AZ ranch

[BoFuller]

Congrats on your new (to you ) dump truck. :thumbsup:

First & foremost, dump on level ground as much as possible. It is pretty easy to lay a dump on its side if leaning one way or the other. It is even possible to go over back wards if the nose is high (headed up hill.) and a load *"Hangs". ( *Fails to slide out.)

Just as important, make sure the gates are unlatched before trying to dump. Sounds silly, no one would ever do that. Happens a lot more than you would think.

Your dump bed is one considered a "Landscape" or "Roofers" dump. Due not overload it for a couple of reasons. If a loose load shifts against the gates, they can pop open against you or the load can land on your feet.

Not really a safety thing, but if overloaded the scissors or a cylinder can bend. If possible next load weigh truck in and out so that you have an idea how much weight you have loaded. If you haul after a rain, reduce the amount of your max. Load. Wet sand or gravel weights a lot more than dry.

Thanks for the info! I like the tailgate. It makes it harder to spread, but it will be easier to haul lumber when I get started on the deck and eventually the cabin.
When I got the limestone "chat", I weighed in before and after. Empty I was 15,900 and loaded I was 24,300. Chat is heavy and that 4.2 tons looked like a little pile in that big truck. I could go another 1500 lbs taking it up to 25,800 but It's hard to tell when he dumps that big bucket in there, how close you are.

 

[mjncad]

I still can't get over how good a shape that Ford is in. You scored a good deal there.

 

[crash325]

Thanks for the info! I like the tailgate. It makes it harder to spread, but it will be easier to haul lumber when I get started on the deck and eventually the cabin.
When I got the limestone "chat", I weighed in before and after. Empty I was 15,900 and loaded I was 24,300. Chat is heavy and that 4.2 tons looked like a little pile in that big truck. I could go another 1500 lbs taking it up to 25,800 but It's hard to tell when he dumps that big bucket in there, how close you are.

Hi Again,
Your truck should have a tag similar to the picture, the top line is the maker or installer of the dump bed. The lift capacity of the hydraulics may or may not be up to GVR of the truck. If possible check with the dump MFG on lift capacity.

The reason your doors open sideways is for dumping bulky light loads. Great for brush and that sort of thing. With a standard dump bed brush and light bulky loads can hang. Twice I have had to use the back hoe to pull a load of brush out of the bed.

Back on the Safety thing. Do Not Ever do anything under the raised bed unless it is blocked up with something like a 4X4 or larger. I repeat Nothing - Ever not even a quickie.

Really like your truck, wish mine was as nice. :thumbsup:

 

[MacLawn]

Dittos on what crash said above about doing NOTHING under the bed while lifted. And, dump trucks will flip over easily if you lift the bed too fast, or, as mentioned, on even slightly uneven ground. I know of companies that will not let drivers attempt to spread gravel while dumping because of so many trucks being flipped over while a driver is trying to spread the gravel while dumping. Slow and easy is the way to go.

Now, back to the fun stuff - enough preaching on safety - like they say - "get 'er done"...

 

[BoFuller]

I still can't get over how good a shape that Ford is in. You scored a good deal there.

Thanks! I agree. Some call it luck, I call it divine intervention.

 

[BoFuller]

Hi Again,
Your truck should have a tag similar to the picture, the top line is the maker or installer of the dump bed. The lift capacity of the hydraulics may or may not be up to GVR of the truck. If possible check with the dump MFG on lift capacity.

The reason your doors open sideways is for dumping bulky light loads. Great for brush and that sort of thing. With a standard dump bed brush and light bulky loads can hang. Twice I have had to use the back hoe to pull a load of brush out of the bed.

Back on the Safety thing. Do Not Ever do anything under the raised bed unless it is blocked up with something like a 4X4 or larger. I repeat Nothing - Ever not even a quickie.

Really like your truck, wish mine was as nice. :thumbsup:

Thanks! And thanks for all the info too. The dump bed has a metal brace tube that you can swing down, and then let the bed down until the pressure is off the cylinder. I used that when I was snooping around under there. There are wooden frame rails (1 X 3 boards) screwed to the frame and the bed sits on these. The back ones are in good shape but one has broken loose (first picture). The front ones are cracked and beat up (second picture) and need replaced. Is one kind of wood better than another for this purpose?

 

[mjncad]

The wood is meant to act as a spacer, cushion and sound deadener so you don't get the loud metal-on-metal crash bang sound when going over bumps with an empty bed. I'm guessing pressure treated wood would be just fine.

 

[BoFuller]

I still can't get over how good a shape that Ford is in. You scored a good deal there.

I left my truck at a mechanic while I'm back in civilization for a couple weeks. A guy I really trust, that works on big rigs all the time. I told him to give it the once over as I know squat about dump trucks and didn't take anybody knowledgeable with me when I bought it. That was probably risky. He has had it a week now and he hasn't found anything wrong with it, other than one blinker wasn't working and the heater fan squeals. He's giving it a lube job and changing fluids and filters. Yeah, I think I scored a good deal. :thumbsup:

 

[MacLawn]

Man, Bo, now you got me to wantin' a dump truck - never thought I'd need one, but now, I think I do!!

Oh, and about the wood under the bed, pressure treated is not so good touching metal, they say it causes metal to corrode/rust faster. I think I would try to get some oak, etc. Nice truck there!

 

[BoFuller]

Man, Bo, now you got me to wantin' a dump truck - never thought I'd need one, but now, I think I do!!

Oh, and about the wood under the bed, pressure treated is not so good touching metal, they say it causes metal to corrode/rust faster. I think I would try to get some oak, etc. Nice truck there!

You suffer from the same ailment as me - mixing "want" and "need" in the same sentence! :laughing:
I penciled out my fuel and rough depreciation/maintenance costs and without a doubt, I could have the gravel hauled in for less than what it cost me myself. But I knew that before I bought. If I was going for absolute lowest cost, I would have bought a spread with a cabin built and everything all finished. But working through this long-term project is as much of a goal as completing the project. I want my truck so I can go get what I want when I want, even if it cost me a little more. So when I told my better half that I "needed" a dump truck, she just laughed, said "fine, but then I get to get a toy also". Can't argue with that! :thumbsup: