Choosing the right truck body mounting system is essential for fleet operators, upfitters, and OEMs focused on reducing downtime, improving vehicle serviceability, and maximizing return on investment (ROI). Whether you’re operating utility trucks, delivery fleets, or custom chassis builds, the mounting system you choose can make a measurable difference in long-term performance.
While often overlooked, truck body mounting systems play a critical role in your vehicle’s performance and lifecycle cost. The method used to connect the truck body to the chassis affects not only ride quality but also downtime, maintenance, and the time required for future body replacements or upgrades.
Traditional mounting systems rely on U-bolts and wooden strips, but nowadays, there’s a better way of doing things in the name of maximizing both ROI and uptime.
Let’s break down how Great Dane’s robust brackets and bolts are giving modern fleets a better option in truck body mounting systems.
Truck Body Mounting Matters More Than You Think
Troy Guider, National Accounts Manager for Great Dane’s Truck Body Division, has seen it all in his 27 years in the business. He started building truck bodies before moving into production management and national sales. According to him, the mounting system is often the source of major downstream headaches.
“A lot of people still use U-bolts with wood filler strips,” Guider said. “That wood compresses over time, which leads to slack, shifting, and even body displacement on the chassis.”
In extreme cases, that movement can lead to a body physically detaching from the frame. While rare, it’s a risk that no fleet wants to take.
Great Dane’s mounting system is designed without U-bolts or filler strips. Instead, it uses welded angles inside and outside the long stringer on the body and bolts through the chassis’ neutral axis. The result is a rock-solid connection with built-in flex where it counts.
“Our system is designed to allow the chassis frame to flex under load without stressing the mount or cracking the weld,” Guider explains. “It’s engineered to work with the truck, not against it.”
Traditional vs. Next-Gen Mounting Systems
Here’s a quick overview of the most common truck body mounting styles:
- Fully Welded – Uses permanent, rigid connections. It can be difficult and expensive to service if it cracks under frame flex, as it is prone to do.
- U-bolts – Familiar, traditional, and relatively inexpensive. However, this style requires filler strips and U-bolts, which stretch and loosen over time, especially as the wood filler compresses. That means torque values drop, and the bolts need to be re-tightened periodically to maintain a safe, secure fit.
- Clamped – Quick to install and offers a high degree of flexibility for chassis swaps. The big con is that this style isn’t very feasible with heavier payloads. You likely won’t see this style in truck body applications like reefer, construction, or bulk haul sectors due to their lower load-handling confidence and long-term durability issues.
- Integrated System – This is the option offered at Great Dane. It’s rigid yet flexible, requires minimal maintenance, and allows for fast chassis swaps.
Fewer Fasteners, Less Fuss
When U-bolts and wood are eliminated, you no longer have to deal with:
- Stretching and loosening under load;
- Body movement that stresses other components;
- Time-consuming torque checks during preventive maintenance; and
- Torch work when swapping bodies.
“We build our truck bodies to go through multiple chassis cycles,” Guider said. “When it’s time for a body swap, you’re not cutting bolts or fighting seized hardware. The mounting system will be very useful in a situation like that.”
That efficiency adds up, especially for fleets running larger volumes of box trucks, refrigerated bodies, or municipal service vehicles.
The U-bolt-and-wood approach may be common in the industry, but Guider doesn’t mince words: “It looks primitive. Even on new units, you’ll sometimes see cracked four-by-four blocks under the body. It doesn’t inspire confidence.”
Great Dane’s system may have a higher up-front cost, but it was built to reduce the lifetime cost of ownership.
If It’s Going on the Road, It Needs to Be Reliable
No matter what your fleet hauls, your truck body is only as reliable as the way it’s mounted. With Great Dane’s system, you’re getting a solution that’s built for durability, repeatability, and peace of mind.
“We’ve basically taken a Great Dane trailer and shrunk it into a truck body. That includes the same attention to structure, life span, and return on investment,” Guider said.
Looking for more information about Great Dane truck bodies? Start here.
Ready to talk about how a Great Dane truck body can increase your efficiency? We’re ready to help. Contact our team today.
