car trailer to dump trailer, thoughts?

[davedj1]

Hey all, I am running this by you all as there is a wealth of knowledge on this site and I know I will get some good advice.
I have a 2008 tandem Big Tex car trailer that I am contemplating turning into a dump trailer. I just don't need the car trailer anymore.
The deck (wood) is 7' x 16'. it's a 6K trailer so I am assuming that the axles are 3K each. The outer frame is made out of angle, looks to be 3" under and 4.5" up x 3/16" fenders are attatched (welded).
I want the dump bed to be 10', soooooo, I can take all the wood off, cut the frame off behind the fenders (about 8"-10") , reinstall the rear most angle or add a new piece. I will have to cut the front of the trailer down as well. The frame cross supports are only angle, maybe 2.5" x 2.5".
I have the tools and the know how to get it done, my biggest concern is that the outer frame is heavy duty enough?
My brother has a 10' 10K dump so I am thinking I can get the fore and aft measuremants off his.
I plan on making the dump sub-frame out of 2" x 4" box tube, properly braced etc. In another thread I talked about installing a hydraulic power pak in my truck and using quick connects to hitch to the trailer. (that way no one can borrow it....lol)
If needed ( I know how much y'all like pictures I can snap some tomorrow.
thanks in advance,
dave

 

[ace10]

Sell the car trailer. Buy a dump trailer.

In the end, what you're describing will have the payload capability of a couple of wheel barrows. I exaggerate, but do the math... I don't think it's pretty. Those 3500lb axles will be carrying a whole-lotta trailer.

$0.02

 

[davedj1]

I have thought about that scenerio, the trailer as is weighs 1840 lbs. With what I have to remove (steel & wood) and what I have to add, I think I should be in the same ballpark. That being said, the dump trailer will haul mostly construction debris, shingles, drywall, scraps etc. I borrow my brothers all the time now and the most weight I have hauled it full of shingles and I was carrying about 3500 lbs of shingles (they weigh me to bill me).
The price of dump trailers is outrageous! LOL Figuring I already have most of one.

 

[davedj1]

this is the first site I came across, not all that bad but nothing in my part of the world. Looking at the pics, I don't see it being much different than what I am proposing.
Texas Pride Trailers Page 17: Light Duty Dump Trailer - 7,000lb GVWR, Bumper Pull, Tandem Axle, 24" sides

 

[Rustyiron]

I agree with ace10 but you do have a good argument. Make a list as complete as you can of the materials (steel) and Hydraulics that you will need and price it up, steel prices are really getting up there. BTW I would get the same angle and "box" the frame for stregnth, most dump trailers seem to be very closely balanced and it sounds like you might have a bunch of your box in front of the axles. I would also use a gas engine/hyd. pump rather than the b.s. elec/hyd units, nothing like standing in your dump trlr. at the dump ..... with a shovel, unloading because the battery is dead/weak.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I'm with Rustyiron, I think you are going to create some issues with the balance. If you cut the rear off the trailer without moving the axles you are going to have a trailer with the axles too far back. If you're moving the axles, you're putting more work into it than you'd be to just build from scratch.

If I were you I'd run the numbers as many different ways as you can think of before cutting anything. Really all you're saving out of the current trailer are the axles and some frame steel. Can you sell it for more than what it would cost you to buy new axles and steel? If you have the tools and know how to re-build this one, you have what it takes to build from scratch.

 

[davedj1]

You may have missed the part where I said "I would need to cut the front down as well". that being said, I don't mind chopping this one up. I could probably sell it and buy parts but I figure I already have the basics of what I would need. The axles both have brakes.
It looks pretty straight forward but will require more thought and design.
keep the thoughts coming.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I work on trailers all the time and can tell you you are opening a can of worms. Sell your current trailer and buy a dump trailer.

The parts and pieces will cost you so much it will be a wash and you will end up with something that only you will want, not tow great, poorly balanced, ect.

I have looked into building 2 trailers form scratch. Both times I could just buy what I wanted for about 2/3 the cost before considering my time. I do not see how they do it. When I bought my car haul trailer like yours, tires, wheels, brakes, axles, suspension, lights, couple, tongue jack, and d-rings cost more than a pre-built trailer. I never got to pricing out the steel or wood deck.

Chris

 

[Iplayfarmer]

You may have missed the part where I said "I would need to cut the front down as well".

Yes. I did miss that.

Feel free to look at my thread about making a few minor modifications to my trailer...

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/trailers-transportation/177216-what-axle-do-i-have.html

My experience is one more evidence to discourage trying to modify what you have. Like Chris said, you're opening a can of worms. Just consider very seriously what I mentioned earlier. Run the numbers and cost estimates very carefully both ways (sell vs. re-build) before you get buried too deep in the project. It could be that you'll have a good experience re-building this trailer, but it's more likely if you put a lot of skeptical and critical thought into it ahead of time.

 

[BHD]

If determaned to use the car trailer,

make a slide in box that dumps, that way you will still have a car trailer as well as a dump trailer,

and your lower frame on the hoist would not have to be as massive as it can piggy back off the deck of the car trailer,

you would need to keep it loaded light, unless you add a third axel to the trailer, you would then end up with about a 7000 pound capacity in the trailer if the trailer with slid in box weighs in the 3000 pound range

some thing like this,
DumperDogg Buyers hydraulic dump bed inserts
or
http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=225787
or
Dump-Pro! Turn your Pickup into a Dumptruck in Minutes! Dump-Pro Website