Section J – Truck & Trailer Body Mounting Certification (VSB6)
Compliant Body, Tipper & ROPS/FOPS Mounting for Heavy Vehicles in QLD
🔧 What is Section J?
Section J of VSB6 outlines the requirements for safely mounting bodies, equipment, and protective systems to heavy vehicle chassis—including truck trays, tippers, bus bodies, ROPS/FOPS, and other body types. It ensures proper load distribution, chassis protection, and occupant safety.
AutoCert is approved to certify all modifications under Codes J1 through J4, including tippers, truck-bus conversions, and external roll-over protection systems (ROPS/FOPS).
📋 Section J Modification Codes
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| J1 | Body Mounting – General body installation to truck or trailer chassis |
| J2 | Truck-Bus Body – Design certification of a bus pod mounted to a truck chassis |
| J3 | Roll Over/Falling Object Protection System (ROPS/FOPS) – Design certification |
| J4 | Tipper Body – Design certification for tipping bodies, hydraulics, props & safety |
✅ What Requires Certification?
You need Section J certification when:
- Mounting a new tray, body, or van pod to a truck chassis
- Installing or modifying tipper bodies or hoisting systems
- Converting a truck to carry passengers (truck-bus)
- Fitting an external roll-over or falling object protection system
- Reinforcing or relocating existing body mounts
- Installing a body that changes overhang or wheelbase dimensions
🚛 J1 – General Body Mounting
We assess:
- Load distribution, centre of gravity, and rear overhang limits
- Sub-frame attachment and mounting brackets (outriggers/fish plates)
- ADR compliance for width
🚌 J2 – Truck-Bus Body (Design)
We certify:
- Bus body pod designs installed on NC-class truck chassis
- Compliance with ADRs 4, 5, 58, 59, 66, and 68
- Emergency exit, seatbelts, seat strength, child restraint anchors
- Rollover integrity and ventilation
- RAV entry alignment, change of ADR category (e.g. NC to ME)
🛡 J3 – Roll Over / Falling Object Protection (ROPS/FOPS)
We engineer:
- External protective frame designs for trucks and worksite vehicles
- Torsional loading, fatigue zone isolation, and fish-plate mounting
- 2H rule for load-bearing transition (where H = chassis height)
- Sub-frame mounting with bolt-only (no welds) on chassis
- ADR 42, 43, 92, and 93 compliance
- Mine or site-spec upgrades for quarry and rural fleets
🚚 J4 – Tipper Body (Design)
We review:
- Sub-frame reinforcement and rear pivot strength
- Hoist ram mounting and cylinder cross-member design
- Body props for safety (min 2x FoS against unladen body weight)
- Tailgate safety locks, chute function, hydraulic shutdown features
- Load cells, pressure systems, lockout interlocks, and ROPS clearance
- Labeling and operator warnings for all powered tipper functions
🧪 Key Safety Checks Include
- 🔧 Chassis stress concentration avoidance (see Section H)
- 📏 Rear overhang (≤60% wheelbase or 3.7m)
- ⚖️ Load centre of gravity markers (for uneven or off-centre loads)
- 🪛 High-tensile bolt strength, drill spacing & fish plate installation
- ⚠️ Avoiding impacts to advanced braking systems (ESC, EBS, RSC)
👷 Why Choose AutoCert?
- ✅ Certified for J1, J2, J3 & J4 modification codes
- ✅ RPEQ Mechanical Engineer & VSB6 Authorised Person
- ✅ Fully mobile certification across SE QLD
- ✅ Trusted by tipper body builders, bus fitters, and fleet managers
- ✅ Includes full report, checklist, mod plate & TMR submission