Beyond Stock: The Wildest Mercedes-Benz Truck Upgrades

Mercedes-Benz Custom Tailored Trucks has been transforming standard trucks into specialized machines for 25 years. The business unit works from 9 locations worldwide and has converted more than 325,000 vehicles for customers in over 140 countries. Each build remains a true Mercedes-Benz, with unique solutions tailored to specific industries and demands.

The Molsheim plant in France stands at the center of this effort. With 600 specialists and 63 conversion stations, it is the headquarters of Custom Tailored Trucks. Vehicles begin their life at the Wörth plant and are then transferred to Molsheim or partner sites for customer-specific modifications. These include wheelbase changes, extra axles, frame reinforcements, cooling systems, cab swaps, and heavy-duty couplings. By relying heavily on series components, the trucks stay serviceable at workshops and ensure spare parts are readily available.

Recent examples show the versatility of the program. Bundeswehr vehicles based on the Arocs 6×6 received military adaptations. Berlin’s waste management company ordered Econic trucks with 2.40-meter cabs for tight city streets. Autobahn GmbH had more than 100 vehicles converted from 2 to 3 axles for greater payload capacity. Extreme builds include the Actros 8×4/4 Full-SLT, which gained an 8-ton leading axle, a 900-liter fuel tank, and a rear cooling system. Baumann’s Arocs SLT 4463 AS 8×6 was tailored to haul up to 1,000 tons, requiring a wider cab and thousands of modified parts. For Japan, CTT engineered a cab and cooling package that fit within a strict 3.8-meter height limit.

Every truck reflects Mercedes-Benz quality while proving that even the most demanding requirements can be met.