The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Reading Truck Service Body

This guide breaks down everything you need to know before purchasing a Reading service body—from materials and compartment layouts to truck compatibility, upfit options, and security features.

If you're in the market for a high-quality service body, Reading Truck is a name that should be on your radar. Built for durability, performance, and customization, Reading Truck Bodies are among the most trusted in the industry.

But with so many options and configurations, how do you choose the right one? Essentially, this guide contains everything we'd ask you when upfitting your truck at Northland Equipment.

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1. Start with Your Job, Not Just the Truck

   
   

   Choosing the right service body isn't just about what fits your truck—it's about what fits your job. A good upfit improves efficiency, safety, and security while maximizing your truck's capabilities.

   Reading Truck Bodies are built to work hard—and smart—with customizable options that give you a mobile workshop tailored to your trade.

   
   

   If you're ready to start building out your perfect truck, contact your trusted Reading Truck Body dealer, Northland Equipment, and bring your wish list.

   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Steel vs. Aluminum: Which Material Is Right for You?

   
   

   One of the first decisions you'll need to make is whether to go with a steel or aluminum service body.

	Steel	Aluminum
Lifespan	Tough and impact-resistant—ideal for rugged jobsites. Backed by a 6-Year Limited Warranty.	Excellent choice for harsh environments. Backed by a 10-Year Limited Warranty.
Cost	Generally more affordable upfront than aluminum.	Hight initial investment but may pay off in long-term savings.
Weight	Heavier, which can reduce payload and fuel economy.	Up to 50% lighter than steel, which improves payload capacity and fuel efficiency.
Corrosion Protection	Reading's E-Coat primer and powder coat finish greatly enhances rust resistance.	Same corrosion protection as steel bodies, but is also naturally rust-resistant. Ideal for northern climates or coastal regions.

Choose steel if you're doing heavy-duty work with lots of impact risk. Go with aluminum if weight savings, corrosion resistance, and fuel economy are more critical to your operations. For a comprehensive comparison, refer to the Reading Service Bodies Brochure.

3. Fitting Your Truck or Chassis

   
   

   Reading Truck Bodies are engineered to fit the major truck brands and models, including:

   • Ford Super Duty (F-250 to F-550)

   • Ram 2500 to 5500

   • Chevrolet and GMC 2500HD-5500HD

   • Cab chassis or pickup box delete configurations

Reading offers standard body sizes (like 8', 9', and 11') and can build custom-length bodies for specialty chassis. But here's the truth: We've seen it time and time again—someone buys a truck expecting to install a specific service body, only to find out it doesn't fit.

Use these 3 critical measurements to make sure your truck is fully compatible with the Reading service body you want:

1. Setback - This is the distance from the back of the can to the front of the service body. It impacts how everything fits together—and makes sure your tools and equipment are accessible and secure.

2. Wheelbase - This is the distance between the front and rear axles. It directly affects how long your service body can be without messing with the weight distribution or drivability.

3. Cab-to-Axle (CA) - The most important of the bunch! This measurement tells us how much room we have for the body itself. If your CA doesn't match the body's design, it simply won't fit.

✅Need Help Taking These Measurements?

The Northland Equipment team is here to help. We'll walk you through the right measurements and match you with a service body that fits your truck and your job.

4. Understanding Compartment Layouts: What You See Is What You Get

   
   

   Reading service bodies don't really offer modular compartments or custom-built internal layouts. Instead, each service body typically comes in one of two standard side pack configuration—Layout "A" or "B"—which vary depending on the specific body model and size.

   
   

   Standard Layout vs. Alternative

   • Layout "A": Features a traditional mix of vertical and horizontal compartments.

   • Layout "B": Often includes full-height compartments or a variation optimized for specific equipment or storage preferences.

   • These layouts are fixed per body model and cannot be reconfigured.

   

   
   

   

   
   

   Compartment Count Depends on Body Size

   
   

   • The number of compartment per side is determine by your truck's cab-to-axle (CA) measurement and the chosen body length. For example, an 8' body might have three compartments per side, while an 11' body could have four or more.

   

   
   

   Optional Layout Enhancements

   
   

   • Through-Front Compartment: An optional pass-through compartment in the front that spans the truck's width, ideal for longer items.

   • Raised Side Packs: Available on some specific sizes and chassis setups.

   

   Through-Front Compartment

   

   Raised Side Packs

   What This Means for You?

   
   

   When selecting a Reading body, it's important to choose the right layout up front because what's standard is what you'll get. Focus on matching the layout to the tools you use most often and the way you prefer to work. For more visuals and diagrams, check out the Reading Service Bodies Brochure.

5. Mounting Cranes, Welders, & Other Equipment

   
   

   Need to lift heavy loads or weld in the field? No problem. Reading bodies can be equipped and reinforced for auxiliary equipment. While these things can be added on after the fact, it's best to be part of the build plan from day one.

   
   

   Cranes: Require a Reinforced Body

   
   

   A crane cannot simply be added onto a standard Reading service body. It requires:

   • A crane-specific service body with reinforced substructures

   • Specially engineered compartment packs that support lifting stress

   • Outriggers for stabilization and safety

   
   

   Reading offers several crane-ready service bodies with capabilities ranging from light-duty to 6,000-lbs and beyond. If you're planning to lift loads, you'll need to select one of these purpose-built models or let us at Northland Equipment configure a reinforced body with the correct crane kit and hardware.

   
   

   We can install crane-ready compartment packs on certain service bodies and help you select the right crane for your application. Let us know your lift requirements early in the planning process so we can spec the right solution.

   

   
   

   
   

   Welders, Air Compressors, & Other Equipment

   
   

   Reading service bodies can accommodate welders, air compressors, and similar gear, but like cranes, these require planning in advance for safe and effective integration. This equipment could be compartment-mounted (if it fits) or top-mounted on the service body. Depending on the weight of the equipment, the service body could need reinforced rails.

   
   

   If you need to add other equipment, Northland Equipment has in-house solutions to mount and support welders, compressors, generators, and more. Just bring us your requirements and we'll handle the fabrication and integration.

   
   

   Important: Make sure your truck's GVWR supports the added weight of these accessories and that you comply with local DOT regulations.

   

   
   

   
   

   Mechanic Service Body: Built for Heavy-Duty Applications

   
   

   The Mechanic Service Body Series is great for those jobs that demand all that extra equipment. It's a reinforced version of a standard service body with taller front compartment—perfect for storing those welding gas bottles.

   

   Bottom Line: If you're thinking about adding a crane, welder, or compressor, you need to plan for that from the start. Let our team at Northland Equipment help you choose a Reading body that's built to handle your gear, your truck, and your jobsite.

   
   
   
   

6. Theft Protection Features

   
   

   Tools are expensive so you want to keep them protected. Reading builds several layers of security into every body.

   
   

   🔒Standard and Additional Security Features:

   
   

   • Hidden Hinges: Concealed for tamper resistance.

   • Internal Compartment Reinforcements: Heavy-duty compartment doors with double-paneled construction makes pry-bar break-ins more difficult.

   • Master-Locking System*: One turn secures all compartments.

   • Latch-Matic Security System*: Use your existing OEM key fob remote to lock and unlock your service body and truck.

   • Stainless Steel T-Handle Locks*: Upgrade to three-point locking with T-handles that provide extra resistance to prying and tampering.

     
     

   For added peace of mind, Reading also offers optional compartment cameras and alarm systems.*

   
   

   *These items do not come standard on bodies we stock, but are available upon request when placing a new body order.

   
   
   
   

7. Paint, Finish & Corrosion Protection

   Reading is known for its exclusive powder-coated finished that outlast the competition.

   
   

   • E-Coat Primer: Electrostatically applied and baked-on for complete corrosion protection.

   • Powder Coat Finish: Offers a tougher, more durable exterior than traditional wet paint. Reading factory colors available are white, black, and red.

   • Color Matching: Available to blend seamlessly with your truck's paint; however, Northland can only offer this option as we paint, not powder coat.

   
   

   

   Whether you choose steel or aluminum, Reading's paint and finishing system give your investment a long, professional-looking life.

   
   
   
   
   
   

8. Additional Options & Upgrades

   
   

   You can take your service body even further with options like:

   
   

   • LED compartment lighting

   • Backup cameras and sensors

   • Ladder or pipe racks

   • Spray in bed liners

   • Fuel transfer tanks and DEF systems

   • Compartment inverters

     
     

   Plus, if you plan to add your company branding later on, the smooth, flat compartment doors provide the ideal surface for decals and logos applied by your trusted graphics or sign shop.

   
   

   

   
   

   With Northland Equipment as your upfitter, we can guide you through the best choices based on your industry—plumbing, electrical, mechanical, construction, utilities, and more.

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At Northland Equipment, we're more than just a distributor—we're your upfitting experts. Whether you need a straightforward service body install or a fully equipped mobile workshop, our team has the experience, tools, and creativity to bring your vision to life.

We strictly follow all manufacturer guidelines to ensure your equipment is safe, reliable, and warrantied—but we don't stop there. If you need something outside the box, custom fabricated, or tailored to your workflow, we're ready to engineer solutions that go beyond what's generically offered in the industry.

From simple to specialty, bring us your ideas—we'll build what works for you.

Build My Service Body