dump bed
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2011
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dump bed
Good morning FTE,
I've been reading on here for several months and the posts and information is just great. I cut some lawns on the side and my F-150 fits my needs perfectly. With that being said I was thinking about expanding in the next year or so to add an additional truck. I was leaning toward an F-350 dump truck but don't really know that I will need the huge bed of the dump but I definately want the capabilities of a dump bed. I have 2 little boys who would love to ride around in any truck I have, and I think an extended cab or crew cab pickup with a dump insert would fulfill my needs. With that being said does anyone on here have experience with the dump inserts that you can put in a F-250 or 350? What was your experience? I know you can get them for the short bed or the long bed, personally I was worried it would be a waste for a short bed even though I prefer the looks of the super cab or crew with the short bed. Are the F-250 beds enough to handle them or should I be just looking for a F-350. Can they handle the weights they claim? Do they rust very easily? Just looking for some real world feedback. Thanks in advance.
I've been reading on here for several months and the posts and information is just great. I cut some lawns on the side and my F-150 fits my needs perfectly. With that being said I was thinking about expanding in the next year or so to add an additional truck. I was leaning toward an F-350 dump truck but don't really know that I will need the huge bed of the dump but I definately want the capabilities of a dump bed. I have 2 little boys who would love to ride around in any truck I have, and I think an extended cab or crew cab pickup with a dump insert would fulfill my needs. With that being said does anyone on here have experience with the dump inserts that you can put in a F-250 or 350? What was your experience? I know you can get them for the short bed or the long bed, personally I was worried it would be a waste for a short bed even though I prefer the looks of the super cab or crew with the short bed. Are the F-250 beds enough to handle them or should I be just looking for a F-350. Can they handle the weights they claim? Do they rust very easily? Just looking for some real world feedback. Thanks in advance.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,447
Likes: 70
From: South Jersey
250 and 350 SRW trucks are the same leaf spring wise, only difference is the rear block height. So they can hold the same payload, but the 250 will sit almost two to three inches lower than the 350 truck. The dump bed weighs what almost 1500lbs? thats going to effect the payload even before you add mulch or topsoil. Most guys who run inserts either have airbags or added leaf springs toadd to the payload for the dump. And i would not buy a ext cab or crew cab just so my son and daughjter could take a ride, the added weight would kill the MPG and the added length would hurt when you need to full that 16ft landscaper trailer, plus trying to get into tight yards with a crew cab is a pain in the rear. A regular cab super duty has front airbag switch so you can turn it off so your kids can sit right next to you in the front.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,524
Likes: 2
From: CA Bay Area
I removed the hydraulics and dump frame from old Chevy and they fit into my Superduty just fine. Original flatbed frame matched the Chevy frame. Whole dump frame is about 1000 lb, so the weight is significant, but it is barely affecting highway mpg, since it doesn't add any more drag to the truck.
Those things are not cheap beside the weight, so research the option. I have seen adds for rolling mats inserted into beds that might be perfect for landscaper, but have never spotted one in real life.
And I can confirm that unloading 5000 lb of junk with dump bed makes you smiling wide.
BTW my hydraulics lift 10,000 lb of gravel just fine.
Those things are not cheap beside the weight, so research the option. I have seen adds for rolling mats inserted into beds that might be perfect for landscaper, but have never spotted one in real life.
And I can confirm that unloading 5000 lb of junk with dump bed makes you smiling wide.
BTW my hydraulics lift 10,000 lb of gravel just fine.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,502
Likes: 2
From: Bend Oregon
It sounds to me like you will be loading pretty light, I am guessing just clippings and the occasional load of mulch?
I saw these a few years back at costco loadhog if I remember right the price was around $1500. I have seen a few of them installed since then and the owners had no complaints, in fact they loved them.
Or there is northern tool link to dump bed page they have pierce arrow kits to convert your 150 or larger to dump as well as slide ins and the last item on that page is a $75 rolling load "mat"
I saw these a few years back at costco loadhog if I remember right the price was around $1500. I have seen a few of them installed since then and the owners had no complaints, in fact they loved them.
Or there is northern tool link to dump bed page they have pierce arrow kits to convert your 150 or larger to dump as well as slide ins and the last item on that page is a $75 rolling load "mat"
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2011
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Yes Clem I'm thinking something to throw grass clipping in that can be dumped out easily and the ocassional loads of mulch. I'm hoping that I could offset my purchase price by delivering loads of mulch/dirt. The website showed 2 yards capacity but I was wondering if anyone who had them put in more and it held it and dumped it without issue. I honestly think a dump truck would be overkill, but don't want to buy something and then find out that it isn't enough. If it didn't pan out then I would still have a nice heavy duty pickup but if I bought the dump then I would have a dump that I had no need for.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 843
Likes: 6
From: Jessup, PA
In my area, the F350-550 dump trucks are like gold and sell for a premium, so selling one that is no longer needed is not a problem. I don't know about your area.
If you plan on just cutting grass, I agree that you probably don't need a dump truck. If you plan on putting down mulch, I would think you need a dump truck. It doesn't look like the dump inserts could hold alot of mulch.
Are there pockets to add side boards on the dump inserts? With my low side boards I could get about 6 yards of mulch in the bed and many times one trip won't do a complete a job. I have side boards that are about 12" higher than my low boards, but never got mulch with them so I don't know how much more than 6 yards I could get.
A down side to a dump truck is that you may have to get commercial insurance on it, which isn't necessarily more expensive, but you may have more restrictions, like number of drivers and traveling radius.
I think you really have to decide and know what type of work you will be doing at what capacity and if you want room to expand. I think with the dump insert you are very limited (especially with mulch and soil) and won't be able to expand your business much.
just my 2 cents
If you plan on just cutting grass, I agree that you probably don't need a dump truck. If you plan on putting down mulch, I would think you need a dump truck. It doesn't look like the dump inserts could hold alot of mulch.
Are there pockets to add side boards on the dump inserts? With my low side boards I could get about 6 yards of mulch in the bed and many times one trip won't do a complete a job. I have side boards that are about 12" higher than my low boards, but never got mulch with them so I don't know how much more than 6 yards I could get.
A down side to a dump truck is that you may have to get commercial insurance on it, which isn't necessarily more expensive, but you may have more restrictions, like number of drivers and traveling radius.
I think you really have to decide and know what type of work you will be doing at what capacity and if you want room to expand. I think with the dump insert you are very limited (especially with mulch and soil) and won't be able to expand your business much.
just my 2 cents
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,362
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From: Juneau, ALASKA
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 128
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From: Las Vegas, Nevada
I use my brothers gooseneck dump trailer quite often. It has about 5ft sides and is about 25ft long, and has two axels with dual wheels on both. I have dumped as much as 20,000lbs with the electric powered hydrolic dump mechanism. It tows real nice and my truck isn't tied to only one purpose. There are many types of dump traliers on the market so you can find one that will fit your needs and not have to have an extra truck sitting around waiting to be used not to mention the extra savings on insurance and wear and tear.
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is a BAAAD MAN
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,738
Likes: 5
From: Winston Salem NC
Just add a dump bed to your truck. Got this one on line foe $1000 to the door put it on myself. I use it 1 or 2 times a week./ I can't have a dump trailer cause I got a work trailer. I have dumped almost 4000# before but it bowed the bed up a bit in the middle. That was a concrete front stoop I tore off haha.
I love going to the dump and watching other dudes tossing stuff off by hand or trying to back a dump trailer up.
I can't remember what brand it was just look up dump hoist I think.http://images.ford-trucks.com/forums...coolgleamA.gif
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 67
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From: Flamborough, ON
My dad and I do landscape maintenance and about 10 years ago we got a 8 foot slide in dump for our truck. What a time saver! no more shovelling off clippings at the end of the day. Ours holds 2 yards with no sides on it and we made plywood sides for spring and fall cleanups. We bought steel, but next time would get aluminum for lighter weight and rust free(we have painted it a couple of times) only time I've had a problem dumping the truck was overloaded, most inserts are good to about 4000lbs. To prevent rear end sag we had a leaf added in the rear so it sits level with 1-2 yards of soil in the back.
Check out truckcraft.com for steel and aluminum inserts
ps it's on a 2008 F250 sc lb
Check out truckcraft.com for steel and aluminum inserts
ps it's on a 2008 F250 sc lb
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