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All Articles from The Upfit Insider
Weekly insights, spec breakdowns, and field-tested strategies for work truck pros
This is the complete archive of The Upfit Insider — a growing collection of tactical articles designed for people who live and breathe work trucks.
Whether you're building fleet trucks for a DPW, running municipal bids, managing upfit installs, or spec’ing your first work truck, every post here is written to help you do one thing:
Avoid five-figure mistakes and spec smarter.
Explore content on:
Dump trucks, roll-offs, service trucks, and hooklifts
Snowplows and municipal upfits
Power systems, PTOs, and underdeck equipment
Sales tips, quoting strategy, and fleet cost control
Every article is written by Leyhan — based on real installs, real specs, and real failures turned into field-tested lessons.
November 14, 2025
The real-world cost, lead time, and ROI difference between standard and custom truck builds — and why the best strategy might be a mix of both.
November 12, 2025
A firsthand look at how the people who design, build, and maintain the commercial vehicles and equipment we all rely on gather to shape what’s next.
November 5, 2025
Real-world guide to dump truck load limits, axle laws, and GVWR ratings — with charts, real examples, and smarter spec strategies for fleet buyers.
October 30, 2025
How smart upfit planning prevents downtime, protects your budget, and keeps every heavy-duty fleet on the road.
October 29, 2025
Why every DPW, utility, and construction fleet should spec LED amber strobe lights correctly — and how bad installs waste thousands.
October 22, 2025
The 7-step checklist fleets use to catch $12K mistakes before the first weld.
October 15, 2025
How one $3,200 “shortcut” turned into an $86,400 repair bill—and what every fleet manager should check before spec’ing their next truck.
October 10, 2025
How to choose the right bucket truck, avoid costly downtime, and spec smarter for your fleet.
October 9, 2025
From dump trucks to cargo vans, discover how expert vehicle upfitters turn plain chassis into profit-driven assets and where to find trusted local upfitters near you.
October 8, 2025
Dealers move trucks. Upfitters make them usable. Discover who really drives uptime—and download The Fleet Spec Playbook for the complete strategy.
October 2, 2025
From GVWR and diesel engines to safety features and custom bodies, here’s how to get vocational trucks and equipment right the first time.
October 1, 2025
The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Plow Truck for Snow Removal
September 24, 2025
Why a $135K truck failed over a $200 cupholder — and what fleets miss when spec’ing Ford F-550s, dump trucks, and snowplow setups.
September 17, 2025
A complete guide to flat bed trucks: classes, rentals vs. purchase, lifespan, safety, and the costly spec mistakes every fleet should avoid.
September 11, 2025
From steel vs. aluminum to add-ons and layouts, here’s how to spec a service body that saves time, cuts costs, and keeps your crew moving.
September 10, 2025
Ergonomics isn’t comfort — it’s profit protection. Smart fleets spec trucks to prevent six-figure injury costs.
September 3, 2025
How to choose the right hoist, container length, and weight rating — and avoid the $20K mistakes most fleets don’t catch until it’s too late.
August 30, 2025
The ultimate guide to box trucks weight, GVWR, and capacity — built for fleet managers, contractors, and drivers who can’t afford costly mistakes.
August 27, 2025
Sticker price lies. Here’s how to calculate the real ROI and TCO on any work truck.
August 21, 2025
From tuck-unders to railgates, here’s everything fleets need to know about box truck lift gates — specs, costs, truck body compatibility, common mistakes, and the right choice for your fleet.
August 20, 2025
Two industry veterans break down why U.S. cab-over front loader trucks still feel like they’re from the 1960s — and what it would take to finally move forward.
August 13, 2025
Everything you need to know about commercial truck upfitting, cost, and ROI
August 6, 2025
Spec, inspect, and maintain your vacuum truck — without wasting money.
July 30, 2025
How Vitendo helps fleets replace outdated binders with smart, repeatable, QR-code video SOPs that actually get used in the field.
July 24, 2025
Box truck dimensions explained: lengths 10–26 ft, widths 96–102 in, payload ranges, GVWR, costs, and liftgate options—built for fleet buyers, contractors, and upfit pros.
July 23, 2025
Stop losing ladders and downtime — our 2025 ladder rack guide shows how to spec the right rack system for safety, cargo capacity, and ROI.
July 16, 2025
From full-size pickups to heavy-duty plow, hooklift, and utility setups — see which 2025 trucks fleets actually trust to show up every day.
July 14, 2025
A fair, field-tested comparison of cost, performance, and ROI for modern heavy-duty fleets.
July 9, 2025
Compare 2025’s best power inverters for service trucks, semi trucks, and tractor trailers—wattage, wave type, install tips, and a free chart.
July 4, 2025
Real-world dump truck load limits, weight charts, and asphalt-specific numbers — plus a free PDF chart to spec smarter, avoid fines, and match GVWR rules.
July 3, 2025
An engine-driven underdeck air compressor system that replaces six tools, saves weight, and delivers smarter mobile power for service trucks.
July 2, 2025
Fleet repair bills are hitting record highs — here’s how to prevent overcharges, cut downtime, and stop throwing money at bad repairs.
June 27, 2025
Avoid cracked frames, burned-out PTOs, and wasted money — here’s how to build a mechanic truck engineered for longevity and real-world performance.
June 25, 2025
From mismatched PTOs to overloaded frames — here’s how fleet managers can prevent costly upfit and spec errors that drain budgets and uptime.
June 18, 2025
A field-tested breakdown for fleet managers, municipal buyers, and upfit pros — plus access to the exclusive Snowplow Mastery Guide for members who want the full pre-season checklist.
June 11, 2025
How poor upfit choices, financial pressure, and downtime wear down even the toughest dump truck drivers.
June 4, 2025