FEATURE – Why customers choose Anybody Commercial Body Builders
As good as any product may claim to be in its advertising, it’s in the real world and in the hands of real users where the rubber meets the road. That’s especially true in the car carrier game.
For Anybody Commercial Body Builders, it’s the feedback from their customers that counts for a hell of a lot more than any PR or advertising hyperbole. The following is just a sample of that feedback.
These customers may have come to Anybody through different avenues, but each has found that the Burpengary-based car carrier specialist has produced a product that not only met their needs, but in many cases, exceeded their expectations, too.
There are common themes behind each customer’s praise for Anybody: namely a high-quality product, ease of operation, great reliability and impressive customer service.
As all the following companies are using multiple Anybody carriers (some now have as many as seven Anybody units in their fleet) this success is no one-off or flash in the pan, either.
Read on and see why these companies choose – and continue to choose – Anybody for their car carrying needs.
Mothers Vehicle Deliveries
In Business: since 2005
Base: Brisbane, QLD
Anybody units to date: Seven (Eighth is on the way!)
Dale Watt from Mothers Vehicle Deliveries has a great mantra that pretty much sums up his approach to selecting car carrier body and trailer units – “Cheap is Good, Good is not Cheap”
It sounds a bit ‘zen,’ but it reflects the importance Dale places on a quality product in a business where inferior quality can lead to time off the road. Cheap may seem attractive in the short term, but in ultimately costs you time and money in the long run.
Related to that, Dale was just as direct when asked what he believes the greatest benefit of an Anybody car carrier body is: “No downtime!”
Dale’s been an Anybody devotee since purchasing his first Anybody car carrier body and has never sought a quote from any other builder. He says he continues to choose Anybody because he knows exactly what he’s going to get each time.
As Mothers is located in Bracken Ridge, a short hop from Anybody’s Burpengary base, being close by helps with any repairs and checking in on future builds, too.
Speaking of future builds, the next Anybody four-car carrier for Mothers – unit number eight – is due for delivery early in 2021 and follows a body and trailer unit that was fitted to a Hino FE in 2018.
“Our 2018-model body and trailer has never had a problem,” Dale stated. “Having said that, we've never really had a problem with any of them and the things that we do need help with occasionally, Anybody can repair while you wait most of the time.”
Carlink Transport
In business: since 2004
Base: Gold Coast, QLD
Anybody units to date: Six
Carlink Transport’s Clint Shingles admits that an Anybody car carrier body wasn’t his first choice when he started in the business, but that changed!
“We actually tried other makes and models of car carrying frames and trailers. We saw Anybody’s frames and trailers being used on the road and spoke to the operators/owners - their feedback was extremely positive.”
Clint purchased his first Anybody four-car carrier body in 2011. Drawn to the purpose-built design and features that make the job easier, safer and with reduced risk of vehicle damage, Clint cited the “start to finish” quality he believes is built into each Anybody car carrier as one of its greatest strengths.
“The design process and engineering is world class and the quality of their frames and trailers are second to none.”
Clint was also impressed with the communication Anybody offer right through the build process.
“Lines of communication are always open and transparent, which makes it easy as a customer, big or small,” Clint said. “Anybody’s communication, timelines and production were clear and concise - and they finish with a well spec’d, extremely well built and versatile product.”
The quality of that first experience with Anybody made subsequent orders a no-brainer. Carlink took delivery of the sixth car carrier body last year, a four-car unit fitted to a 2019 Isuzu FSD, and it’s been just as reliable as the previous five.
“It’s clocked up over 100,000km in its first year with not a single problem or rectification required.”
So, when asked if he’d choose Anybody for car carrier body #7, you can guess the answer: “Yes, without a second thought!” Clint laughed. “We wouldn’t go anywhere else for our four-car carriers.”
Advance Car Carriers
In business: since 1981
Base: Sydney (offices in Melbourne and Brisbane)
Anybody units to date: Eight
With operations in three states, Advance Car Carriers had some serious decisions to make when it came to choosing car carrier units, so Daniel Hume, Advance’s State Manager for Queensland, took the responsibility seriously when it came time to upgrade and expand their fleets in Sydney and Brisbane.
“I looked at trailer manufacturers from Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane over a period of about six months – so plenty of research!” Daniel said.
However, when it came down to it, the word of operators on the quality – or lack thereof – of what was out there in the market was the deciding factor.
“This is actually a small industry and most of us most know who’s who, so word of mouth speaks volumes,” Daniel added. “Every time Anybody’s gear was mentioned, it always came out on top as the superior, tried and tested product over time.”
Daniel’s own experience since purchasing Advance’s first Anybody body and trailer unit in 2015 has reflected this: “The gear is safe and easy to operate, made with high quality steel and, just as importantly, assembled locally here in Brisbane. For us, the Anybody bodies performed better than any gear in the current fleet of the same capacity that wasn’t built by Anybody. Some of the other gear that’s built elsewhere racks up more downtime and costs in repairs and maintenance.
“Anybody's definitely provide a superior product to most others on the market in the three- and four-car set ups.”
Drilling down on specifics, Daniel says the hydraulically-operated top deck on Anybody’s four-car unit is great from an OH&S point of view, while the airbag trailer configuration increases ease of loading for their drivers, especially for vehicles with low ground clearance.
Next year, Advance will be upgrading some of their Brisbane fleet, but this is to accommodate new tractor units, which Daniel says have become increasingly necessary, as big, heavy SUVs and dual cab utes have become the norm for car carriers nationwide.
“These days, for any new build, a 12 to 14 ton truck with a minimum 5 ton front axle is the desired setup for maximising the trailer’s potential.”
The upgraded trucks for Advance’s Brisbane fleet will be coming on line in 2021, so Daniel’s already started the process of ordering a body for each with Anybody.
“If you’re like us and you know what you want, ordering with Anybody is simple,” Daniel adds. “If you don’t, they’ll walk you through the whole process simply and clearly. Nothing is ever a drama for these guys.”
While the ordering and spec process is easy, Daniel added that the after sales servicing that Anybody offer is a positive, too: “The team provide a maintenance service as well - no job is too big or small.
“And even though they specialise in the three- and four-car carrier builds, I’d recommend them to anyone for any sort build, from a tipper to any sort of fabrication you want to throw at them!”
To find out more about Anybody car carrier bodies, their tipper and other specialty bodies, plus their truck repair and maintenance services, call (07) 3888 0876, or go to: anybodycommercialbodies.com.au to see a gallery of past builds.
Photos: Various