Experience with "Loadhandler" bed emptier?

[WBusa]

I ain't gettin' any younger, and shoveling rocks/gravel/dirt out of my bed is getting old even faster. I just ran across an ad for the "Loadhandler": http://www.loadhandler.com/ Anybody have any experience with it (particularly the LH3000 model?). I got one search result on TDR that mentions in passing it "looks funky but works great". Funky is fine by me... especially since, at $170, its one heckuva lot cheaper than a conventional aftermarket dump-bed. I'm just having a little trouble convincing myself that it wouldn't be more trouble than its worth, particularly with 2000 lbs. of rip-rap piled on top of it. But man, if it actually works, its a nice, cheap solution that could put my chiropractor out of business... . Feedback, anyone?

 

[corprimo]

I've used one a few times with my '97 CTD. I put plywood under it for a slicker surface than my Rhino spray in liner, but even then it doesn't work until you've shoveled most of the weight off of it. I bent the crank handle trying! It clamps onto the tailgate, so if you get one, put some towells or soft rags under the clamp so you don't mess up your paint. On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give it about a 3. Cheaper by far to get a back brace at Home Depot!

 

[Dane]

Dan, did you have a bigger load than this when you bent the handle? If so that's some real bad advertising on their website :{



#ad

 

[corprimo]

Yeah, I had a whole cubic yard of 3/4 inch rock. Notice in their photo that the material is all near the back of the bed and on the tailgate...

 

[Junior]

Hey guys i have had it for 3 years. It is about shot finally, but have used and abused this thing. I think it is definitely worth the money. I had one that was all metal. I also bent the handle when unloading loads but it bent only so far and stopped at a point and been using it that way at least a year and a half. I own a landscaping comp. and have used it for everything. It moves 3000# stone pallets, does take some effort, but better than unloading old way. Awesome for Mulch and Topsoil, i was moving 2yds topsoil and 3 yds of mulch with ease. Also. QP, Stonedust, 3/4 and other stones it workdays great. I found anything over 2500# take some effort.



ALso having a bedliner is the key for the stuff to come out easy. The Rhino liner stuff doesn't work well with it, and putting a piece of plywood down does not work well if you have a large load because the load handler drags the plywood with it.



Bottom line, is Mine has messed with a Bobcat and served me very well for a easy 3 years. It is starting to show were and tear. Overall i would by one again. It does save a lot of time.

 

[WBusa]

Thanks for the input, Junior. I did have the impression that corprimo's bad experience with it might have been due to the fact that plywood isn't a suitable surface to run it on. Its reassuring to hear from someone whom it has served well. I'm guessing it might not be perfect, but is probably worth $170. I'd even be willing to pay an extra $30 if they'd supply it with a handle that don't bend :-laf