If you collect and sell scrap metal, time and function are important parts of the business. The more scrap metal you can carry in a truck, the more space you have to make money and cash in on a single trip. As you plan scrap metal ventures, consider a custom truck body. You are not just limited to truck designs from a dealer.
Truck body specialists can create custom designs that cater directly to scrap metal collecting. Check out some of the features that make scrap metal collecting easy to accomplish.
Reduce the time it takes to unload at a scrap metal yard with a dump insert installed on a truck bed. A dump insert features an open truck bed that can raise up and down so the items slide out. Ideally, a dump insert works well when you have a lot of small pieces of scrap metal. You will not need to pull out individual pieces manually.
Simply raise the bed up, dump the pieces out, and then sort them from there. A dump insert will come with built-in lever controls so you have the opportunity to adjust the height and angle of the insert to multiple angles.
Along with metal removal, the dump insert helps during poor weather. For example, you can turn on the dump insert to remove excess rainwater or snow from the back of the truck after a big storm. The process will save time as you head out to collect scrap metal.
A ladder rack connects to the outer edges of a truck bed and features a raised platform to store items. The use of a ladder rack can expand the amount of scrap metal items you carry. A rack allows you to carry long items like pipes. For example, copper pipes are valuable at scrap metal yards, and you can fit a lot more pipes up on a ladder rack.
Many ladder racks come with built-in tie-downs. The straps wrap over the materials and keep them secure for the duration of the trip. The built-in tie-downs make the process easy and allow you to go through the process much faster.
When you collect scrap metal, you do not want to leave some elements out in the open. Side compartments built into a truck allow you to stay organized. Some compartments can hold common tools for scrap metal collecting. For example, you may need a wire cutter to break down cords. You may need a magnet to search for precious metals like silver and gold.
A handheld saw will help you cut through metal and break apart certain objects. The side compartments will help you transport smaller pieces of metal you do not want flying out of your truck. The excess metal will stay organized in the compartments. Different compartments will help you keep metals, like copper and aluminum, separated and organized.
Some of your main profits from scrap metal trips may come from bulky items like refrigerators, air conditioners, and other home appliances. One of the easiest ways to load the bulky items on and off your truck is with the use of a liftgate. A liftgate opens like a traditional tailgate but then lowers to the ground so you can place items directly on the gate.
Once the gate raises back up, you can easily slide the item onto the back of the truck. The automated liftgates will save a lot of time and energy, especially if you do multiple scrap trips in a single day.
For more information on custom truck bed options, contact us at
Diamond Truck Body Manufacturing. We have many styles available and can build a truck bed to fit your needs.
