big v box

[thundercat99]

Does anybody know if you can run a big 8ft v box on a 3/4ton pick up or a one ton dually

[wyldman]

It will go into both trucks,but the 3/4 ton will be way overloaded if you fill it to the top.The one ton dualie will do much better,but still can be easily overloaded with a big box.

Just how big is it ? Capacity ? Make and model ?

[gslam88]

the other thing would be what size bed do you have
it could be either a 6 or 8 foot bed.. and that can make a little difference too

pete

[Pelican]

I've seen it done, but you would certainly be working beyond the weight limits of a 3/4 ton truck!

Even the one tons these spreaders are designed for are running marginally. My F-350 dump weighed in at 8500 empty, leaving 2500 for payload. The spreader weighs about 1000 lbs, leaving just 1500 for material. This is about one yard of straight salt in a 2 yard spreader, or 3/4 yard of sand/salt mix 50/50.

[Mick]

I put a two yard sander on a 3500 dually and it does just fine. It's rated at 12,026# and weighs just about 6,300# empty. Spreader, I think, weighs 975#. Leaves just over 4700#. Just make sure you have the tires for it.

I've seen a two yard sander on a 3/4 ton and the guy claimed to have the same suspension as I, but I still wouldn't try it.

In case you're wondering, the weight difference between mine and Pelican's is because he has a dump body and I have a Regular Cab and 9' flatbed with a wooden bed.

[Pelican]

And Chevy's one ton is lighter than Ford's too. My 3500 dump 4x2 weighs just over 7000 lbs. I think the ideal truck would be the 3500 HD if you're comfortable with 2 wheel drive.

[frosties snowremoval]

i have a 76' K20 with a flatbed that ways 8,500lbs. empty plus 1000lbs. for the swenson 2.2yard with 12" ext. and a 800lb. boss plow. i have air bags under the rear axle and load it up with 2tons of salt. it is not the safest but it carrys the load. i do think the tranny is on its last year.

[John DiMartino]

I run an 8ft 1 yard low profile v box in a 3/4 ton with no problems,although the truck is overloaded,just like 80% of the other trucks carrying a v box. My Dodge weighs 7300ish,blizzard 810 1000, spreader 400 lbs, 1.5 yards of salt( i heap it over the cab)3000lbs,sidewing plow 800 lbs,she weighs in at about 12400-13000 loaded. I dump 1/2 the salt within a mile of the shop and then its not that bad.

[PSDF350]

John i've seen the pics of your setup very nice:D is your spreader made out of plastic it looks it and i've never seen one so excuse the dumb question.

[cat320]

That is a plastic electric sander.

[PSDF350]

wonder why more of them arent. to much money to be made selling new ones every several years from steel ones rusting:rolleyes:

[John DiMartino]

Actually i was talkin about my little bradford, i do have a plastic Vpro 8000 too. The bradford used to be in the dodge too. I have a pic somewhere ill find it.

[PSDF350]

Originally posted by John DiMartino
Actually i was talkin about my little bradford, i do have a plastic Vpro 8000 too. The bradford used to be in the dodge too. I have a pic somewhere ill find it.
:headwall

[John DiMartino]

Here's one of the Bradford in the gmc

[John DiMartino]

Vpro in the Dodge

[PSDF350]

how do you like that v pro John?

[Lawngodfather]

Western V box

[Lawngodfather]

I read the title, this is the kind of v box I thought you ment...

Swenson

[CT18fireman]

I would worry about that vbox in the shortbed Dodge. As the material empties it flows to the back and with the motor all the weight ends up on that tailgate. I personally saw one bend and the supports fail because of the exact same thing. If I had to run that I would build a support or subframe that in some way prevented weight from being applied to the tailgate.

[cat320]

Well i have seen alot of guys around my way with the 8' sander in 3/4 dodge and ford trucks and there a** is draging on the ground they are so overloaded.I was thinking the same thing about lawn's sander but I think we talked about that very same subject in another thread.

[John DiMartino]

PSDF350, at first i didnt like the vp pro at all,but as time went on,I got used to it,and i actually like it now.i almost preffer it to the bradford most of the time. The problem with the v pro is it doesnt spread evenly,and it requires more time loading because the pitch of the inside of the unit,as you load it,the rear of the unit requires the majority of the salt,and the front only holds a small amount,so you have to get off the loader and shovel the heap from the front down to the rear of the unit. The v pro isnt good at getting a large amount of material down in a short time,it is great for small spaces,and spot salting.The normal v box is much faster on roads,and big lots where you can go fast and get the material down quickly. Also your material plays a big part in the operation of the 8000.It doesnt like dirty piles,or chunks of salt,if your piles are uncovered or often have large chunks, you wont like the 8000.The v boxes chew up those chunks like nothing. With the 8000,they can get stuck down by the auger and block or restrict material flow.You wont know it sometimes either,it may still spread,but at only 1/2 the rate.My piles are inside,treated salt,and very clean,so i have no problems with mine spreading.The 8000 is rated at 1.5 yards,i think its about 1-1.2 yards,and to get 1.5 you need to heap it,but it will fit. for small lots and tight spots id buy another v pro if the price was right.

[Pelican]

It sounds like some here might be cosidering adding a spreader to their operation. With that in mind, I'd recomend the purchase of the optional screens.

Small chunks of material will usually get ground up and spit out without causing too much problem as John mentions, but larger chunks can and often do jam up the conveyor gate, blocking almost all material from reaching your spinner. Unless you've got extremely clean piles stored above 25 degrees, you're likely to see chunks. With the screen you can just climb up and stomp them through, which breaks them up enough to pass through the chute.

[Lawngodfather]

Originally posted by CT18fireman
I would worry about that vbox in the shortbed Dodge. As the material empties it flows to the back and with the motor all the weight ends up on that tailgate. I personally saw one bend and the supports fail because of the exact same thing. If I had to run that I would build a support or subframe that in some way prevented weight from being applied to the tailgate. None of the spreader is touching the tailgate at all.

I took the tail gate off for the last bunch of events.

[CT18fireman]

No worries then. The guy that did it here put the rear crossemember of the spreader right on the tailgate. That was how is came and since he bought it used figured what the hell. Bottom line is that tailgates are not made to support that kind of weight.

Even without the tailgate you are still putting a lot of leveraging weight on the rear suspension, and bed frame. I personally would have just bought a 6ft spreader and built higher sides to hold more.

[Lawngodfather]

Didn't have that option then. Didn't have an extra $3500 for another spreader. and went a truck down through all that. I bought the short bed after measuring to make sure the rear support of the spreader would stay in the bed, if it didn't I would of gotten a long bed.

Not going to use that truck for salting anymore.

[PSDF350]

thanks for the info on the vpro john! i liked the idea that it is plastic (no rusting). but i will be spreading mostly sand and sand/salt mix so i dont think i would like it.

steve thanks for tip on screen for top.

[cat320]

You could go with a smith electric stainless model

[PSDF350]

i'm probably going to just get fisher or western tailgate speedcaster2 or proflo2 for now stainless is just to much $$$ right now.

[Lawngodfather]

Try www.snowplowsupply.com

They ship too

I think I have spent about $80k with them in the last 4 years.


You can get a stainless airflo from http://www.angelos-supplies.com/plowparts/airflo.pg for $2800 plus shipping

[PSDF350]

thanks lawngodfather thats a great price:) i dont know anything about them any good? dumb ? i know your recomending but....

[Lawngodfather]

Lets put it this way.

I bought 4 brand new western v boxes in less than a year, all painted, I wish I would of seen that price before hand.

Guy next to me at the shop has 1, works great.

Oh and the design looks identicle to the older western/fisher v boxes.

[PSDF350]

thanks! and your right about the price it is outstanding.

[cat320]

I checked out there fisher speedcasterII it was a little cheaper than here but how much would the shipping be?If you have a small lot to sand the spdcII will be fine that is what i use mine for.

[PSDF350]

thats one of the reasons i was considering the tailgates i am doing driveways. but the price on that vbox aint much more (few hundred)

[Lawngodfather]

$350ish for shipping

Easy to put in too.

Put chute on, run wires. very simple.