Iron workers and structural steel contractors put their trucks through some of the toughest daily use in the construction trades. Hauling rebar, structural steel connectors, rigging equipment, and power tools while navigating active job sites requires a truck body that can take punishment and keep your crew organized. At Star Truck Equipment in Wharton, TX, we outfit trucks for iron workers and steel contractors across Texas and Louisiana.
What Iron Workers Need in a Truck Body
Structural iron work puts specific demands on your truck. You need a flat, open deck for loading steel bundles, anchor bolts, and rigging hardware. You need lockable storage for impact wrenches, grinders, come-alongs, and spud wrenches. And if your crew does overhead lifts or connection work at height, a crane body can transform your service truck into a lifting platform that goes wherever the job does.
Flatbed Truck Bodies for Iron Workers
An open flatbed gives iron workers maximum flexibility for hauling odd-shaped steel components, rebar bundles, and equipment. The best options for structural steel work:
- CM RS and ER Flatbeds: The CM RS (Rustler) and ER (Economy Rail) are heavy-duty steel flatbeds built for chassis cabs — F-450/550 and Ram 4500/5500. If you’re running a heavy commercial operation with DRW chassis cabs, these are work-proven platforms for steel hauling. Pricing from $3,200–$5,000 installed.
- Bedrock Diamond and Granite Flatbeds: Premium heavy-gauge steel with aggressive diamond plate deck patterns. Bedrock’s structural integrity holds up to steel-on-steel contact and the abuse of daily job site loading. Pricing from $3,500–$6,000 installed on DRW/chassis cab applications.
- Norstar SD and SL Flatbeds: Texas-made (Clarksville, TX) mid-tier flatbeds with solid construction for iron work applications. The SD (Dual Wheel) is a strong mid-range option for F-350/Ram 3500 DRW crews. Pricing from $2,800–$4,500 installed.
- Bradford Built Flatbeds: Heavy-gauge steel with a premium build quality suited for commercial use. Bradford Built flatbeds hold up in the demanding environment of structural steel job sites. Pricing from $3,500–$6,500 installed.
Crane Bodies for Iron Workers
One of the most valuable upgrades for a structural iron work crew is a crane body with a truck-mounted crane. A 3–7 ton-meter crane body paired with a Tiger Crane can handle lifts that would otherwise require a full crane rental — positioning steel columns, lifting heavy rigging assemblies, and placing pre-assembled structural components on smaller jobs where a full crane doesn’t pencil out.
- STI Crane Bodies: STI (Waco, TX) builds crane-ready truck bodies purpose-built for heavy-lift service trucks. The crane mounting provisions, stabilizer pads, and structural crossmember reinforcement are engineered in from the factory — not welded on as an afterthought. STI pairs well with Tiger Cranes for iron work applications.
- RKI Crane-Ready Service Bodies: Houston-made RKI crane bodies are built for the Gulf Coast and South Texas construction market. Multiple compartment configurations, heavy-gauge steel, and crane outrigger provisions make these a strong choice for iron work crews. Pricing from $8,000–$18,000 installed depending on configuration and crane size.
Service Bodies for Iron Work Crews
Even without a crane, a service body adds enormous value to an iron work truck. Lockable compartments for impact wrenches, drills, grinders, safety harnesses, and anchor hardware keep the job site organized and your tools secure overnight on long-duration projects.
- RKI Service Bodies: Houston-manufactured, heavy-duty compartment configurations. Oilfield-proven and job site tough. $4,500–$9,500 installed.
- CM SB/SSB Service Bodies: Cost-effective entry point into organized compartment storage. Available on F-250 through F-450 chassis. $3,500–$6,500 installed.
Chassis Guide for Iron Work Trucks
| Application | Recommended Chassis | Body Type |
|---|---|---|
| Rebar/connector hauling | Ford F-350 DRW or Ram 3500 DRW | CM/Norstar/Bedrock flatbed |
| Heavy steel component hauling | Ford F-450/550 or Ram 4500/5500 | Bedrock/Bradford Built/CM RS |
| Service crew truck | Ford F-350/450 or Ram 3500/4500 | RKI or CM service body |
| Crane lift work on site | Ford F-450/550 or Ram 4500/5500 | STI/RKI crane body + Tiger Crane |
Serving Iron Workers Across Texas and Louisiana
Star Truck Equipment is based in Wharton, TX — centrally located to serve structural steel contractors working in Houston, the Gulf Coast petrochemical corridor, San Antonio, Austin, and across Central and South Texas. We regularly outfit trucks for iron workers, structural steel erectors, and heavy commercial construction crews. Louisiana contractors are welcome — all our truck bodies use powder-coat finishes that hold up in Gulf Coast humidity.
Call us at (979) 532-1486 to talk through the right setup for your crew size, chassis, and job type. We’ll help you build a truck that works as hard as you do on the iron.