Dump box repair

[rustygate]

Help!
We have a 87 Western Star Dump truck and the dump box needs some repair. The wood under the box needs replacing. It just seems there is not way to access the wood. The bottom of the box is steel and the wood is under that steel, but it's also between cross members which are below the wood. There is not access from the sides or the front or back.

I've attached 3 pics.

Anyone who has ideas, please let me know!!!
View attachment 509View attachment 510View attachment 511

 

[searay]

Can't help.. But year is this truck with a wood floor?

 

[2xR]

The wood is there to help distribute the load weight. Otherwise, the steel floor would likely sag between the cross-members, and, eventually wear through.

If that wood is attached to the cross-members (can't tell from the pics) then it ain't coming out unless the steel floor is removed to gain access to the fasteners.

If it's not attached, one of the bottom rails, the bulkhead, or, the rear bolster will have to be cut so that the boards can be slid out. After the new wood is in place, the part you torched loose will have to be re-welded back into place.

So, how much floor needs repair? Hell, cut it out, replace the wood sub-floor, then put new steel in the floor. Rebuild it from the cross-members, up.

 

[searay]

I hauled a dump in Chicago for like 10 years and never seen a dump with a wood sub floor. I drove both a 6 wheelers and semis.

 

[2xR]

I hauled a dump in Chicago for like 10 years and never seen a dump with a wood sub floor. I drove both a 6 wheelers and semis.

Probably hauling heavy construction debris, big rocks, and the like. A 10 ton boulder would bend the floor and buckle the cross-members if it got dropped in too hard, and, we know how loaders can be. The boards helped spread the impact/load.

 

[searay]

Probably hauling heavy construction debris, big rocks, and the like. A 10 ton boulder would bend the floor and buckle the cross-members if it got dropped in too hard, and, we know how loaders can be. The boards helped spread the impact/load.

This maybe true, Because I did gravel and sand.

 

[rustygate]

The wood is there to help distribute the load weight. Otherwise, the steel floor would likely sag between the cross-members, and, eventually wear through.

If that wood is attached to the cross-members (can't tell from the pics) then it ain't coming out unless the steel floor is removed to gain access to the fasteners.

If it's not attached, one of the bottom rails, the bulkhead, or, the rear bolster will have to be cut so that the boards can be slid out. After the new wood is in place, the part you torched loose will have to be re-welded back into place.

So, how much floor needs repair? Hell, cut it out, replace the wood sub-floor, then put new steel in the floor. Rebuild it from the cross-members, up.

Thanks for the advice. We're going to get in the dump box and pressure wash it out to see what the steel floor look slike. I'd like to do your idea of cutting a cross member or two and sliding in new boards as they are not screwed in or anything. But my I'm not sure if the steel box has been pounded so hard over the years that the steel might protruding downwards in a way that you can't slide boards. If that's the case we'll have to cut out the steel floor with the pplasma cutter and replace those boards.

I was wondering if that wood could be replaced with some other substance. Does it have to be wood?
Thanks again!

 

[2xR]

Thanks for the advice. We're going to get in the dump box and pressure wash it out to see what the steel floor look slike. I'd like to do your idea of cutting a cross member or two and sliding in new boards as they are not screwed in or anything. But my I'm not sure if the steel box has been pounded so hard over the years that the steel might protruding downwards in a way that you can't slide boards. If that's the case we'll have to cut out the steel floor with the pplasma cutter and replace those boards.

I was wondering if that wood could be replaced with some other substance. Does it have to be wood?
Thanks again!

Wood is lightweight, and, cheap. I can't think of a thing that would work as well.

 

[rustygate]

Thanks again for all the replies.

We were thinking replace the wood with something else, just so a person doesnt have to screw around with it next time it needs to be changed out (a big IF we didnt upgrade the truck and/or box by then!)

Actually went back to the place it was safetied at, and they told us point blank to just get some thin sheet metal and make it "out of site, out of mind"
They thought what some of you thought, that the box was used for larger debris, and for our light use, the broken wood wouldnt actually be a problem, but they have to mark it down.

Any more thoughts, ideas, comments always welcome