New (used) IH 7500 Dump Truck purchase, modification & fix up

[oliver1555]

When trucks are made, they are manufactured as a “truck” or as a “tractor” and yours appears to have been manufactured as a truck, not a tractor. Meaning, there is no provision for trailer brakes. The trolly handle gives you hand control of your truck’s brakes. When I worked in the oil patch, it was common to see winch trucks this way. Trailer brakes can be added, with the proper components.

 

[Hay Dude]

When trucks are made, they are manufactured as a “truck” or as a “tractor” and yours appears to have been manufactured as a truck, not a tractor. Meaning, there is no provision for trailer brakes. The trolly handle gives you hand control of your truck’s brakes. When I worked in the oil patch, it was common to see winch trucks this way. Trailer brakes can be added, with the proper components.

When IH builds a truck with parking brakes for the truck only, it’ll just have one hole for the truck air brake release knob. When they build one with trailer brakes, it’ll have 2 knob holes, like mine does. The hardware & lines are behind the dash, but the knob is missing.

 

[oliver1555]

The red knob is connected to the valve, which is not present. That valve is actually the trailer air supply, which charges the reserve tank on the trailer. It is clearly marked “not for parking” and the trailer brakes will only stay applied if they are spring brakes.

 

[Hay Dude]

Build sheet says it has them, so….

Anyway, bed comes off this week. Should be interesting to see the results.
I am going to attempt to find a used 12’ high sided bed, which will probably fail.

 

[crashz]

This was a muni truck so they probably removed the trailer brake knob in order to avoid confusion. The truck probably never had a trailer attached and the muni had no intention to do so.

 

[Hay Dude]

It looks like I found a replacement dump box!

Gotta drive a bit to get it, but it’s 13’ long, stainless steel and very reasonable. I will have to replace 5 or 6 cross members that rusted (frame is not stainless). I think it looks fine for a 15 year old truck. I have 13’ of frame, seller says the hinge is 12’-7” from front, so I think it’ll work.

I wish the sides were taller and it had thicker steel, but other than that, it’ll work.

 

[Hay Dude]

I'll let you know. Heavy equipment sales are usually once a month at home or in Georgia. Next farm sale is in Feb. They always have some trucks.

OK cool.
Show me the 4x4’s with 300HP, auto, 41,000 GVWR, central hydraulics, and a stainless steel bed for a song.
I’m actually looking for another one, so it‘ll be nice to see all of them.

 

[nisaacs]

The white dump in the background has taller sides

 

[Hay Dude]

The white dump in the background has taller sides

Also much more $

 

[nisaacs]

yes

That dump is more than enough for a 6 wheeler, hauling heavy material such as gravel. But yes, bigger is better for high volume/low weight material such as wood chips. Doing the math, that dump looks to be about 11 yds, water level, assuming 3' sides.

 

[Hay Dude]

yes

That dump is more than enough for a 6 wheeler, hauling heavy material such as gravel. But yes, bigger is better for high volume/low weight material such as wood chips. Doing the math, that dump looks to be about 11 yds, water level, assuming 3' sides.

I may keep looking. Really want high wall sides (don’t like the added wood plank sides). Would also like thick floor.
With 41,800 GVWR, it’ll carry a lot.

In no hurry. Probably going to take 6 months until it’s all done.

 

[repete]

In Washington we are limited to 600 pounds per inch of tread width on road. I believe as a result of this there are a lot of aluminum boxes out here. Haydude, do you know what a 10-12 yard Stainless steel box weighs as compared to aluminum one?
Would you also need to change the hydraulic cylinder for a longer throw one and look at the reservoir capacity?

 

[Hay Dude]

In Washington we are limited to 600 pounds per inch of tread width on road. I believe as a result of this there are a lot of aluminum boxes out here. Haydude, do you know what a 10-12 yard Stainless steel box weighs as compared to aluminum one?
Would you also need to change the hydraulic cylinder for a longer throw one and look at the reservoir capacity?

I would guess double the weight. The old saying about aluminum dumps is “half the weight, twice the price”.
I’m selling the current 10’ stainless box and every accessory including hoist & reservoir.

Goal is to turn this truck from a road sander truck to a heavy duty rock dump.

12-13’ dumps are not easy to find.

9-10’ single-axle dump bodies are easy to find
17-18’ tri-axle dump bodies are easy to find

 

[mrmikey]

Looks in good shape. Shame tho they used ms on the peripherals instead of ss.
If you want a bit more capacity, you could add a partial cheater board on top of the front of the existing, tapering it off to nothing toward the rear. May give you an extra part of a yd, watch the front axle weight tho unless you're hauling cotton balls .
Noticed there's no lift cylinder tower/trunnion mount, I presume it's a scissor arrangement? If it is, watch how much weight you put forward so it'll still lift......Mike

EDIT
Just noticed you're wanting to use it for rock. I'd stay away from ss as it's usually thinner than ms and once you have a rip in the skin, you'll be chasing it forever. If you can, go for a Hardox or similar material.
I know....going used you've got to pick and choose what you can or cannot get

 

[Hay Dude]

Tried Craigs List, Facebook marketplace ,Truck Paper and commercial truck trader. Found a few, but nothing “perfect”

 

[repete]

So 10-12 yard dumps are sort of becoming obsolete in the haul world then.

 

[Hay Dude]

Looks in good shape. Shame tho they used ms on the peripherals instead of ss.
If you want a bit more capacity, you could add a partial cheater board on top of the front of the existing, tapering it off to nothing toward the rear. May give you an extra part of a yd, watch the front axle weight tho unless you're hauling cotton balls .
Noticed there's no lift cylinder tower/trunnion mount, I presume it's a scissor arrangement? If it is, watch how much weight you put forward so it'll still lift......Mike

Its got a 16,000lb front axle and a 30,000lb rear axle. That will really help

 

[Hay Dude]

So 10-12 yard dumps are sort of becoming obsolete in the haul world then.

Yeah I think so, too. What I am looking for is a short tandem axle dump bed or a long single axle with a tag axle bed. 12-13’.
Prefer steel because it’s cheap & strong compared to aluminum or stainless.

 

[repete]

Yeah I think so, too. What I am looking for is a short tandem axle dump bed or a long single axle with a tag axle bed. 12-13’.
Prefer steel because it’s cheap & strong compared to aluminum or stainless.

With steel you might be looking for a needle in a haystack. Older steel beds that sit full of water or dirt tend to be rusty in the front.
I have kind of an ideal situation in that a friend has a five yard dump and I do all the maintenance on it and can use it about any time I wish. He reimburses me for expenses and knows it is ready to roll when he needs it. A win/win.

 

[Hay Dude]

Also found this in aluminum. Really nice.
Hinges can be moved but I’d have maybe 6” of overhang beyond my frame. I don’t think aluminum can take the punishment though.