Dump trailer

[George2615]

Mobile home axles come with leaf springs. I built a 16' beavertail double axle trailer using them back in 98. The axles I picked up were rated at 6000 lb. each and were cheap. Mobile home axles are designed for limited use for moving mobile homes. The tires are even embossed with "for mobile home use only". In NY you can get a ticket if you use these tires on a homemade trailer. (Don't ask how I know this). The only problem came when I needed to replace the brakes since everything within the drums are either welded or riveted and not user friendly to change. I contacted The company who made them, they would sell me complete brake packages for my axles at a cost of between $500-600 (drum or disc) for 4. Then the old backing plates would have to be cut off at the axles and the new backing plates welded on. I could have done the job but chose not to and bought a new 20' tiltbed. I'm sure there are thousands of homemade trailers on the road using these axles. For a light duty trailer that doesn't need brakes they are probably the cheapest axles you can find. If you are interested in a set make sure the brakes are replaceable. If I was to build another trailer today I'd go to TSC or Northern and buy axles from them that have brakes you can change. Just my 2 cents.

George

 

[Nat]

I picked up my axles this afternoon. I have them cut down to the correct width and the spring hanger kit installed and the frame is sitting on it's own wheel now.
Yes the axles come with springs and the equalizer. I don't like using the old spring hanger bolts that may have been over streched so I always but a spring hanger kit. It contains 6 spring hangers,14 new bolts and locking nuts and 8 shackles. The kit cost 39.95
Tommorow I'll get the hangers welded in place and maybe get the steel floor on. I'll take some pics then.Later, Nat

 

[Nat]

rswyan, I have a Dodge 3500 Cummins 4x4 so I don't think pulling it will be a problem, I regularly pull a 33' 5th wheel that weighs 11,000. I am sure I made the frame heavier than needed but that will never hurt. Later, Nat

 

[rswyan]

I was mainly trying to point out that you might be a little light in the amount of lift that the cylinder produces, given what the trailer is capable of hauling.

BTW, excellent taste in your choice of tow vehicle. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[TOMDUALLY]

PICTURES, NAT, PICTURES /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Nat]

Tom, I have been sick for a few days so nothing got done.
Well, I mounted the pump temp. and hooked the jumper cables to my truck battery. It takes 27 secs to go from all the way down to all the way up. The dump angle is 50 degrees so stuff should slide out pretty well. This pic shows it in the dumped position with it sitting on it's own wheels. I worked on it 3 hrs today and have the pump permantly mounted and the rest of the cross members in. Only a few of the X-members are in on this pic, because it made it easier to mount the pump and battery box without them being in the way.
I should get 3-4 hours on it tommorow and except for the sideboards it should be nearly finished. I'll post some pics tommorow. Later, Nat

 

[RonR]

Nat, did you use some 'rithmetic on where to place the lift cylinder or just mount it where it looked good?

To me, that seems a critical placement.

ron

 

[Renze]

Nat, it still looks good so far, but i have one remark.. i dont know how thick the steel is you used, but i think the C beam is going to wrap at the cylinder mounting point, and the strip of metal and the angle iron it is mounted to, will just be pulled towards the hinge point.. just my opinion.. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[Nat]

Well, I used some "higher mathmatical functions", but I also lifted the bed to the correct angle and made sure the cyl.placement would work . I used some imfo from several people to get my cyl placement and I also looked at a factory trailer. Mine is in pretty much the same place as a foctory one, except I stood the cyl up a little more and used a larger dia. cyl. A guy down the road has one that I took some ideas from, and his is a 7000 lb trailer and uses a 2 1/2" dia. cyl.
I used a 4" dia. and had to get a pump with a larger capacity volume, so mine should be stronger. Later, Nat

 

[Nat]

Renze, sorry for the confusion, but it was just tacked together enough to make sure nothjing was binding or hitting together in the pic. The welding is being done and the bracing so the way the chanel is sitting in the pic surely isn't all I am going to do. I have since welded the chanel in place with brackets on each end and diagonal bracing, That was just a hurry up and snap it pic to show how it will dump. Later, Nat