Dump Trailer - start to finish

   / Dump Trailer - start to finish
  • Thread Starter
#31  
Eddie,

Thank you for the very kind compliments. This was quite a project for me. Took about 2 months of Saturdays working on it. I did some calculations and it will hold ~ 1.8 cubic yards if it were level to the top of the sides. I don't believe I should ever load it to full capacity with dirt. Now wood chips & Firewood no problem. I have already loaded it several times to full capacity with firewood.

Once I get the tailgate worked out, fabricated and installed I'll take a video of it it action dumping a load of dirt so we can all see what happens. It could be :) or :eek:.

Larry G
 
   / Dump Trailer - start to finish #32  
Larry, on your tailgate, remember that you will have weight resting on your gate making it hard to unlatch
Jim
 
   / Dump Trailer - start to finish
  • Thread Starter
#33  
Jim,

Thank you, yes that's a good point to remember. I am thinking about a latch that has some sort of leverage to hold it / draw it up tight & to be able to open it in a controlled fashon.

Here is the basic Idea:
 

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   / Dump Trailer - start to finish #34  
Looks like the big dump trucks, they release theirs from the cab by reaching out, If you look at some you will get some ideas
Jim
 
   / Dump Trailer - start to finish #35  
MrJimi said:
Looks like the big dump trucks, they release theirs from the cab by reaching out, If you look at some you will get some ideas
Jim

Yep Jimi is right on. You need to go look at a dump truck latch. Uses an overcenter lever at the front of the bed that operates a latch on both sides. Very easy to build for someone that has the ability to build a trailer. You don't want your latch at the back of the trailer. If you are trying to dump into a ditch or ravine for example, you will be trying to unlatch while trying to keep from falling into the ditch. Put the latch at the front of the bed and it's easy to trip without risking getting behind the bed. You could even fasten a rope onto the latch lever and release it from the tractor if so desired.

Sorry, had to edit here after going back and reading the thread. You will probably survive having your springs rigid at each end simply because you don't plan to load it heavily. If you do start loading it heavily and towing that load some distance you will eventually break the leaf springs. You are making them function stiffly which they are not designed to do You won't find any semi trucks or trailers with their springs fastened that way. What you could have done to prevent height gain would have been to build sliders at the front end of the springs and let them slide to flex. But then you may have found that your springs weren't designed to carry the amount of weight you are trying to haul. Not sure what they are rated to carry.
 
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   / Dump Trailer - start to finish
  • Thread Starter
#36  
ovrszd said:
...........What you could have done to prevent height gain would have been to build sliders at the front end of the springs and let them slide to flex.......

That idea seems to be a good one, it's still do-able with minimal effort. I will seriously consider that for a not to distant future modification.
 
   / Dump Trailer - start to finish #37  
Nice work , nice trailer, I especially like your "bracketry" for the hydraulic lines. Excellent job of documenting progress, and posting descriptions. You may be proud!! Visited Albuquerque , & Santa Fe last year in Oct. nice area and good sites to see.
 
   / Dump Trailer - start to finish #38  
Hey Larry,

I took a few pictures of the tailgate on my dumptruck. It's pretty simple in design.

The first picture shows the top of the door and how the pin works. It's just a simple piece of flat stock welded to the top of the door on the side. It goes between to pieces of metal with a pin through it. Real strong and simple.

The second picture shows the latch. I never use mine. I just let the weight of the door do most of the work. What falls out while I'm driving isn't enough for me to worry about.

The third picture shows the other end of the locking mechanism. There is a rod with threaded ends that can be adjusted to increase the amount of preasure on the mechanism.

Fourth pictures shows the part of the handle that controls the lock. It's attached to a rod that goes across the bed and another set of linkage that controls the lock on the other side. Right now in the picture it's in the open position. Pull it up and the linkage closes the lock on the tailgate.

The fifth picture shows the handle from another angle.

I hope this helps,
Eddie
 

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   / Dump Trailer - start to finish #39  
Larry:

Many commercially made dump trailers use two piece tail gates hinged at each side. They latch in the center and swing completely to the side to dump keeping them out of the way. I'm not sure there is enough room behind the rear wheels for a door 1/2 the width of your dump box to swing flat.

A very interesting and well presented project. I'll be curious about how the springs hold up.

Very nice job.
 
   / Dump Trailer - start to finish
  • Thread Starter
#40  
EddieWalker said:
Hey Larry,

I took a few pictures of the tailgate on my dumptruck. It's pretty simple in design.

Eddie - thank you very much for going out of your way and taking the time to shoot & Post those pic's, they are very helpful. The top hinge is very similar to what I was thinking. The latch at the bottom is what I really needed to see and you came through.

What falls out while I'm driving isn't enough for me to worry about.

I hope this helps,
Eddie

Holy Smokes man, what about my windshield and paint job?:eek:

I know that statement is only true of you while your on your property - right? ;)
 

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