Thinking about getting a dump truck

I've come to the conclusion that I will bite the bullet and replace my F-150 Crew Cab with an F-350 or F-450 extended cab dump truck next year. I've been borrowing my neighbor's dump trailer quite frequently, make that way too often, so I obviously need the carrying capacity weight wise as well as volume. Backing the trailer into some of those yards is getting old...In addition I will be getting a bigger trailer and will expand into hardscapeing so I need towing ability up to around 22K to 24K pounds combined weight. I'm looking at doing this three ways. One is to order up a chassis to my specifications and then go to a dealer in dump bodies and have one installed. There are at least three installers close by. The other way is to look around for the combination I want sitting on the lot. The last option is to look for a used rig that is spot on to my specs or very close, probably the least likely way to find what I want. So has anybody else done this? Your experinces in saving/spending $$$ for this kind of purchase?

[Steve]

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How much do you have budgeted for this truck? Would a pickup with a dump insert do?

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I thought about the inserts, but I feel they limit me a bit too much in capacity. One of my competitors, who is also a good friend, has one for his Chevy 2500HD. His only regret is capacity. He has been talking about moving into the dump truck realm because of it.

As for budget, I don't have one per se, but I expect to spend in the neighborhood of $30K new to less than that for used. I may be in for sticker shock come March, but given the state of auto sales, I'm gambling a bit that the slump will continue until next spring or so, and/or the finance rates and prices will be very competitive.

I've even thought of buying the dump body and installing it myself as I have access to a bay with an overhead lift for a day if I want to. "Some assembly required" is right up my alley.

[Steve]

Well, I was thinking since you are so mechanically capable, I bet you could save a lot if you were to find some different parts and put it together. If you don't want to mess with all that and you don't have the time, it's understandable. But if you wanted to, I bet a dump bed could be found along with a newer truck to mount it on.

I was just on craigslist.org and there are a bunch of things you could use. Like this.

http://maine.craigslist.org/grd/357212709.html

1979 chevy C-70 dump truck - $3900


Dump Truck, 1970 International - $2000


Check out more of what I found here
http://maine.craigslist.org/search/s...y=dump%20truck

Let me know if you find something you like.

Let us know what you decide to do. I have thought many times of getting an used dump for I could transport landscape supplies and also salt like crazy during the winter months