Have any of you done this to your truck? Obviously it would be cheaper to buy a truck with a landscape dump body on it, however, as with many older vehicles, you just keep fixing them rather than borrowing money for newer. And that is where I am, too much in it, not deep enough pockets to get rid of it, and, I do not want to carry a payment. Googled dump kits and found a few things for one tons. I have a 2000, GMC 5500 Topkick with a 12'+ flatbed. Next week it will have a remanufactured trans. with power take-off. GVW is 20,500 and it weighs 11,500, so a 9,000 pound payload. I chose power take-off for two reasons. First, the truck is only used for wood deliveries and not used much, so the electrical I figure is sometimes taxed starting it (a 3126 Cat) in cold weather, which I sometimes do just to move it out of the way if someone pulls a trailer in when picking up wood, or my wife wants to get her car out. Not much room here in the winter to jockey around. Second, considering cold temps again, an electric dump is electric over hydraulic, and that oil system doesn't get cycled enough to warm it up and seems would be a strain on the pump motor at zero degrees, which is basically a starter motor. Whether that is true or not I'm just guessing, but the next step is to find a kit, or used set-up. Any thoughts? Another question. Can a locking differential be added on this size truck and would it be worth the money? There is a whole list of things before a newer truck... more logs; SS; more logs; pole barn; more logs; replace my car; processor (that's another thread); skidsteer; 4x4 dump.
