Alright, let’s talk about something I did a while back that turned out to be pretty darn useful. I’m talking about turning my old pickup into a dump truck. Yeah, you heard that right. I got myself a dump insert, and let me tell you, it’s been a game-changer.
So, here’s the deal. I’ve always been a hands-on kind of guy, and I do a lot of work around my property. Hauling stuff, moving dirt, you name it. My pickup was getting the job done, but it was a pain in the neck to unload everything by hand. I figured there had to be a better way, right?
That’s when I started looking into these things called dump inserts. Basically, it’s like a big metal box that you slide into the bed of your truck. It’s got a hydraulic system that lets you lift the whole thing up and dump out whatever you’re carrying. Sounded pretty sweet to me.
The Shopping Process
First thing I did was hit up the internet to see what my options were. There are a bunch of companies making these things, with all sorts of bells and whistles. I checked out some big names like Buyers Products and EZ-Dumper, and a few others I hadn’t heard of before. They’ve got steel ones, stainless steel ones, some that fit 8-foot beds, others for 6-foot beds. You can even get ’em with double-acting tailgates.
Choosing One
After a ton of reading and comparing, I decided to go with a steel one. I also found an indicator that alerts me when the dumper is upright. Seemed like a good balance of durability and price. Plus, it was an 8-foot model, which is what I needed for my truck.
Getting It In
Now, this part was a bit of a chore, I won’t lie. The insert is heavy, and I don’t have a forklift or anything like that. But I managed to wrangle it into the truck bed with the help of a couple of buddies and some good old-fashioned elbow grease. The whole process took us about two or three hours, maybe a bit more. It wasn’t exactly a walk in the park, but we got it done.
Putting It to Work
Once it was in, I couldn’t wait to try it out. I loaded it up with a bunch of gravel, drove over to where I needed it, and hit the button. Man, watching that bed lift up and dump everything out was a beautiful sight. No more shoveling! I felt like a kid with a new toy.
Living with It
Since then, I’ve used this thing for all sorts of stuff. Mulch, dirt, rocks, even firewood. It’s saved me so much time and effort. It’s like having a mini dump truck right in my backyard. And it makes doing big jobs a lot less daunting. I don’t have to worry about how I’m gonna unload everything. Just pull up, hit the button, and you’re done.
Now, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. This thing was a bit of an investment, and it does take up space in the truck bed. And yeah, installing it was a bit of a hassle. But for me, the benefits have definitely outweighed the drawbacks.
So, if you’re like me and you do a lot of hauling and dumping, I’d say give one of these dump inserts a look. It might just change your life, or at least make your weekends a whole lot easier. It did mine, that’s for sure. And hey, if you’ve got any questions, feel free to ask. I’m no expert, but I’ve been there, done that, and I’m happy to share what I’ve learned.
Alright, that’s my story. Hope it was helpful, or at least entertaining. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some more stuff to dump.
