S210P into dump truck build

Picked this up not long ago with the intention of making something better then my Toro 3200 Workman. Had regrets and stalled on the project for awhile but decided to move forward.

Truck was in good shape and at $5400 was a fair price. Spaced front crossmember, engine/trans with 1.5" spacers to allow a mild lift to fit 13" vw wheels.


I started building the frame for the dump bed.



Getting the body ready for rustoleum paint, this is a low budget deal.

I wanted nardo grey but for $55 this is close enough for me.


Did some coilovers with progressive springs since I will putting a real snow plow on this soon.

Some engine detailing.


Where I'm currently at with the project. Waiting on hydraulic hoses from surplus center to show up so I can finish plumbing everything up. I know the cylinders are huge and I have the hydraulic ability to lift 6k plus in the bed but again budget, these cylinders were $115 brand new each.

 

Love the build. Did you have another dump bed to use as a template, or are you winging it?

 

I build as I go. First dump I built.

 

She dumps

Angle is 55.5, I will need to compare that to the Toro. Time is not bad around 9 seconds and its power up and down like the toro. Need to tidy up the lines and find a switch I like for the interior. Rear lights are done with a solid state flasher. Looks like I need to jump back on body work.

 

Looks great...I would love to have your shop

 

We are back to a running driving truck. I learned a lot and many mistakes have been made on the paint and body work on this thing. I now know that the DTM sealer I used must cure for 4 hours before top coat or it has a bad reaction with the top coat. In a rush I ordered Hardner off a suggestion on the Hamb and did not confirm myself it was the correct stuff and it turned out to be 2k activator instead, took 5 days for the truck to not be tacky. Since the truck body did not have Hardner in it I figured I better clear coat it for protection. This had a chemical reaction on about 50% of the paint, it also yellowed it a bit and in general looks much worse then the panels without clear. I can now paint the Rustoleum with a automotive like finish that I'm very happy with. In the end its a dump truck and will get beat up a bit and this paint can be touched up with a brush and flows out so nice you can hardly tell. I spent so little time on body work and many corners were cut, plus its getting painted in a shed with no filters and filthy floor.








Doors and bed sides and body work will be done. At some point I will be adding electric power steering and I need to pick up a Suburbanite plow for the front end. I also have a few sheets of aluminum Dimond plate for the bed to stop any more dents / rust.

 

What you have done so far looks great. I love the color and wish I had your garage....

 

Thanks, I’m glad I built the garage when I did. It was 26k 10 years ago, just had the builder out to talk about expanding and he said that same barn now days would be 90k with no concrete.

 

Weather looked decent so I figured I would hose the truck down and take some outside pictures, 20min later it was a full downpour.


Still need to get a plow and integrate that and electric power steering.

 

Also did an alignment, shocked with only 1.5' of caster. I will take it on the road soon and see if it tracks straight, I didn't do a before comparison.

 

Wow, that truck looks great.....You did excellent work

 

Picked up a duplicate of the plow I have on the toro. Would have liked a 6’8” but they seem rare. Started making the mount and my custom wiring harness.

 

That truck so good...I love the color

What part of PA are you in? I have family over in Beaver County

 

Allentown PA area, Beaver County is Pittsburg area I believe maybe 1.5 hrs away.

Put some Toyota tailgate cables on the sad excuse for a tailgate, could be .5 longer but they were the best fit I could find.

 

That truck is looking great, almost a show truck.

 

Man your dump build is nicer than the Hijet I bought from Japan.

What coilovers did you use?

 

I used S13 struts they required quite a bit of work to fit but I could not find any that had the perfect bolt pattern. Max speeding rods around $150. I sold the coils that were on it and bought 225/450 progressive, rides 1000 times better then the supper soft OEM suspension. Will report when the plow is on.

 

Thanks!
The dump system on mine seems to be a kit maybe installed by the dealer in Japan.
All the extra metal must weigh quite a bit. Springs are worn out.

 

Think this is around 310lbs and raising it lowers the front around 1/4". Truck rides really good with it on even on the rough back 40. Steering is not as bad as I expected so I might try it plowing first before I do the Pries power steering. Plow mount and front torsion arm mounts were fighting for the same space. The never trucks that don't use these torsion arms, radius arms or whatever they are called would be able to get the plow a little closer to the body.

 

Wow, that rig looks great.....

 

So dumpy really proved itself this storm. Hit with 14" of snow and it did amazing, So it earned some upgrades. I ordered power window regulators, power steering and looking for nice seat covers, and possibly a exhaust.

 

This rig is so amazing…..I’ll be honest, I don’t know if I could get it dirty.

 

I did have to pull it in and wash it, they salted the roads and I felt bad.

 

Very cool truck! Where did you find your wheels? I can find the tires, but wheels seem to be difficult in 13" 4X100 alloys.

 

80s VW

 

I’m going a little bit different direction with my Hijet.

 

This is utility and I don’t know if it will ever legally drive on the road. I have enough cool cars that just sit around and never get driven. I do need to transfer the title and I guess see how much it would cost to insure. I would like to take it to a cars and coffee someday, honestly afraid someone will make an offer I can’t refuse. Everyone wants me to build them one.

 

I love my toys, but have a soft spot for Kei trucks. I had a 1995 Hijet that I bought for $5,200 and sold for $10K. It only had 17K miles. I miss it, which is why I’m looking for another.

 

As for toys…….these 3 keep me occupied for now.

 

Some new toys for being such a good little plow truck