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

[Peter 315]

They claim 1/4”, but I need to talk to the guys there on the ground, not the sales lady.

A new 12’ Beau Roc body installed is like 18-20K even with me doing part of the work. This is what I really want, but just don’t have the jingle for it….too many other repairs & projects going on. Trying to find a used 12 footer IS a needle in a hay stack. The 7500 may be too old to “justify” a new dump body anyway.

I think we are down to the Air Flo in New York or the black 12’ in S. Dakota from Van Der Haags.
I like the Air Flo because it’s AR450 steel, new old stock (never used) and probably a little cheaper since I can go up and get it, BUT I have to buy a hoist for it.
I like the black body because it’s not a salt body-nothing to modify, just put it on. Looks straight & clean. However, I don’t know how heavy duty it is. Seller claims 1/4” steel, but I’d bet 3/16”. Just don’t know.

I plan on being pretty rough on this. Rocks, stumps, etc. but I am pretty careful.

Maybe 1/4 floor and 3/16 sides etc.

 

[mrmikey]

The black one looks a bit more beat up than I initially thought, not bad just more.
Bottom looks quite beat up and bowed between the bunks, can't see it being 1/4" plate. Diagonal braces from the frame out are nice, saves the bottom from sagging when things start to get old. She's really dry tho but doesn't appear to be corroded to the point of failure if it's looked after.
So they want $3,500 for this one plus how much to ship and other than mounting (and a good spray of oil or undercoating) the total cost for this one would be???
Compared to the initial cost of the new salt body and modifications, needed install parts plus shipping?

 

[aczlan]

Here’s the listing. I still don’t see a tailgate release handle. I don’t see any linkage for one in the pictures underneath. There is a cable of some kind in one picture.

Dump Truck Bed for Sale

Dump Truck Bed for sale. Enjoy our hassle-free online checkout or call to speak to an expert.

www.vanderhaags.com

This looks like linkage to me (right side of picture by the mudflap):

Aaron Z

 

[civilian]

This looks like linkage to me (right side of picture by the mudflap):
View attachment 803871

Aaron Z

Also looks like same thing on left side of HD's original picture he showed of body. Jon

 

[Engineer42]

For your hay hauling pleasure. All wheel drive and automatic transmission.

 

[Peter 315]

Here’s the listing. I still don’t see a tailgate release handle. I don’t see any linkage for one in the pictures underneath. There is a cable of some kind in one picture.

Dump Truck Bed for Sale

Dump Truck Bed for sale. Enjoy our hassle-free online checkout or call to speak to an expert.

www.vanderhaags.com

Most newer dump bodies have the air tailgate and the cable runs to the hyd valve on the pump to stop the body at full lift (pulls the valve to neutral) .

 

[Hay Dude]

The black one looks a bit more beat up than I initially thought, not bad just more.
Bottom looks quite beat up and bowed between the bunks, can't see it being 1/4" plate. Diagonal braces from the frame out are nice, saves the bottom from sagging when things start to get old. She's really dry tho but doesn't appear to be corroded to the point of failure if it's looked after.
So they want $3,500 for this one plus how much to ship and other than mounting (and a good spray of oil or undercoating) the total cost for this one would be???
Compared to the initial cost of the new salt body and modifications, needed install parts plus shipping?

Kinda like that. Takes away the guilt of being the first one to put a dent in it.
They haven’t gotten back to me on a cost estimate for shipping. I’m guessing $1,500 if I’m willing to wait for a shared load. So probably $5,000.
The Air Flo is $4,500 + $1,500 for hoist. How much to fab up a cover for the floor & tailgate I’d guess another $1,000. Then it needs blasted & painted. Probably another $1,500 +/-, so the Air Flo body is probably $9,000 total. That’s also with me losing a day in trucking to go get it. At that point, I might as well get a new dump bed.

The black body’s paint aint great, but it sort of matches the condition of the truck, so I wouldn’t need to paint it immediately. Was thinking I could lay another sheet of steel in the floor if I want to dump boulders in it. Probably be ok as-s.

 

[mrmikey]

Was thinking I could lay another sheet of steel in the floor....

That is a pia to do not to mention trapping moisture between the two. If you don't plan on removing the existing, (and I don't blame you if you don't) leave it.

....so I wouldn’t need to paint it immediately.

True, but something I would do immediately after getting it mounted is spray the crap outa the underside.

 

[Hay Dude]

Well, they want $2500 to ship the dump body. Sheesh.
Holy crap thats crazy. I asked for a split load price and that seems more like a dedicated load price.
So that takes the price just for body & shipping to over 6K.

 

[mrmikey]

Ouch, that's sure as he** not cheap. Does it make you think more about going yourself to get it?

 

[Hay Dude]

So I confirmed it has air tailgate.
Getting much cheaper shipping quotes.

Might still happen….

 

[Hay Dude]

Ouch, that's sure as he** not cheap. Does it make you think more about going yourself to get it?

I can’t. It’s 1300 miles away and i’m working 7-7 everyday with hay.
If I can get it shipped for $1,500, will prob do it.

The condition of the bed looks to be about a 7 out of 10. Only thing I wished it had was a thick floor or AR450. Might leave me wishing I had waited, but used 12’ bodies in good shape are impossible to find.

 

[Hay Dude]

Anyone of the opinion that the body is light-built, or light duty?
I don’t think its a Beau Roc or a real HD body, but I want to make sure it’s not 1 step above aluminum, either.
I found affordable shipping. Want to make a move, but really hesitant about how well this thing will hold up…

 

[Rustyiron]

I've heard you talk about rocks being something that you're truck will see. What's the description? Some guys can have the loader put in a few small "dumps" of soil before dropping in the larger stones. Then I've seen what's basically an wood mat that's minimally screwed un from the bottom and definitely distributes the point loads you have dropping large rocks in a truck. The mat approach requires planning as sometimes it's hard enough to get a clean dump with just a smooth steel bed and a mat makes it worse.
That bed looks well built but "heavy duty" isn't something that a picture will tell you.

 

[groundcover]

This liner might be worth the investment, makes quite a difference.

American Made Liner Systems - Heavy-Duty Liners

American Made Liner Systems designs dump truck bedliners that are custom made to meet customer requirements.

www.linersystems.com

 

[mrmikey]

That's going to be something that's hard to tell unless you're actually there to 'bang' on it.
One thing that does give me cause to think light duty is the hinge:

The actual ear is 1", 1-1/4" thick? any I've worked on are at least 2"-1/2" as well the cheek plates are 1/2"?
What are the bunks, channel or tube?
Definitely not a BeauRoc

 

[mrmikey]

This liner might be worth the investment, makes quite a difference.

I remember looking at them years ago and back then they weren't cheap. They're definitely slippery. I'd be concerned about the trapping of moisture between that an the deck.

 

[Hay Dude]

That's going to be something that's hard to tell unless you're actually there to 'bang' on it.
One thing that does give me cause to think light duty is the hinge:
View attachment 804757


The actual ear is 1", 1-1/4" thick? any I've worked on are at least 2"-1/2" as well the cheek plates are 1/2"?
What are the bunks, channel or tube?
Definitely not a BeauRoc

I will have the opportunity to redo those when the body is mounted, but you make a good point.
I want to make sure it’s not a glorified mulch or sand body.

 

[Hay Dude]

I have a sort of “nuclear option” of going in a completely different direction with the truck….

A little background: In the future, I wanted to buy a tandem axle with a 20-24’ flatbed for hauling hay. Was looking at IH7400 tandems.

I could put that plan on hold and build the IH 7500 4x4 with a 12’ flatbed. It could haul (6) 4x4x8 square bales on the bed and it has enough power to pull a flatbed trailer with 12 more 4x4x8 square bales on it. Would make a great hay hauling truck.

Would rather make this a dump and get the tandem for hay, but finding a used 12’ dump has proven more difficult than imagined.

 

[Rustyiron]

It would make a great hay hauler! But what about your g/n and the ram? I don't mean to be a kill joy but that's a killer hay mover also and I kinda get the idea that you mostly work alone.
Do you have a good bumper pull for behind the IH? I remember you pictured one you were looking at.