Oil tank atv dump trailer

NS Gearhead · Mar 8, 2014

So, with my Jeep's dump trailer sold, a new atv on the way (if the Jeep sells), and a trail left to build, I'm in need of a small dump trailer. I checked out what was available for sale, but they were either too flimsy looking, or too much $$$ I intended to start with a 200gal furnace oil tank, but a buddy told me about 100gal tanks... I'd never even heard of such a thing! A quick kijiji search produced one for free! I was off to a good start.

This project is going to be a little different then past ones; I want to keep it simple, cheap, and want it up and going quick. Here are the two versions I had in my head;

I decided to go with the bottom sketch. It's going to be simpler to build... and the arch of the tank's dump isn't a concern as it's only 30" wide and will fit between the tires.

Here's the tank... buddy gave me the little trailer once I told him what I wanted the tank for! It's 30" wide, 48" tall, and 24" deep.

1 gal=0.133cubic feet*100gal=13.3cubic feet*104lbs/cubic foot of gravel=1383.2lbs

I'm going to use the tires that came with the old dump trailer... they're 6.5R16s... weather cracked, so I picked up some inner tubes.

Unfortunately they're on 5 on 5.5" wheels, and everything trailer at princess auto is 5 on 4.5"... so after a bit of searching I found that Jeep Cherokees had dummy tires that had 16" wheels with 5 on 4.5" pattern. My friendly local jeep shop gave me these...and just to see if I could, I dismounted the tires.

4' would have probably been ideal for this, but the 5'er was on sale for $99 from $180... so this'll get cut down.

I'm aiming for all components to be able to take 2,000lbs. With a possible 1,400lbs not including the weight of the trailer that's exceeding what a normal atv can pull... but still in good range for a SxS. I can just make 3/4 or 1/2 loads depending on the tow vehicle.

I took all the fittings off and drained 4gal of rusty furnace oil out of it today... only to discover a huge chunk of ice in it! LOL Drug it in the garage to melt.

tony Cecil · Mar 8, 2014

I`m looking for a trailer myself, so I found out my Polaris 6x6 would pull two thousand pounds....I have found through actual use it will carry a heavier load that they say, so assume it might pull a heavier load....I`m buying one, and you are right they are pricey...even disassembled, but in my case the bed needs to dump. so that is why

Good luck on your project Tony

Xfaxman · Mar 9, 2014

I'll be watching

NS Gearhead · Mar 9, 2014

Xfaxman said:
I'll be watching

Mocking things up. Looks like I need to take 20" out.

Day two of draining it. I took 4gal of oil out yesterday (not shown), and noticed some ice inside... so brought it inside to melt... took that much dirty water out today.. with more ice in there. I guess 24 hrs wasn't long enough to melt it all. LOL

aczlan · Mar 9, 2014

Looking good.
I'll have to take and post some pictures of a project like this that Dad and his neighbor built.
They used a 200ish gallon round tank and it turned out fairly well.
The tank is ~5' long ~3' in diameter

Aaron Z

NS Gearhead · Mar 10, 2014

Sure, I'd love to see pics!

I sure hope I got the measurement right!

30" outside spring pad to outside spring pad (same as tank), and 49" outside wheel to outside wheel.

It's 1 3/16" inside, so shouldn't have a problem finding a piece of tubing at my metal supplier as a sleeve.

Green Power · Mar 10, 2014

This must be the new project... Ill be watching.

Nice start!

NS Gearhead · Mar 10, 2014

LOL, yup... and thanks!

NS Gearhead · Mar 11, 2014

Ok, so last night I made this;

...and encountered my first problem; the long side of the tank isn't perfectly flat. The frame was made on the floor... so this was the result;

It seemed like it was just the center that was bulged out a little

...so what I ended up doing was welding the one end... then kneeling on the opposite end to tack it. Worked pretty good. It kind of "poped" down. If that didn't work I had an idea to drive the Jeep's bumper over it and using the high lift jack to push it down.

Also scrounged up some plugs from work. I was going to cut these out and make it the open end... but the other end will give me more options

So I'm a little disappointed in how this is going... I should have made that frame longer and built up to the curve of the tank. As it is now everything's going to rest on 12"X30" of frame. 12" front to back. Seems like alot of leverage... but I think I'll keep going.

Xfaxman · Mar 12, 2014

:thumbsup:

Steve_Miller · Mar 15, 2014

You build like I do. Man this will work perfect. Fab it and find out that 'why didn't I see that coming' As Homer would say 'Doh'!

Steve

16ga · Mar 15, 2014

I thought these pictures might be of interest to you.

aczlan · Mar 15, 2014

Very nice.

Aaron Z

NS Gearhead · Mar 17, 2014

Wow, that one looks great! Someone spent alot of time on that one. I probably should have used that size just so the radius' would be going lengthwise... oh well. We'll see how this turns out.

I've had a wicked flue for the passed week... so not much progress... and my efin' home computer won't start, so can't put up pics for now.

NS Gearhead · Mar 18, 2014

Ok, so I'm on a couple night shifts... so that means weekdays to work in the garage!

Frame welded to tank

Found a slug for the axle

Wheels sanded, cleaned, and primed

Axle welded and painted as well as the wheels

...and the start of the lower frame

I also cut off the legs and ground smooth. The wheels and tires were mounted today...with inner tubes.

Green Power · Mar 18, 2014

Once again great work!

Member · Mar 18, 2014

NS Gearhead said:
So, with my Jeep's dump trailer sold[...]

Aw man, I followed that build and your Jeep dump trailer was sweet! Excellent design and fabrication.

I've been looking at dump trailer designs myself. I really like the T-Rex (also sold as the DR Power Versa Trailer):

ATV Dump & Logging Trailer by T-Rex

When I first looked at their web site it I thought "The crane is stupid, no one will want that." Then I watched their video and I thought "The crane is genius, everyone will want that."

I like the designs that incorporate a mast and a winch to raise the bed. If I recall correctly you used a large jack which worked well but I think using a winch provides some other methods of loading the trailer by dragging things in with the winch.

The MUTS is another design with a mast:

http://www.muts.ca/

Good luck with the new design. I'll be watching.

NS Gearhead · Mar 18, 2014

Oh yes, I did look at all of those... very nice, but rather large $$$.

I could have done the Highlift tilt again, but chose to raise the bed and pivot at the very center for simplicity and cost... and I plan to be able to dump on the move.

Loosely based on this one;
ATV Utility Dump Trailer - Workman by ABI

Green Power · Mar 18, 2014

NS Gearhead said:
Oh yes, I did look at all of those... very nice, but rather large $$$.

I could have done the Highlift tilt again, but chose to raise the bed and pivot at the very center for simplicity and cost... and I plan to be able to dump on the move.

Loosely based on this one;
ATV Utility Dump Trailer - Workman by ABI

That should be a good design to copy. We have their larger brother the "XL" model.