Designing a chip box. Input appreciated

After I built my chip truck I liked many features that I went with and I found some stuff I would do differently. I love the L pack toolbox. Must have 6' tall box so you can stand up inside the box while peeing. One thing I didnt think of was a step on the outside of the truck to get into the back. I had a fold down one put on after the fact.
 
I've always wondered why people don't have taller doors, and a small flap, hinged on top that props open when working, and closes up and locks to secure stored items: max loads of chips, tool, garbage cans, etc.

Would be helpful for storm work if traveling. Would be useful for storing stuff overnight at a job, just back up to a tree/ building/ truck that physically blocks access.





I leave my loader in the chip bed sometimes. One night when it was just chained to a tree, on a jobsite. Addicts, presumably, stole my chipper's and loader's batteries, and small chipper gas tank, damaging the loader throttle in the process. That damage was the biggest problem overall, in down-time. A little extra secure storage, well a LOT of extra secured storage, for small input.
 
Ramp brackets for the bed for loading equipment. A bright light at the back end that can swivel to shine behind, along side of, or into the bed.

Tie-down D-rings for equipment.
Low-profile, no profile tie-downs for the top of the box.for ladders/ plywood/ etc.
Protection for the lights.
 
My list is coming together, most of the things you said Southsoundtree. Hadn’t thought of the ramp hooks, do you do that? Drive your loader into the back? How long are your ramps? I’d think they’d have to be at least 10’ long to overcome the height of the truck bed.
 
Something that I just added to my truck is backup cameras. One up high to watch the chipper, and one down low for lining up the hitch. They are nice for hooking up the chipper by yourself.

A hitch/chipper tounge combo that allows you the clearance to jackknife the chipper is nice too. Keeps you from having to unhook when your loading logs or equipment into the box.
 
10', 10k/ axle equipment ramps from Discountramps.com, 44" load height into chip truck, 41" load height into f450 service body bed.

Islandedge's F550, sold the last year or two, with an old thread on Treebay has a sweet-ass set-up.
Instead of a mini/ stumper platform behind the cab/ in front of bed, he had an enclosed box that included storage above the cab, like Mom's Attic in Uhaul trucks. Enclosed would be way better.
Trade-off is loss of bed depth/ volume.

I dump and return for the Mini. I can load/ unload the mini while the chipper is jack-knifed, but attached.


My chip box is only about 1" taller than my mini, so I have to nose-in on the 44" load-height chip truck. Probably wouldn't nose-in load with an implement or log strapped to loader-plate.
 
Fivepoints said:
With a truck like that, I'd want to be able to use it dual purpose. I'd want to build the box/bed heavy enough for logs but with a removable top to be able to chip into it. We did this with the bed on our F550. It's really nice to be able to take the top off to use it as a dump truck. Being able to load logs into it with the crane is really nice as well.
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@Fivepoints
Do you have a picture of your truck? Did you build it yourself? I just got an F550 and would like to build something also that the top comes off.
Thanks
 
I would recommend these to protect the underside of your truck.
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Merle Nelson said:
Where can I get a chip box built out of aluminum and shipped to CA if necessary?
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Hey Merle I’m having one built in Sacramento, I looked at some they have done and they do quality work. You could run over and check them out. My truck won’t be there until later this month so they’re not actually working on mine right now but probably have something in the shop to look at. Let me dig up their info and I’ll pm it to you
 
Awesome thread! Bought this 99 f450 7.3 with 88k miles in December and have been planning the new box to replace the mason dump. Great pics from Canada, thx for sharing.


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Just saw this on your timing of build Chiselbit, sounds good. I will look them up.

Serf life, you see the drop on units available to easily turn your dump box into a chip box I imagine.
 
That was one of my thoughts Merle, but the storage issue is a head scratcher. I am usually a one truck outfit with a good charge of gear, and the two belly boxes fill up quick. It is a short wheelbase model which is what I wanted, but an L pack or other options takes a bunch of chip space so gonna find some kind of happy medium. Best of luck chiselbit, looking forward to the pics.
 
chiselbit said:
Looking for ideas. I work in the Sierra Nevada mountains and foothills, roads are steep, twisty and often narrow so I need to keep the length short. New box will probably be 13’. I’ve been running an 11’ arbortech with L boxes on a gmc 5500. Buying a new kenworth T370 with same or similar wheelbase. Maneuverability is key but I need to pull heavier loads. I’ve found a truck body company that does real nice work and they’ll build anything I want, as this is going to be a significant purchase I don’t want to leave anything out that I’ll regret later. What are some of the features you’ve found to be most beneficial or just plain “cool”? What do you wish you had on your chip box?
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chiselbit said:
Looking for ideas. I work in the Sierra Nevada mountains and foothills, roads are steep, twisty and often narrow so I need to keep the length short. New box will probably be 13’. I’ve been running an 11’ arbortech with L boxes on a gmc 5500. Buying a new kenworth T370 with same or similar wheelbase. Maneuverability is key but I need to pull heavier loads. I’ve found a truck body company that does real nice work and they’ll build anything I want, as this is going to be a significant purchase I don’t want to leave anything out that I’ll regret later. What are some of the features you’ve found to be most beneficial or just plain “cool”? What do you wish you had on your chip box?
Click to expand...

First, make sure that the side supports go down tru the floor and are solidly welded to the sub frame, I used welded on pockets. next brace the inside edges at the floor as is done on large dumpsters, this will keep the sides from buckling over years of use,
If it will be stable on your slopes , make it tall enough to walk around in.
A small SHORT air scoop facing backwards on top will disperse heavy condensation as you drive. design it so it doesn't catch branches.
side drains on the front bottom corners really help, they should extend beyond the body as the runoff causes rust.
If you can build a hoist on the out rear corner that swings around inside and carry a variety of log tongs, this really helps with logs and smaller power equipment. the power hoists seen on equipment trucks are good, be sure to get one with power rotation. this will call for more bracing.
finally, welding a heavy ring into the front bulkhead allows you to drag in logs and stumps with a comalong with the bed up, assuming that your bed edge is reasonably close to the ground. two rings is better, one for your safety harness. one for the comalong.
Make sure that you will be able to open your gates with the chipper attached.
Finally , use heavy gauge metal , otherwise rust weakens it pretty fast

I had a five tone chevy fitted this way for many years---it was great John Rochester
 
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