Dumptrucks - Buying v/s Converting a Flatbed

[herdfan]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( put an X plate (farm) on the dump. No inspection in WV. )</font>

Thanks for the tip - I'll check it out.
We won't be going any more than 5-10 miles from the farm anyway. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[herdfan]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I like your logic. Herdfan should look at his situation just as you explained. )</font>

I had considered the bigger trucks (C60, etc). Matter of fact, a guy a mile up the road had a 24,000# GVW truck for a good deal, but I thought that it was a little too big. This 1 1/2 ton seems to be a good fit - not too big or too small. Of course, I just got it last might, so time will tell, huh? With the price I paid, I can put enough in it to get a decent rig that won't break the checkbook and still come out ahead of what a sub would charge to haul. Also, the major advantage is that I can do the work I need on my own schedule.

I'll attach some pics this evening.

 

[RobS]

Can't wait to see some pics Herdfan. I'm envious even though I decided against owning a dump truck. There is definitely something to be said for being in control of your own situation which you will get by owning the truck.

I forgot to mention in my analysis the resale value. These things do hold their value so when you are ready to sell let us know /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Darren]

A lot of folks overlook medium duty trucks. The fact is an old one is almost always cheaper than a one ton. You get a higher capacity vehicle and as long as you can drive a stick, you get a better deal.

Herd, when you go to the DMV office just tell them you want a farm plate. FWIW, insurance rates are usually cheaper too on a vehicle designated for farm use.

 

[herdfan]

I got some dig pics - will dowload & upload them later this evening.
Spent about 3 hours doing a good tune up and fluid change on the truck the gave her a good work-out for about 5 hours.
I loaded the bed with between 5 and 8 yards of mud and hauled it about 1/4 mile uphill. The clutch started to let me know it wasn't happy with the heavier load, so I've been sticking to the 5-6 yard loads since (gotta have limits, huh?).
The dump hoist didn't have any trouble with even the heaviest load. That PTO pump is pretty powerful. This thing will quickly pay for itself just fixing up some of our mudslides, not to mention the hauling fees for gravel, landscaping materials, etc. I figure I'll need about another $1,000 to get this rig in good shape, but will still have a nice, usuable truck for a great price.
Gotta love "sweat equity!" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[herdfan]

I was a little pre-occupied with the thrill of being able to efficiently move dirt, so I only snapped a few pics. I got mostly ones of the "new" truck and the first slip that we're cutting down. I'll get more as time goes on on.

Here's the first of the truck. Would "Bessie" be a good name?

 

[herdfan]

Here's an "action shot!" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[herdfan]

Here's me loading the truck with a bucket of good 'ole wet clay.
Loading from the side seems to be more efficient, though.

 

[herdfan]

Her's the truck chugging up to the dump site with a pile of mud.
Truly a thing of beauty! (Sorry - I'm a little excited about this) /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[herdfan]

We are building a house on the ridge top and just had this road put in (finished last fall). The November storms brought lots of slips and a catastrophic mudslide that wiped out about 100 feet of road base. We paid our road contractor to fix the road base and fix 2 huge slips on the uphill side of the road, but are going to fix the other 4 slips ourselves.

Here is a shot of the slide we were working on today in its pre-November state. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif