Built myself a dumping flatbed trailer.

[rvds]

Nice looking trailer, a major project. Can you swap out the axles for 12k at some point? Do they use the same width of frame? I did not see a length of the deck? It would be very easy to over load with machines, hay or firewood let alone soil or stone.

 

[Spitzair]

Dave, I put the axles that far back for 2 reasons - one so I could add another axle ahead of them if I ever need another, but the main reason is so that I can dump a load of whatever without the back of the truck coming off the ground. Every dump trailer I’ve used lifts the back of the truck up when the load shifts to the rear as it dumps. Also when loading my bobcat I don’t need to put any outriggers or other supports down to keep the front of the trailer from levitating. As long as I load whatever I haul mostly over the axles excessive tongue weight should not become an issue. I wanted a full dump so that I can use it to haul dirt, gravel, debris, logs or whatever and dump it off. I am in the process of building removeable sides for it.
RVDS, unfortunately the axles are different width so not really practical to install 12k axles. When I first statted this project I priced out some 10k axles and they were almost tripple the price… then when I had started building I found a used set of 10k axles with springs and rims for less than what these cost but by then the frame was already under construction… oh well. Deck is 16 feet long and yes it will be pretty easy to overload if I’m not careful.

 

[Spitzair]

Finally got around to building some removeable sides for the flimsy trailer and hauled 5 yards of black dirt with it, it hauled it and dumped it with no issues. Also hauled a few loads of crap dirt and sticks with it, and keep finding more things for it to do. So far it’s working out very well. I’m going to try to put a video together of it and post it on youtube one of these days… I built tiedown rings into the uprights of the sides so I can still haul my bobcat with the sides installed.

 

[Renze]

As an alternative, what about putting some more space between the axles for wider weight distribution, and take a little pressure off the tongue?
Just my 2¢

You dont want a sticky load that doesnt slide off, to lift the back of your truck or tractor when dumping. I had that twice, once with a load of stumps that got stuck behind the tailgate, and once with a sticky load of topsoil. You get that dumb look on your face when the tractor rear end slowly starts to lift 3 feet in the air while you keep put in the middle, they say...

 

[Spitzair]

Here I took 4 yards of topsoil to my buddy’s place. This is the first time I had this big a load of dirt on it. I’m happy to report it didn’t feel like the back of the truck was coming up at any time. I didn’t weigh the truck and trailer loaded but it sure didn’t feel like the tongue weight was excessive.

 

[civilian]

Watching the video, the tongue does not seem to move at all. Nice looking trailer. Jon

 

[Spitzair]

So I recently picked up a D2 Cat and I’m pleased to say the trailer hauled it very well. At first I was worried how it would feel hauling 7000+ lbs 5 hours down the highway but other than pulling a bit heavier it felt no different than the trailer pulls empty. It also didn’t pick the back of the truck up off the ground when loading or unloading. The cat doesn’t run at the moment (apparently it last ran in 1975 or thereabouts) and having the deck tilt up made it very easy to unload!
Here’s some pictures of my new love affair as my wife calls it on the flimsy trailer…

 

[Gordon Gould]

^^^^ Great trailer you built. Have fun with the dozer !!

gg

 

[Runner]

Nice work on the trailer.

Love the headlight on the dozer.

 

[BackRoad]

Did you get a blade with the dozer, or is it for skidding logs?

Then again, YOU could also fab a blade!

Good looking trailer. That's a labor of love to build it from scratch.