I was curious whether or not anybody has any experience with dump bed conversions such as those offered by Load Hog. How well do the work? What's the maintenance like? (I don't like expensive things that break)

I drive a '97 F250 Light Duty (looks like an F150) with slightly oversized (285/70/16) BFG A/Ts.

Thanks!

 

Surely somebody out there has experience with dump beds. If you do then I'd love to hear your opinions.

 

i saw a really cool one on the tv show trucks instead of hydraulic pistons it uses a high pressurer inflatable air bag that is hidden under the truck go to spike tv and look for the show trucks it was 1,500

 

gashog

that's the one that planted the idea in my head. I saw that and immediatly thought "I want one!" It would be realy handy to have, but I'd hate to get it and find out that it wasn't durable, or it was otherwise flaky. I'm not saying it is, but in my world everything I buy becomes a maintenance headache at one point or another...

Another thing for me to consider is the body lines of the F150 (my F250 is essentially an F150 with beefed up suspension I think). The front edge of the bed curves forward just a bit as you trace from top to bottom. That's a potential clearance issue.

 

Be sure to do the math with your owners manual and make sure you're truck is rated for the weights of loads you'd carry. After truck weight, fuel weight, etc, you might be surprised at how little it is. Seems like on the lighter trucks, the load capacity is really designed with tongue weight in mind.

I looked at the dump hog or whatever it's called and opted for a hydraulic dump trailer. My Big Tex one-axle ten footer will carry over #3000 , much more than my F-150 is rated to carry...but it'll tow it! (5000# total).

The best thing is when you get to the dump next to some poor guy sweating with a stinky load, and you pop the gate and press the button. I usually have a spare soda to offer him.

'Course after I decided what route to go, a friend who was moving and getting out of hauling GAVE me the trailer...well used, but functional. But it was still the right move (using a trailer).

Look for a used trailer if money's an issue. A new Big Tex 8' is something like $2500. Used ones can be had, but check it out.

Depending on what you're carrying, older horse trailers can be had for next to nothing, and the load bed is close to the ground for easy loading (get one with a ramp). They usually have electric brakes too, or surge if it's really old. The tack box makes a good locking tool cabinet. A little metal cutting and/or welding (to remove the stalls and/or top), paint, and you have a nifty all around trailer. Heck, I've considered taking up basic welding and making a backyard business out of buying and converting old horse trailers.

Boarding ranches usually have one or two abandoned ones lying around in the weeds, and the ranch owner is happy to have it taken when he/she "isn't looking". Make the VIN# go away and stamp your new numbers on and register it. (Before anyone takes issue, that's what my local motor vehicle office told me to do...yours may not.)

Hope it helped.

 

sounds like a goog idea on the rebuilding of old horse trailers do you have any pics of ones you have done?

 

I've only done one, and all my modifications were inside...taking out the stall dividers and cleaning up some rust. I use the forward tack room as a tool and tarp storage area. So mine still looks like a rusty horse trailer.

I was going to take off the top and make the trailer walls about 4' tall, but one hot day at the dump convinced me that a shaded work area is a good idea! And in the winter, it'll keep most of the rain off you and your load!

Most horse trailers I've seen are made from 1 to 1.5" welded box metal framing for the sides, with light sheet metal for the panels and top. Easy to cut with a torch or grinder. I used a metal cutting blade on a skilsaw.

Other guys I've have simply removed the top (usually riveted on) and cut the walls and doors down to the height of one of the horizontal wall frame members, usually the bottom of the side window frame.

Just go to a boarding barn/ranch and ask to peek at the trailers...you'll get the idea.