitter or dealer.
STI vs. Autocrane: The Key Differences
| Factor | STI | Autocrane |
|---|---|---|
| What they make | Complete truck bodies (with optional integrated crane) | Truck-mounted cranes (crane only) |
| Service body included? | Yes — built-in compartments and work surface | No — body sourced separately |
| Crane capability | Available as part of mechanics/crane body package | Crane only — you supply the body |
| Best for | Buyers who want a complete, integrated service truck | Buyers who already have a body and need a crane added |
| Installation | Factory-built unit shipped complete | Installed by dealer/upfitter on existing truck |
| Typical buyer | Oilfield, pipeline, industrial, fleet managers | Utility, telecom, general contractors needing lift capacity |
Which One Is Right for You?
The answer depends on what you’re starting with and what you need to accomplish.
Choose STI if:
- You need a complete service truck body — compartments, drawers, crane, and work surface — as a single integrated unit
- You’re outfitting a new chassis and want a factory-built solution
- Your operation requires a dedicated service or mechanics truck with full storage capability
- You’re running oilfield, pipeline, or heavy industrial work and need a purpose-built unit
Consider Autocrane if:
- You already have a service body or flatbed you’re happy with, and you simply need to add lift capacity
- You need a crane for utility, telecom, or light construction work and want to spec the body separately
- Your primary need is controlled picking and placing of materials — not full service truck functionality
Worth noting: Tiger Cranes is another strong option if you’re sourcing a crane separately. Tiger offers competitive specs to Autocrane with strong dealer support in the Texas and Louisiana market.
What About Crane Bodies Specifically?
If you need a dedicated crane body — a truck body designed around a crane installation — STI is your manufacturer. They build crane bodies that integrate the crane mounting, body structure, and compartment layout into one coherent package. The body and crane work together as a system rather than as two separate afterthoughts.
Autocrane, by contrast, assumes you’re mounting their crane on an existing platform. That’s a valid approach, but it requires more coordination between your body upfitter and crane installer to get the geometry and payload capacity right.
Pricing Considerations
Both STI and Autocrane are commercial-grade products — don’t expect consumer pricing. STI crane body packages typically run from the mid-$20,000s into the $50,000+ range depending on crane capacity and body configuration. Autocrane cranes alone range from around $10,000 for light-duty units to $40,000+ for heavy-duty series, not including the body.
When you factor in the cost of a quality service body plus an Autocrane unit plus installation labor, a complete Autocrane-equipped service truck can approach — or exceed — the cost of a comparable STI package. For many buyers, the STI integrated approach offers better value when you’re starting from scratch.
Talk to Star Truck Equipment
We help Texas and Louisiana buyers find the right truck body setup for their specific operation. Whether you’re leaning toward an STI service truck, a crane body with Tiger Cranes, or a simpler flatbed or service body setup, we can walk you through the options and get you spec’d correctly.
Call us at (979) 532-1486 or stop by our shop at 2507 County Rd 231, Wharton, TX 77488. We carry service bodies, crane bodies, truck beds, and more from top brands — and we know how to match the right body to your truck and your work.
