A Welding Truck Guide

What You Need to Know About Purchasing a Welding Truck

The welding truck shown above courtesy of Mobile Welding.

For anyone who is serious about welding professionally, owning a customized truck for welding is like a dream come true.

After all, being able to take your welding equipment with you wherever you go makes it possible for you to easily make repairs, complete projects or even earn money if welding is part of your livelihood. But, what exactly is a welding truck and what are the pros and cons of buying new versus buying a used?

What is a Welding Truck?

Put simply, a welding truck is a truck that has been customized to carry welding equipment, tools and accessories. For the most part, any truck with enough horsepower can be equipped with a welding bed, or welding body. In order to have enough power to haul around the equipment and to have enough space for a work area along with the equipment, most welders choose larger truck models. This is because they typically carry a variety of tools and equipment, which might include cutting equipment and cylinders in addition to the toolboxes, space for oxy/acetylene cylinders, a recessed welder sump, a gooseneck ball and space for welding rods and wire.

What are the Pros and Cons of Buying a New Truck?

If you are in need of a truck welding bed or a truck for mobile welding, there is really only one con to purchasing a new truck: cost. It is undeniable that new trucks generally cost more than used ones. But, if you do some comparison shopping, you will likely find a company that is willing to provide you with a new, customized welding truck at a reasonable price. This way, you can purchase one that meets your individual needs while also purchasing a truck that you can be certain will last you for years to come.

So, if your budget can afford it, it may be best to purchase a new truck for welding. This way, you will get exactly what you need and you won't have to worry about sinking thousands of dollars into a truck in need of repair or modifications to suit your needs.

However, getting a used welding bed for a used truck, or buying used welders truck can be a solid alternative. You just have to do your due diligence. Have the truck checked out. Does it have a clean title? How many owners? Does it come with all service records? Etc. Etc.

For example, a 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 welding body (truck) is around $25,000 on Ebay. A welding body is basically the truck plus a spot for a welding bed to be placed where the stock bed would be. No equipment or supplies.

In comparison, a 1999 Ford F-550 Welding Truck with a Lincoln welder, and a custom made bed (1 owner, EXCELLENT condition, always serviced regularly) and sundry items is around $30,000.

It sounds like a solid overall truck, but I think the price could be a bit lower. Maybe $25,000 - $26,000.

The difference is that you get all the equipment (there's a lot of it in the Ford. The most expensive item being the welder which is about $9,000 alone).

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