qustion for diamonpilot and others re dump trailers

[hoddykubody]

sorry for all the hub bub questions fellas but i have one more. Unsure if it will be used in the winter or not but a box framed trailer is or will there be a issue with salt or advanced rotting out with the nicks and crannies vs a channel frame . Thanks again all information has been great in deciding .

 

[QRTRHRS]

sorry for all the hub bub questions fellas but i have one more. Unsure if it will be used in the winter or not but a box framed trailer is or will there be a issue with salt or advanced rotting out with the nicks and crannies vs a channel frame . Thanks again all information has been great in deciding .

Unless you really neglect a trailer, advanced rusting will be a long time coming. Not sure off hand if any maker is not powder coating? But, with powder coating, you can expect some paint deterioration and minor surface rust. More cosmetic than not.

I have seen a dump trailer with box tubing frame made by spot welding "C" channel together. No if about it, something like that is going to have some rust eventually.

Of course, depending on your usage, the dump box is going to get beat up and any dents are gong to get surface rust. Having a rough surface inside the box is not necessaryily a bad thing. A smooth floor can be pretty slippery.

 

[Dmace]

I prefer the C channel frames, I don't see any difference in strength vs the fully boxed and it's easier to clean.

 

[kenmac]

Although I haven't used it yet or even seen it. I just bought a towmaster dump trailer Used for 3 K last week. It is gravity down & 16 ft with single cylinder ramps in the rear for loading skidsteer,etc,. My BIL told me about it & inspected it. I just sent the check. BIL took it home. I need to go check i out. BIL lives about 45 miles from me & I haven't had the time to go get it or I would give you more info on it

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have been in the trailer business for over 20 years now. Mainly boat trailers but have dealt with cargo, campers, dumps, ect.

One thing that was told to me early on when I was getting started was channel, angle, and beams are structural. Box is finish. Yes box makes a nicer looking finished product but you never see a bridge or sky scraper built with box, its always the structural stuff.

I have owned all types and if it were me I would always prefer c channel over box.

Chris

 

[Skyco]

My scissor lift dump goes down fine on it's own. The main advantage to scissor lift is the box angle dump angle usually goes higher, helps unloading sticky stuff.*
I do not like box tubing. My trailer frame is large channel, the box is square tube..welds are not always perfect, found water getting inside some of the tubing. Ended up drilling a small drain hole at both ends of every box section to allow condensation etc out. Also blew a mist of Fluid Film into every box member through the drain holes, should help stop future rust.

*One gotcha on dump trailers, I once spread about 1/3 of a 5 ton load of gravel with the rear gate open a few inches as a spreader, then moved to another spot, when I raised the dump body the gravel in the front of the bed stuck for a bit then slammed in mass to the rear end of the trailer...this created hugely negative tongue weight, which unloaded the truck rear tires, not lifting them off the ground but enough lift they lost traction, so the whole rig started down the hill without me and jackknifed:shocked:
Talk about lucky the rig stopped with the trailer about 1/2" from kissing the truck corner:thumbsup:

 

[LD1]

I have been in the trailer business for over 20 years now. Mainly boat trailers but have dealt with cargo, campers, dumps, ect.

One thing that was told to me early on when I was getting started was channel, angle, and beams are structural. Box is finish. Yes box makes a nicer looking finished product but you never see a bridge or sky scraper built with box, its always the structural stuff.

I have owned all types and if it were me I would always prefer c channel over box.

Chris

Nothing wrong with box if done right. But it usually adds unnecessary weight.

Box isnt used in many structures/bridges because of strength/weight ratio. Building and bridges are usually only concerned with forces in either x or y axis.

So, its not that the tubing isnt "up" to the task, but you can build just as strong but lighter with other material. Box-tubing excells at torsional loads though whereas for the weight, NONE of the "structural" stuff does.

Starting to see a LOT of truck frames and crossmembers on autos made full boxed now:thumbsup:

Also, think about your hitch on your truck.....Box tubing. If that were a peice of channel iron there running between the frame rails....and with an insert sticking out back with a good bit of tongue weight.....channel would twist.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Nothing wrong with box if done right. But it usually adds unnecessary weight.

Box isnt used in many structures/bridges because of strength/weight ratio. Building and bridges are usually only concerned with forces in either x or y axis.

So, its not that the tubing isnt "up" to the task, but you can build just as strong but lighter with other material. Box-tubing excells at torsional loads though whereas for the weight, NONE of the "structural" stuff does.

Starting to see a LOT of truck frames and crossmembers on autos made full boxed now:thumbsup:

Also, think about your hitch on your truck.....Box tubing. If that were a peice of channel iron there running between the frame rails....and with an insert sticking out back with a good bit of tongue weight.....channel would twist.

I agree it adds some strength but it also rusts out many times quicker.

Look at a 10 year old hitch.

Chris

 

[LD1]

I agree it adds some strength but it also rusts out many times quicker.

Look at a 10 year old hitch.

Chris

If it isnt welded solid or is left open-ended...then yes.

But speaking of "tubing", look at cranes that use tubing.

Or even boom trucks that use tubing. Or our loader frames. Heck, even the old pipe loader frames from the 1950's fords:thumbsup:

 

[Looking4new]

*One gotcha on dump trailers, I once spread about 1/3 of a 5 ton load of gravel with the rear gate open a few inches as a spreader, then moved to another spot, when I raised the dump body the gravel in the front of the bed stuck for a bit then slammed in mass to the rear end of the trailer...this created hugely negative tongue weight, which unloaded the truck rear tires, not lifting them off the ground but enough lift they lost traction, so the whole rig started down the hill without me and jackknifed:shocked:
Talk about lucky the rig stopped with the trailer about 1/2" from kissing the truck corner:thumbsup:

If you set your spread chains so the tailgate will open about a foot and the regulate the spread by ground speed and lift on the box, then that won't happen.
I hauled gravel for about 8 years and never had that happen to me. I've seen dump trucks stood on their tailgates because of not leaving the chains open enough.