Lawn Vac Trailer Details

[JackIL]

This is in response to Don and others in the thread "A Cheaper Dump Trailer" who requested that I post more details of the lawn vac trailer system I built starting from a Country Manufacturing 6 foot trailer. I took several pictures to illustrate the construction. I hope that posting them here in a new thread does not overstep the bounds of reasonableness. If so I appologize in advance.

The first is an overall view of the tractor and trailer. The tractor is a Ventrac 4200 (31 hp) with 72 inch deck. The trailer is based on a Country Manufacturing 6 foot tandem axle trailer, and the vac system is an EZ-Vac (now called Bluebird International). I prefer the articulated 4WD tractor with dual wheels for safe and secure operation on steep hills. The tractor can operate on slopes of 30 degrees. I have not taken the trailer over 20 degrees.

Jack

 

[JackIL]

Close up of left side of trailer. Nominal dimensions of bed: Length = 72 inches, Width = 39 inches, Height = 34 inches. Exhaust chute is full width and tapers upward to a 4 inch tall opening across the back. Under the chute the entire top of the box is cover with mesh screen to minimize blowout.

 

[JackIL]

Left Turn. Note that the steering pivot for the trailer is directly below the vac system and not at the tractor hitch.

 

[JackIL]

Same turn, but seen from right rear.

 

[JackIL]

Steering Hinge details.

 

[JackIL]

Trailer Hitch to tractor. Note the control arm on the right. It is simply the top link for a Cat 0 3 point hitch. Its purpose is to prevent steering from occurring at the tractor connector, but it does allow roll of the trailer with respect to the tractor.

 

[JackIL]

Top view of hitch. Note that the axis of the pin on the sway bar passes through the center of the ball joint.

 

[JackIL]

Sharp right turn. Hose does not hit trailer.

 

[JackIL]

Sharp left turn. With the hitch system it is possible to make sharper turns than would be possible by just having a single piece long tongue on the trailer.

 

[JackIL]

Dumping with hydraulic cylinder. Max bed angle is 47 degrees.

 

[JackIL]

Pivot location is lower and further back than on original CM trailer.

 

[JackIL]

Hydraulic cylinder is 3 inch bore by 16 inch stroke. Attaching lugs on bed and trailer frame were added. In addition the 2 square tubes under the bed were added for strength. The main tongue tube and the supports on each side of it that connect to the frame were added.

 

[JackIL]

Another view of the hydraulic cylinder and its connections.

 

[JackIL]

Rear door removed for dumping. Note the 2 small clips that hold the door in place at the top.

 

[JackIL]

Door clips partially inserted. These are the original Country Manufacturing design. They really work slick.

 

[JackIL]

Door Clips in place.

 

[JackIL]

Rear View. Wheels were moved out to increase sidehill stability. Overall width across tires is 44 inches.

 

[JackIL]

Quick attach / detatch Trac-Vac Boot.

 

[JackIL]

Left side view.

 

[Carl_NH]

Jack,

I reviewed your posts with interest since I have an old JD pull trailer that I want to make a vac system onto it with a framework like yours. I don't think I want oto get as elaborate as yours though.

I have a 18HP hydro Cub Cadet lawn tractor that will easily pull this setup, what I need is the vacuum unit and hoses to rig to the rear of the tractor then the trailer to this bit much like your pics show.

Did you buy the parts separate? I just need a vacuum system and about 30' of piping then fabricate from that point..

I have looked at Cyclone Rake, TracVac etc for this but they are running about $1200-1800 for a 40 CuFT unit.

I like what you have done and need to do something before the leaves fall soon.

Thanks

Carl