Bodywork with Backhoe

[downsizingnow48]

I got started making side extensions for a new dump trailer today. Discovered that the sides are bent in about 3/4". That made the stakes slant inward about 6" at the top. Looked pretty bad.

There is a lot of welding on the inside sheet metal right at the middle stake pocket, maybe it warped.

I'll have to go back to the lot and see if they are all that way.

Anyway I was thinking, sure wish I had a big hydraulic gizmo to push the two sides out away from each other. Then I thought, I do have a big hydraulic gizmo.

The pictures show before during and after. The side is now straight and the stake also goes straight up. Didn't even scratch the paint.

 

[JJZ 109]

After a head on collison in Feb. 2014 both ends of my front bumper stuck out because the center was pushed in. Put the forks on the Bobcat and pushed them back in to make it more driveable until the body shop could do it's thing.
This truck was taken on a Florida vacation trip soon after it was repaired. Hated the mileage on it and swapped for a new 2014 F250 when I got home.