A closed box body is the nearest thing to a mobile billboard in the truck world. The sides are tall, flat and uninterrupted, and the rear doors give a second panel facing following traffic.
What makes box bodies tricky is their construction. Some are smooth fibreglass sandwich panels, others are ribbed aluminium or painted steel, and nearly all have door frames, hinges and lock gear that vinyl must be cut and sealed around.
What we can brand
- Body sidesprimary logo, imagery and service line
- Rear doorslogo, contact prompt and reflective strips
- Roll-up door panellogo or contact panel
- Front of body above the caboptional logo or fleet number
- Cab doorsname and fleet number
- Side access doordesign split to suit the opening
Smooth bodies versus ribbed bodies
On smooth composite or fibreglass-faced bodies, a full wrap goes down cleanly and looks like paint. Large side panels can carry photography, product imagery or a full-height logo without distortion.
On ribbed aluminium bodies, vinyl has to bridge the ridges. Textured-surface vinyl, applied with heat and pressed into each channel, can do this, but graphics may follow the ribs and the finish is not as smooth. We assess the body in photos and, where possible, in person before recommending a method.
Rear and roll-up doors
The rear of a box truck is seen by anyone behind it, so it is a prime place for a logo and contact prompt. Hinged doors need graphics split along the door edges so they open without tearing. Roll-up doors made of corrugated slats need textured vinyl or a printed panel mounted over the slats.
Reflective strips across the rear improve visibility to following vehicles at night. We keep lights, reflectors and the number plate clear.
Typical users
Furniture and appliance movers, parcel and courier operators with larger trucks, event and exhibition suppliers, laundry services and general freight companies use box trucks. Many also hire out vehicles, so branding that can be changed later, with clean removal of old graphics, is useful. See graphics removal and replacement.
Side doors and cargo access
Many box trucks have a side access door. Graphics are planned around it so the design reads correctly with the door closed, and cuts are placed to avoid weak points. If your body has a tail-lift, we mark the lift area clear so the lift can operate and the vinyl is not damaged by its movement.
Planning the job
Send photos of both sides, the rear doors and the cab, with the body length and make. Note whether the body is smooth or ribbed, and if there are roll-up doors, tail-lifts or side doors. We will confirm the best method on your quotation and send artwork for approval before printing.
Suitable branding options
At a glance
Box truck branding gives a business a flat, tall and uninterrupted canvas, which is why closed load bodies are often treated as a mobile billboard. The sides carry the main message, the rear doors face following traffic and the cab ties the vehicle to the rest of the fleet. For furniture removals, courier work, retail distribution and food delivery across Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town, a well designed box truck wrap is one of the most visible forms of local advertising available.
Details decide the quality of the result. Body ribs, door seams, hinges, locking bars and rivets need to be mapped before artwork is finalised, so the logo does not cross a joint in the wrong place and the film can follow the surface without lifting. We offer full wraps, partial wraps and cut vinyl lettering for box trucks, with reflective strips and compliance markings kept clear. Fleet owners in Sandton, Midrand, Centurion and surrounds can ask for a box truck branding quote, and we can match new bodies to existing vehicles so mixed ages still read as one brand. Photos and body measurements help us price accurately.
Common questions
Can you wrap a ribbed aluminium box body?
Yes, using vinyl made for textured surfaces. The ribs remain visible through the graphic, which we explain before you approve.
Can graphics cross the rear door gap?
Yes, but they are cut along the gap so the doors open freely. We position key artwork to suit.
Can I use photographs on the sides?
Yes, if the artwork is high resolution. See the artwork requirements page for file sizes and formats.
Do you brand refrigerated bodies too?
Yes. See refrigerated truck branding for what is different about insulated bodies.