Gas Lift cylinders for Mule bed ??

RIPOIL · Mar 3, 2005

Has anybody tried using gas pressured cylinders (like is used on a hatchback) to assist in lifting the bed of a Mule? It definitely wouldn't be as good as hydraulic, but it might be a cheap way to take some of the load off.

rtvman · Mar 4, 2005

That's a really good idea. For the non-hydro dumpers out there I would think that any assistance you could get in manual dumping would be much welcomed.

Having owned two UTV's, one with hydro lift and the other without, I don't understand why manufacturer's option this on their machines. Face it, manually dumping loads of any kind is a pain in the neck. The amount of lift force you need to even dump the tiniest of loads is beyond practical. For those guy's and/or girls out here who are thinking of buying a UTV, make sure you get the lift option. You may not use it very much but your sure going to like it when you do need it. My opinion of coarse. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Kevin

bczoom · Mar 4, 2005

RIPOIL,

I don't have any first hand experience lifting the bed on a Mule but if it's like any other, doing it manually is a real bugger.

I'm just wondering if you can get the amount of assistance you would want to get can be generated from the gas cyl. Another thing I'm wondering is once you get it tilted, how much will it take to get it back down?

Have you looked into an electric lift?

jinman · Mar 5, 2005

( I'm just wondering if you can get the amount of assistance you would want to get can be generated from the gas cyl. Another thing I'm wondering is once you get it tilted, how much will it take to get it back down?
)

That's exactly what I was thinking. I think by the time you figure out how to make an "assisted" system work, you will have spent the $500 it costs to put a screwjack lift assembly onto the UTV.

I also agree that every UTV should have a bedlift of some type. The only advantage to having a bed lift manually is to be able to lift it up (empty) while doing maintenance on the engine or drivetrain. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

bczoom · Mar 6, 2005

( The only advantage to having a bed lift manually is to be able to lift it up (empty) while doing maintenance on the engine or drivetrain.)

Jim,

I can't speak for all hyd. lifts but if you set the RTV's dump control in the float position you can manually lift the box. It's a bit heavy but it can be done.

Brian

lloyd123 · Mar 6, 2005

If you put the control in the float position, lower the tailgate and then sit on the tailgate, your body weight will do most of the work in lifting the bed. After it rises you then have to be kind of quick to get around to the front of the dump bed before it starts to lower. Then again maybe it's just my body weight - 200lbs.

bczoom · Mar 6, 2005

Don't know if that would work for me. I can get up to about 175 soaking wet and carrying a cinder block.

Knock on wood, outside of a test to see if it would work, I haven't had to do so.

jinman · Mar 7, 2005

( I can't speak for all hyd. lifts but if you set the RTV's dump control in the float position you can manually lift the box. It's a bit heavy but it can be done.
)

Brian, I should have made my statement a little clearer. What I was trying to say is that most UTVs come with handles on the bed. Those handles are okay for lifting the bed when it's empty to do maintenance, but you can get a hernia trying to use them to dump the bed with a load. However, if you could not lift the bed when it's empty, you'd have a tough time getting to the engine or drivetrain. So in my opinion, the handles on the sides of beds without some type of lift are only useful for lifting the bed to do maintenance.

I have found that I don't use the lift very often, but when I do need it, it as handy as a pocket on a shirt. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Keybal · Mar 7, 2005

In my case, I'm about 18" short of the perfect height for my weight.

I dare say that I could probably use this method and make a catapult out of the bed of my RTV /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif