Mobile Medical/Dental/Laboratory Vehicles: Purpose Built vs Repurposed

When considering options for your mobile medical, mobile dental, or mobile research/education vehicle (truck body or trailer) the options can be dizzying. There is so much to consider when looking at your options – from power supply options to HVAC to sanitization requirements and the list goes on. These are all crucial decisions; however, no decision will impact the performance, functionality, longevity, and comfort of your unit than who will you trust to design, build, and service your vehicle. The quality of the manufacturer and the depth of their expertise will determine your experience in the design and build process as well as the overall quality of the final product. A mobile medical, dental, or research unit is a major investment for your institution, and so ensuring you are working with the right builder is crucial to the success of the endeavor.

There are, generally speaking, two different types of builders supplying mobile medical, mobile dental, and mobile research/education vehicles: those who design and manufacture purpose-built truck bodies and trailers from the ground up and those who repurpose a different type of body (most commonly an RV or similar) and modify that body to suit. Intercontinental Truck Body (ITB) designs and builds custom designed purpose-built truck bodies and trailers to exactly suit the functional and financial needs of each individual customer. When comparing the pros and cons between the two types of body builder, we believe there are a number of reasons why purpose-built is the way to go.

1. Design: A purpose-built mobile medical, mobile dental, or mobile research/education vehicle is designed from the ground up to exactly suit the desires and needs of each customer. This means every detail is chosen in collaboration with the customer and selected with its overall integration with the overall design of the unit in mind. So everything from overall size and layout to HVAC, power sourcing, storage, lighting, etc. is chosen to suit the particular needs and overall requirements of the body. The result is a mobile medical, mobile dental, or mobile research/education vehicle that is significantly more functional, efficient, and comfortable for those who will use this vehicle for crucial services. This is in contrast to repurposed vehicle manufacturers that take an existing body or shell and modify as best they can to suit the particular purpose of the vehicle. This usually requires making certain compromises in the final design and features that reduce the functionality, effectiveness, and comfort of the vehicle.
2. Durability: Part of the design choices for a purpose-built mobile medical, mobile dental, or mobile research/education vehicle will be the choices for the materials and construction techniques that make up the vehicle. So a purpose-built truck body or trailer manufacturer such as Intercontinental Truck Body (ITB) will choose its materials and construction methods to suit the requirements of a mobile medical vehicle. This will generally take into consideration such things as the intended usage of the vehicle (e.g. daily vs occasional/seasonal), the climate of its area of service, the type of roads it will tend to travel on, and a number of other factors. Because units of this type tend to have much heavier use than a standard RV, the materials and construction methods are chosen to withstand the higher traffic, increased usage, and additional climactic and other challenges these bodies face. Rather than door hinges and latches that are designed for use maybe 2 or 3 weeks in the year, or insulation or HVAC packages better suited to summer-only use, ITB and other quality purpose-built manufacturers use heavy duty components that withstand constant daily hard use and that won’t quickly fail even in the harshest conditions. ITB builds primarily with aluminum for the exterior shell and interior cabinetry for weight savings, durability, and longevity, which adds to the durability and life span of the overall vehicle.
3. Aesthetics: Not only does choosing each feature for their suitability of the final purpose of the unit increase the functionality and the durability of the mobile medical, mobile dental, or mobile research/education vehicle, but it also ensures that the various parts look like they belong together. No more random-looking doors just slapped where they happen to fit, or a window that you have to work around; every component is designed to be in that spot and it looks like it was designed to be in that spot. The result is a body that looks great and represents your organization well to everyone who sees your unit driving down the road.
4. Serviceability: Because every part of your mobile medical, mobile dental, or mobile research/education vehicle is designed to suit, a quality purpose-built vehicle manufacturer will also be able to ensure that all essential components are installed for maximal access for servicing and/or replacement. This is another way that a purpose-built body will reduce down time, cost, and stress.
5. Cost: This might be surprising as you might think cost is the one thing repurposed bodies might have over purpose-built. And when it comes to initial price tag this is sometimes But even when the initial price tag is smaller its all the other costs you have to consider. Costs like down time when the parts designed for being used for two weeks in the summer start to break down or seize in the middle of winter. Or costs like the efficiency and satisfaction costs for your staff and customers/clients due to a non-optimal design. Or even costs like headaches and stress as you try to make a modified vehicle fit your needs. Or, perhaps most importantly, the replacement cost when the repurposed vehicle breaks down years or even decades before its purpose-built counterpart would. These are all costs that you need to consider when looking at purchasing a mobile medical, mobile dental, or mobile research/education vehicle.

A mobile medical, mobile dental, or mobile research/education vehicle is a significant purchase for your organization, and ensuring you get a vehicle that will function well, last a long time, reduce overall operating costs, and look great is essential. When considering between purpose-built and repurposed, the best option is clear and will provide huge benefit for your team now and into the future.

If you are interested in exploring a purpose-built mobile medical, mobile dental, or mobile research/education vehicle – whether truck body or trailer – from a quality manufacturer with extensive experience and a name for quality, integrity, and service, please reach out to our sales representative here at Intercontinental Truck Body (ITB).

Best of luck in your purchasing decision and future endeavors!

Matthew Van Dyk
Intercontinental Truck Body
Technical Sales