Bespoke Utility Vehicle Conversions: Osborne Motor Bodies is a leading UK provider of utility vehicle conversions with over 100 years of experience in the industry. We specialise in working with business sectors of all types and sizes, including utility companies, to provide them with the customised vehicles they need to do the job.
Our expert mechanical engineers and technicians can convert any commercial or utility vehicle to meet your specific requirements. We offer a wide range of services, including:
- Bodywork design and fabrication
- Ancillary equipment installation
- Vehicle painting and finishing
- Safety testing and certification
We also offer a one-stop shop service, so if you need help sourcing a brand-new or previously used utility vehicle, we can help! We have many long-established contacts in the motor bodies industry. We can manage your whole utility vehicle conversion project, from sourcing a suitable vehicle to meet your needs and available budget to delivering your converted vehicle ready to go.
Some of the types of vehicles we can source and convert for you include:
- Land Rovers
- Oil vans
- Transformers service vehicles
- Oil de-gassing plants
- General box vans
We also offer repair and rebuild services from our fully-equipped workshop that uses state-of-the-art tools and equipment. We can quickly get your utility vehicle road-safe and back in full operation ASAP.
Utility Vehicle Conversions: Case Studies
Osborne Motor Bodies refurbished a ford transit steel tipper for less than half the cost of a new body: We completed a refurbishment project for a Ford Transit steel tipper showing signs of corrosion and ageing.
The original bodywork was made of all steel and had a painted finish. Over time, the steel had corroded, and the paint had faded. The dropsides and tailboard were also starting to sag.
We replaced the old bodywork with new alloy hollow plank sections for the dropsides and tailboard. The dished and bowed steel floor was overlaid with a Zintec steel sheet, which is more corrosion-resistant than regular steel.
The result is a refurbished body that is:
- Long-lasting: The alloy hollow plank sections and Zintec steel sheet are much more durable than regular steel so they will last many years.
- Aesthetically pleasing: The new bodywork gives the Ford Transit steel tipper a fresh new look.
- Lighter: The new bodywork is lighter than the old one, giving the customer more payload capacity.
- More economical: Refurbishing the Ford Transit steel tipper was less than half the cost of buying a new body.
The customer was delighted with the results of the refurbishment project. They got a long-lasting, aesthetically pleasing, and lighter body for their Ford Transit steel tipper at a fraction of the cost of buying a new one.
Osborne Motor Bodies Converts Electric Box Van for Rural Hotel: We completed a project for a rural hotel that needed a new service vehicle. The hotel wanted an environmentally friendly vehicle with a clean, hygienic appearance. They also wanted a vehicle that was versatile and could be used to transport a variety of items.
Osborne designed and manufactured a bespoke compact box van that met the hotel's exact needs. The van is powered by an electric chassis and is constructed from GRP composite panels and an alloy framework.
The van has three compartments:
- A compartment with shelving specifically to accommodate customers' storage boxes.
- A compartment with two full-length shelves that can be easily removed to allow more oversized items to be transported.
- A garment compartment with hanging rail and additional shelving.
The van also has features that make it easy to service, such as access panels for vehicle batteries.
The hotel was very pleased with the results of the conversion project. They now have an environmentally friendly vehicle, clean, hygienic appearance, and versatile enough to meet their needs.
Osborne Motor Bodies Delivers Custom Dual Compartment Tipping Bodies for Power Line Tree Clearance: We completed a project for a utility company that needed a fleet of dual-compartment tipping bodies for power line tree clearance operations.
The utility company required highly specialised vehicles that could meet the unique demands of power line tree clearance. They needed vehicles that were:
- Robust and durable enough to withstand the harsh conditions of working in the field.
- Able to carry a variety of equipment and materials, including chainsaws, ladders, and chippings.
- Easy to manoeuvre in tight spaces, such as around power lines.
Osborne designed and manufactured a custom dual-compartment tipping body that met the utility company's exact needs. The bodies are based on Ford Transit 350 LWB chassis cabs and feature the following:
- A secure GRP forward compartment with side access via two alloy roll-up shutters.
- A tipping body with a galvanised steel tipping subframe and underfloor hydraulic ram.
- A smooth alloy plank floor that ensures clean tipping.
- Full-height fixed front and side panels that form the load compartment.
- An alloy plank double-acting tailgate with drop-down access step and tow ball protection plate.
- A robust access grab handle is fitted to the nearside rear.
- A sloping alloy roof section encloses the front section of the load compartment to contain chippings.
- Galvanised ladder brackets that are fitted along the offside inner sideboard to carry a ladder with a securing strap.
- All lighting to meet legal requirements, plus additional roof-mounted beacons and front and rear Amber hazard LED strobes.
- An approved Witter towbar fitted with a Universal ball/pin coupling and 7-pin electrics.
The completed vehicles have an enviable 1000KG payload, and their robust and durable alloy construction ensures many years of trouble-free service.
The utility company was very pleased with the results of the project. They now have a fleet of vehicles ideally suited to the demanding power line tree clearance requirements.
Osborne Motor Bodies is the perfect choice if you are looking for a professional utility vehicle conversion company that can meet your specific needs. We have the expertise and experience to get the job done right and offer a wide range of services to meet your particular needs.
Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you customise your utility vehicle to meet your business's needs better.
