Description

GEHL 7285, 7335, 7435, 7500 Installation Manual

If you’re bolting a mixer feeder onto a truck frame without the GEHL 7285, 7335, 7435, 7500 Installation Manual, you’re asking for trouble. I’ve seen what happens when guys guess on cab-to-axle dimensions. A 7500 on a frame that’s too short? That drive line angle will chew up a u-joint in 200 miles. This is the factory document – 24 pages, no aftermarket fluff, just the numbers GEHL stamped on the drawing board. You want your installation to survive the first load of wet feed? Start here.

Page 1 has a warning I want stuck in your head: “MANDATORY SAFETY SHUTDOWN PROCEDURE” must be performed before any installation work. That means kill the engine, block the wheels, and tag the controls. No shortcuts. The manual also tells you right up front: this supplement works with the MF7000 Series Mixer Feeder Operator’s Manual. If you don’t have that core manual, GEHL 7210 7285 7335 7435 7500 Installation Manual covers the full set.

Cab to Axle Dimensions: Get the Spec Right

Page 1 has Table 2 – Minimum Cab to Axle dimensions. A 7285 needs 102 inches from cab to axle centerline. Bump up to a 7500 and it jumps to 138 inches. Those aren’t suggestions. Mount a 7335 on a truck with a 110-inch cab-to-axle and you’ll be building a custom driveshaft before lunch. The manual also states: avoid tandem rear axles. Interference problems with the drive line are guaranteed. I’ve pulled enough wrenches to know that’s not a warning to ignore. If your donor truck has a Manual Transmission, make sure the output shaft length matches the driveline calculations in this manual.

3 Critical Tables You Need to Reference

Table 1 on page 1 lists empty and loaded weights for each model. A 7500 empty is 10,150 lb; loaded with 30 lb/ft³ feed it hits 22,150 lb. That’s over eleven tons. Your truck’s GVWR, spring packs, and tire ratings must clear those numbers. The same page gives potential feed weights – 12,000 lb for the 7500. Don’t eyeball it. Write the numbers down. Page 2 gives unit dimensions: overall height, width, box length, and door distance from front. For a 7435, box length is 168 inches. That’s 14 feet. Your flatbed had better be that long plus clearance for the chaincase – the manual adds 25 inches to dimension C for that.

Does This Manual Cover All Four Models?

Yes – the 7285, 7335, 7435, and 7500. Each gets its own row in every table. The mounting location diagrams (Fig. 2 on page 2) show the weighbar mount offsets: 16-1/4 inches for one side, 17-11/16 for the other. If you’re swapping from a 7285 to a 7435, the box length changes by 48 inches. Those mounting holes don’t line up. The manual gives you the exact locations in imperial inches – that’s what you use. Not metrics, not approximations. If you need parts for your model, check GEHL 7285 7335 Mixer Feeders Parts Catalog or GEHL 7435 7500 Mixer Feeders Parts Catalog.

Understand the Safety Shutdown First

Before you even drop the mixer onto the frame rails, the manual says to execute the mandatory safety shutdown from the operator’s manual. That means shut off the engine, remove the key, and chock the wheels. If the truck has a power take-off, disengage it. The caution on page 1 is not boilerplate – it’s a direct instruction. Walk around the unit. Check for hydraulic pressure in the lines. Make sure no one is under the mixer when you’re aligning the mounting brackets. That’s not being paranoid; that’s being a professional who wants to go home with all ten fingers.

Selecting a Truck: Match the Model

Page 3 starts the selection process. You pick the mixer feeder based on your feed volume requirements, then find a truck that meets the minimum cab-to-axle dimension and potential loaded weight. The manual also requires a single rear axle with support beams 34 inches apart. Tandem axles are explicitly prohibited due to drive line interference. The truck frame must be parallel and straight. If you’re using a Manual Transmission, verify the clutch housing clearance against the driveline specs on page 2. The manual gives you all the numbers – use them.

FAQ

What is the empty weight of a GEHL 7335?

7,050 lb, according to Table 1 on page 1.

Can I mount a 7500 on a tandem axle truck?

No. The manual explicitly states interference problems will develop when connecting the drive line.

How do I find the correct mounting hole location for a 7285?

Page 2 shows the weighbar mount offsets: 16-1/4 inches from one reference and 17-11/16 from the other. You measure from the front of the box to locate the door – 25 inches for the 7285. Use those two numbers in combination with the frame centerline to set your brackets. The diagram is dimensioned in inches (imperial), so do not convert to metric. Lay out the holes on the truck frame with a center punch before drilling anything.

Is the safety shutdown step optional?

No. Skipping it can cause unexpected machine movement and serious injury. The manual calls it “mandatory.”

There is nothing worse than finishing a truck mount only to find the drive line vibrates at 45 mph because you used a cab-to-axle dimension off a forum post. This manual is your insurance policy. 24 pages, factory print, real numbers. Access the Factory Manual and get the installation right the first time.