Towing operators and roadside assistance companies run their trucks harder than almost anyone. You’re rolling on calls at 2am, working rural Texas highways in summer heat, and pulling everything from broken-down passenger cars to disabled 18-wheelers. Your support truck — the one carrying tools, fluids, safety gear, and equipment — needs to be built tough and organized enough to find what you need fast. At Star Truck Equipment in Wharton, TX, we build service and support trucks for towing companies across Texas and Louisiana.

What Towing Operators Carry on Their Support Trucks

A towing company’s support or chase truck is a rolling supply depot. It typically needs to carry:

  • Chains, straps, and rigging equipment
  • Air tanks and tire inflation gear
  • Battery jump packs and cables
  • Transmission fluid, oil, coolant, and fuel
  • Lights, flares, and road safety equipment
  • Hand tools, air tools, and basic mechanical repair supplies
  • Hydraulic jacks and dollies
  • Winch accessories and tow rigging hardware

That’s a lot of gear — and it needs to be organized, secured, and accessible fast when you’re on the side of I-10 at midnight.

Best Truck Bodies for Towing Companies

Service Bodies — The Core of a Towing Support Truck

A service body is the most practical choice for towing support trucks. The organized lockable compartment system lets you store chains, straps, and fluids in dedicated bays so you’re not digging through a pile of gear when time matters.

  • RKI Service Bodies — Made in Houston, TX. Steel and aluminum options. RKI’s compartment layouts work well for towing operations — deep side bays for chains and straps, top-access compartments for safety gear, and overall clean build quality. Available on F-350 through F-550 and Ram 4500–5500 chassis.
  • CM Service Bodies (SB or SSB) — A reliable, cost-effective service body option for towing companies that want solid compartment storage on half-ton or 3/4-ton pickups used for light-duty roadside assistance runs.
  • STI Service Bodies — For heavy-duty towing support applications. STI builds service bodies specifically for oilfield and heavy construction fleet trucks, but their compartment depth and body durability make them equally at home supporting heavy wrecker operations. STI is available in chassis cab configurations up through Class 5–6.

Crane Bodies — For Wreckers and Recovery Trucks

Towing and recovery operations that handle disabled vehicles, overturned loads, or off-road recovery situations often need a crane body. A truck-mounted crane lets your team do controlled lifts without waiting on a separate crane truck to arrive.

  • STI Crane Bodies — Factory crane-ready with reinforced subframes. Paired with Tiger truck-mounted cranes (3–10 ton-meter capacity), an STI + Tiger build gives recovery operators serious lifting capability in a single truck package.
  • RKI Crane Bodies — Houston-made crane-ready bodies for F-450 and F-550 class trucks. Competitive pricing for towing companies that need occasional crane capability without stepping up to a full heavy-recovery configuration.

Flatbed Truck Bodies — For Equipment and Vehicle Transport

Some towing operations use a flatbed truck body as a light-duty rollback alternative — transporting disabled equipment, motorcycles, or small vehicles when a full rollback isn’t needed. A flatbed gives you open deck space for loading and strapping.

  • CM Flatbeds (RD or ER) — Popular option for towing company utility trucks that double as flatbed haulers. Available in 8’–12′ lengths for F-350 DRW and F-450 chassis.
  • Bedrock Flatbeds — Heavy-duty option when you need a stiff, high-capacity deck for loading heavier equipment or utility trailers.

Chassis Guide for Towing Company Trucks

  • F-250 / Ram 2500 — Light roadside assistance trucks; good with CM SB service body for quick-response runs with moderate gear loads
  • F-350 DRW / Ram 3500 DRW — Mid-range support truck; handles full RKI or CM service body plus a bed-mounted air tank or generator
  • F-450 / Ram 4500 — Most common for heavy support trucks; supports RKI or STI service body with crane-ready option
  • F-550 / Ram 5500 — Heavy-recovery support configuration; handles STI + Tiger crane body build with full tool complement

Useful Accessories for Towing Support Trucks

  • Underbody toolboxes — Extra lockable storage below the service body; good for rigging hardware, dollies, and air tools
  • Headache rack — Protects the cab window when carrying extended gear or when a crane is mounted
  • Light bar mounts — Service body roof rails work well for emergency light bars used by roadside assistance operators
  • Fuel tank — Some towing companies mount an auxiliary fuel tank in the flatbed for range on remote highway runs

Serving Towing Companies Across Texas and Louisiana

Star Truck Equipment is located in Wharton, TX — centrally positioned between Houston, Victoria, and the Gulf Coast. We work with towing companies, wrecker operators, and roadside assistance fleets across South Texas and Louisiana. Our team will help you spec the right body for your operation and get it installed and ready to work.

Call us at (979) 532-1486 or visit 2507 County Rd 231, Wharton, TX 77488. Browse our inventory: Service Bodies | Crane Bodies | Flatbed Bodies | RKI Truck Bodies