• If you are having problems logging in please use the Contact Us in the lower right hand corner of the forum page for assistance.

For those familiar with hydrabeds

rem_243

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 16, 2011
Messages
70
Location
The Dakotas
I am going to go look at a used hydrabed tomorrow. I was wondering if there are any trouble areas a guy needs too at or be aware of. Any opinion on what a used hydrabed is worth? I realize that condition is everything. Thanks
 
The only part that I think isn't built top notch is the hitch setup. I welded some brackets on mine and bolted the rectangle tubing to the pickup frame for added strength. I have seen one with that whole tube part bent back. Don't know how hard you would have to pull something stuck to do it but just looking at the hitch it looks like it needs some extra support. Also if you have to buy new brackets for the pump or cables to put it on a different engine or body length be prepared cause they hose you on that stuff from the factory.
 
There is a rectangular door in the floor of the bed between the gooseneck hitch and the hinge for the arms. If that is bent up look very closely at the rest of the unit. Otherwise it should be like any other iron, what you see is what you get.
 
Haytrucker said:
There is a rectangular door in the floor of the bed between the gooseneck hitch and the hinge for the arms. If that is bent up look very closely at the rest of the unit. Otherwise it should be like any other iron, what you see is what you get.

Easiest way to bend these doors is picking a bale off another one--linkage kinda climbs out---when you push down farther than you shoulda---didn't really hurt much on mine--

gotta keep the 'hinges' greased or it'll shear the little bolt that holds the pin in and pin will try to work out sideways

these things are built pretty stout---actually take a lotta the flex and twisting outa the frame---which is meant to flex---rigid it up too much. First one I bought, one frame rail was broke right in front of bed. I fish plated both sides of frame 1/2" X 8" x5'---and when i put bed back on (only bolted down with 4 bolts) i left lotsa slack in front 2 bolts and double nutted them. One of my buddys has got long bolts up front with valve springs off a diesel motor. Anyhow, i'd crawl under it and look at the frame. (i'm assuming it's on a pickup that comes with?) Seems like that's how most sell here---i gave 6,000+ for one on old gmc, 7,000 for one on 94 powerstroke

the gmc has got a full width tapered toolbox--you can still get a bale against the headache, but can't open the toolbox---i see you can get them now where box slides out to either side---on the ford, had room to hang one under---if you want to run down the road with 2 bales might need another leaf or two on springs

basically pretty simple and stout--like Haytrucker said--easy to look at---hopefully the guy will have a couple bales to play with.

one of these should about last forever--if i upgrade pickup, thinking maybe a supercab superduty with auto. always been going to put work lites on headache----when you got it about right for bale it kinda blocks out your backup lites--squeeze is quickcouplers on back--very handy for wire rollers, moving implements, etc
 

Latest posts

Back
Top