Leo Rabon
Bronze Member
I currently own a 5 ft by 8 ft Tilt-Bed Utility Trailer with a 1500# axle. My plans are to convert the trailer to a Hydraulic Dump Trailer. I probably will go ahead and change the axle to a 3500#. My use of the trailer will be for hauling leaves from my lot placed in the trailer by a leaf and debris loader. Only in leaf season will I have to place the plywood sides on it approximately 4 feet high (6 to 7 yard capacity) to haul to the local landfill 3 miles away. I have a lot of leaves and after 15 years of bagging and loading and unloading at the landfill, at 64 years old, I am no longer able to move so many of the bagged leaves. Using it as a tilt bed is a real pain also, since it does not tilt enough for the leaves to fall out without digging and making so much dust for my breathing problems.
I think I have most of the "plan" figured out except for the kind of "hydraulic cylinder" needed and where to purchase. I prefer to have a "hand pump" for the hydraulic cylinder since my use of the hydraulic will be limited and I don't want to have to maintain a battery and electrical components for most of the year without use. The most weight based on my calculations (for the leaves only) will not be over 1,000 pounds per load. By converting my tilt bed to a dump bed will keep me from having to store 2 trailers. My only other use of the trailer will be (as is now) transporting my mowers and other equipment for repairs and also my golf cart. Cost is an issue for me so I really can't afford to invest in another trailer and also storage of another trailer is an issue also.
Any help or suggestions on the hydraulic cylinder and hand pump would be appreciated (as well as any other suggestions). I have a cousin with a welding shop that will do the conversion for me but he doesn't have much knowledge about the hydraulics.
Thank You
Leo Rabon
I think I have most of the "plan" figured out except for the kind of "hydraulic cylinder" needed and where to purchase. I prefer to have a "hand pump" for the hydraulic cylinder since my use of the hydraulic will be limited and I don't want to have to maintain a battery and electrical components for most of the year without use. The most weight based on my calculations (for the leaves only) will not be over 1,000 pounds per load. By converting my tilt bed to a dump bed will keep me from having to store 2 trailers. My only other use of the trailer will be (as is now) transporting my mowers and other equipment for repairs and also my golf cart. Cost is an issue for me so I really can't afford to invest in another trailer and also storage of another trailer is an issue also.
Any help or suggestions on the hydraulic cylinder and hand pump would be appreciated (as well as any other suggestions). I have a cousin with a welding shop that will do the conversion for me but he doesn't have much knowledge about the hydraulics.
Thank You
Leo Rabon