turning a 3/4 ton truck into a dump truck??

[BWS]

anybody seen or installed a dump hydralic kit on there pickup??we need to get a lot of dirt into our back fields and i dont think a big dump truck could get back there so i was thinking of installing a northern [catalog] dump system on my 2001 dodge 3/4 4x4.any input on the fit or function of these kits would help.bws

 

[RAllen]

BWS

Yes, it is quite common where I live. Trailer manufacturers, welding shops, snow plow dealers sell and install them up here. (Montana). I think you might be unhappy with the result, especially in such a new truck. 3/4 Ton trucks cannot carry much dirt without being grossly overloaded and a dump body will add a lot of weight before the first shovel full.

Another idea is a highway rated tandem dump trailer. The cost will be about the same and you do not lose your pick-up body.

There are numerous sellers out there and I think you will be able to carry more dirt.

Rick

 

[marty]

I have a '77 F250 that I mounted a Hyd dump under a nearly new '87 Box. I have hauled a lot of dirt and it can dump more than the truck can legally haul.

I secured a plastic liner to the box for ease of dirt and wood sliding out. I did have to reinfoce the frame cross member where the ram pivot is welded on and had to weld the hinges on the back. The support that comes with the better kit allows the for good distribution and I wonder why people would add the weight of an inner box unless you have to drive it to church.

Only thing that I wish I would have got early on was the override relief springs which are awsome.

 

[CTyler]

Do you have a temporary spot the dump truck could drop the load? If so you can get a 4 ton farm dump wagon for $900. The cylinder, pump and battery would be extra, another few hundred I think. You can save some money by using the tractor hydraulics assuming it has a remote.

 

[MikePA]

Trucks! on TNN just did a show on the Load Hog. It uses an air bladder instead of hydraulics to lift the bed. No welding was required, the total kit weighs 120 pounds and can lift 4,500 pounds.

 

[cpicton1]

BWS,

Another option is Pickup Dump Inserts. They are made by more than one company. You can do a search for them on Google. Here is a link to one company I found for an example.

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Pickup Dump Inserts /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[2458n]

FInd a old used up one ton dump truck at a city, county or state auction. It was tax money that bought it, so now its your turn to buy one and use it. Govdeals.com is a good place to start looking. Then you end up with a truck that will actually beable to do something. Dump trailers are a good deal as you save on insurance and plates. Leave it at homewhen not needed. No CDL stuff either.

 

[BigMike50]

better off buying a used dump trailer that can actual haul something. Its illegal and unsafe to actually haul any ideal load. One yard of of topsoil weighs in around 1 ton. One yard is only one backhoe bucket. You said you need to move a lot of dirt so that pickup dump kit is gonna be a waste of money when you can usually find a used dump trailer that will haul 3 times the amount leaglly for under 2-3 grand

 

[jenkinsph]

I pull a 14,000 lb PJ dump trailer with my F550 and F250 I agree with the others that this is safer but would also mention that using the dump trailler also adds the additional braking. The better braking is very important imo.

 

[Duffster]

FInd a old used up one ton dump truck at a city, county or state auction. It was tax money that bought it, so now its your turn to buy one and use it. Govdeals.com is a good place to start looking. Then you end up with a truck that will actually beable to do something. Dump trailers are a good deal as you save on insurance and plates. Leave it at homewhen not needed. No CDL stuff either.

Dump trailers are not immune from CDL requirements.

 

[tessiers]

I am doing the same thing you are talking about. Mine is an older truck with the heavy suspension. I haul a fair amount of manure into fields with my dump trailer. I have a dump trailer and as far as on the road goes they are real nice, in fields they suck. If the ground is soft in the least bit you will tear up the fields. If you put a yard of material on the back of a truck you aren't going to spin much. I usually end up loading the truck just for the weight and shovel it off at the end of the day. Just my 2 cents.

 

[jmc]

Xxxxxxxx

 

[bdog]

We move a lot of dirt. We have a tandem axle full size dump truck now but have had a smaller single axle non CDL dump truck and a 14k dump trailer. If you have any significant amount to move it will take forever with anything less than a full size dump truck. Dirt weighs around a ton a yard.

I have had people who wanted dirt come with their pickups and have be load it in the bed. One full scoop from the backhoe and their trucks looked like they were hurting from the weight. My point is a 3/4 ton once you account for the weight of the dump bed isn't going to be able to haul much more than a yard without being overloaded. I don't know what size your tractor is but a 7' bucket can hold almost a yard. Unless going very far might as well haul it in the bucket. You won't gain much hauling capacity with a 3/4 ton.