I'm going to be building a bed for my 96 f250, and I've decided on building a winch bed so I can change beds out according to what I'm working on, but still use the same truck. Winch beds are used like a rolloff, but are dramatically simpler, consulting of only a flatbed, headache rack, a winch, and a tail roller. They oftentimes incorporate gin poles, which lean out the back and are used as a crane. They don't swing, out in some cases even luff under load, but they are simple, cheap, almost indestructible, and can pick up as much as the suspension will allow. While not as handy as a mini, and can't fit through a gate, I can build one with stuff I have here and I can use it for different stuff than trees (pipeline welding skid), and will lift dramatically more. The skids are nothing more than a basic frame, unlike a rolloff which is built to a certain size.
I'm planning on doing not only the truck, but a utility pole trailer I bought too. I will strip off the existing stuff on the trailer (not much) and then will add a tail roller and heavy duty gin poles (I'm thinking 4" pipe, 20' long. This will allow me to put the skid on the ground, raise the poles, and then use the poles to tip the skid up to dump. I can also pull sides and dump sideways. Although this is dramatically longer than just dumping a dump trailer, I can run multiple skids (prestaged at the job), no chipper (where I dump actually prefers that because they are making mulch, and regrinding just turns it to powder), just shove everything in the boxes and I do the trucking later. I can also run way longer boxes than your normal 12-14 for dump box, so I can move my backhoe too (might use it for loading with the backhoe and thumb, or for other stuff). I'm thinking I can use the truck winch to do everything, so the trailer won't need its own dedicated winch. I was planning on using a multi part line for the trailer to stay with the same winch. The trailer is extendable, so I can haul short or long tubs, maybe even a camper lol. I would be able to carry empty shipping containers too (planning to get some for storage and sell the covered trailers I have now).
Thoughts please and thank you
remember I don't do trees full time, and I need to put a pipeline rig together. This way I can use one truck for both, and if I get a newer truck, I just do another winch bed, rather than a whole pipeline setup again. And I can use it around the house lifting anything, and I can load skids on the ground rather than messing with ramps. Here's a few pics I found online that kind of explains better, and some I thought were set up well.
I'm planning on doing not only the truck, but a utility pole trailer I bought too. I will strip off the existing stuff on the trailer (not much) and then will add a tail roller and heavy duty gin poles (I'm thinking 4" pipe, 20' long. This will allow me to put the skid on the ground, raise the poles, and then use the poles to tip the skid up to dump. I can also pull sides and dump sideways. Although this is dramatically longer than just dumping a dump trailer, I can run multiple skids (prestaged at the job), no chipper (where I dump actually prefers that because they are making mulch, and regrinding just turns it to powder), just shove everything in the boxes and I do the trucking later. I can also run way longer boxes than your normal 12-14 for dump box, so I can move my backhoe too (might use it for loading with the backhoe and thumb, or for other stuff). I'm thinking I can use the truck winch to do everything, so the trailer won't need its own dedicated winch. I was planning on using a multi part line for the trailer to stay with the same winch. The trailer is extendable, so I can haul short or long tubs, maybe even a camper lol. I would be able to carry empty shipping containers too (planning to get some for storage and sell the covered trailers I have now).
Thoughts please and thank you
remember I don't do trees full time, and I need to put a pipeline rig together. This way I can use one truck for both, and if I get a newer truck, I just do another winch bed, rather than a whole pipeline setup again. And I can use it around the house lifting anything, and I can load skids on the ground rather than messing with ramps. Here's a few pics I found online that kind of explains better, and some I thought were set up well.
awful ain't it??
