Dump bed hydraulics

jwmorris · Jul 30, 2013

So I started by extending the frame to the rear, adding the pivot points in the rear and moving one of the cross members to the rear.

swick1 · Jul 30, 2013

Consider moving your axle. You should do the math or you may end up with too much negative tongue weight at full extension.

Xfaxman · Jul 30, 2013

swick1 said:
Consider moving your axle. You should do the math or you may end up with too much negative tongue weight at full extension.

Click his picture. He has tandem axles.

swick1 · Jul 30, 2013

That looks much better!

jwmorris · Jul 31, 2013

I cut the front mount for the cylinder out of 1" plate and welded it to the 3x5 cross member then tied it into two more forward cross members.

because the torflex axles mount directly to the frame one of them was in the way and had to be notched. I didn't want that to be a weak link so I added some diagonal braces and also tied it into the 3x5 cross membe.

LD1 · Jul 31, 2013

Looking good

CDN Farm Boy · Aug 1, 2013

What did you use to cut the 1" plate? Too smooth to be free-hand, you must have a CNC?

jwmorris · Aug 2, 2013

I have a CNC plasma but it won't clean cut 1" and it's not worth messing with for just one part.

I built a pantograph machine that uses a regular hand torch a long time ago. It is what I used on that part and is perfect for small batches of parts. Many times it is faster to make a template than to write a program.

CDN Farm Boy · Aug 3, 2013

By the look of the cut, you did a great job of both building it and using it.

Got a pic or two of the pantograph?

jwmorris · Aug 3, 2013

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The part I cut out for the trailer above was actually cut out of the drop in the photo above. It was the center drop of a bit box for a drilling rig.

It should be one of the first projects someone does. Once you use it you wish you had it years earlier. It would have saved weeks of time grinding had I built it when I started cutting metal with a torch.

If you look above the head of the torch you can see a ring and hose clamp, this is for a plasma torch and the reason the torch mounts bolt on to the frame. Allows you to cut stainless and aluminum too.