The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Dump bed

I have a 1951 Chevrolet 6400 that has a dump box on it. The box was manufactured by Dalco of Fargo, North Dakota. It is a hydraulic lift that is powered by a drive shaft that comes off the engine. It is a nice unit overall but the question is what to do with it. I plan on doing a total restoration of the truck but have no plans to use the dump box. Should I remove it and put a flatbed on the truck and avoid the expense of restoring it or will I have regrets later on?
If anyone has been in the same situation I would appreciate your input. Thanks in advance for your help.

Farmall140,
Keep the dump bed and hoist. When I restored my COE, I kept the hoist and bed, including reproducing the manufacturers labels on the units. At shows I get all kinds of positive comments, both from people who know all about such things, as well as people who are seeing and understanding the mechanical aspects for the first time. See my link below and also note that the truck has to work to earn the priveledge of being owned by me. I have taken several trips to the dump with loads of pine needles. It takes a lot of baskets of needles to fill that bed, but only seconds to dump when I arrive at the transfer station. You won't regret the cost or time to restore what you have.
Kent.


http://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/zimmerman%20kent%201950.html

You could loose the dump bed, keep the hoist and put a flat bed stake body on it. Best of both worlds. They were known as grain trucks on the farm and had lots of uses.

If it is old and still works, I would keep it until you know exactly where you want to go with your project. If the bed is good looking and serviceable it adds more to the historic value and significance of the truck.

I agree...keep it! It adds value!

Mike B

When you say "dump bed" are you referring to a gravel truck box (like this ) or a grain box like Lightholder's Dad's truck? If the latter, all you need to do for a flat bed is take the sides off. As mentioned, leave the hoist in place. You'd be surprised how often you might use it.
If it's a gravel type box, then I guess it's your call whether you keep it or not. If you took it off you could still keep the hoist and use it with a different flat bed.

Sorry, I should have been more specific. It is a grain box with a wooden floor. I plan on replacing the beds and sides but will reuse the metal banding that wrapped the bed and supported the stakes. It also has cutouts on it for running lights that are recessed in it. It sounds like that everyone is of the opinion to restore it and keep it on the truck.

My 46 had a wooden dump grain bed on it, sounds similar to yours. I think they are pretty neat, the craftsmanship was great on mine, they dont make things like that anymore...
Mine works good and just needs a clean up and fresh wood and paint, I think they make a neat addition to these old trucks and I'm sure will come in hand one day. Just need to decide what kind of wood to use.

Only bad part about mine is the controls are huge metal levers coming up from the floor, taking away some of the already limited cab space.

The '54 4100 I had (pictures in the gallery)was equipped with a grain bed hoist. Took about 15 minutes to remove the sides and turn it into a flatbed. The truck was all original and completely un-restored. I would take it to shows and raise the bed about 1/2 way and put a safety prop under it. Judges loved it and it was a crowd pleaser. Every so often I would start it up and run the bed up and down a time or two, always drew a crowd. Take the sides off of yours and enjoy it.