T%ruck body.. flat bed / dump

[meledward23]

I was at one of my suppliers farm the other day and he had a used/new (unused preowned) 9.5'x8' flatbed with a dump system. He only wants $2,700.00 for it. I had been thinking about this in the past and the opportunity is interesting.

Do I face any problems having that on my 1 ton. I am wondering since it makes my truck look "more commercial".

I have been contemplating this vs. a dump trailer.

Best I can tell Pro/con

Truck Body ... No need to haul trailer, toolboxes mounted underbed, can haul mulch/dirt with tractor, the flatbed can hold more tools (wheelbarrows, tillers) and/or extra tractor implements.

Dump Trailer... can haul more weight, my wife likes the look of a trailer over the truck body,

Any comments ?

 

[gordon21]

I would buy the dump trailer for these reasons:

Portability-you can use it with both of your tractors and any vehicle now or in the future.

Price- I just bought a new dump trailer 5x8 bed with a 5,000 rating for $2700. Trailers are more afordable.

Access- a trailer can go places your truck can't. Part way down a bank or hill, between trees, etc

Loading- Do you really want the gravel yard loader dropping a couple thousand pounds of gravel on your truck and then saying OOOPS!!

Resale value- a trailer can be resold at any time. Your truck bed kinda needs to stay with the truck at resale time. With proper care, you could still have a nice dump trailer 15 years from now. Do you plan to keep your pickup that long??

Gross weight limits- you can TOW a lot more than you can put over the rear axles of a truck even if it is a one ton.

Insurance/licensing- Seeing that body on the back might cause auto insurance problems and an increase in tag fees

Parking many minicipalities now prohibit the types of vehicles that are allowed to be patrked in plain view overnight. A dump body would certainly be considered commercial

 

[CharlieTR]

How is that lift powered, off a self contained hydro?
The dump flat beds I have seen were powered by PTO off the transmission.
So new transmission may be required, or at least a modification to add a PTO.

 

[gordon21]

Three last things.

Deck height- In order to dump from a higher truck based height, you first had to get the items up onto that height. A dump trailer could also be used to move appliances etc since they could be loaded the 15-20" off the ground. Loading appliances/large items 3' or more up onto the bed could be a struggle.

Center of gravity- A dump trailer COG would be lower to the ground. That may or may not be important depending upon your anticipated loads.

Unloading- A trailer can be unhooked and left loaded to be dealt with later. If you don't unload the back of your truck, you will have to carry the load around until you are ready to unload it

 

[RobertN]

How is that lift powered, off a self contained hydro?
The dump flat beds I have seen were powered by PTO off the transmission.
So new transmission may be required, or at least a modification to add a PTO.

My buddies '84 Chevy 1-ton had a PTO over hydraulic dump. His '01 Ford F450 flatbed was electric over hydraulic. You can do it either way.