A dropside truck has an open deck with hinged side rails that fold down for loading. The rails are low, usually under a metre tall, so the branding area on the body is a strip rather than a wall.
This is a working truck for building materials, garden supplies, general goods and bulk bags. The branding needs to survive dropped loads, scraping pallets and hard use, so it concentrates on parts that take less punishment.
What we can brand
- Side railslogo band or lettering
- Headboardprimary logo
- Tailgatename and contact prompt
- Cab doorsname and fleet number
- Cab roofoptional fleet number
Branding the rails
Side rails are typically steel or aluminium with a ribbed or smooth face, framed with latches and corner posts. A long horizontal logo band suits the shape well. Text sits in the flat sections, not over latches or hinge lines. When rails drop open, the artwork has to remain coherent on the inside face too, which is usually left plain or given a simple strip.
Cut vinyl lettering is a durable choice on rails because it has no printed background to scuff. See cut vinyl lettering.
The headboard
The headboard behind the cab is fixed and often the best surface on the truck. It stays in view whether the rails are up or down and is protected from side impact. A bold logo or company name here works at any time of loading and travel.
Loads and abrasion
Loaded sand, bricks, timber and bagged cement scrape and chip anything at deck level. We keep graphics away from the lowest edges of the rails and use laminate over printed work for extra abrasion resistance. Expect some wear at the contact points, and plan to refresh graphics when the truck is repainted or the rails are repaired.
Typical buyers
Landscapers, builders' merchants, brick and paving suppliers, scrap and recycling operators, small contractors and farm suppliers use dropsides. Fleets in this segment are frequently mixed, with trucks and bakkies sharing a livery.
Preparing the truck
Dropside rails collect cement dust, rust bloom and grease around the latches. Clean the rails and headboard before branding, and mention any dents or welded repairs. Painted rails with flaking paint should be treated first, because vinyl will lift with the paint if the paint lets go.
Send photos of both sides with the rails up, the headboard, the tailgate and the cab, plus the make and model. We then confirm what can be branded and prepare artwork for your approval. The vehicle preparation guide explains the cleaning steps.
Suitable branding options
At a glance
Dropside truck branding is planned around an open deck with hinged side rails that fold down for loading. Because the rails are usually under a metre tall, the body offers a strip of branding space rather than a tall wall, so the cab, the headboard and the rail faces do most of the work. A clear company name, a simple logo and a contact line along the rails are often enough to make a dropside truck recognisable on building sites, farms and township and suburban delivery routes.
The hinges, latches and corner posts interrupt the surface, which means artwork has to be split into sections that still read as one message when the rails are up, and that stay tidy when they are lowered. We measure each rail, design for the headboard as the main display panel and finish the cab with matching door graphics. Reflective strips and lights are left clear. Businesses in Johannesburg, Sandton, Pretoria, Midrand, Centurion and Durban can ask for a dropside truck branding quote for one vehicle or a mixed fleet, and we can match graphics to existing trucks. Send photos and rail measurements with your request so we can price it accurately.
Common questions
Will graphics crack when the rails drop?
Not if they are planned around the hinge. We stop graphics short of the hinge line or split them so the rail can move.
Is a wrap suitable for a dropside?
A full wrap is rarely needed. A headboard graphic, rail lettering and cab branding give the strongest result for the least exposure to damage.
Can you cover repaired rails?
Yes, once the paint is sound and fully cured.
Can I get matching graphics for my bakkies?
Yes. We can use the same artwork across vehicle types.