Utility Truck Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Work Truck for Your Business

If your business relies on getting tools, equipment, and your crew to the job site every day, your truck is your most important asset. Picking the wrong one is expensive both in terms of time and cash. Picking the right one makes all the difference.

At Sarchione Chevrolet Randolph, we've been helping Ohio businesses select the right work truck for their needs for years. This guide covers all the factors to consider in selecting a utility or service body truck, from configurations and payload to upfitting and financing.

Understanding Different Types of Utility Trucks

A utility truck, also known as a service body truck, is a commercial pickup or cab-chassis truck fitted with a specialized work body in place of the standard bed. On the front, sides, and rear are specialized storage compartments for carrying and organizing tools and equipment.

Utility trucks are the backbone of the commercial service industry. Electrical contractors, plumbers, HVAC contractors, telecom installers, landscapers, and general contractors all depend on service body trucks to carry their equipment to job sites and keep it organized.

If your employees' daily work routine involves reaching for tools, loading and unloading equipment, or carrying inventory, you should definitely consider a utility truck.

Getting Started: Ask Yourself These Questions

Before you start shopping for your utility truck, it's important to have a good idea of what it is you actually need. The specs of the ideal utility truck vary drastically depending on the line of work.

Ask yourself these questions:

• What will this truck be used for? What specific tasks will it perform? Will it involve pulling wire, laying pipe, hauling a compressor, or a combination of these?
• How much equipment do you plan on transporting in it? Some service bodies have room for a few small tools while others are made to hold large, custom-fitted equipment.
• How many people will be riding in it? If you're using it as your main vehicle and will need room for another person, a regular cab won't do.
• Do you plan on towing with your truck? What is your expected trailer weight? This determines the powertrain you need to spec out for your truck.
• Will you be working in confined areas or on rough terrain? This affects the wheelbase and four-wheel drive.

It's always better to overspec a truck than to underspec it, as far as day-to-day operations are concerned.

Understanding Cab and Chassis Configurations

There are a handful of different cab configurations to choose from in the Chevrolet commercial truck lineup. Each offers different levels of seating capacity and cargo room. Depending on the type of work and the number of people who need to ride in the truck, you'll want to choose the right size.

Regular Cab offers the most cargo space behind the cab and is the shortest in length for a given wheelbase. It's perfect for single drivers who don't need to carry passengers.

Extended Cab offers the flexibility of occasional passenger seating without sacrificing much cargo room.

Crew Cab offers a full-size seat for three additional occupants, great for crews that need to travel to job sites together.

For utility and service body trucks, many buyers opt for a cab-chassis configuration. The truck has a cab but no bed, allowing a service body to be installed on the chassis. A popular option for our area is the Silverado 3500HD Cab-Chassis.

Understanding GVWR and Payload

When it comes to commercial trucks, two specs stand out from the rest: gross vehicle weight rating and payload. GVWR is the total weight capacity of the fully equipped commercial truck, including the weight of the passengers, fuel, and equipment. Payload, on the other hand, is the difference between the GVWR and the curb weight (the weight of the truck without passengers or cargo).

When you add a service body to the truck, you're already reducing the payload by a meaningful amount. A steel service body can weigh anywhere from 800 to 1,500 pounds or more, depending on the size and configuration, and that weight comes directly out of what you have left to work with.

That's why it's important to consult with your service body supplier before picking out a configuration. Our team is happy to walk through any calculation or estimation with you, no sales pitch attached, just straight numbers so you know what you're actually working with. You can also check out our Commercial Upfit Guide for different body configurations and equipment options.

When choosing a service body for your truck, make sure you're not overloading it. Staying comfortably under your rated payload, rather than pushing right up against it, helps you avoid liability issues and keeps the truck performing the way it should. Keep in mind that upfits and modifications add to the curb weight too, which further reduces what you have left for tools, materials, and passengers.

Choosing Your Service Body Configuration

Now that you've selected a truck chassis and cab, it's time to choose the service body configuration that suits you most. As you can imagine, there is a wide variety to choose from. The right service body depends on a number of factors, including the type of work performed, the amount of equipment and materials to be carried, and even the terrain and environment you work in. Here are some of the most popular service body configurations:

• Standard Service Bodies are the most common and versatile configuration. They have side-opening storage compartments along the length of the truck bed, perfect for general contractors and trade contractors.
• Enclosed Service Bodies offer a secure work area inside the body of the truck. Some have an enclosed workspace in addition to the side storage compartments. These are popular among technicians and contractors who need climate control and security for their equipment.
• Crane and Mechanics Bodies have a service body on one side and a crane on the other. These are often used by commercial fleets and contractors who need to carry large, heavy equipment.
• Platform Bodies have a flatbed on the front and side storage compartments on the back. Contractors in landscaping, nursery, and turf industries tend to prefer this configuration.
• Combination Bodies blend features of flatbed and enclosed service bodies. The right combo body for you depends on the equipment you need to carry.

If you're unsure what type of service body you need, check out our commercial truck inventory and contact us for more information.

Choosing the Right Engine for Your Needs

The majority of utility truck buyers in Portage County and Northeast Ohio are choosing the Chevrolet Silverado HD. In the HD segment, you can choose between the 2500HD and the 3500HD. Both of these trucks are extremely capable and easy to maintain and service here in the local area.

When it comes to engines, you can choose between a high-performance gas V8 and the available Duramax diesel engine.

Gas V8. A high-performance gas V8 is a great all-around engine that provides the power you need without the complexity and expense associated with diesel engines. Fuel costs are also lower with gas, since the price per mile tends to run below diesel.

Duramax Diesel. The Duramax diesel engine provides outstanding low-end torque, improved fuel economy under load, and stronger towing capacity. If you're doing a lot of towing and need the power and torque to tackle tough jobs, diesel can be the better option. It's also worth considering if you're frequently driving highway miles, since diesel engines tend to run efficiently at sustained higher speeds.

If you're a utility service body truck operator in the Northeast Ohio area, you likely don't need anything more powerful than a 6.6L gas V8 or the Duramax diesel engine. Base your decision on your towing needs as well as your fuel consumption and cost preferences. If you're not sure which way to go, that's a five-minute conversation with your sales rep, not a sales pitch toward whichever engine happens to be sitting on the lot.

Planning for the Upfit

When buying a utility truck, the upfit is an especially important consideration. The upfit consists of all the modifications and equipment needed to convert the truck into the desired configuration. Upfitting can be scheduled either before the truck is delivered to you or right after. We have a network of upfit partners who can help you with this process, so you only have to deal with one company.

Here are a few things to consider when planning your upfit:

• What type of service body compartments do you need? Some configurations can be custom fit to your needs. Custom compartment builds take more time but help you maximize your space and organization.
• Do you need any electrical service body upgrades? Some configurations require additional circuits to accommodate items such as inverters or lighting.
• Do you need any stake rails or ladder racks? Some service bodies allow you to install these directly on the body of the truck.
• Are you planning on adding a hitch or a fifth wheel? Upfitting is the right time to make these modifications, since it lets us build the necessary changes into the truck bed from the start.

If you want to review all the details associated with upfitting, check out the Commercial Upfit Guide. If you're considering buying a commercial truck, it's worth a look.

Understanding Your Financing Options

Financing commercial trucks works differently from financing a personal vehicle. It's important to understand your options in order to make the right decision.

Commercial vehicle loans are the most common type of financing for business owners purchasing commercial vehicles. With a commercial vehicle loan, you pay off the full value of the truck and own it outright.

Commercial Operating Leases let you pay for the use of the vehicle, essentially renting it for a period of time, usually three to five years. This can be a great option for keeping your expenses predictable.

Section 179 deductions allow businesses to deduct the cost of qualifying commercial equipment from their taxes in the year of purchase. Contact your tax advisor to see if your business qualifies and how much you can deduct.

When buying a commercial truck, you should always consult with a commercial finance expert. Our team at Sarchione Chevrolet Randolph handles financing for commercial trucks every day, and you'll work with just one person from start to finish, not a handoff between a salesperson, a sales manager, and a finance manager. Because we don't carry the overhead of bigger stores, we're also able to pass real savings on to you on commercial truck loans. Check out our Commercial Finance page for more information.

Thinking About Your Total Cost of Ownership

When you buy a new utility service body truck, the price you pay for it is only the beginning. Over the course of three to seven years, you'll spend additional money on fuel, maintenance, insurance, and downtime. Here are some things to consider:

Fuel economy plays a huge role in the cost of ownership. A truck with better fuel economy will save you thousands of dollars over the lifespan of the vehicle.

Maintenance costs matter too. How often do these trucks require service? How easily are parts obtained, and how much do they cost? Chevrolet trucks have excellent service and parts coverage in the local area.

Resale value should also factor into your decision. A well-kept truck tends to hold its value, and demand for used commercial trucks in our area stays strong, which means you can generally expect a good price when it's time to sell.

Downtime due to repairs is worth planning around too. The trucks we sell are dependable and durable, which reduces the risk of downtime, and our strong local service coverage means you won't be without a truck for long if you do need to bring one in.

Getting to Know the Work Trucks at Sarchione Chevrolet Randolph

If you're considering buying a commercial truck, come see us at Sarchione Chevrolet Randolph. Our commercial truck inventory is the best place to start. When you come in, you'll deal with one sales rep from the moment you walk in to the moment you drive away, no bait and switch, no layers of management to work through, and no back-and-forth negotiating between departments. Most customers are done in under an hour. We know how busy you are, and without the corporate overhead other stores carry, we're able to keep the process straightforward and make sure that savings gets passed on to you.