Patent ID: 8280596

Claim:
A method for retrofitting a haulage body with extensions to increase its volumetric capacity, the method comprising: establishing a model of a three-dimensional load to be carried by the haulage body; adjusting the model with respect to the haulage body so that the load intersects sidewalls of the haulage body at a highest point of each of the sidewalls and intersects a floor of the haulage body at a point closest to a rear edge of the floor; retrofitting the haulage body by extending at least one of (1) the highest point of the sidewalls, and (2) the rear edge of the floor to increase the volumetric capacity of the haulage body; and dimensioning extensions of the haulage body such that the volumetric capacity is increased without shifting a center of gravity of the load to a position creating a load imbalance condition and without extending the rear edge of the floor beyond a predetermined height when the haulage body is rotated to a dumping position.