Peterbilt Dump Truck Conversion

markshr151 · Feb 15, 2018

You are doing a good job take care of the details and the truck will take care of you even if it is not a Mack.

JDirt · Feb 15, 2018

Black bed for sure. Will look good even when you have worn the paint off the corners.

PineTreeAssassin · Feb 15, 2018

DMiller said:
Unless comparing Wedge to S-cam three axles brakes is three axle brakes. 16.5x7 is the same truck to truck and the steers are on average 16.5x5 so the comment it stops better is not relevant. Been involved with overloaded trucks a long time, over 25 years as a wrench fixing that which an overload destroyed. If you have double frame and Hendrickson the chassis will take the weight, a partial double frame will show the sag in short time if run it heavy enough often enough. Have known guys with 6 yard single axles add three to four foot side boards to haul more, did not help the truck any at all.
With the tanks in the way will be tough to add a pusher of any type, but is your truck do as you wish.

Yea, I should’ve mentioned that I was dropping those tanks. Picked up a smaller tank for the passenger side that will fit.

PineTreeAssassin · Feb 15, 2018

markshr151 said:
You are doing a good job take care of the details and the truck will take care of you even if it is not a Mack.

Thankyou sir! I appreciate the advice. I wanted a Mack myself, but never could come across a good deal On one.

PineTreeAssassin · Feb 15, 2018

JDirt said:
Black bed for sure. Will look good even when you have worn the paint off the corners.

. Looking like it’s leaning closer to black!

crane operator · Feb 15, 2018

Black will hide any rust that bleeds through. Any red won't match the truck, and won't fade the same, so I wouldn't do that, it will be mismatched.

JDirt said:
It does have 44 rears and 16 front axle, that makes a big difference in capacity and braking. I've driven lighter trucks with 40 rears/12 front, and they won't stop anywhere near like a heavy spec. truck.

I'm all for heavy spec and heavy rears on a dump truck, the hendrickson walking beam won't ride the best, but its durable. I guess I'm with Dmiller on the braking thing though, brake shoes and drums are shoes and drums, 44k and 40's use mostly the same size brakes. So it won't stop any different. It will handle a load better, and feel less "squirrelly" (and maybe that's what you're talking about with stopping, heavy spec doesn't wallow around as bad), but it won't stop any faster.

Good to dump the big fuel tanks too. No reason to haul all that fuel around. I was going to suggest the tank removal but you're already there.

It would be easy to overload with that big tall sided box.

The truck is pretty nice- what were they using it for before you got it? Pretty rare to see walking beam with big cat and 18 speed day cab. Vocational use sees some walking beam, but they usually aren't big power and 18 speed. Special ordered for something?

PineTreeAssassin · Feb 15, 2018

crane operator said:
Black will hide any rust that bleeds through. Any red won't match the truck, and won't fade the same, so I wouldn't do that, it will be mismatched.

I'm all for heavy spec and heavy rears on a dump truck, the hendrickson walking beam won't ride the best, but its durable. I guess I'm with Dmiller on the braking thing though, brake shoes and drums are shoes and drums, 44k and 40's use mostly the same size brakes. So it won't stop any different. It will handle a load better, and feel less "squirrelly" (and maybe that's what you're talking about with stopping, heavy spec doesn't wallow around as bad), but it won't stop any faster.

Good to dump the big fuel tanks too. No reason to haul all that fuel around. I was going to suggest the tank removal but you're already there.

It would be easy to overload with that big tall sided box.

The truck is pretty nice- what were they using it for before you got it? Pretty rare to see walking beam with big cat and 18 speed day cab. Vocational use sees some walking beam, but they usually aren't big power and 18 speed. Special ordered for something?

Yes sir, you hit the nail on the head! Belonged to a logger who had it special ordered. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts on this project, along with everyone else.. Means a lot when all of y’all take the time to give some insight on this!

DoyleX · Feb 16, 2018

How come nobody mentioned the 12k steer? Talking about brakes and pushers but a 12k steer and pizza cutter tires?
Get some 385 floats and add some springs and blocks to get the front workable. You'll understand the first time its soft. When you get some money ahead or the spindles finally break off get a 18-20k front and be done.

PineTreeAssassin · Feb 16, 2018

DoyleX said:
How come nobody mentioned the 12k steer? Talking about brakes and pushers but a 12k steer and pizza cutter tires?
Get some 385 floats and add some springs and blocks to get the front workable. You'll understand the first time its soft. When you get some money ahead or the spindles finally break off get a 18-20k front and be done.

I was looking into that online last night about a guy adding springs to the front. This a pretty hard process?

DoyleX · Feb 16, 2018

No. Go to a truck shop and they will have old packs laying about. Take out what fits and build what you need. Or buy your 20k springs now. Dont know if the u-bolt pattern would be the same?

DMiller · Feb 16, 2018

Still will not change a 12K to a 18 but should keep the nose off the ground. Check your kingpin and wheel bearings at least monthly when you lube it for play if you do lay on heavy loads.

Truck Shop · Feb 16, 2018

For rear brakes install 8.5 wide shoes and drums to match. Fairly common these days for 4707 or 4709 shoes.

Truck Shop

DMiller · Feb 16, 2018

Thanks

dieseldog5.9 · Feb 16, 2018

I like the fuel tank under the cab with the steps built in, and one of the tanks split for hydraulic oil reservoir. That works good for western stars as the exhaust comes out under the cab but over the tank, so you can keep twin hundred gallon tanks with one cut down to 50 gallons for hydraulic oil. Your trucks exhaust takes a little more work around.

crane operator · Feb 16, 2018

He doesn't need a hydraulic tank, its built into the dump bed.

Jumbo · Mar 9, 2018

Stupid time for me, He has a solo truck, why more than 100 gallons of fuel? When I am driving, (gravel truck or log truck) my truck get fueled every night. Less fuel more load.
It is a nice looking job being done.

crane operator · Mar 10, 2018

Post # 23, he says he's getting rid of the big fuel tanks.

PineTreeAssassin said:
Yea, I should’ve mentioned that I was dropping those tanks. Picked up a smaller tank for the passenger side that will fit.

DMiller · Mar 10, 2018

Pete I currently run has two smaller tanks, RH is halved for hydraulic sump, the left is at most 110gal total.

Christian Mello · May 28, 2019

Great job on the truck. I'm about finishing up a tractor to triaxle conversion. I have a question about your hinge plate, did you weld that to the frame or just weld it to the inserts and bolt it on? Also how has the 12k front springs held up? Thanks Christian

gwhammy · Jun 10, 2019

I usually figure rock at around 1.5 to 1.6 tons a yard when estimating jobs. 2200 a yard seems to light. I see by charts they say 2700 lbs. a yard but that not enough as most is wet.

On the frame, I run a single frame on a 9400 international with 14 foot bed and seems to work alright. International does run a wider frame to the rear and I do have four leaf which spreads the load out on the frame more.

You have a lot of bed and operators have a bad habit of loading the beds full.

Peterbilt Dump Truck Conversion

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