[AT] (a little)OT: homemade dump truck/hauler

[ROBBRUT at aol.com]

I caught new truckitus last month and almost bought a new GMC K1500HD crew 
cab.

But the fact that it only seated 6, cost $36K, and that gas prices are higher 
that I used to pay for beer (by the quart) made me decide to get a Honda 
Pilot (4WD, seats eight, get over 20 mpg, etc) as a daily driver and to keep my 
'95 Chev K1500 extracab (170K miles, 12-14 mpg) for hauling stuff and towing my 
9990 lb gross trailer and whatever I'm carrying (Kubota, Case, 9N, Deutz and a 
'46 Chev Dumptruck have all had a ride).

Well, I came across a 12v V hydraulic pump, reservoir, control and piston 
(NOT a plow lift), and I have an urge to make the Chev even more versatile and be 
able to do a little dumping.

I'd like leave the bumper where it is, cause the weight-distributing hitch 
setup is is kind of intimately involved.

Anyone know where there might be some plans, etc for making hinging, latching 
and scissors (or other) lift mechanisms ?

Thanks.
-Bruce Thompson
P.S. You may ask "Why do this, why not just fix the '46 chevy dump?" The 
answer is bed height, since the littlest tractor (Kubota) can't lift high enough 
to reach much of the '46's bed, but can it fill the pickup bed to the gunnels. 
Also, the '95 can haul the trailer/tractor at modern highway speeds and the 
'46 ? It can't evn haul ITSELF at highway speeds !
-B