My first dump truck! advice please?

Well, unlocking the tailgate 1st is generally a good idea.....

 

There are various PTO makes out there. I'd have to see a photo of yours to give you definite instructions on it.

The 40 ft. frameless end dumps are the unstable ones.. a 25 or 40 ft. framed end dump is just as stable as a regular dump truck. The frameless ones lift the front trailer axle up, and pull the power unit towards it as they're dumping. I hate them, yet I used to own one. I paid a semi-retired guy to run stock from Garner to Wilmington, NC with it while I kept my company job.

 

Start pulling on knobs in your cab, and see what they do. Usually, the gate latch will be attached to the PTO controls.

 

Oh and never ever stick ur fingers or hand between the gate and bed for any reason not pretty

 

Forgetting to lock the gate and loading it

Little ole rock all that's between it and shutting

 

Not to mention a breakage in the latching mechanism will have the same effect. Or you might be unfortunate enough to have a gate which is canted enough so that one side will latch, but the other won't catch on.

There's a number of ways it could happen. Can't even keep count of the number of times I'd see these kids come off the road with one year experience, figure there was nothing to it, and end up getting themselves hemmed up.

 

The guy I seen do it lost the tip of his finger