Demount bodywork (also known as swap body or demountable bodywork) is a removable box van or curtainsider unit designed to detach from a rigid vehicle or draw-bar trailer and stand independently on landing legs. The demount unit mounts onto a skeletal rigid chassis fitted with a specialist chassis installation kit incorporating guide rails or cones and twist-lock retention points.
The underside base frame of the demount body locates onto the chassis installation guides before being secured using twist-locks. This enables rapid body exchange while maintaining positive mechanical retention in service.
Operational Benefits
- Improves vehicle utilisation by reducing idle time at loading bays
- Separates loading activity from vehicle and driver schedules
- Allows demount units to remain on landing legs at the dock
System Features
The demount and swap body system is engineered and manufactured in-house, including chassis installations, base frames, bodywork and draw-bar trailers. Each element is designed to operate as an integrated mechanical system.
- Curtainsider or box body configurations
- Straight-lift or contact demount systems
- Chassis installation kits with guide rails or cones and twist-lock retention
- Compatibility with existing equipment, subject to installation specification
Operational Flexibility
Demount bodywork allows loading and unloading to take place independently of vehicle movements. The demount unit can remain on its landing legs at the loading point while the rigid vehicle continues in operation.
- Reduced driver downtime
- Faster turnaround at loading bays
- Improved utilisation of vehicles and draw-bar combinations
Contact System
Operating principle: The bodywork frame rolls horizontally along guide rails before being secured with twist-locks.
Contact systems are typically used where the rigid chassis is fitted with rear air suspension only.
The demount unit uses two fixed rear legs and two fold-up front legs to provide stable ground support when detached.
Straight-Lift System
Operating principle: The bodywork lifts vertically away from the chassis using vehicle air suspension or an on-board hydraulic lifting device before being secured with twist-locks. Heavy-duty cones assist accurate unit location.
Straight-lift systems require all-round air suspension on the rigid chassis.
Four fold-up legs are positioned at each corner of the demount unit.
The straight-lift system is well suited to draw-bar combinations, allowing both demount units to be positioned and secured in a single operation.
Demount Draw-Bar Trailers
Using demount units with draw-bar trailers increases operational flexibility across trunking and secondary distribution. By optimising the number of prime movers, draw-bar trailers and demount bodies, operators can reduce overall fleet holding while maintaining distribution capacity.
Chassis Installations and Compatibility
Chassis installations and draw-bar trailers are engineered to integrate with straight-lift or contact system demount equipment. Correct installation specification is critical to ensure alignment with guide systems, suspension configuration and twist-lock retention geometry.
Image gallery
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Carpetright drawbar combination with demountable box van bodywork and side access doors -
Teardrop Drawbar Demount -
Deb Demount Straight Lift -
Carpetright Teardrop Demount Drawbar -
Magnet curtainsider drawbar combination with demount bodywork -
Drawbar combination showing demounted curtainsided body -
Next Demount Body Box -
HOF Demount Body Drawbar -
Demount Body Chassis Installation -
Demount Body -
Demount Body Chassis Drawbar Trailer -
Demount
Price range & availability
Price: P.O.A.
Available to pre-order
