We're continually surprised by customers who, when comparing two or more quotes for the same specified products, believe they are exactly the same and purchase based on the lower price. The vague verbiage in these quotes does not reveal "the true picture" and the customer often finds out when it is too late that what he thought he was buying and what he actually received are quite different. When it comes to steels common in truck body building there are three distinct issues that should be considered: steel grade, finish and gauge tolerance.   

Grade describes the basic properties such as strength, corrosion resistance, formability and  weldability. Commercial Quality "CQ" is at the low cost end from which prices increse through higher strength grades (50K psi, 80K psi, 100K psi), corrosion resistance versions ("Corten"), abrasion resistant versions ("AR") and specialty steels with high strength, wear resistance and toughness ("Hardox"). Saying a particular steel is HSLA (High Strength Low Alloy) doesn't fully define the material and is like saying "hardwood" without specifying whether it is oak, maple or cherry. Steel pricing varies significantly due to its attributes as well as market demand/supply volatility. For some perspective CQ recently sold for $0.33/lb, 50K psi for $0.37, Corten for $0.44/lb, AR for $0.73/lb and Hardox for $1.00/lb. 

Finish refers to the surface properties which impact the painted surface aesthetic and strength of the primer/steel bond. Hot Rolled is relatively inexpensive but results in a poor looking and performing paint finish unless it treated prior to priming. Hot rolled pickle & oiled (HRPO) is more expensive but results in a much smoother painted surface and good primer bond which better resists corrosion creep. Cold rolled steel, the most expensive, is really only used in critical surfaces such as automobile hoods & fenders.

Gauge tolerance refers to thickness variance. ¼" steel could be anywhere from 0.240" up to 0.265" and still be called ¼".  Two bodies made of ¼" steel could vary by 10% if one manufacturer uses low end thickness steel while the other uses material at the high end of the thickness range. Both are ¼" yet one will result in a significantly stronger body than the other.

What all of this means is that two steel bodies with supposedly the same specifications could actually cost quite a bit different to manufacture and perform very differently for the actual customers that purchase them. When it comes to steel truck bodies the old saying "you get what you pay for" generally applies!

For years aluminum van bodies were the only choice available to those requiring a truck mounted box. Like in the boating industry, fiberglass body building has been evolving and gaining market acceptance with Unicell leading the way. Despite this success we continue to meet end users who are not yet convinced and point to misconceptions as proof. Several of the more common misconceptions of fiberglass when compared to aluminum van bodies are as follows:

Myth #1: Fiberglass bodies are heavier and reduce payload. That was true of the old fiberglass reinforced plywood construction, not Unicell's molded body. Unicell delivers superior longevity and toughness with the same payload as an aluminum body.

Myth #2: Fiberglass bodies are not as strong or durable. Unicell uses over 1/8" of DCPD resin with high glass content & no fillers resulting in a body shell that's 5 times tougher than aluminum with no riveted or glued panels to leak or loosen. This may explain why fiberglass van bodies are so prevalent in the demanding daily rental cube van market with firms like Discount and Budget. And Unicell bodies are covered by a 5 year comprehensive warranty!

Myth #3: Fiberglass body repairs are more expensive and finding repair facilities is difficult. Repairs are generally less expensive for fiberglass because only the affected area is dealt with (no need to replace entire panel/graphic or apply unsightly patch). Any automotive or marine repair facility can repair the damage or the vehicle can be returned to us for a quick repair.

Myth #4: Fiberglass gets brittle in the cold. Actually, it's strength increases a little as the temperature goes down.

Myth #5: Fiberglass van bodies are much more expensive. The cost differential of equivalent size and features is generally negligible.  

These facts coupled with the fiberglass advantages of better surface for graphics, lower air resistance to aid in better vehicle mileage, a body that can be molded to matchs the shape and contours of the chassis make the choice for your next van body easy .... Unicell!

Q: Are LED body lights worth the extra cost over incandescent?

A: Yes. We are pleased with feedback received since making them standard in many of our bodies. Customers have commented how much brighter the small LED pinlights are compared to much larger incandescent versions and that after three or four years none have burned out, dimmed or failed.