How to make my pickup into a flatbed/dump??

[Sharpshooter77]

Hey guys I have been kicking around the idea off truning my 1985 F-250 into a flat bed/dump truck. The pickup body on it now is kinda beat up and rusty. My last truck that I had came with no bed at all. So I started to fabricate a flat bed for it I used 3''X3'' by 1/4'' thick. Yes I know that it is very beefy. But I got all of it for free :rolleyes:. I had mounted it to the frame of the truck by piceces of 3/8'' thick plate that were welded to the flat bed and then bolting it to the frame of the truck using 1'' and a 1/4'' grade 8 blots. But sadly I had to junk that truck because the motor blew a rod. But I did save the flat bed and its still in one piece next to my garge. So now I got to thinking on installing it on my 1985 F-250 4x4. But I would like to make it more than just a flat bed I would also like to be a dump truck too :cool:. The only thing I think that I would have to do if figure out how to hing the flat bed to the frame of the truck :weld . and how to work out the hydraulics on it. The flat bed frame it 8 feet long and 6 feet wide. Has anyone here ever done something like this. If so any tips,ideas,points,or sugestions are more than welcome. THANKS let me know what you all think.:feedback

[dieselglory]

cause i am in the dead ass middle of the same kinda project. Im turning my 82 chevy into a flatbed. And also putting a 50 gallon fuel tank instead of the 2 14 gallon ones and also relocating the batteries to the frame behind the cab. so ill be watching this thread closely and if get any good info ill post it for ya.

[Sharpshooter77]

Hey thanks- Dieselglory your are more than welcome to post here about your truck. The more info and help the better. I already have the flat bed made up. I am now trying to figure out how to hing the flat bed to the frame of the truck and work out the hydraulics. :rockon :usa pumpkin :shades2

[atgreene]

Here's mine from last year http://www.letstalksnow.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11768&highlight=ghetto .

I didn't do a dump, as I figured an e z dumper set on it would be easier, although we're about to start on my '98 with a new body and put a dump under it. I would recommend buying a premade set-up with electric hoist. There is a lot of geometry involved and buying it premade and adding your cart is much simpler. Good luck.

[EIB]

I know that they make kits to convert beds into dump beds. Includes pump, hoist etc.

[snowjoker]

http://www.letstalksnow.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12640&highlight=flatbed+s-10 Theres another flatbed you can also look at

[NewbPlower]

Love that flatbed. I will be building one for my Dodge but haven't started yet. Still trying to figure out what'll be best.

Thicker metal, C-channel and fewer crossmembers... or more, thinner and box tube? I don't really care how much it weighs but don't want to spend more than 400 or 500 on steel. I am a newbie welder too, and only have a Hobart Handler 140. Should be able to handle 3/16 but 1/4 is pushing it probably.

How do you get those nice round corners. I was thinking I would just do 45 degree cuts at the end. :beatsme

[Sharpshooter77]

I though about getting on of those EZ dumpers but I would really like to have my own flat bed/dump. A buddy of mine said that he could get most of the dump parts for free. Maybe I could start with a nice flat be and go from there. But first today I am welding up a back drag edge for my fisher speedy cast plow. :weld plowing! :zoinks. I post some pics later THANKS:nodd

[Sharpshooter77]

Well I anit go to be doing to welding and fab for a little while. Due to the fact my grinder just caught FIRE omg. Time for a new on, burnt the motor out. And my Uncle took my cutting tanks to New Hampshire for the week. And I get them back empty like always :headwall . But I do have a few pics to post later. :salute :notworthy

[Raymond]

Northern Tool has a kit for turning flatbeds into a dump bed.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_21075_21075
Ray

[apgarconstruction]

popular idea, after just buying a new truck, and keeping my 97 for now, i have thought about turning it into a dumper. full dump body. but i think for now, i am on the path to buying a dump trailer that i can use for a lot of things and leave on my jobs. and not pay high insurance on a dump truck that i won't use every day because i don't have a driver for it, or a need for it that much.
i'll lose my plow vehicle with selling the 97, that's the main downside,
plowing is cutting back this year a lot anyways. we'll see what kind of winter we have.

[synner]

the Northern Kits look to be the Pierce dump kits.

http://www.piercewrecker.com/universal_dump_hoist.htm

would love to mount one of these on my quad cab Ram 2500 for all those little bits of stuff you pick up and would love to dump out.

[TJS]

Here is one I did.

http://www.tjsperformance.com/chevytruck.htm

T.J.
www.tjsperformance.com

[synner]

Great looking bed. Those old GM trucks looks good in any configuration, box, flat deck, and so on. Congrats on the nice work.

[TJS]

the Northern Kits look to be the Pierce dump kits.

http://www.piercewrecker.com/universal_dump_hoist.htm

would love to mount one of these on my quad cab Ram 2500 for all those little bits of stuff you pick up and would love to dump out.

When I built my dump bed I used the same so called universal kit. You have to take into consideration the work universal. I did not use their hinge mechanisim. I did not like the design of it, so I made my own set up. All I used was the cylinder/scissor and pump assembly. I made all the other stuff. I can take my bed off (with bucket loader) in less than 10 min. All it takes is the two hinge bolts in the back and the main scissor rod and it is ready to come off.
T.J.

[synner]

I too find that most "universal" stuff needs a bit of fine tuning, but then again thats half the fun of it.

[Sharpshooter77]

Ya That a nice lookin chevy flatbed/dump you got there, My old '85 is long gone, I did how ever make one for my 1995 F-350, It cme out good and I sold it to a cop who had a roofing company and i still seee my truck running around filled with roofing material.