Pickup bed 2 ton unloaders - Loadhandler, HF, ???

[newbury]

Need to be able to unload 2 tons of "stuff" like gravel, mulch etc. from my dually bed.

Mostly I've been using my son but he won't be in Mississippi.

Several good but old threads I found -
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/128621-roll-pickup-bed-unloaders-any.html
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/related-topics/85470-load-handler.html
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/related-topics/93143-load-handler-2000-3000-lb.html

However new things come up so I thought I'd check here first.

First of all none meet my two ton goal.
HF now only sells the 1 ton version - but for only $40 right now

So anything new and great?

I realize I can just get the HF and unload the top half by hand.

 

[dirt ditch]

They are easier than a shovel. If it will save shoveling all of it I'd say $40 is worth it. I have had the 3,000 lb load handler for years. Before using it the first time I used a grade 5 bolt for the handle and replaced the cheap plastic grip with steel pipe that spins easily.

View attachment 473551

 

[joeyd]

If you have a spray in bed liner the load handler doesn't slide very easy when you turn the handle especially with gravel or dirt. It would work ok for bark or light material like that. I place a plastic tarp down before I roll out the load handler and that seems to help. I do tie the front corners of the tarp to the tie downs to keep it from sliding with the load handler. Also when material gets behind the wheel wells it helps lock in the load making it more difficult to crank out. I have to shovel out behind the wheel wells to have the material come out easy.

 

[Wagtail]

Welp, today I learnt that there is such a thing as a 'loadhandler'. I've always used a plastic tarp, but fine road gravel has always been a pain with a shovel.

I'll have to look into this a bit more. Ta Mates/TBN. :thumbsup:

 

[Midniteoyl]

Need to be able to unload 2 tons of "stuff" like gravel, mulch etc. from my dually bed.

Mostly I've been using my son but he won't be in Mississippi.

Several good but old threads I found -
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/128621-roll-pickup-bed-unloaders-any.html
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/related-topics/85470-load-handler.html
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/related-topics/93143-load-handler-2000-3000-lb.html

However new things come up so I thought I'd check here first.

First of all none meet my two ton goal.
HF now only sells the 1 ton version - but for only $40 right now

So anything new and great?

I realize I can just get the HF and unload the top half by hand.

The 2200lb one can be had at Sams Club for ~$69.. : Loadhandler Pickup Truck Unloader - Mid-Size - 2,2 lbs. capacity - Sam's Club

 

[Midniteoyl]

The 3000lb one is at Pep Boys for ~$100.. : Loadhandler Pickup Truck Unloader | Product Details | Pep Boys

 

[newbury]

I went ahead and got the Harbor Freight 2,000 lb rated one. $30 plus tax.

 

[Taylortractornut]

Remember if you need anything big moved or really heavy moved you got a neighbor in Ms lol

 

[newbury]

Remember if you need anything big moved or really heavy moved you got a neighbor in Ms lol

I really appreciate that Taylor, but right now the gravel and mulch I'm moving is 900 miles away near DC.

 

[newbury]

I went ahead and got the Harbor Freight 2,000 lb rated one. $30 plus tax.

Well it took a week but it works GREAT.

How I did it -
Since I have a dually with a full 8' bed with rough bed liner AND rails for my removables ( a 5th wheel hitch, a gooseneck hitch and cobbled together mount for my HF 1/2 Ton Capacity Pickup Truck Crane with Cable Winch) there was no way to "just drop it in" and expect it to work.

My thought process was to jury rig a dump container to make unloading and cleanup easier.

So -
I cut a 4x8x3/4 sheet of plywood in half length wise and put either piece on the inside to cover the wheel wells.

I then laid down a big HF tarp, about 15x12, length wise from a few few feet past the down tailgate, flat along the bed, then up and over the cab and width wise across the bed and up over the plywood about 3' on either side.
I next laid down three 2x4x8's, one against each wheel well and one down the center


I topped that with a 4x8x3/4 sheet of plywood

(I wanted to put something slippery like a 4'x8' sheet of thick slippery plastic on top of the plywood but didn't have one.)

That was my "base dump container".

I then followed the simple instructions and laid out the HF "Loadhandler" on top, went to the stone yard and got a small load (1,760 lbs) of #57 - busted up concrete. (I asked for a ton but that was close enough.)


After loading I just wrapped the excess tarp over the top of the load paid ($14 for 1,760 lbs) and drove off.

For unloading we folded up the excess tarp hanging off the tailgate, hooked up the loadhandler and my son cranked the load off rather easily in about 5 minutes or less.



IT WORKED GREAT!!

We pulled out the plywood and the small amount of stone that had evaded capture easily slid out with the tarp.

If I can find a suitable surface with a real slippy surface it might even handle 1.5 tons.

/edit - I also have a short vid showing how easy it is to use but posting vids here is a pain.