The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1940 dump truck trying to get bed off!

I am 26 years old and really dont know to much about trucks and restoring anything. So I am wanting to know if anyone has any experince on getting the dump bed off a dump truck. Or anyother adivce that I might use on my moster of a project!

Thanks
Allen Ind.

Im 26 myself...Are you referring to the weight of the assembly...?

The frame and hydraulics for the dump bed were still on the truck when I bought it as well. I had to cut the bed into pieces and lift the sections off with an engine hoist. Harbor Freight often has engine hoists on sale, and I've found that the hoist has been invaluable.

i guess the other question would be are you trying to save the dump or dispose of it?

I should clarify: I cut the dump bed into pieces because the previous owner had done a terrible job welding it together. It had to be replaced anyway. What's important are the hydraulic PTO and the linkages that tilt the bed. If everything is solid then go ahead and try to lift it straight off the frame... but the weight is going to be prohibitive and the size ungainly. A gantry crane or overhead winch hoist would be best if you've access to a well-equipped shop.

Weight is one of my problems. I want to take it off in one piece. I am the 2nd owner and want to take it back to its glory days!

If the bed is metal and I was not going to keep it, I would totally unbolt, disconnect it from the frame and then secure it on the frame with straps. Then just drive it down to the local scrap yard and have them take it off with their equipment.
Steel scrap is bringing about $200 a ton right now.

2-Ton

Brickman
Since you want to restore it, can you just leave it on the truck and do your cutting/welding in place? The good thing about a dump bed is, if you raise it up, the frame and axles are almost all exposed. I get nervous working under a raised bed and always triple block it up. Don't rely on the cylinder to hold the bed up if somebody will be under it.
2-Ton

The steel is good on it. It set in shop were I work for most its life. It was used to haul coal to the power plant in the day. Than it sat in the shop for about 30 years. So don't want to scrap it. Just need it off to work on the trucks frame and rear end.

If you don't have access to a gantry crane or similar, how about calling in a large boom wrecker? The big wreckers usually have a boom arm with a pretty good reach and height, and should be able to easily handle the dump.

I would think it would be fairly cheap, since it won't take long, and they can do it as fill work. Guessing $150.00 or less. And in my experience, the drivers usually get a kick out of "different" types of jobs.

Just an idea.

-Michael

I remember someone separating a very large tow truck bed on here using jacks and cribbing to get it high enough.. raised the bed just enough to separate it from the frame then rolled the truck out. Could be dangerous if not done carefully... but i would think its doable..

I would second the jack and cribbing. IF you stack everything up securely you can lift it very safely using this method. You can also work on the bed while it is raised and when you are done with the truck and the bed you can simply lower it back down. Just take it slow and plan ahead and you'll be fine.

Tad

The dump body is off the truck so if your only removing the hoist now you are OK with your engine hoist. The hoist only weights about 1000 lbs or so and if your engine hoist won't handle that it isn't mush of a shop crane. You'll know before you get the truck out from under it. Another option is to jack it up off the frame and put 4x4 lumber under it from and rear setting on top of barrels, then drive the truck out. I've changed 26' moving vans this way when I first started in the truck equipment business. Necessity is the mother of invention as they say. No money, few tools but lots of need, just be careful and think it thru first.

I am wanding if a grany crane would handle the weight of the dump bed. I wish I wish could figer out how to put pic on here so you guys could see the truck and the dump bed. To see if a grany crane would work.

upload your pictures to a photobucket account and then give us the link to the picture.. simple..

Different parts of the country have differnet names for things, So I have to ask, what is a grany crane? I assume you mean a gantry crane or a A frame hoist type of lifting device.
However you do it, take you time and think out your plan of action.
Pictures of the event would be a great insperation for the rest of us.

2-Ton

Hire a local backhoe/loader to come pick it off and set it on the ground on blocks. Best bet is to have him turn it over so that you can work on the underside which is hard to get to later. If it is a Garwood or similar style then it will have the castings sticking out below the bed.
You will need a bunch of chains on hand for the lift and flip. Be very carefull !

When I took the body off the 38 I used the jacks 4x4 and 55 gal drum method. Make sure the ground is solid so barrels don't shift.

I am getting ahold of a line truck to use to get the bed off. Just hope I can get the pins out easy. Thinking if I take the weight off the bed the pins should come out nice and easy

You still may want to consider taking any weight off the pins you are planning on removing and either take them out ahead of time completely or at least getting them good and loose.

This way you won't have any chance of a pin not coming out while someone is sitting there waiting for you.

Good luck....and as asked for before...if you can get a chance we all love pictures

Ya I still can't figure out how to up load my pictures on here. I would love to show the old girl off to some people who love old trucks.

It sounds like you have a nice project there.Be patient you don't want to get hurt ,you'll figure it out. How about a large forklift to get under it.I'd like to see some pics to,but I know how you feel I'm no good at these comp. either.

I hope this works on the pics here are a few.


http://s1140.photobucket.com/albums/n565/brickman1940

Pictures came out good and that is a real gem of a truck you have.

2-Ton

I usually unhook the bed from the hoist, jack it up enough to put some round fence posts under it. Then back one of my flat beds under the edge and winch it into it, using more posts as rollers.
Scott

Nice truck you have there

i love your wreaker

wrecker* whoops!!!

add some more pics! hopefully I will add some more after this weekend!


http://s1140.photobucket.com/albums/n565/brickman1940

That is a nice looking truck...looks like it is in great shape. It looks restored compared to mine

What are your plans for the truck? I see you started removing sheet metal. How far are you planning on going?

thanks! I have always loved my truck from the 1st day I saw it at work. So I was really shocked when I got the chance to buy it off the city I work for because the city I work for never gets rid of anything! Thats why it looks so good it sat in are shop for the past 70 years and really didnt get to see the weather. So I am lucky when it comes to her looking not to bad. I am wanting to take it back to as much original as I can. After I get the bed off I and going to overhaul the engine. I do know that its not the original one. But I am sure that its a 1942,216. Some metal work is needed but not much. Its going to be a nice project I think.

definitely a beautiful truck you got there.. good luck with it

You have a rare truck there and thats what will make it so special when your done! Does the bed raise with a hyd.cyl. or mechanically?

Rare? Really? It is hyd.cyl. one thing I noticed that there is no hyd tank.

The reservoir is probably built into the cylinder itself. Look for a filler plug near the top end. When you fill it, you need to do it in the lowered position. Or, if it's partially raised, then leave the plug out the first time you lower it. If it's too full and you let it down with the plug in it, you'll blow the seals out of it.

You might want to check on insurance before putting the dump bed back on the truck. I considered putting a dump bed on mine, but the classic insurance companies weren't very interested in writing a policy, assuming that if it had a dump bed, I would be using it commercially. I decided on a stake body. $275 a year for limited use. With a dump bed I would have had to gone commercial insurance which was around $1,400. It is also at least a ton lighter than a dump body.

Ya I have talked to my insurance company and they were kind of considered with it being a dump truck. But he didnt want to write any thing up on it till it was about restored. So I dont know what to do. I am a big history guy and my truck came from the electic dept where I work so I want to keep it the same.

some new pics! working on the foor in cab







http://s1140.photobucket.com/albums/n565/brickman1940/

Use a collector car insurance co. I have $10000 full coverage for $150 a year!

Ok ya that would work really nice!!!