Truck Geeks Unite

I know what you’re going to say. But, I’m a recovering TV carpenter.

For TV work, I built behind the scenes and it was crazy. One of my favorite things about the accelerated schedules was that it was impossible not to learn things—about people, leadership, pressure, problem solving, efficient tool set-ups, bark mulch in the snow. And trucks.

And turns out, I’ve been driving the wrong truck for, like, ever.

When we did the Food Network builds, our tools shared a 26-foot box truck with the production company’s pile of stuff (I sometimes wonder how they got to location). Two of us could have a shop and tools set up for our six-person crew in about 30 minutes. We knew where everything was—all the time. It was all on wheels. Workbenches were permanently set up. Unlike my daily driver—a pickup and dump trailer (check out Kurt Stevenson’s decked-out dump trailer here)—with the box truck, I could develop a system, not a pile. Weather was no longer a concern.

Anyway, fast forward to today: I drive a service body truck I picked up for a song and I love it. However, when I have to switch back to my pickup for towing, delivering long material or ladders, or 4-wheel drive, it’s a real headache.

More than a cap, the MetalGear X-Pro aluminum body is a hybrid service body for pickups. With six or eight doors, it fits all full-size pickup beds and it has a built-in ladder rack. Gas piston gull wing doors on the side open and stay that way—deluxe.

The rear doors integrate with the tailgate so you don’t have to remove it, and they open wide. It looks like you might be able to sneak a table saw in there and build it out with shelves to match how you work and what you carry.

More Details

• ¼-inch pin and 304 stainless piano hinges on the doors
• Doors are guttered top and bottom
• Front box goes all the way across the bed and adjustable shelf

No pricing is listed on the website, but you can request a quote.

This article originally appeared in Tools of the Trade.