Converting pickup bed to dump?

Larry_Van_Horn · May 8, 2004

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 · May 8, 2004

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 · May 8, 2004

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 · May 8, 2004

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 · May 8, 2004

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 · May 10, 2004

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 · May 10, 2004

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 · May 10, 2004

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

MossRoad · May 11, 2004

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 · May 11, 2004

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