Industrial · Vehicle Bodies
Plywood for Truck and Tempo Bodies
Truck floors take wheels, oil, rain and highway vibration. Here is which grade and thickness to use for floors, sides and roofs, our marine plywood rates, and how to fit and protect a floor so it lasts.
What a Truck Body Asks of Plywood
A truck or tempo body floor takes things no furniture ever will: forklift wheels, dropped crates, diesel and oil, rain through the tailgate, and constant vibration on the highway. The side panels get wet, dry out and flex every trip. Ordinary plywood delaminates or rots within a season. Body builders around Narol, Aslali, Changodar and the Ahmedabad–Vadodara highway belt use waterproof BWP (marine) plywood for this reason, in thicker sheets for floors and thinner sheets for sides and roofs.
This page covers which grade and thickness goes where, how to fix and protect it, and how to buy it for a body-building workshop.
Which Plywood for Which Part
| Part | Grade | Typical thickness | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floor (heavy goods, forklift) | BWP / marine, hardwood core | 18–25 mm and above | Point loads and wheels; must not crack or sag between cross-members |
| Floor (light goods, tempo) | BWP / marine | 18 mm | Lighter loads, closer cross-member spacing |
| Side panels | BWP / marine | 12–18 mm | Rain, washing and flex on the road |
| Roof and lining | BWP / marine | 6–12 mm | Light, waterproof skin under metal sheet or as lining |
| Floor wear surface (option) | Chequered / anti-slip film-faced ply | As specified | Grip and abrasion resistance on loading floors |
Your body design and cross-member spacing decide the final thickness. When in doubt, go thicker on the floor. More on heavy sheets: the role of 25 mm plywood.
Marine BWP Plywood Rates
Our counter rates per sq ft, 8 × 4 ft sheet, GST extra. 25 mm and thicker are quoted on request.
| Thickness | Per sq ft | Per sheet | Use on a body |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 mm | ₹56 | ₹1,792 | Lining, roof underlay |
| 9 mm | ₹72 | ₹2,304 | Roof, light lining |
| 12 mm | ₹86 | ₹2,752 | Side panels |
| 18 mm | ₹110 | ₹3,520 | Tempo floors, heavy sides |
| 25 mm and above | Rate on request | Heavy-goods floors | |
Branded options such as Century Sainik 710 BWP are also stocked. Full rates: IS 710 plywood price.
Fitting and Protecting a Truck Floor
Seal every edge and every bolt hole with paint or sealant before fitting. Water gets in at the edges, not through the face. Run the face grain across the cross-members for the most stiffness. Use countersunk bolts or coach screws into every cross-member, with washers on the underside, so the sheet can't lift or rattle. Leave small expansion gaps between sheets and seal them. Coat the top surface with a floor paint or a film-faced or chequered wear layer, and paint the underside against road spray. Inspect after the monsoon and re-seal any worn edges before water reaches the core.
Why not commercial or MR plywood?
Their glue is not made for repeated soaking, so the layers separate after a few wet trips. On a commercial vehicle, the cost of replacing a floor, and the downtime, is far more than the difference between grades. See commercial vs marine plywood and treated vs marine plywood.
For body builders
Tell us the thicknesses, monthly sheet count and workshop location, and we will quote a regular rate and arrange delivery to your yard. We deliver across Ahmedabad's industrial belts, including Narol and Vatva; see our delivery areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which plywood is best for a truck body?
Waterproof BWP (marine) plywood. Use thicker hardwood-core sheets (18–25 mm and above) for floors, 12–18 mm for sides, and thinner sheets for roofs and lining.
What thickness of plywood is used for a truck floor?
18 mm for light tempo floors and 25 mm or thicker for heavy goods and forklift loading, depending on cross-member spacing and load.
What is the price of marine plywood for truck bodies?
At our store, marine BWP plywood is ₹56 (6 mm), ₹72 (9 mm), ₹86 (12 mm) and ₹110 (18 mm) per sq ft, GST extra. 25 mm and thicker are quoted on request.
Can commercial plywood be used in a truck body?
No. Its glue is not made for repeated soaking, so it delaminates after a few wet trips. Use BWP / marine plywood.
How do I make a truck floor last longer?
Seal all edges and bolt holes, bolt into every cross-member, coat the top with floor paint or a wear layer, paint the underside, and re-seal worn edges after each monsoon.
Building Truck Bodies?
Send thicknesses and monthly quantity. We will quote a regular rate and deliver to your yard.