turning a cab+chassis into dump truck question

T

TeachableHuman

Location
Boston
Currently looking into buying a chip truck, Not much mechanical knowledge despite some years working in different trucks/companies as a tree climber.

No time pressure here so I was wondering....., how much more difficult and costly exactly is it to buy a truck+chassis that you prefer and turn it into a dump truck. Perhaps to fabricate a mini skid platform, and get a dump body of your choice/exact specs. I feel like theres value there to designing it just how you want.

For example, I'm looking at older internationals or fords for under 20k$ , could I just buy one for cheaper with no dump body on it and fabricate the exact design I want? How do I approach that?

Be gentle I can't turn a wrench. :)
 
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I recently had a flatbed put on one of my trucks as the existing bed rusted through:
- $1200 used 9’aluminum flat bed with pockets
- ~$5k in labor which included a taking off the old bed but leaving hoist, new hyd pump and hoses, misc welding as used bed needed some love
- built plywood box using milled red oak posts for the pocket stakes, if you bought the materials $500+ with hardware etc. and add labor if paid…

Fiscally probably not advisable as the truck is 99 7.3 f450 4x4 and has rust with who knows what mechanical issues in the near future, but we love it and daunting to roll the dice on something else. I’ve seen used chip bodies for $5-10k with or without hoists but none were close. Have also seen totaled or ancient chip trucks where the body was mint but truck/engine toasted, would take some logistics but could be more economical??

In hindsight (years ago) I would have searched longer and found the truck I wanted rust free, preferably with a chip box but aluminum flat bed if not. Not turning wrench or welding makes the cost of custom work crazy high, much better to look in a big radius, find the gem, then have it shipped or drive and get it. Start of covid I had a 550 chip truck shipped from VA to NH diesel shop for $1200.
 
hmm sounds like to take just a truck and chassis, turn it into a dumping chip truck would be quite the project. but I mean...if I have the time im still interested in the project lol.

would be cool to find like an old low miles international down south with a great engine. drive it back north to be turned into something awesome.
 
TeachableHuman said:
hmm sounds like to take just a truck and chassis, turn it into a dumping chip truck would be quite the project. but I mean...if I have the time im still interested in the project lol.

would be cool to find like an old low miles international down south with a great engine. drive it back north to be turned into something awesome.
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I’d call a fabricator/up fitter near you. If you’ve got ballpark idea/s I think they could spitball you a number at least.
 
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Spitballing…A custom dumping body built to your specs under the design of a competent fabricator with experience is going to run you at least $10,000, easily.

You will also want to understand how the body will load up the axles when fully loaded, and how its position over the rear axle will affect what you’re towing.

One of my tucks needed motor work so I sold the dump body and hoist to a friend, leaving me a cab chassis. I recently got the motor repaired and worked with a hooklift manufacturer rep on spec’ing a unit for the truck. The weights called for extending the rear of my frame almost 2 feet for the truck to handle properly. This will leave a gap between the cab and jib which I will fill with a large toolbox, but I could have built a poor handling truck without the right guidance.

I say this having built 3 trucks for my business. I had the proverbial “3 Ts” and each one still cost thousands. Lots of valuable lessons learned along the way.
 
Starting with a cab and chassis and going with OP's original thought "I can't turn a wrench", I think you could have an amazing truck built for you.

I would use Oceans thoughts about pro input, have a list of everything you want it to do for you and then see how much can be incorporated in your build.

I bought a Ram 5500 and had a hooklift put on it for $25k purchase and installation. Then went to a fabricator who builds dumpster boxes and had two sizes made at about $4k each for heavy duty boxes. I could have had the same company build a steel chip box but am holding out for a highly designed aluminum chip body.

At the time I was shopping I think buying a dump unit only vs a hooklift was $12 or $15k difference and the loss of x payload because of a little more hardware. I'm thankful every day I have a hooklift.
 
Over the years I built four chip trucks. A combination of my fabbing skills and a pro shop kept the costs down and the results close to perfect

Talk with a fab shop first. They will give you good advice for cab/chassis and hoist

Chassis length and load capacity are critical. You don’t get Re-Dos

Take lots of pictures
 
I "built" my truck. Actually had it done at a buddies local truck shop. He tinkered with HD trucks building them from parts trucks. Which is what I did after getting a cab and chassis.

'97 International 4900 DT466 with a 6sp Fuller. Was a home heating oil delivery truck. Got a 20' HD stake pocket flatbed from another truck. Cut it down to 14' with a 12'' overhang from end of frame. From another truck, PTO hydro pump, and scissors with twin ram assembly. Hydro tank is a new used takeoff from the shop's shelf. Rear hitch came from a Western Starr tractor, and a used floor mounted hydro control put in the cab. While the truck was there, the rear brakes were done. I purchased some 1/4'' wall rectangular tubing and flat stock for mounting flatbed to truck. Hinges made from remnants in the shop. New LED lights were also installed. Crash bumper was fabbed from 2 1/2'' round stock and welded to hitch plate. All of this totaled to 11k. Includes a $900 tow bill from a neighboring state.

I have a thread on it, quite a ways back on here. Good points were made by responding members here and taken well into consideration. One example is the short overhang. Helps with dumping more into a pile as opposed to dragging the load across the ground with the chipper top.

I never finished the build. Still needs, sides, barn doors, and top. Today it would cost me double to replace what I have so, it can sit. Just needs fresh batteries. I could have just bought a complete truck and paid more, but this way it's kind of custom built. Powers up like a champ, and drifts down smooth.

With a 33k GVW, I had intended to make semi HD 5' side walls, with a 24'' removable top. Great for hauling out wood as well. I should just get my CDL and finish this truck.
 
Everything written above is good info! My first chip truck was a Ram 3500 that I converted into a dump bed. I found a broken down Chevy with an electric hydraulic flat bed. Along with the help of a a good friend that is a great welder / fabricator we swapped the beds and I built wooden sides for it with a corrugated roof to keep chips in. I was into decently under 20k when it was all said and done. It was allot of work and ingenuity to get it done.

Long story short if you don’t have skills in that department , allot of time, and or have a friend or close associate that does it might not be the best option to pursue. In my opinion scowering marketplace etc for a good deal on a used built truck would be the way to go. But if you do good luck! Allot of folks with great knowledge in that department on here to turn to.
 
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