That is true, the pivot placement is off, the wheel base is right about at the center of the bed. I wish there was some way I could easily lengthen the wheelbase of the truck, but it is what it is.

 

Can't you fab up some latches to keep the bed down when loaded?

 

ahh.thanks.i will keep her like she is then.

more coming soon.didn't get to work on the bed today.but i did get my new mirrors on.
so hopefully tomorrow.it sure is handy to have a dump.

 

ok,well i thought i better stop for a cup of coffee or two,and snap a few more pics before i skip anymore steps.i already skipped snapping the pics of the new paint.sorry guys lol.
anyway,i just ripped out the old plywood off the stakes and gave her a fresh coat on both sides before i install the new plywood.

so here she is with new paint all over now,and the new deck down.sorry guys,i already dirtied her up. well,i needed the truck.

 

Looking good, get some sealer on that deck ...

-Enjoy
fh : )_~

 

and a few more.........

new plywood ready to be cut/primed/painted then installed.

she's looking pretty good for a 17 year old work rig hey boys?

 

oh yeah.got rained out yesterday so i couldn't paint.
but that didn't stop me from installing the new west coast mirrors.frigging love 'em.

now iv got to remove the stock mirrors and fill the hole.
(was given a cool suggestion for that in another thread while i save up for the fenders & paint shop.)
lmao,i get a kick of how funny that looks every time i see it.
ah well,function for now is priority.

 

ahh,sun of a gun.i meant to shoot them chipper wheels.i have 'em all primed.i just cleaned up the spay gun and everything dangit.ahh well.i'll have another cup of joe,and worry about it latter.besides,it's time for another coat of paint on that this year too,so i'll have the spray gun back out.

 

When I was building houses and making dump runs I built a set of 4' sides for my bed.

Here all loads into the dump must be tarped or you can not dump.

So I used some 1" EMT conduit and made stake pockets 16" on center and attached them to the top of the side boards.

Then I used 3/4" EMT and a bender to make bows from one side to the other.

One bow right on the front, one right on the rear and split up the center evenly.

So when I was loaded, tarp laid on the bows instead of the trash which saved the tarp from nails or other sharp things.

The great thing, when I got to the dump, open the back, pull the tail gates and dump without removing the tarp in the usually muddy landfill.


A setup like that would be great for you when you are using the chipper.
Just open the back and keep the chips under control.

 

all the plywood,sides/even the gate/and top sections to completely enclose her and a few 2x4 cut and primed.......ok,only 1 side primed. waiting for it to dry.

yeah Dave.thats the way to go.what im rigging up,is the first 1' will remain permanently enclosed.while the two back 4' sections will be on hinges,or some type of easy,quick disconnect setup to be able to remove and install them.

ok.im drying out there,about ready to flip and prime the other sides.
talk ya guys in a bit.
next stop......pizza break.

edit:

i was going to check out pressure treated plywood,but didn't see any.besides this costs enough anyway with all the hardware i got too lol.i got to thinking,the plywood will likely getting staved up long before she can rot anyway.so probably just as well i got the regular cdx.
i got 3/8 to keep it light.cheaper to replace sections of 3/8 every couple years than pay more in fuel for heavier 1/2 i figure all easy with today's fuel prices.the bed w/ the hoist etc already weighs enough as is haha.
so anyway,she's all primed.i need some more 2x4 and get them in town.i didn't figure that far ahead,and still planning on the best flip/removable top plan.

 

she's just about finished now guys!
all i need to do is rig up my top sections so they can be removable or hinged or something.im still contemplating what to do there.
then rig up a ladder rack and a few hangers for various tools etc.
but she's mainly complete.i do have a few lag bolts still to install and then seal and paint,or perhaps just seal the deck above and below.a couple plywood sections underneath,just above the wheel's to help combat most of the road debris from splashing up and resting in the C-channel causing it to rot out over time.things like these.but the main part is complete.

 

couple more pics.

so that's it for the most part.i'll be tinkering here and there with some things.
but for the most part;
project dump bed: complete.

next up: dually conversion.
however,that's after i buy and install two underbody toolboxes.

 

oh,here is the front.i first 1' out i built in a stationary top,this was to help keep the sides of the rack from wobbling all over.it really secured the sides nicely.i didn't want to come out any further,because often i need to haul dead brush which doesn't go through the chipper,along with junk logs etc.also for carting off firewood it wouldn't be fun to have to reach under and stack it etc.as is,i did lose a little stacking ability for firewood here,but it was well worth the trade off to help stabilize the sides.
i placed a 2x2 up in the corners as you can see to keep the wood chips in the bed.this covered the little cracks where the two sheets of plywood met nicely.

the back two 4' sections will built the same way,simply 2x2 bracing w/plywood top sitting in hangers.just with a quick disconnect method or higed.when chipping,they will stay on(or closed),when hauling brush,or firewood,i can open/remove to get up on the bed,and compact the brush,or stack wood.then i can close/install the top again,and just drive down the road with a totally enclosed box truck.im loving it.
i even enclosed the swinging gates.but i quickly saw 3/8 added a lot of weight and pulled on the stake sides when i opened them,which would loosen things up over time.so im going to just use thin paneling to enclose it to keep things neat.though i think brush would trash that pretty quick lol.perhaps i'll sheath it with sheet metal and paint it.that's likely just the ticket.

dump bed project cost:
1.used dump bed 8 feet wide,by 9 feet long,with working lift/hoist/ram/pump,complete with front headache rack(which i'll sell latter) and complete stake sides,front/sides/gates.
$1000.00
2.some new steel(all cross members and front section behind cab along with mounting parts) mounted to frame,welded in,bolted on,etc. $750 (local welding/fabrication shop.)
3.plywood/paint/new decking/hardware $ (i didn't add this up yet exactly.) roughly total of $2000.00 for a complete large enclosed stake body dump that should last me a several years with routine maintenance;replace hardware when it breaks,and keep the paint to it.
im pleased with that.
you couldn't buy a new one anywhere near the $.i feel i did good.other than some very minor rust on the sides (which paint should halt) and some dings on the rear section(which wouldn't take long to ding up again anyway),it is pretty much new again.
i don't know what that big ram is rated at.it must be 5-7 tons i figure.so for whatever i do with it,when i back up and press the little button in the cab,she's going up.

 

Looks pretty darn good! Really needs training wheels tho...

 

thanks!
haha yeah i know it.im getting anxious for those too.then i can just go down the road @ the speed limit and not have to worry about a blow out.
for now though,i just take her easy with a good jag on.
so much $.man.ahh well,she'll be completed here soon enough.im making pretty quick progress with her.
the list for mods and maintenance is shrinking.
sure,there always may be,this or that down the road.but setting her up for business use is real close.
pretty much my dually conversion and a little body work/new paint is my larger projects.after that,it's just a bunch of little stuff,that i can take my time with.