Venchurs Adds Bodywork for Fords, Will Do Work Trucks with Knapheide

Ford compressed natural gas upfitter Venchurs Vehicle Systems is adding to its capabilities to customize Ford F-250 and F-350 trucks through a partnership with steel-body manufacturer Knapheide.

Venchurs, well known for ‘ruggedizing’ Ford pick-up trucks for off-road use, is taking its QVM upfits to the work truck industry, disclosing a pact with Knapheide here this week.

And Venchurs will provide customized storage solutions for the 2014 Transit Connect and Transit through Knapheide’s relationship with van upfitter Sortimo.

Ford F-150 conversions may have a place in future plans, too, as Venchurs says it will utilize Knapheide’s ship-thru facility in Kansas City, where the Ford Transit and F-150 will be produced. Venchurs already has a ship-thru facility in Louisville, Ky., as well as a remote ship-thru facility in Southeast Michigan.

“We want to meet all the needs of our fleet customer, and that means offering more than just the CNG conversion,” says Venchurs CEO Jeff Wyatt. “Thus far we have been able to offer such as suspensions, bumpers, wheels and tires, but this partnership with Knapheide allows us to round out our portfolio, offering service bodies and customized storage solutions.”

Venchurs, a Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier based in Adrian, Mich., is at Booth 645. Knapheide is at Booth 3739.