The vertical toolboxes on a service body get opened and closed dozens of times a day, and the hardware
holding the lid up matters more than most buyers expect. The two common options are a gas-charged lid strut
that lifts and holds the lid automatically, or a simple manual prop rod that a technician swings into place by
hand. At Star Truck Equipment in Wharton, TX, we build
service bodies from
CM and
RKI with either setup, and the right choice
comes down to how the truck gets used every day across Texas and Louisiana.
What a Gas Strut Offers
A gas-charged lid strut lifts the compartment lid smoothly and holds it open at full height without any
extra step from the technician — open the latch and the lid rises and stays put. This is faster for crews
opening and closing compartments repeatedly through the day, and it reduces the chance of a lid slamming shut
on a hand or tool. Struts are sealed units, so there’s nothing to manually engage, but they are a wear item —
most last several years of daily use before losing pressure and needing replacement.
What a Manual Prop Rod Offers
A manual prop rod is a simple steel or aluminum arm that swings out from the compartment wall and locks into
a bracket to hold the lid open. There’s no gas cylinder to fail, no seal to lose pressure, and a prop rod can
sit unused for years and still work exactly as designed. The tradeoff is an extra motion every time a
compartment opens — the technician has to physically position the rod and unhook it again to close the lid,
which slows down high-frequency compartment use.
Which Setup Fits Your Trade?
- Utility and HVAC techs in and out of compartments all day — gas struts save real time over hundreds of openings a week
- Fleets running trucks in extreme heat — prop rods avoid any risk of strut pressure loss in high-temperature climates
- Crews working with gloves or in a hurry — gas struts are safer and faster with one free hand
- Long-haul or low-frequency compartment use — a prop rod’s simplicity and near-zero maintenance can be the better long-term bet
- Fleets standardizing on low-maintenance hardware — prop rods have no wear part to budget for replacing
Both options can be specified when a service body is built, and struts can typically be retrofitted onto
existing compartments later. Browse our truck
accessories, or ask about outfitting your next
service body or flatbed order.
Get Your Truck Set Up Right
Star Truck Equipment builds and outfits truck bodies for fleets and owner-operators across Texas and Louisiana
from our shop in Wharton, TX. Call us at (979) 532-1486 or browse our
service bodies and
truck accessories to get started.
