Converting small utility trailer into dump trailer?

[LS Tractor Owner]

I built and then later converted my box trailer to a dump just to use at the transfer station pit...

Being the trailer is single axle I used the axle as the pivot and adapted a camper jack to raise the load... work well enough but takes time to pump up the camper jack.

When I needed rock at the lower part of the property I brought it down one yard at a time and the first time had the trailer on an incline and shovel it out... the second time I unhitched and used the loader to lift the tongue which also worked...

This was kinda what I was first thinking, but I think I might try out the "box on rollers" trick on my larger trailer. I can make the box a little wider (thinking 6' wide x 10' long) so i can get 1 1/2 to 2 tons per load. I can pull it off with the tractor. If the angle isn't steep enough with the 10' length, I could always cut it down. Thanks

 

[Teachu2]

As far as doing it again....nope.... Part of me taking this on is for my own benefit. We will be selling this big house in the next year (hopefully) and I will be getting out of this God forsaken state. Worst place I have ever lived!

My Magic 8-Ball says "Rethink this whole idea, and sell in the dry season." Having a poorly half-done road job is probably worse on resale than what's already there - it highlights the issues you are facing.

 

[bcp]

A box on rollers need a way to keep from stalling on a single piece of gravel under a roller. Maybe raised rails? Maybe skids?

Bruce

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

My Magic 8-Ball says "Rethink this whole idea, and sell in the dry season." Having a poorly half-done road job is probably worse on resale than what's already there - it highlights the issues you are facing.

Very true, but the road has been so beat up by the "deadbeats in the back", (driving through the mud / ruts at high speed, bringing in their 4 wheelers on trailers, etc..) that even when it's now dry there are major potholes (3-5' across) and major ruts. I'm pretty sure i need to fill all those in.

My previous next door neighbor had listed his house for sale a couple of years ago (he was from Vermont, had no clue about life out here, and gave up dealing with it after only 3 years). There were quite a few lookers, no takers, but the portion of road in front of his house had similar problems at the time. He contracted a guy to drop some stone and grade out the road for about 300' (he paid somewhere around $2K)...(it was before I had my tractor). He sold the house for asking price within 2 weeks. It may have been coincidence, but it was on the market for 9 months prior.

I figure I might as well just "fix it" beforehand. I will be selling well below 'market rate' for what they will be getting, they could use the equity they will be getting to redo it if they so choose.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

A box on rollers need a way to keep from stalling on a single piece of gravel under a roller. Maybe raised rails? Maybe skids?

Bruce

I also thought about using 3 - 4x4's running the length of the box to act as both skids and support for the bottom of the box. My concern is there would be too much friction between the skids and the trailer bed, then I wouldn't be able to pull it off. Having the pipe rollers under the skids would at least give more clearance for any 'debris' that might get under the box.

Thanks for the input.

 

[Diggin It]

If I were at the front, or near the front, I might be looking at a way for separate access. Maintain that my self and let the others fend for themselves.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

If I were at the front, or near the front, I might be looking at a way for separate access. Maintain that my self and let the others fend for themselves.

I'm third house in. The road is in an easment that runs across the front property line of the first 4 houses. The other (far) side of the road butts up to the "back side" of a different subdivision. There is no other access. Stuck between a rock (or should I say gravel) and a hard place!

 

[DaKing]

I didn't read the whole post. But I'm guessing you are in charge of road maintenance?

We recently bought some land in NM. Come to find out, the gravel road belongs to the property to the right. So, every property on the right has to maintain the road in front. Technically, the road belongs to those owners, but must remain open and un-restricted for the other land owners.

Some of the landowners have " farms ", and thus the equipment to maintain the roads. One lady actually has a grader tractor. Apparently, every few years, everyone gets together and maintains the road. (I hear most do it finicanally, and others use equpment they own. )

We have not owned the land long, so I'm not sure about the details.

I have a 14ft dump trailer that I offered for getting gravel. Good news is Gravel pit is about 1.5 miles away from that land.

Just found it odd that we have to maintain a road...


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I too am looking to take a small trailer and make it a dumper. Or add a conveyor belt or some method to expedite unloading. It for trash though, not heavy stuff, like rock.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

I didn't read the whole post. But I'm guessing you are in charge of road maintenance?

We recently bought some land in NM. Come to find out, the gravel road belongs to the property to the right. So, every property on the right has to maintain the road in front. Technically, the road belongs to those owners, but must remain open and un-restricted for the other land owners.

Some of the landowners have " farms ", and thus the equipment to maintain the roads. One lady actually has a grader tractor. Apparently, every few years, everyone gets together and maintains the road. (I hear most do it finicanally, and others use equpment they own. )

We have not owned the land long, so I'm not sure about the details.

I have a 14ft dump trailer that I offered for getting gravel. Good news is Gravel pit is about 1.5 miles away from that land.

Just found it odd that we have to maintain a road...


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I too am looking to take a small trailer and make it a dumper. Or add a conveyor belt or some method to expedite unloading. It for trash though, not heavy stuff, like rock.

No, I 'm not "in charge" of the road, but it has gotten so bad that someone has to do something. There is only one other neighbor (that just moved here last fall), that is even willing to help with their small tractor. Only 3 other homeowners (out of 8) will even contribute to the cost (and at that only a couple of hundred of dollars). There is a road maintenance "agreement" in the covenants of the land, but no way to actually enforce it. Make sure that the land you have has some kind of enforcement on the maintenance costs.

 

[Diggin It]

I did this with one of the HF 40x48 trailers to move dirt around the yard before I got the loader. Brown is a box built on top of the trailer. Green is an A frame I made out of scrap wood. You could do it out of steel tubing or thick pipe. Grey is a winch cable.



Mine didn't cost me anything since I had it all on hand. No idea what it would cost to build a version strong enough for what you need to haul and lift.