Dump truck build

Looking for help/ info on a dump truck build. I have a few single axle cab and chassis trucks I've looked at and plan on buying one. T300, kodiak 8500, FL 70 etc. All early 2000s pre emmision. I'm going to put a 13/14 ft box for firewood with high sides. I need about 23 yards capacity but only 7/8 tons for weight capacity in the box. I'm not going to do the build myself but have a local guy who can do it for me. I'm trying to get all the parts together and see what I need for the build. I may buy a used dump body or have the whole body built not sure yet. Are there kits for the pump, cylinder, etc? What are the options for wet line? Off the pto is most expensive I believe vs electric/hydraulic off the clutch? 10 ton dumping capability would work. Thanks

How often will you be dumping?

You're right in the tonnage range of needing a PTO system if your using the dump bed all time time. Elec over hydro's are cheaper and easier to install but at that weight capacity won't hold up to a heavy duty cycle in my experience.

I will only be dumping 1 or 2 times per day at max..and usually only a couple days per week. Is there a 10 ton electric over hyrdo kit ? Also is it rare for medium duty single axles to come with a locking rear axle? What is the cost to add one? I go in yards alot and it be nice to have

Depending on the axle model it might not be simple to just add a locker. Might be able to get a Detroit locker though.

Another option is to hit up a wrecking yard and get a complete axle assembly with an air locker and swap the axle out.

I haven't purchased the exact truck yet so that's why I'm wondering how common a locking rear diff is on a medium duty single axle?

Not a great picture I'll try to find better. Mine is 28000GVWR Cat 3208, 10.4 Liter turbo V8. Allison automatic. I tow an 18000 LB backhoe. Payload is 14000 legal.
I bought the earlier truck in 2006. The whole truck looked flawless, with new paint. Dump body was Heil. First load of gravel the wooden bed gave out.
On inspection, there was a lot of filler in rockers, cab corners & everything on the portion of bed that dumps. Heil painted what you see, but no rust prevention on the inside where you don't see. The dump bed was utterly rusted/rotted out. I rebuilt it with a Red Oak floor. I cut the trees, & had enough lumber sawed to replace the floor twice. As luck would have it, my second floor material was carried away in a flood.
When the floor rotted out second time, I replaced with 3/16 steel 1 piece.

To put it on the newer truck frame length had to be shortened. After months of buying used PTO/pump assemblies, I found new wasn't as overpriced as I expected.

The wooden racks are on half the time.
My floor area is 14 X 7. With 4' plywood sideboards, I carry 14.5 cubic yards, or 3 cords if piled level. I have never carried stacked wood, mounded, random heap, I believe I can carry 2 cords. No reason you couldn't have 6' sideboards.

firecatf7333 said:

I haven't purchased the exact truck yet so that's why I'm wondering how common a locking rear diff is on a medium duty single axle?

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I've had a 2 wheel drive with locking differential. I will never again make that mistake!
I have rear lockers in four wheel drive vehicles. The front axle tends to keep you moving, the rear contributes. Two wheel drive with locker is going to spin & lose all traction even sooner, then the rear moves in the direction of the fall line. I'll climb a steep driveway better without locker. Then when I do have to put chains on, I do it in the driveway. With a locker, one pair of tires is off the driveway in a snow bank.

firecatf7333 said:

I haven't purchased the exact truck yet so that's why I'm wondering how common a locking rear diff is on a medium duty single axle?

Click to expand...

I think 92U replied to the wrong thread. Probably meant to post that in Saludas's dump truck thread.

As far as a 10 Ton elec/hydro hoist they are out there.

https://www.venturo.com/product/conversion-dump-hoists/

For what you describe an elec/hydro might the fit the bill and be easier to install and cheaper to buy. It would allow you to look at a wider range of trucks not having to install a PTO.

CM1995 said:

I think 92U replied to the wrong thread. Probably meant to post that in Saludas's dump truck thread.

As far as a 10 Ton elec/hydro hoist they are out there.

https://www.venturo.com/product/conversion-dump-hoists/

For what you describe an elect/hydro might the fit the bill and be easier to install and cheaper to buy. It would allow you to look at a wider range of trucks not having to install a PTO.

Click to expand...

When I searched the availability of electric motor powered hydraulic, I already had my cylinders. It's a long while ago, but I remember a dump cycle involving 20+ gallons. I think mine would take something like three minutes to dump with electric motor powered hydraulics I found available. Those I found were assemblies with tank capacity about 4 gallons.
Yes, I could alter a new assembly, might make it work. If I recall, I paid $1300 for a PTO & married pump. I believe the GPM is around 30. Mine dumps with certainty, in maybe 15 seconds.

Local mud supplier offers what he calls top soil. It is clay mixed with enough cow manure to grow grass. It is the most evil substance!!!! 6 yards dumped leaves 1 yard still in the truck. If I were building a dump, I'd want it steeper than vertical. Mine is not.

About half of our single axle dumps have rear lockers I think you would probably not find one in a cab and chassis basic box truck set up more in a purpose built dump truck, vocational build

Might look for an older grain truck with a dump to get your bed especially if your looking to haul wood and not gravel could probably pick up a whole truck pretty cheap