Dumping offroad military trailer

[NS Gearhead]

Hi everyone! I've been trolling the build it yourself forum for a while and decided to contribute a little. I don't have a "tractor", but call my Jeep one and use it as a tractor.

Here's a little trailer I picked up fall of 2010, and started working on at the start of 2011. I know... extremely slow progress... but life gets in the way... I'm sure you can all identify. LOL I'm determined to finish it soon. Here's the lead up;

What it looked like when I bough it

Donor axle

Tires and bed liner

Stripping the axle

Wheels (matched the Jeep at that time)

Buddy doing me a favor

Pile O metal

Start of the new frame

axle ready

another favor from another buddy with his own 4X4 plasma table

Painted

axle slung under

tires on

high density polysomethingerother so she don't squeek

donor trailer stripped of what's not needed

crossmembers added

tub and new frame introduced for the 1st time

"holder" built

lifting brackets made

Hinges

after lots of messing around 1st full dump at 45 deg

fenders

Not enough

Fender extensions

Much better

Some wireing

Last owner cut a ****** version of a tailgate... so here's the repair. Before;

Tailgate

Lower hinges

The upper tubing "lip" was bowed out and in wanting to put 6 stake pockets in for cheater boards it needed to be perfectly straight so replacing with square tubing. Also shows the upper chain link welded

and that's where I'm at now. I'm also fixing some rust, but that's no fun... so no pics of it. LOL

 

[Ed of all trades]

Like the idea of dumping with the jack:thumbsup:

 

[NS Gearhead]

We have 4 acres... and at 1st I thought I'd "open the property lines"... then I thought I might winden it enough to drive the Jeep around... then I thought I'd put some gravel down to make it a nice walking trail (that's what I tell the Mrs... but it's really a go kart track ; )... so that's what started the dump trailer build.

Taking her for the 1st ride on the trail

Picking up it's 1st load

and... wow, one load doesn't cover much.

 

[NS Gearhead]

Like the idea of dumping with the jack:thumbsup:

Thanks! I was going to use hydraulics and started gathering parts... but it was going to be too expensive... and I had the jack already. It's rated for 5,000lbs and my caculations say that a full load of gravel should be near 3,500lbs... and that's not being lifted, just tilted. The only drawback is that when it comes to spreading gravel it will be a two man job. One driving once the load starts to pour, and another on the jack.

 

[forgeblast]

Wow nice job, looks like it will get a lot of use!

 

[cockeyedMFer]

Thanks! I was going to use hydraulics and started gathering parts... but it was going to be too expensive... and I had the jack already. It's rated for 5,000lbs and my caculations say that a full load of gravel should be near 3,500lbs... and that's not being lifted, just tilted. The only drawback is that when it comes to spreading gravel it will be a two man job. One driving once the load starts to pour, and another on the jack.

I like it - especially the axle revision. How did you ensure straightness when welding the axle tubes together?

Have you considered hinging your tailgate at the top like a dumptruck? With a remote trip lever and chains to regulate the amount the gate opens, you could raise the bed, drive along the trail, pull the latch and tailgate spread it.

How's does the Jeep like having 2 tons of trailer behind it?

 

[NS Gearhead]

The sleve inside the axle tubes were a pretty tight fit, though not a press fit. The spool was a press fit on the sleve, so the three parts (spool and both axle tubes) were clamped in a big piece of angle iron and welded with a big 220 mig. Took about 5 passes as the spool was tapered. My buddy with the lathe did that part.

The top hinges are coming and the chains shown will also be used to limit the gate opening... though I hadn't thought of a remote trip lever. I'll give that some thought... it would be awefully handy when it comes time to put the crusher dust topper on the trail.

The one load I did pull was probably 2/3 full, and the Jeep didn't really notice it was there. She's no stocker though; 6.0, 4L65E, 241OR, D60, 14blt, ARB & Detroit, 4.56s

 

[medic0648]

Why not a 12v linear actuator to dump? If you could find 1 heavy enough for a good price. Then you could dump from the cab.

 

[kevin37b]

Nice build , excellent fab work . Ican see a 12 volt hyd . self contained unit coming up pretty quick .

 

[CNC Dan]

look arround for a junked snow plow for the 12v pump and valves. The angle rams could be used together for lift.