Standard work truck suspension wasn’t built for mine sites, utility access roads, or development areas where the pavement ends miles before the job starts. Basin Upfitting builds commercial work trucks for companies that need to go off-road, and they’ve made LiquidSpring® Smart Suspension™ central to their approach.
Work Truck Suspension: The Problem
Basin Upfitting’s customers face three expensive problems with standard suspension:
Equipment damage adds up fast. When companies invest $100,000 in upfits and another $100,000 in tools, every bump damages expensive equipment. Cranes need repairs, compressors fail early, and precision tools lose calibration. Standard suspension passes all that impact straight through to the equipment.
Slow travel kills productivity. When a piece of equipment goes down and costs thousands per hour in lost production, mechanics need to get there fast. But standard work truck suspension forces drivers to crawl over rough terrain or risk breaking equipment. Companies shouldn’t have to choose between speed and protection.
Driver fatigue costs money. Technicians need to arrive ready to work, not exhausted from the commute. Poor ride quality means slower work, more injuries, and possibly higher turnover in tight labor markets.
How Basin Upfitting Uses LiquidSpring
Basin Upfitting’s “Extreme Duty Package” combines LiquidSpring with 42-inch military-grade tires and winch bumpers. They build these packages for two specific applications:
Mechanics trucks access excavators and bulldozers at mine sites and development areas where standard commercial vehicles can’t go. The terrain includes loose rock, deep ruts, and unmaintained roads. When equipment breaks down and costs thousands per hour in lost production, these trucks need to get there fast over terrain that would stop or damage standard work trucks.
Bucket trucks reach power lines and utility infrastructure off the beaten path. These face a unique challenge: they need to stay stable when the boom extends and swings side to side, but most bucket trucks without outriggers use extremely thick sway bars that create a harsh, connected ride. Hit a bump with one wheel, and the whole truck bounces.
LiquidSpring’s load-leveling system eliminates the need for those heavy sway bars. Basin Upfitting found that LiquidSpring’s system dynamically adjusts each corner as weight shifts from side to side, providing the stability operators need without the harsh ride that traditional sway bars create.
What LiquidSpring Does for Work Truck Suspension
LiquidSpring’s liquid-based strut system adjusts in real time to road conditions and vehicle load. “We saw that it was a great product for the commercial vehicle space,” says David from Basin Upfitting.
Basin Upfitting identified three critical areas where LiquidSpring makes a difference for their commercial customers: clearance to navigate obstacles that stop standard trucks, equipment protection that extends the life of expensive upfits and tools, and driver comfort that keeps highly-paid technicians working efficiently.
Better Clearance, Faster Response
The adjustable ride height clears obstacles that stop standard trucks. When equipment sits idle, costing thousands per hour, getting mechanics on-site quickly matters. According to Basin Upfitting, the improved ride quality means their customers’ mechanics trucks can travel faster over rough terrain without damaging equipment, getting technicians to job sites quicker when every hour of equipment downtime costs thousands.
Equipment Protection Reduces Costs
Superior vibration dampening means cranes, compressors, welders, and diagnostic equipment last longer and need less maintenance. When your upfit costs six figures, protecting that investment makes business sense.
Comfortable Drivers Work Better
Technicians who aren’t beaten up by the commute, work faster and make fewer mistakes. In a tight labor market, providing comfortable work vehicles helps retain skilled people.
Ready to discuss work truck suspension for your fleet? Contact the LiquidSpring team to see whether liquid-based suspension makes sense for your operating conditions.
About Basin Upfitting: Basin Upfitting specializes in commercial truck and van upfitting for companies requiring off-road capability and heavy-duty performance. Learn more at their Basin Nation YouTube channel.
