The Ultimate Guide to Commercial Truck Upfits: Stock, Flatbed, or Service Body?

Donohoo Chevrolet was the number one HD truck dealer in the United States in 2024, and it’s not by accident. In a recent episode of the Donohoo Chevrolet podcast, Commercial Outfitting and Inventory Manager Andrew and Marketing’s Tyler sat down to demystify the process of buying an HD truck for personal, family, or business use.

The market for heavy-duty trucks—especially those needing custom beds and upfits—can be overwhelming. If you’re in the market for a Chevrolet 2500 or 3500 Silverado, this guide breaks down the essential choices you need to make to get the perfect mobile work solution.

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The Donohoo Advantage: Why Inventory Matters

Before diving into the hardware, it’s worth noting what sets Donohoo Chevrolet apart and how they achieved the top spot:

1. Massive Inventory: We stock roughly 250 3500 Silverados and 80 2500 Work Trucks at any given time. This means you can physically see and test out various trim levels and upfit combinations in one place.
2. Transparent Pricing: Every vehicle has an upfront, best price listed on the website. Critically, this transparent price includes the full cost of any installed upfit, eliminating the headache of hidden costs or searching for final pricing.
3. No Hidden Requirements: There are no requirements to finance with us, and no mandatory outside purchases (like nitrogen in the tires or window tint). The only outside charge is a $299 dock fee.

Step 1: Choosing Your Truck Bed (The Core Decision)

If you’re buying a heavy-duty truck, your first and most critical decision is the type of bed that best suits your needs. There are three main categories:

Bed Type	Primary Use Case	Key Feature	Gooseneck Compatible?
Stock Bed	Personal use, contained loads, family hauling.	Standard tailgate and bedsides.	Yes
Flatbed	Hauling pallets, long/wide materials, high versatility.	Wide-open, flat deck for easy side loading.	Yes (most common use)
Service Body	Organized, weatherproof tool storage and high utility.	Multiple side compartments/boxes (typically six).	No

The Work Truck Misconception

If you’re considering a base Work Truck (WT) trim, forget the stripped-down version of the past. Today’s Work Truck typically comes standard with power windows, locks, cruise control, and keyless entry, making it a perfectly capable daily driver for family duty and job site work.

Step 2: Answering the Gooseneck Question

To quickly narrow your options, ask yourself: Do I need to haul a gooseneck trailer?

• If Yes: You are choosing between a Stock Bed or a Flatbed.
• If No: The Service Body is an option for maximized, secure storage.

Step 3: Decoding the Cost Difference

Many customers believe upgrading to a commercial bed is a massive financial jump. In reality, the difference in the total cost is often negligible in terms of monthly payments.

Truck Type (2500 Silverado, Gas Engine)	Approximate Price Range
Stock Bed (Base WT)	$50,000 – $55,000
Flatbed Upfit	Around $60,000
Service Body Upfit	Around $60,000

For an increase of about $5,000–$10,000 in total cost, you gain significant functionality that could streamline your business operations and pay for itself over time.

Flatbeds: Built for Versatility and Heavy Hauling

The flatbed is the “do-it-all” option, especially if you need a gooseneck hitch. Flatbeds start around eight to nine feet long, offering massive deck space.

Flatbed Configuration	Upfit Cost Range (Approx.)	Key Features
Bare Bones Gooseneck	Starting at $5,995	Just the flat deck and gooseneck hitch.
Standard with Boxes	Around $7,000	Adds two 24-inch storage boxes underneath the deck.
Skirted Gooseneck (CM SK)	Around $9,000	Our most popular option. Adds four boxes and a polished, “skirted” cosmetic look around the undercarriage.

Extreme Customization (Job Site Ready)

For specialized tasks, customization is key. Our “Job Site Ready” trucks, like the CM TM Deluxe, maximize storage while preserving enough trailer swing for a gooseneck. Custom add-ons we frequently install include:

• Air compressors
• Secondary fuel tanks (50 to 150 gallons)
• Heavy-duty ball-bearing tool drawers
• Power Inverters (1,000+ watt): Essential for charging lithium-ion power tools, running small lights, or even powering laptops/fans on the job site.

Service Bodies: Mobile, Organized Workshops

If you can rule out the gooseneck trailer, the service body is the ultimate organizational tool.

• Standard Configuration: Almost all service bodies (Napod, Royal, Redding) feature the same six-box setup (front vertical, horizontal over the wheel, and rear vertical compartments on each side).
• Aluminum vs. Steel: Upgrading to an aluminum body can reduce the bed’s weight by approximately 50%. This adds valuable payload capacity for your tools and materials, and offers better corrosion resistance in climates that use road salt.
• Top Accessories: The most popular add-ons include:
  • Ladder Racks: Easy to install without worrying about trailer interference.
  • Flip-Top Lids: Small bins on the top surface of the horizontal compartments for organizing small parts (screws, bolts, etc.).
  • Power Inverters: Used extensively to keep batteries charged between job sites.

Final Considerations: Tax Benefits and Current Deals

1. Tax Deduction: The Silverado 2500 and 3500, when used for business, generally qualify for the Section 179 deduction, allowing a full deduction of the purchase price in the year the vehicle is placed into service.
2. Current Deals: While the market is competitive, Donohoo Chevrolet is currently offering great deals on 2024 and 2025 leftover inventory. There are no significant changes between the 2025 and 2026 model years, making the older inventory a great opportunity to save money on a nearly identical truck.

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Ready to find your perfect commercial rig? You can browse our massive inventory of stock, flatbed, and service body trucks on our website today.

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