Abstract: A vehicle is provided with a dump bed which can be pivoted from a horizontal orientation to a fully upright position to facilitate loading of material onto the dump bed and unloading material therefrom. A hydraulic or other type cylinder is used to raise and lower the dump bed. The cylinder is oriented at an acute angle from the horizontal and is attached at one end to a rear portion of the dump bed. The other end of the cylinder is attached to a crossbeam at a forward location. The dump bed includes downward extending arms and extensions that carry pivot pins about which the dump bed rotates. The location of the pivot axis in this manner creates a crank arm that provides the cylinder with the leverage necessary to raise the dump bed.