I am looking at installing a dump kit on a mid-eighties super duty ford with basically a flatbed. Does anyone have any experience doing this? I am looking at the Pierce kit for 5 ton or 7.5 ton. Has anyone ever used these kits? Has anuone ever does this to a truck? I have a lot of wood to move and need to find a way to move it relatively quickly. Unloading by hand simply take stoo long. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
there are a few cheap alternatives you can do. Depending on your transmission you can install a PTO(power take off), use an electric pump( snow plow, etc.), or run a pump on your engine.
As far as the dump components I would look for an old grain dump farm wagon. I found one for 5 bucks at an auction once. Anyhow you would have most of your components hinges, cylinder, lift, and extra steel to use for ?? You could also look for old one ton dumps on Craigslist, Ebay, local junk yards.
Depending on how your flatbed is mounted to your frame will make a difference too. You'll have to have a good welder to fabricate the hinges at the back of your frame and make your hinges where they won't bind while dumping. If you find the scissor type hoist like most grain wagons or grain trucks you'll have to "beef" up the lifting point of your bed and frame. You can be creative with your hydraulics as well for dumping and/or a crane/lift, or whatever.
If you have a manual transmission you should be able to find a PTO pretty easy for 50 to 100 bucks, a tank/reservoir for hydr. oil, a control valve, and hoses. When doing all of this I would find someone with hydraulics experience if you don't have any yourself.
I have seen used 1 ton dumps wrecked, blown engines, etc from 500 to ?? So I'd start shopping for the components and help with the installation and on the low you should be able to get it done for a thousand bucks. Around here you can find 1 ton dumps in decent shape for around 2500 and up.
Good luck.