Ro-Hill Bodies soon gets stamp of approval
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Expansion has come quickly for this Hampshire bodybuilder. Bill Brock takes a look at how they are keeping their customers satisfied JUST ONE year after starting business, Ro-Hill Bodies has moved into a purpose-built unit with 7,000 sqft under cover and an external security park, on the West Parkway Industrial Estate at Andover, Hampshire.
The company's two directors, John Underhill and Brian Robinson, have found a location ideal to serve commercial vehicle dealer outlets in southern central counties.
In the first 18 months of trading they produced and sold 249 bodies of various types including dropsides, dryfreight, insulated and refrigerated on a wide range of rigid chassis.
Repair and modifications fit in well with new production and account for just under 50 per cent of the company's throughput.
Customers' individual preferences as to type of construction and use of materials are met in full, and for those who are less sure of their needs comprehensive consultation is available.
The bodies are built in modular form, with front bulkhead side walls, rear frame, roof and floor produced as individual units.
Steel dropside bodies for the under 3.5 ton market can be prebuilt using jigs. Mounting can be completed to chassis manufacturers' recommendations in just a couple of hours. Ro-Hill prefer to include n detachable locking pillars in design which add little to the laden weight but are said to g a rigidity not always availabl( other manufacturers' designs Demounts can be built on make of base frame. The m usual specification emplc either 19mm (0.75in) or 15r (0.6in) grp panels and incor rates Cargo deck flooring.
All welded steel rear fran are standard above 35cwt. Al is used for lighter vehicles.
Strong box section corner lars are constructed from E minium extrusions.
Partly ribbed aluminit panels are also popular giv added stiffness over a pl panel and retaining a cl centre section for the custom( sign writing.
Orders can normally be cc pleted within two or three we depending upon the size, painting can be arranged loca Each vehicle carries a 12 mo "no quibble" guarantee.
A vehicle being operated Richmans Removals Ltd Swindon (see picture) is typ of the quality that Ro-Hill Boc can produce. Built on a Bedf TL 1260 chassis, the Luton bc measuring 6.55m (21ft 6in 2.44m (8ft) x 2.74m (9ft) high I a dropwell and a hinged ft floor which can be folded form a full length flat floor use on contract haulage work
It does not have a walk-up board but two fibre-glass coa. ramps are supplied with vehicle. One fits over t dropwell and the other coni ues to ground level to provid walkway to internal floor heig