The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1954 or so big grain truck ?

on one of these type trucks, i guess they are 2 ton ,
thinking of getting one for the country place.. question is
if the lift is really slow about lifting or lowering is that a concern
or just normal, may be that I expect things to move fast but

I dont know if this should be a drive line question or not
do these things work off a pto..??

I am not an expert on lifts, and there are multiple types (hydraulic, mechanical, etc) and different designs of each type. My 58 Viking 60 (2-ton) has a hydraulic pump that works off the PTO. A slow hydraulic lift could be a number of things, designed that way, air in the system, leaky seals, worn pump, etc.

They are made to operate slowly and smoothly with no jerking. Most operate off a PTO and lift speed can vary a little with engine speed. If they moved too fast the load could shift to the rear violently and cause the tailgate boards to fail.🛠

Martin is right, slow and steady, are you comparing it to others? Maybe time it and let us know the rate, (10 seconds to lift front 6' or 20 seconds and it only lifts 6")

one in really great shape, should be around $3,500...........roger that?

I paid 900 for my 58, and was able to drive it up on the trailer. Although, I think I stole it! It all depends on what kind of shape it is in. I paid 500$ for my 55, but it did not have a dump on it and the bed was pretty much rotten. The cab is almost perfect as far as rust goes though.

There is a guy here that has a 57 with new tires, newer wood on the bed, V-8 and a complete rust bucket! He has been trying to sell for 2 years, asking 7,000 I think.

I have seen a number of them in-between as well.


All that to say, prices around here are all over the place.

I would actually call that slightly high side unless it's in really great shape. These seem to go cheap. Still lots of them around and demand fairly low because not many folks have room for one.

I'm gonna get me one someday.

I paid $700 for the ‘54 4100 I sold a few years ago. I had $200 in transportation costs and about $300 in rod bearings and gaskets. I’m guessing all in I had $1500 max in the truck. Had fun with it for about 5 years and sold it for $2500. It now sits in a field about 3 miles from our ranch and hasn’t moved since the day I sold it. BTW it’s not for sale.🛠

Correct me if I'm wrong , but couldn't the "slow" speed of the hoist on the bed be an indication of the system being low on hydraulic fluid? Some systems have a tank usually located between the frame rails. On my '63 GMC 4000 there is a plug that you remove on the top side of the cylinder to fill the system. JP

If the fluid is low, the hoist will only go up so far and run out of fluid.
If there is air in the system the hoist will not go up steady and will be spongy.
Slow and steady is what you want.

Fred
What do you plan on using a big grain truck for?
Would a one ton dually be a better choice?

Don

Don, he wants to haul “Big Grain”. Maybe he’s starting a bakery and is going to grind his own wheat or corn! Never know with Fred.

I have a 54 two ton and the lift scoots right up on it even loaded with two hundred bushels of beans. I have a 58 370 GMC (1.5 ton) that hauls the same amount but it is known at the elevator as the truck with that lift that takes FOREVER (up and down). The pump on it leaks like a sieve so I haven't looked into it. I have a replacement I keep meaning to put in it. Those old trucks only get used as emergency backups or when I am finishing a field and need just one load hauled. They are fun to get out and use, though. They can pull a mountain screaming along at 50 miles an hour.