Built in Hillsborough. Doing the Work Across the Triangle Since 2016.
We are a hands-on upfitting shop, not a dealership add-on or a regional franchise location. Every vehicle that leaves our bay in Hillsborough was touched by people who know the difference between a properly built work truck and one that just looks the part.
What We Do and Who We Do It For
We outfit commercial trade vans and work trucks for HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and construction crews. We convert police interceptors and municipal vehicles for law enforcement agencies across North Carolina. We install amber LED and strobe safety lighting on construction and engineering vehicles in compliance with North Carolina G.S. (919) 730-0542.
Those three categories under one roof, in one shop, is not common in the Triangle. Most upfitters specialize in one lane. We built the capability to handle all three because our customers kept asking for it.
Nearly a Decade of Installation Experience — Not Estimates
We have been upfitting vehicles since 2016. That is not a long time by some standards, but it is long enough to have built fleets of 70 vehicles in a single season, to have completed law enforcement conversions that had to be right before a patrol unit went into service, and to have installed safety lighting systems that had to meet state statute — not just look close enough.
What that track record means for you: we have seen the problems that show up when a build is rushed, when parts are substituted without thought, or when a crew installs equipment they do not fully understand. We do not make those calls.
Operating continuously since 2016 across commercial, law enforcement, and safety lighting categories
Demonstrated capacity for large fleet contracts, including a 70-vehicle HVAC fleet completed in a single season
Active on the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association Vehicle Equipment and Upfitting Procurement Program portal
One shop covering commercial fleet upfitting, law enforcement conversions, and NC-compliant hazard lighting
Serving contractors, municipalities, and fleet owners throughout the Triangle and Orange County
Why Law Enforcement and Municipal Buyers Work With Us
Government and municipal contracts require more than a quote. Agencies need to know the shop has done this work before, that the equipment meets spec, and that the build will hold up in the field. We are active on the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association procurement portal, which positions us for statewide law enforcement contracts and signals to agencies that we have met the requirements to be considered.
If you are a department evaluating upfitters for a patrol vehicle build or a multi-unit fleet conversion, we are prepared to walk you through prior work and answer questions about our process before any agreement is signed.
Where We Work
Our shop is in Hillsborough, NC. Customers come to us from Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Roxboro, and across the Triangle. For large fleet contracts, we coordinate scheduling around your operational calendar so vehicles are out of service for the shortest time possible. Customers outside the region are welcome to bring vehicles to our shop — we do not travel for installation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Purcell's Custom Upfitting
Who owns Purcell's Custom Upfitting?
Purcell's Custom Upfitting is owner-operated out of Hillsborough, NC. The business was founded in 2016 and has been run hands-on since day one. When you contact us, you are talking to the people doing the work — not a sales coordinator routing your request.
Is Purcell's a local shop or part of a larger chain?
We are an independent upfitting shop based in Hillsborough, NC. We are not affiliated with any national chain, dealership group, or franchise. Every build decision is made in-house.
Do you work with law enforcement agencies outside Orange County?
Yes. We are active on the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association Vehicle Equipment and Upfitting Procurement Program portal, which means agencies across the state can engage us through that procurement channel. We have completed law enforcement conversions for agencies in the Triangle region and are equipped to handle multi-unit contracts.
Can you handle a large fleet on a tight timeline?
We have completed large fleet contracts — including a 70-vehicle HVAC fleet within a single season. If you are managing a fleet on a predictable seasonal cycle, we can work with your schedule to minimize downtime and coordinate staging across the build.
What areas do you serve?
Our shop is in Hillsborough, NC. We regularly work with customers from Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Roxboro, and the broader Triangle region. Customers from outside North Carolina are welcome to bring vehicles to our shop for upfitting.
Ready to Talk Through Your Build?
We do not do hard sells or vague estimates. Tell us what you are working with and what you need, and we will give you a straight answer on what the build involves and what it will cost.
