Converting pickup bed to dump?

[Larry_Van_Horn]

Wondering if any of you have done this. I found the following on the web Dump bed and thought it would be pretty useful.
Larry

My F350 CC V10 arrives in 3 long weeks.

 

[JimR]

I wish I still had the pictures of my old 1969 Ford F250. I had the Uni-Hoist dump setup on it. I had put a 1979 bed on the truck and the bolt holes didn't line up. I bought the hoist setup to cure that problem and haul wood. Uni-hoist uses a scissors type setup under the bed with a large piston. There is a starter driven hydraulic pump that provides the power. The switch is two way and auto-down. I still have my complete unit and someday hope to make a dump trailer with it. The truck is long gone due to a rotted frame. You mount a set of hinges on the back of your pickup bed for the pivot point. This is the weak spot of the whole system. If your bed is old, I would re-enforce that whole area before putting the hinges on. I could dump one ton loads all day with this setup. Two tons required a bit of unloading unless you were in a downhill position. I used mine for close to 8 years before retiring the truck. I never had a problem with it. It is a very simple system to install and wire.

 

[GerardC]

I once worked for a plumber and he had one on his truck. What a time and back saver it was. Told me that he wished he'd gotten one years earlier. G

 

[Larry_Van_Horn]

Jim,
SO it sounds like what you had is pretty similar to the link that I had in my post. It seems for $800 bucks it might be worth it. Thanks for your thoughts.
Lar

 

[JimR]

I have one other thing to mention should you put one on. I welded 2 pieces of 1/8 angle iron onto the frame and bed on each side with the bed in a down position. I drilled a hole thru them so that I could bolt the bed down when empty. The bed rattles around and bounces a bit in the front if you don't do this. The manufacture doesn't mention this in the instructions. Just make sure to unbolt them when you try to use the dump. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[MossRoad]

I once saw a local contractor with one on his pickup. It was very easy to look at the setup as the pickup was laying on it's side /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

As with all things that require a little thought, he lifted the bed with something heavy in the front while he was in a slight side slope... quickly changed the CG and over he went. Fortunately, no injuries... except his pride. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[moeh1]

DOn't have a catalog handy, but I thought Surplus Center was selling a similar kit? Anybody have acess to a catalog?

 

[Larry_Van_Horn]

Marty,
Found it there too but was $150 more than other places on the web. Larry

 

[MossRoad]

Larry,
Are you putting it on a flat bed or pickup truck? The reason I ask is the kits I had looked at had one for flat beds and a different kit for pickups. The pickup kit was a little more expensive than the flat bed kit.

 

[Larry_Van_Horn]

David,
The one I had found was for a regular pickup bed (that is what I intend to use it on). The link is in the initial post "dump bed". Price is pretty reasonable.
L

 

[moparmaker]

I have one of these hoists with no instructions and don't have a clue how to install it. Would it be possible for you to send some pictures of how the brackets mount?
Thanks

 

[Barnone]

Wouldn't you be better off to ask the manufacturer of your unnamed hoist kit?
Go to [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8aRKORHvjw[/ame]

 

[moparmaker]

Thanks for the reply. I am new to this forum and thought I was replying to a post by JIMR, who stated he had a Uni-Hoist, which is the same brand as mine. The company that built this hoist has been out of business for several years and I was able to purchase one as new old stock, without instructions. I would sincerely hate to think someone would ask questions like I did without first researching other options. I have not been able to find even a picture of this particular hoist anywhere on the web and thought since JIMR had one, he maybe could help. I have now sent JIMR a privete message.

 

[JimWalch]

I done one just like in the video a few years back and now don't know how I got along without it. If you have an old beater to install it on go for it. Sure would not want to use a newer truck.
And if you can find the instructions for it- best to just burn them as they were almost worthless to follow.