Building dump trailer

[wushaw]

I am in the process of building a 4X8 dump trailer for using around the place, I have no plans to put it on the road.

I started this project in December with the purchase of a "parts" trailer and have just worked from there for what I needed.

The local metal dealer, E bay and metal already on hand has kept me in parts.

I still have lots to do but I just wanted to get this out there for all y'alls viewing pleasure.

I am not working from any real plans although I did purchase 6X10 dump trailer plans for ideas, I have used them and pictures off the net....so basically I'm just winging it...

I know it works, goes up and down, I just don't know what kind of weight it will dump.

The first set of picts are the parts trailer and teardown which took many cut off wheels in a 4.5" grinder, I also installed 3/16" angle for a better stiffiner on the upper lip.

 

[wushaw]

Here is the start of the frame buildup, hinge install and some more tear down.

 

[wushaw]

I had to widen the axle so I cut the splice out that was already there and installed another splice and welded it.

I am sure some of y'all noticed that the axle is from a mobile home, I figure it it will work for my purpose and the 10 ply tires won't hurt either.

The only weak link is gonna be the 3500lb springs and since it's never going on the road I ain't worried about that either

I have never built a trailer and the only problem I have had so far is the toung angles, it took two tries on that one.

I also had to buy a new coupler since whoever built the trailer I bought welded it at every seam and trying to cut it off would have destroyed it so I got a 5k Bulldog which is better than what was there.

 

[wushaw]

I resused whatever parts I could from the parts trailer.

 

[wushaw]

I hit the wrong button

Pictures would help....

Axle is on, actuator is connected to one side with several stiffiners.

 

[wushaw]

More stiffiners and connected actuator to dump bed portion.

I also had an addition to my tool collection, it was on sale

I can get 45deg dump angle, I wanted 50 but the actuator is a little short and this one was at a good price on E bay so I will try to make it work.

I am going to use a 12v dual action actuator and there is the box to house it and the battery in progress.

This is the progress so far, I will post more picts as I go

 

[MrJimi]

Looking real good, put some drain holes in your box. I like that box, did you make that also?

 

[RobS]

Great project wushaw, looking very good!

 

[Diamondpilot]

Look plenty stout. Should do a good job.

Chris

 

[EddieWalker]

Looks like a fun project. Two things that I'd be sure to include. Zirk fitting for all your pivot points and a brace or rod to support the bed int he open position. When you have the bed up in the air, it's nice to know it won't fall on your skull if you have to do something under it.

I'm looking forward to seeing how you hook up the hydraulics.

Eddie

 

[mjncad]

Excellent work, and very stout too. You'll have to build a bigger one for that Peterbilt I saw in one of your pictures.

 

[SkunkWerX]

Wushaw,

Great project, looks like it's been keeping you out of trouble!

How many hours would you estimate to this point?
I know what you have done so far represents a lot of hard work.

Looking good!

 

[Nat]

It looks good so far.
Having built several dump trailers, I have some insight as to what you are going thru. I can't tell from your pics how much of a elevation change you have from the front lower cyl hinge point to the rear upper hinge but can tell you from experience that it is the factor that will determine how much it will dump. The greater the difference the more dump capicity. Getting the first part of travel takes more power that the last part of travel by a factor of probably 50 times. The first one I made was a tandem dump that was 6' wide x 12' long. With the pump and cylinder combination I had it had 20, 600 lbs of force, but would stall with 3 tons in the bed. I could pull up on the front of the bed with one hand and it would start and then going up it would easily handle much more. I had to lower the front hinge point 2" and it would easily start up with 3 tons then.
As you said you have a mobile home axle, and I don't see a problem. I've built dozens of trailers using them, I just buy lowboy tires and they work fine. On the springs, are they the mobile home springs? If so they are 6000 per pair.
Over all on the size your trailer is I don't think you will have any problems and it looks like a great job. LOL. Later, Nat

 

[jeff77indy]

Good looking project and excellent work.
I plan on starting a similar project very soon. I'm getting the trailer running gears from my brother and have a dump hoist off of a 1 Ton truck that I plan on using. I also plan on using the hydraulics from my tractor to dump with as I doubt this trailer will ever see the blacktop.
Thanks for the pictures and sharing.
Jeff

 

[wushaw]

Here is the latest pictures.

 

[wushaw]

Thanks guys, I appreciate it


MrJimi; yes I am building the box since new ones cost more than 62.00 (4X8 sheet 12ga) and probably wouldn't fit, yes there will be some drain holes.

Eddie; I have installed Zerk fittings on the bed hinge, the actuator has brass/bronze bushings so I'm not messing with them and it'd on a cold rolled rod so the bushings got smooth surface to ride on.
I am pretty sure I answered your other suggestion in a picture

Mjncad; I am half owner of a 8X16 dump trailer so my Pete does get the opportunity to tow it when I need to bring materials in, This 4X8 is just for around the place since the 8X16 will not fit in so many places I want to put dirt and much easier to handle.

SkunkWerX; I have no idea how many hours I have into this, It's a project I am having fun at so the hours I have invested are not a big concern to me, I do know I have 1300.00 in materials so far.

Nat; The cylinder sets at a 10deg angle. The springs look like 3500lbs springs from what I can tell.

Jeff77Indy; I thought about using tractor hydraulics also but decided against it since it would limit me to just the tractor which also does the digging and loading.

 

[jeff77indy]

I plan on putting a heavy duty tongue jack on it so it can loaded similar to a manure spreader and then hooked to the tractor to be pulled and dumped.
Mine will most likely be used primarily for wood hauling.
Jeff

 

[wushaw]

That would work.

 

[EddieWalker]

It's looking great. I did notice your brace in the pictures and like it allot.

What are your plans for the bed material? My dumptruck bed needs to be re-skinned, but I don't think I want to spend the money on it. I just bought a gallon of Hammerite Smooth Finish paint yesterday to coat my bed. I read that it does a really good job of improving the slipery factor of the metal on a dump bed. Route66 has it on sale allot cheaper then any other site that I could find. With shipping, one gallon cost me $65, but I only really need a quart and a half, according to the Hammerite website.

When I get it, I'll start a thread on it and how it works for me. Right now, I'm having issues with wet clay that's building up in the corners of my bed and then on the bottom. I can dump one or two loads before it starts to happen, then another three or four loads until I need to scrape the bed with my shovel.

Eddie

 

[wushaw]

Bed material will be 12ga steel and I just figure paint, that's what is in the big dump trailer and it has hauled lots of clay and black gumbo, rocks and gravel.

I can see where if you are loading wet clay that it can stick to everything and be a pain to dump.

I won't be moving any real wet stuff since I do all my digging when it dries up good.

Let us know how the Hammerite turns out, I may try that later if I have any sticking issues.